The Raven & Pirates: Band Of Misfits

From animated pirates to the life of a literary master brought to the screen, we have a double feature this week, starting with The Raven.

The death of Edgar Allen Poe came just three days after he was found wandering the streets of Baltimore in a confused and incoherent state. His death at the age of 40 was as big a shock then as Whitney Houston's was recently.

The Raven is neither about the Poe classic of the same name, nor is it a biography of the man. It's a highly fictionalized work that finds Poe as a prime suspect after murders are discovered that mimic some of his writings. At first glance, the casting of John Cusak as Poe would seem to be genius, but the wildly unbelievable script overshadows his talent. In general this film is a huge disappointment. Should you go and see it? "Qouth the raven, Nevermore!" I give it 2 out of 5 tickets.

While The Raven is a bit dark and heavy for younger audiences, The Pirates! Band of Misfits is perfect for all. Hugh Grant stars in his first animated role alongside Salma Hayek, and Jeremy Piven. All the pirates are competing against each other for the coveted Pirate Of The Year award. In the process they stumble upon Charles Darwin and the last living dodo bird in the world.

From the same people who brought us Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, and Arthur Christmas, this is a fun movie that the entire family can enjoy. It's out in both 2D and 3D, and you can't go wrong with either version.

So, Pirates is a great choice for the entire family this weekend. I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 tickets. Be sure to check out our Facebook fan page for more movie news and info.