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Show LrCd-f- c Seuss' Horton Hears A Who! Dr. B i 1 Nathan G hut Whoville. Horton speaks with the mayor of Whoville (voiced by th very fun and zany Steve Carell), and discovers that if Horton doesn't find a safe place to rest the speck of dust that Whoville resides on, their be world could whole I nch. Joes contain mJJ r. hie i iolcm e A. JoflO After two disappointing films on timeless books by the ondrful Dr. Seuss, the Ron rl 'a aid directed adaptation of .nr The Grinch Stole Christmas and the awful The Cat in Hat film, the filmmakers w ho brought us Ice Age finally .he strides in the right direction. Although the film isn't period. it is a great film that you can take the whole family i t and not worry about what it will contain. There are enough blight colors and vvonderflilly animated characters for the kids, and some very entertaining. as w ell as dean, jokes for the teens and adults. he story focuses on Horton, an elephant with a big heart and big imagination (voiced by Jim Carrey). The animal children of the jungle love Horton and his energetic personality as he teaches them about the world thev live in. However, a kangaroo (voiced by Carol Burnett), is not happy with Hortons teaching the children how to use their imaginations. ( ue morning, a speck of dust hot is floating through the air happens to pass Horton, when be hears a small sound come fum the speck. Horton finds a fl 'wer to rest the speck on. Ifrton discovers that on this speck of dust is a whole other world which contains the miniature, but just as important, I jl .d destroyed. Horton then goes on a quest to save the speck of dust from the elements of his world in the jungle and the predators that are kanhired by the garoo. The story is timeless and one of my personal favorite Dr. Seuss books, and the story follows the book very well. For that, I would have given the film a higher rating. So why did I only give it an 8 instead of a 10? There are two reasons. The film has a beautiful, timeless message about the importance of everyone, no matter who he is, no matter where he comes from. The story itself is timeless, but there were a few jokes in the film that really fell flat and made the movie feel not so timeless. One joke deals with a secretary at her computer using "Whospace," a joke aimed at I 1 the popular networking site Myspace, which in ten years probably won't exist, or won't be as popular as it is today. Another joke about everyones having cell phones is used; again, in ten years kids won't know life before cell phones, so the joke will be dated. Last but not least, ever since Shrek 2 took a popular song and had a big musical number ef the film, ' just about every animated fiim that has not come from Pixar has had a musical Studios number near the end. It is just a tired joke. (The song used here is "Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon.) For a film that seems so timeless, these three things really stick out like sore thumbs. However, the rest of the film is so imaginative and fun that it more than makes up for the mistakes. My wife and I saw this film with four of our friends, all of us over the age of 2 . We talked about it afterw ards and felt that we could see the movie three or four more times before w'e could catch a lot of visual or misheard jokes and from the film. We laughed the whole time and had a great movie-goin- g experience. Just a side note: one of my favorite films from 2007, The Kite Runner, will be released on DVD on March 25. If you don't make it out this week to see Horton, find a Redbox rental location or Netflix (I w'ill be buying a copy for myself), and check it out. You will be glad you did. The Kite Runner is rated: PG-1- 3 for brief strong language, violence, and a scene involving the rape of a child, not seen, but implied. It is based on the g Khaled novel by Hosseni and follows the story of a boy growing up in 1975 Afghanistan and his heartbreaking experience of betrayal, regret, and repentance. It is a very beautiful film and I think that everyone should see it. at the end at the end 1 one-line- rs bcst-scllin- For current movie listings, visit master Kacey Udy. Hale Center Theatre 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive (801)984-900- 0 www.halecentertheatre.org Coming up Annie Get Your Gun, April sale.? ADVERTISE! 14-M- 31 ay N()W PLAYING The Civil Hat: through April 5 Music West Valley Symphony Granger High School Coming up Stephen R. Baker Memorial Concert, March 29, 8 v M. 25015656 Grand Theater 1575 South State 2 (801) tickets(S Coming t p Stefon Harris Sextet, April 7 957-332- rg Art Exhibits Ltah Cultural Celebration Center 1355 W. 3100 S. (801) 965-510- 0 www.wvc-ut.govcultur- al Sudan: The Land and the through April 30 People, advertise in the 2008 edition of the Magna Telephone Directory, call Bonnie at To 250-56- 56 i - i , ' 3, t t li 't I' life-size- brow'n and leather, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, unwiwItBirlniimmffl Hale Centre Theatre (HCT) present the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun, April 14 through May 31. The production, which loosely chronicles the life of Annie Oakley, features the legendary Wild West heroine shooting at targets throughout the theater d while riding atop a horse that rotates with HCTs w'ill ily, every Fri., Sat., 10 p.m. W ? through April 14 www.redcarpetcinemas.com revival of Annie Get Your Gun NOW PLAYING 9104 W. 2700 S. now! as Annie Oakley, Paul Cartwright as Frank adds color to Broadway (801) 347-737- 3 Work in Progress (WIP), comedy improv for whole fam- Live Theater Empress Theatre Digital Stereo Surround Sound In All Auditoriums Bargain Matinee - All Seats Before 6pm $4.00. Monday is Family Day All Seats $4.00. No Passes or Discounts HCT r stage. AdditionAnnie Get Your Gun will include elements of Buffalo p Bills stage show, such as cracking, trick horse riding, tomahawk knife throwing, throwing, and rope tricks. HCT has created ornate sets and props, which w'ere inspired by original posters of Buffalo Bills stage show. Replicas of the posters are also incorporated into the stylized set along with miniature versions of trains, hotels, and European landmarks. Visually its not your typical western, where everything is Arts mxmximm txmmm m cum Cole as Buffalo Bill, Debra Stewart Butler, in HCT's Annie Get Your Gun Cliff million-dolla- ally, bull-whi- said HCT prop Its a new w'ay of thinking about Annie while stay- ing true to the popular story. Annie Get Your Gun was writ- ten by brother-and-sistduo Herbert and Dorothy Fields ,w ith music by Irving Berlin. Produced by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the show origier nally premiered at Broadways Imperial Theatre in 1946 and ran for 1,147 performances. Ethel Merman starred in the original production and reprised her roie in the 1966 revival. In the 1999 revival, Bernadette Peters, Susan Lucci, and Reba McEntire all took turns portraying Annie. The most recent revival of Annie Get Your Gun won several awards including a 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Act) ess in a Musical (Peters), a 1999 Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical (Peters), and a 1999 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Additionally, Reba McEntire was presented with both a Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk Award Special Award in 2001. HCTs Annie Get Your Gun is directed by Tamara Adams and stars Debra Stewart and Megan Heaps as Annie Oakley; Paul Cartwright and Josh Richardson as Frank Butler; and Cliff Cole and Jim Dale as Buffalo Bill. The music director is Kelly Dellaan, choreographer is Marilyn May Montgomery, costume designer is Suzanne Carling assisted by Jolene Ashcraft; technical director is Andrew Barrus; set designer is Darrin Brooks; prop master is Udy, lighting is Spencer Brown, designer sound designer is Mike Williams, and the production assistant is Linda Jean Stephenson. Performances are Monday-Saturda- y at 7:30 P.M. with matinees each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and occasional days at j fl, p.m. ippJsRte, PW ;be purchased online at via telephone at 0 or at the Hale (801) Centre Theatre box office, 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah. www.hale-centretheatre.org, 984-900- The Stefon Harris Sextet plays at the Grand on April 7 The GAM Foundation presents the Stefon ILtiii:, Sextet Monday April 7. at 7 T.j f M in the (hand Thcatie, located on die South City Campus of Salt Laic Community College at 1575 South State Street. This perf 'linance w as ongmul-I- v schedule to tale place at the Sheraton City Center but has been moved to the (hand Theatre. Steton Vibraphone player Harris passionate artistry, energetic stage presence, and astonishing virtuosity have propelled him into the forefront of the current jazz scene. Widely recognized and lauded by both his peers and jazz critics alike, he is committed to both exploring the rich potential of jazz composition and blazing new trails on the vibraphone. The vibraphone, sometunts called the vibraharp. or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion family. It is similar in appearance to the xylophone and marimba, but the vibraphone uses aluminum bars instead of wooden bars. The vibraphone also has a sustain pedal similar to that used on a piano. When the pedal is up, the bars are all damped and the sound of each bar is quite short; with the pedal down, the notes will sound for several seconds. Stefon is a graduate of The Manhattan School of Music, where he received a B.A. in Classical Music and an M.A. in jazz performance. He is a recipient of the prestigious Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center and has earned back to back to back Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Album including The Unification Grand Theory (2003). the 2001 release of Kindred (Blue Note) and his 1999 release of Black Acfion Figure (Blue Note) for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. North Sea Jazz (Netherlands) named Ilaais fir the prestigious Intemattoim! 2002 Bird Award for Artist Deserving Wiaer Stefon Harris blazes new trails on the vibes. Recognition. He has been voted Best Mallet player by the Jazz Journalist Association (2003, 2002, 2001 & 2000), Debut Artist of the Year by Jazztimes, Downbeats Critics Poll Winner for Vibraphone and Rising Star, Vibraphone (2003) Newsweeks Best Jazz CD, Best New Talent and 1999-200- 0 Readers Poll Best Vibraphonist by Jazziz Magazine and Chicago Tribunes Debut of the Year. Mr. Harris has performed at many of the worlds most distinguished concert halls, including Lincoln Centers Alice Tully Hall. The Kennedy Center. San Francisco's Herbst Theater UCLA's Royce Hall, Chicago's Symphony C enter, Detroits Orchestra Hall, and The Sydney Opera House. He has toured and recorded wnh the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and perfoimed his original comwith the Duteh positions Metropole Orchestra in Den Hague. He has toured SoutI Africa, Brazil and Europe performing at the North Sea Jaz; Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival and the Umbria Jazz Festiva among others. In 2001 he premiered The Grand Unificatior Theory a full length concert piece commissioned by The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, which wa- - later presented at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. He has also appeared at the legendary Playboy Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Orange ( ouniy Performing Arts C enter. An active educator Mr. Harris conducts over 100 clinics and lectures annually at schools and universities throughout the country. In addition,' he has been an active member of the Executive of Directors for Chamber Music America. The GAM Foundation is sponsored in part by the Zoo, Arts and Parks program. |