Rock Dog

This Animated Musical Isn’t Very Amped Up

... It’s music that stirs the mountain mastiff in this sweet if ineffectual animated movie, purportedly the first instance of a Chinese animation property — an adaptation of Zheng Jun’s graphic novel “Tibetan Rock Dog” — outsourcing its production to America (“Free Birds” studio Reel FX). With obvious nods to the melding of Eastern and Western cultures, and a hoped-for international appeal, the result is a low-key, simple — very, very simple — story of pursuing one’s dreams (and protecting sheep and foiling wolves) that never exactly soars as original entertainment, although it avoids the frantic, cheeky, attention-deficit ethos of so much mass-marketed kid fare. The fact that “Rock Dog” prioritizes quiet charms and old-school silliness over winking obnoxiousness may make it a sleeper favorite for the family who’d rather ride a merry-go-round together than get jerked and tossed by the rollercoaster. Also Read: 'Zootopia' Wins Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. A hand-drawn prologue sets up the situation in picturesque Snow Mountain, a serene village of wool-making sheep looked over by Khampa (voiced by J. ...

Rock Dog’ With Luke Wilson, J.k. Simmons Hits A Few High Notes

... protect dim-witted sheep from a “Sopranos”-style pack of wolves (Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson). Khampa saved the flock once, many years ago, and remains cautious of another attack. Wary of distractions, the four-legged guardian is on permanent high alert and outlawed music for optimum vigilance. Khampa has compelled his son to follow in his paw-steps. Rock Dog is a story for kids about following your dreams. But guitar-playing Bodi wants mutton to do with the family business. He annoys his father enough to earn his blessing and try his hand at making music. But, if he fails, he has to come home and forego his rock and roll fantasy. Movie review: ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ builds on a great brand. Co-writer and director Ash Brannon’s slapstick comedy of errors works its tail off to entertain, but it’s just too doggone long and short on laugh-out-loud moments. Bodi is cute, confident and has a can-do attitude ...

Get Out,' 'rock Dog,' Oscars Goodies Galore

... the only alternative? Or is there a best-picture nominee right for our times that also could smooth the academy's image issues? We'll take a look. At age 100, Olivia de Havilland is the oldest living Academy Award-winning actor. In 1980, a young fan wrote her a letter, to which the two-time Oscar winner replied. A brief yet inspirational pen pal relationship began. That girl grew up to be Tampa Bay Times staff writer Katherine Snow Smith, whose memories of de Havilland are appropriate for the Oscars occasion. All that, plus Oscars trivia, and my lifelong quest continues for a perfect 24-0 score in Academy Awards predictions. You can follow along and make your own picks on our handy ballot. Plenty to enjoy before Jimmy Kimmel tosses out the first joke. in theaters: our Top 5. Current movies recommended by the Tampa Bay Times. 1 John Wick: Chapter 2: Keanu Reeves is the new Chuck Norris. 2 The LEGO Batman Movie: Taking apart the Caped Crusader's legacy interlocking piece by piece. 3 Hidden Figures: True story of African-American women ...

Jorge Garcia Not ‘lost’ With ‘rock Dog,’ ‘hawaii Five-0

... leader Khampa (J. K. Simmons) for. Lionsgate Premiere. “I have always been impressed with people who do voice-over well,” Garcia says during a phone interview from Hawaii during a day off from filming “Hawaii Five-0.”. His appreciation of voice work goes back to when he was a youngster and was a huge fan of the animated “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo,” “The Fox and the Hound” and “Jungle Book.” His memory of first seeing the films is that the music and characters were what impressed him. When he saw the films again as an adult, he was able to fully appreciate all of the craftsmanship – from voices to animation – that went into making the movies. Now, he’s part of an animated film where he hopes his work will impress viewers. Garcia voices a very interesting character in “Rock Dog.” Germur, a goat who plays drum for a struggling rock band, is a little burned out. Garcia ...

Jordan Peele's 'get Out' To Impress With Possible $20m U.s. Debut

... to date and $183 million worldwide. Hollywood studios generally refrain from opening big event movies on Oscar weekend, and this year is no exception. The landscape changes dramatically on March 3, when X-Men spinoff Logan debuts, followed by Kong: Skull Island on March 10 and Beauty and the Beast on March 17. Peele also wrote the script for Get Out, which focuses on a young African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) who is apprehensive about meeting the family of his white girlfriend (Allison Williams) since she hasn't told them he is black. When they arrive at her parents' home, he is further alarmed to learn that young black men have a habit of disappearing. Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions produced Get Out alongside QC Entertainment's Sean Mc Kittrick, Edward H. Hamm Jr. and Peele. The cast also includes Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones and Stephen Root. Get Out opens in the glow of Universal and Blumhouse's hit horror-thriller  Split from director M. Night Shyamalan. Split has grossed $196 million at the global box office since its Jan. 20 release. Two other films open this weekend: animated family film Rock Dog and long-delayed action ...

Get Out,’ ‘collide’ And ‘rock Dog

... put on his life. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld 16, Satellite Cinemas Titusville, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Avenue 16, Majestic 11 Vero Beach, AMC Indian River 24. *“La La Land” (PG-13) ★: A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles. Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld 16, Merritt Square 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Avenue 16, Majestic 11 Vero Beach, AMC Indian River 24. “The Lego Batman Movie” (PG) ★: Bruce Wayne (voiced by Will Arnett) must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted. Movie theaters: Cinemaworld 16, Satellite Cinemas Titusville, Satellite Beach Cinemas, Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, Merritt Square 16, AMC West Melbourne 12, AMC Avenue 16, Majestic 11 Vero Beach, AMC Indian River 24. *“Lion” (PG-13): A 5-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family. Starring Nicole Kidman. Movie theaters: Premiere Theaters Oaks ...

Rock Dog’ May Have A ‘ruff’ Going In Theaters

... weeks are gold mines for animated movies. This timing issue is sad because “Rock Dog” is so much fun whether it be the pure love reluctant guard dog Bodi shows for music or the snarky Angus, played with great rock star panache by Eddie Izzard. The two come together when Bodi decides to go against his father’s wishes and pursue a music career. Bodi travels to the big city where he looks to find his big break. The innocent pooch doesn’t realize it’s not a simple matter of knocking on the door of a major rock star and asking for lessons. That’s what he does and through a series of events becomes friends with Angus. An interesting twist is that the villains, a pack of wolves under the charge of Linnux (Lewis Black), aren’t after the rock star but more interested in the Mastiff. He’s the key for the pack to attack the village being guarded by Bodi’s father, Khampa (J. K. Simmons). It’s nice that the character who would have been the victim in other movies ends up doing something very heroic. Director Ash Brannon (who co-directed “Toy ...

Rock Dog,’ ‘get Out,’ ‘united Kingdom,’ ‘i Am Not Your Negro,’ ‘great Wall

... it so hard for Angus to write a song? Why did he think he did not want to see anyone? How did Bodi know that music was his destiny. If you like this, try: “Surf’s Up” from the same director. “Get Out”. Why it’s rated R: Horror film with theme of racism and exploitation, extended peril and violence including gun, choking and bloody, graphic medical images and sounds, references to sad loss of a parent, some strong language including racist epithets, sexual references and non-explicit situation, smoking. Minimum age: Mature teens. Family discussion: When does the story turn from insensitive to offensive to sinister? What makes Chris decide that he has to leave. If you like this, try: “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Wicker Man” (original version) and “The Stepford Wives.”. “A United Kingdom”. Why it’s rated PG-13: Theme of the movie concerns an interracial marriage that was objected to by both families and their governments. Scenes of peril include racist street thugs. Also: some strong language including racial epithets, a sexual situation. Minimum age: Middle school. Family discussion: How did Ruth prove her sincerity to the Botswanans? Why did the ...