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Thursday, June 30, 2011

DARK OF THE MOON Enjoying 60% 3D Viewers

Even with the predecessors of DARK OF THE MOON being in 2D and thus carrying an expectation of seeing it again in the same format (just like KUNG FU PANDA 2, CARS 2 and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN), Michael Bay's TF3 is achieving 60% of revenue from 3D screens thus far. Paramount enjoyed 70% 3D screen viewings on the Tuesday evening launch.

Personally I think TF3 would have performed much better on the opening day if they had not opted for the Tuesday evening launch as many more die hard fans would have seen the Wednesday screenings. Compounding the issue is that fact that ticket prices are slashed on Tuesdays (that $5.5m it made could have been $8 or $9m), erasing some of the early income that should have been generated. Regardless, it is still the sixth largest Wednesday opening ever, despite the downturn in the economy. Total box office to Wednesday night is ~$42.8m.

I'm going to see the IMAX version of DARK OF THE MOON as well. Can't wait to compare the formats.

Stats provided by Box Office Mojo.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

9 Stars - TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Advanced Review

There are no spoilers in this review, but you are free to discuss anything you wish about the movie in the comments section below.

Click on the images to enlarge.

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON has the best 3D and action movie I have seen to date. Staggeringly well done and a must see in stereoscopic 3D. NINE STARS!

While I technically have DARK OF THE MOON (86.43/100) trailing slightly behind another action movie - THOR (88.6/100), that is only because of some issues with story and characters - NOT the visuals. If you want an entertaining and at times jaw dropping summer popcorn experience, DARK OF THE MOON is it. Michael Bay has set the bar at its current peak. Nothing has been better to date including AVATAR. As you probably know by now, it was shot with the same technology (only upgraded!).

I am ecstatic to say that the issues with bright light and native 3D have been solved - at least with this movie. It could very well be that the scenes that Bay captured with the bright sun beaming into the camera lens were converted (he did do a small portion of the movie with conversion). All I know is, the bright light hazing phenomenon is gone. In fact we are left with gorgeous lens flaring in 3D which is a genius way of adding the effect of something coming at you that is not considered startling, but to the contrary - gorgeous natural lighting! My hearty applause for that Mr. Bay!

However, there were issues with characters and story unfortunately. NOT as much trouble as with TRANSFORMERS 2 mind you! Not nearly as much. There is actually almost a very compelling character in Sentinel Prime that I was quite pleased with indeed. I say almost because so much more could have been done. Still it was a pleasure to see something develop on the screen regarding characters. I recognize the challenge in doing something with autobots though, clearly.
The story needs much more emotion and motivation. I just wasn't feeling as much as I should have been. All of that destruction and chaos for what exactly? I didn't even feel the dread of what was happening because the end result was unclear. Can't talk too much more about things with out giving it away, but there it is.

TF3 is far and away the best of the three in my mind however. If you liked the first one, stand in line baby 'cause you'll love this one. AND if you are a Leonard Nimoy / Spock fan like I am, you are in for many, MANY treats! :-) I won't say more!!

Let's breakdown the aspects of my review:

Stereoscopic 3D (10 stars):
Perfect 3D. The very very rare artifact that I detected is not worth mentioning. And as I said above, the bright light 3D issues have been resolved and I was broadly smiling from that alone. Simple static shots with the Fusion 3D system were in fact better than conversions. It is a pure capture of space with native 3D and not an interpretation and I guess that makes all the difference. Don't get me wrong - 3D conversion has come a long- way, but those native shots were definitely better. A lay person may not notice the difference, but I do. I would wager that the more they watch the movie the more chance they would see how it is superior. The best 3D I have seen to date - therefore gets a perfect 10 from me!!

Story (7 stars):
Nothing has changed all that much with the character development of Shia's Sam Witwicky or the autobots. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was a definite improvement over Megan Fox. Frances McDormand added a touch of respectibility. But when all is said and done, you are left thinking about the superb action and 3D rather than the story or characters.

The standard TRANSFORMERS humor is definitely still present and I laughed out loud several times. You'll enjoy those moments.

Acting (8 stars):
Acting was ok. Nothing too intense for sure! Shia has improved somewhat and at least he isn't running around shouting "no, no, no, no, no, no, nooooooo" if you know what I mean. Clearly Rosie is better for the movie than Megan was because Rosie has an element of class and elegance. You can see why Sam falls for her (other than looks that is).

The real stars of the movie are the action and 3D. They deserve top billing. Oscars will be piling up on the effects guys on this one no doubt.

Character Development (8 stars):
If it wasn't for Sentinel Prime I would not be happy with this category at all really for TF3. But the Nimoy driven character was very fascinating (no pun intended).

Suspension of Disbelief (9 stars):
Superlative special effects and jaw dropping 3D brought on just about perfect suspension of disbelief. It looked so real. Nothing was telling you that this couldn't happen other than the innate childishness of the autobots to begin with. But we are all past that by now aren't we? I am. Its part of our culture now.

Directing (9 stars):
There are only two directors on this planet that could deliver this type of movie. James Cameron and Michael Bay. Bay stepped up and topped himself for this effort. I think he even topped Cameron (for action that is). Cameron can weave a superb story and character arc with his action, but for pure bred, in your face, "what did I just see" action - Bay is the man. For that, he gets 9 stars.

Sound / Score (10 stars - rounded up):
Wow. Extremely well done and bone shattering. The almost perfect compliment to what is being presented on the big screen. It needs to reinforce the visuals and IT DOES in a big way.

Cinematography (10 stars - rounded up):
Amir Mokri was masterful (he's also doing MAN OF STEEL). Bay and Mokri work well together and you have to on a project like this. The coordination of the stunts, pyrotechnics, actors, camera movement / focus and Bay's vision has writing on the wall for an Oscar. It is that good.

Special Effects / Stunts (10 stars - unreserved):
The best I have seen to date. No exceptions. Therefore TF3 gets a 10 from me. I need not say more - GO SEE IT!!!

This is the movie event of the summer so far! HARRY POTTER and CAPTAIN AMERICA may have something to say about it, but for pure visuals and entertainment, you can't beat DARK OF THE MOON. I give this movie my unreserved blessing for you to go see. It is worth the money for 3D and I recommend IMAX 3D if you have it available.

Let me know what you think!!! SPOILERS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!


“TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON” Embraces Fusion 3D

I've seen the movie. It delivers on the promises! The 3D and action is staggering - full review coming up shortly...

CAMERON | PACE Group’s FUSION 3D System Shoots the First-Ever “Transformers” Story in 3D


CAMERON | PACE Group (CPG) announces it is the innovative company behind the FUSION 3D system outfitted with F35 cameras and SLATE²SCREEN™ 3D production support services for Paramount’s live-action 3D film, “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON,” from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg. As the first-ever “Transformers” film to be released in 3D and the third installment in the blockbuster “Transformers” series, it will be released exclusively in 3D tonight and everywhere on June 29, 2011.

“At the start, Bay was really against using 3D as a medium,” said Vince Pace, Co-Chairman and CEO of CAMERON | PACE Group. “After working with FUSION 3D, Bay really embraced it as a creative and powerful storytelling medium and used it aggressively to capture this live-action, high-octane production.”

CAMERON | PACE Group (formerly PACE) also pioneered an advanced mobile X frame system for video engineering that allowed director Michael Bay and cinematographer Amir M. Mokri to capture “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON” footage with complete flexibility and mobility while shooting on location in Chicago, Detroit, Florida, Houston, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.

“FUSION 3D was able to keep up with Bay’s fast-paced shooting style and was flexible and adaptable enough to meet any of the creative or live production challenges,” said Dave Canning, 3D Engineer of CAMERON | PACE Group.

CAMERON | PACE Group's technology and innovation has resulted in over $5 billion of box office receipts and major 3D benchmarks recognized within the industry including the sci-fi epic blockbuster, “AVATAR.” The FUSION 3D system development began over a decade ago and through constant innovation has become the most utilized, creative and advanced workflow system available within the industry. Upcoming FUSION 3D productions include Paul W.S. Anderson’s “The Three Musketeers,” Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo Cabret,” Andrew Adamson’s “Cirque du Soleil,” Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” and Carl Rinsch’s “47 Ronin” and much more.

About CAMERON | PACE Group:
CAMERON | PACE Group (CPG) is a trend-creating technology and production services firm. CPG is advancing the future of 3D across all media channels by making the most advanced products, support solutions and creative tools available and accessible to networks, studios, broadcasters, filmmakers and creative teams around the globe. The company is singularly dedicated to building upon the strong foundation of innovative technology developed by its
visionary co-founders, James Cameron, Vince Pace and Patrick Campbell and leveraging its unmatched 3D expertise to help content producers realize 3D's full potential as a creative and powerful storytelling medium. CAMERON | PACE Group was founded in 2011 by Vince Pace and James Cameron and is headquartered in Burbank, CA.

For more information, please visit, www.cameronpace.com

About the Movie:
TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is directed by Michael Bay, written by Ehren Kruger and produced by Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. The executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. When a mysterious event from Earth’s past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us. The movie stars Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Kevin Dunn, Julie White with John Malkovich and Frances McDormand. It will be released by Paramount Pictures exclusively in 3D on June 28th and everywhere on June 29th.
© 2011 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
© 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

For more information on the movie, please visit, http://www.transformersmovie.com/

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

SEE: New FRIGHT NIGHT Dark Humor Character Posters

Well I know what they are trying to pull off here with the dark humor but it doesn't quite work for me. Yeah I get that the movie is skewed toward a teenage audience, but still - the older crowd should still be drawn to it. It is a remake after all. Marketing like this though doesn't cut it for me.

Oh well, it's only a segment of an overall plan to get the word out so I can live with it!

Teenager Charley Brewster (Yelchin) guesses that his new neighbor Jerry Dandrige (Farrell) is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists Peter Vincent (Tennant), the opportunistic host of his favorite TV show, to help him take down Jerry and his guardian.

Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Marti Noxon
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Release: August 19, 2011

I'll be sure to pass on more info when I get it. You can check all of our FRIGHT NIGHT coverage right here.


MUST WATCH: First Trailer For Pixar's BRAVE!

Ah yes, this incumbent Pixar movie is destined to recover the missing fresh tomatoes for the recently released CARS 2 (though I enjoyed it). BRAVE looks like an exciting trip to Scotland!

I suspect heartstrings will be pulled with this one despite this action oriented first trailer. Traditional Scottish lore must be involved and throw in some strong family ties too. Merida must go through some sort of personal change throughout the movie - perhaps she starts out meek and mild? Guesswork, but it's only because I am really interested in this project. Scotland is close to my heart in many, many ways.

Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida's quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).

Director: Mark Andrews
Writer: Brenda Chapman
Studio: Pixar Disney
Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
Release: June 22, 2012



More when I get it!


MUST WATCH: New Trailer For IMMORTALS!

Wow - if the story is as good as the visuals we are in for a heckuva ride with Tarsem Singh's IMMORTALS!

In Immortals, the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke) leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity. A mortal chosen by Zeus named Theseus (Cavill) must lead the fight against Hyperion and his evil army with the fate of mankind and the Gods at stake.

Director: Tarsem Singh
Writer: Charley Parlapanides
Studio: Rogue Pictures
Cast: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans
Release: November 11, 2011

Have a look:



Love it! Can't wait.


Monday, June 27, 2011

MasterImage 3D Signs Largest French Cinema Chain

Les Cinemas Gaumont (France's largest) has signed on to equip several of their theaters throughout Europe with MasterImage 3D projection technology.

According to THR, the first implementations of the rollout include Pajrignan, Gaumont Ambassade, Gaumont Opera Premier and Gaumont Opera Capucines in Paris and the Pathé Haarlem in Holland.

The Pathé deal is huge because they own almost 1000 screens in Europe (France, Netherlands and Switzerland). Les Cinemas Gaumont joins the other chains that MasterImage 3D has secured in Europe already, namely Germany's Cineplex, Britain's Empire Cinemas and Cinema City International in Eastern Europe.

Congratulations to all involved! MasterImage 3D is a true 3D success story that continues to unfold. Stay tuned for more when I get it...

MasterImage 3D is a sponsor of MarketSaw


Saturday, June 25, 2011

SEE: Princess Merida From Pixar's BRAVE

Have a look! Check out the detail in the bow - amazing. BRAVE is looking like Pixar picked up where it left off for 3D animation supremacy.

Click image to enlarge...

Here's the storyline:
Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).

BRAVE opens June 22, 2012. More when I get it!

Friday, June 24, 2011

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Shining Bright This Summer! Early Reviews Are In!!

I have said all along that TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON has the capability of being one of the top grossing movies of all time and everything I have seen and heard so far is pointing in that direction. Dare I say #3 all time? Yes I do dare in fact.

Michael Bay is doing EVERYTHING right here. He has shot a movie he is proud of, in 3D and the well established Transformers brand will push everything to top end predictions.

Further, Bay is pushing theater chain owners to follow the brightness standards that have been established for optimal 2D and 3D viewing. He has personally implored them to ensure that audiences get what they are paying for. Hats off to him!

But Bay hasn't stopped there. He and Paramount are releasing 2000 RealD prints that will double the brightness of what should be shown with existing standards. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is really going to be an event movie. Trust me.

Have a look at what critics are already saying:



I have found what some incessant anti-3D websites to be saying about the demise of 3D (they did the same thing last year and the years before that) to be simply hilarious. They keep painting themselves into a corner and then when they are trapped yet again by the mega 3D super hit that the world embraces that inevitably happens every year, they shut up. At least for a few months. It's so ridiculous its funny. Tiresome and unprofessional, but funny. It's as if there are no 2D movies that under-perform to them. I don't here them calling for the sudden demise of 2D because THE EAGLE underperformed.

So strap yourselves in - DARK OF THE MOON is almost upon us and there will truly only be one way to get the most out of the movie. 3D. See it in 2D if you want, but you will be cheating yourself. I can't wait for this event movie to get here if not so much to truly enjoy it, but to shut those incessant anti-stereo phenoms up. :-) Have fun!!

Stats courtesy of Box Office Mojo

Thursday, June 23, 2011

MUST SEE: First Looks At THE HOBBIT! Set Photos Of Bilbo And Gandalf!!

We've got brand spankin' new images from the set of THE HOBBIT(s) for you! Its the first look ever for on set characters and we've got Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins (with a room full o' dwarves in the background) as well as a nice shot of a younger Gandalf (Ian McKellen).

Click on images to enlarge...

Even though THE HOBBIT production is on holidays right now, the studio's marketing department never rests! :-)

More when I get it!!

Images source: EW


MUST SEE: New CAPTAIN AMERICA Poster! Upcoming New Trailer Tonight!!

**SAME DAY UPDATE! Trailer now attached below. Oh man - does it ever deliver the goods. The GRENADE TEST!! Love it!!! Enjoy...

There are VERY few posters that I would adorn my office walls with
, but this CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER is one of them!

Wonderfully rendered, it is probably a close to perfect hero shot. And if there is anything these Marvel comic book characters are, its heroes.

I will update this post with the upcoming new trailer today when it drops about 7:30pm Eastern.

Enjoy and stay tuned!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Exclusive Update: AVATAR 2 & 3 And THE HOBBIT

Hey guys - its time to check in with one of my best sources and he had some interesting news on the production side of AVATAR 2 & 3:

"Avatar 2 & 3 are looking more likely to have the live action element shot in New Zealand, with the mocap performances done in Lightstorms new facility (see link below) in Calif."

This underscores what James Cameron has been talking about lately:

Said Cameron: "We're shooting two films back-to-back, so I'm writing two scripts, not one, which will complete a [three]-film story arc – not really a trilogy, but just an overall character arc so I'm pretty excited about that. We're doing a lot of preliminary work right now on new software and new animation techniques and so on. We're creating a new facility in Manhattan Beach so everybody that's not already dead is coming back."

Further: “Another thing the Manhattan Beach studio affords us is the ability to expand. Should we need to pick up and do a live-action shoot, should we need more space, they have it,” he said.

So it sounds as if the plan is to use the California studios for performance capture and in the likely event of pickups taking place, they will be also shot in Manhattan Beach. New Zealand gets the live action shots as well as the bulk of the special effects / rendering.

I will let you know if that should change at any point.

---

Also the only news on THE HOBBIT productions are that they are on holidays until August! That is actually good to know so we are not getting up tight waiting for more updates that just aren't going to happen.

More when I get it! Obviously these productions are near and dear to my heart (and yours more than likely!) so I am all over them.

New Teaser Poster For Pixar's BRAVE

Here's a nice diversion from some rather rare bad reviews coming forth from Pixar's CARS 2 - a teaser poster for BRAVE. Looks great to me for what it is...

“What we want to get across [with the teaser] is that this story has some darker elements,” director Mark Andrews tells EW. “Not to frighten off our Pixar fans — we’ll still have all the comedy and the great characters. But we get a little bit more intense here.”

Here's the movie's storyline:

Set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, Brave stars Kelly Macdonald as Merida, the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).

This should be an interesting flick. Catch it June 22, 2012. And when you see CARS 2, tell me what you think...

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

WHOA. Stunning New TRANSFORMERS TV Clips!!

Guys - I will let the TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON clips speak for themselves. WARNING - there is more and more exposure to some intensive scenes that may spoil your pristine viewing of the motion picture on the big screen!

But, if you choose to, please ENJOY:



What do you think? Top five all time worthy? From everything I have seen, and empathic YES. Thanks for the heads up EBostock!

MUST SEE: New IMMORTALS Character Posters From Tarsem Singh!

The producers of 300 (Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari) and THE FIGHTER (Ryan Kavanaugh) along with director Tarsem Singh (THE CELL, THE FALL) have just released a handful of character posters for their upcoming S3D epic IMMORTALS. And they look amazing!

Click on the images to enlarge...

The posters in order are: Theseus (Henry Cavill), King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke), Phaedra (Freida Pinto), Poseidon (Kellan Lutz), Zeus (Luke Evans), Aries (Daniel Sharman), Stavros (Stephen Dorff) and Athena (Isabel Lucas).

Here's the movie's official details and synopsis:

Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Written by: Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides
Cast: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, with John Hurt and Mickey Rourke
Produced by: Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Ryan Kavanaugh
Executive Producer: Tucker Tooley, Tommy Turtle, Jeff G. Waxman
Rating: TBD
Runtime: TBD

Visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) and producers Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300) and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) unleash an epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and spectacular 3-D adventure. As a power-mad king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful.

The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army are rampaging across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission.

As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion’s raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.

Stay up to date on IMMORTALS:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/immortals?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/immortalsfilm

I am really looking forward to seeing this film. The visuals alone should be spectacular and hopefully the story matches. CLASH OF THE TITANS didn't quite do it for me (3D set aside for a moment) so here's hoping! Will have updates for you the moment I get them.

Check out the trailer for IMMORTALS right here.


Monday, June 20, 2011

MUST WATCH: CAPTAIN AMERICA Behind The Scenes Featurette!!

Oh yeah - this is going to be a seriously good movie. I said all along that I thought that CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER would be a better adaptation than THOR, but the way THOR performed I was amazed. So my expectations are sky high for the Chris Evans starrer.

I love behind the scenes looks and there are some great moments never seen before in this featurette along with some interesting banter from the team behind the movie. Rather than go on and on about it - check it out for yourself (I recommend 1080p!):




Man, these are the days for comic book fans aren't they? LOVE IT!!


CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER opens July 22.

(via FirstShowing)

See: New PUSS IN BOOTS Poster *AND Trailer*! Why It Could Be DWA's Biggest Hit Ever!

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Just added the new trailer down below! Have a look!!

We've got the new PUSS IN BOOTS poster for you from Dreamworks Animation.
Let me tell you guys, I have seen some of this movie already at CinemaCon and it was amazing.

Click on the poster to enlarge...

I am prepared to go out on a limb here and predict outrageous success for this film for DWA - perhaps their most successful of all time. It's definitely not a sequel to SHREK - far from it really. It has the beat of its own drum but still enjoying the massive popularity of PUSS himself.

PUSS IN BOOTS has everything to attract just about everybody in the four quadrants - it is that well conceived. First and foremost, from what I saw, it is hilarious. Not just verbally funny, but visually. Much hinges on the audiences falling for the cat himself and that won't be hard to get done, believe me. Mere glimpses that PUSS makes to the screen in certain circumstances had me laughing OUT LOUD. I rarely do that.

So yeah, get ready for an outrageous time for all ages with this movie. This is one of the few animations on tap that you will look cool walking in to see it no matter what your age is. It will be a huge hit - Pixar size even. PUSS IN BOOTS opens November 4.

More when I get it!!




Saturday, June 18, 2011

WATCH: Red Band Trailer for CONAN THE BARBARIAN!

Who doesn't like a red band trailer once in awhile? We have the CONAN THE BARBARIAN restricted trailer and it looks bloody well good. Look at yourself in the mirror and if you're of age click play below!



More when I get it...

Thursday, June 16, 2011

And Now Some Concept Art For JOHN CARTER!!

Nice! We are lucky enough to be getting some nice preview material (teaser poster) for Disney's JOHN CARTER despite the release date of March 9, 2012.

Here's some concept art for the movie through our friends over at the LATimes.

Click to enlarge...

Geoff Boucher interviewed director Andrew Stanton and he was quite informative about some of his influences for the project:

Said Stanton: "Yeah, I looked at things like “Apocaplyto” and “Rome” and even things like “Shogun” and “Lawrence of Arabia,” things that as a viewer I could accept as having a level of historical research. They give me a sense of what it would be like in that land and in that age. So then you ask, “Well, what if we just did our Martian research really, really well and treated it as a period film. There are so many times and places in history in our world that I just don’t know anything about, and when I learn about them they’re always fascinating. I don’t need a predisposed interest in them if they are presented well. So we said, “We’ll treat it this way, we won’t treat it like some fantasy being fulfilled by a fan.” We tried to make it feel like we’re going with the story of what really happened. This is how it was, this is how those cultures really existed. That was one of the many levels, for instance, that I enjoyed “The Lord of the Rings” on. One of the similarities between Tolkien and Burroughs is that they came across to the reader as if they had done so much travel research; they seemed like they had gone to these places and documented the flora and the fauna and the architecture and the culture and the rules. They did it in ways that someone who visited those places would have done it. That made it much easier to treat the film as history in a weird way because I had this encyclopedia of all the aspects of Mars."

Stanton continued: "I kept using the word “authentic” when I was out on set or doing art in development. I just wanted things to look like they had been through weather and use. I wanted things to look beat-up and old. This may sound weird, but I was always so impressed by the Monty Python films and Terry Gilliam’s sense of production value. Things really felt like they had been through the mud. And if you look at most historical films, for a little too long they always gave us things that looked a little too clean. People on my set could not distress things enough for me. Everything was pre-industrial; I wanted it to look made by hand. I wanted the pre-revolution days of Mars to look like tall ships on the skyline. And to get that to come across through the lens and then up on the screen, you just couldn’t beat stuff up enough. I remember once we had this great big deck gun and my weapons guy made this beautiful object. In his mind it looks weathered but I stepped back about 20 feet and said from here it looks brand new. I told him he should go take an ax to it and get it some really big nicks to it. He said, “You’re kidding me?” But he did it, he took the ax to it, he wouldn’t let anybody else do it to his baby. But that’s how we wanted everything, dirty, used, distressed and, hopefully, historical."

So yeah, I am amped even further now. I think Stanton (WALL-E, FINDING NEMO) has the creative chops to get this thing done and with Disney's resources it should be a home run. More when I get it!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

MUST SEE: New Poster For Disney's JOHN CARTER!

This is a project I really have high hopes for. Disney's JOHN CARTER (after having dropped the "OF MARS") is on digital principal production right now and for the rest of the year. The studio has made available an early look through this teaser poster!

Love the font use in this - and the transparent red reminds me of the work Marvel did with THOR's posters. Nice job.

The movie is based on the classic sci-fi novel A PRINCESS OF MARS by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Civil War vet John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the lush and wildly diverse planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world whose main inhabitants are 12-foot tall green barbarians and is on the brink of collapse, Carter discovers that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

Director: Andrew Stanton
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Producers: Susan Montford, Colin Wilson, Jim Morris
Screenplay: Michael Chabon
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, James Purefoy, Dominic West, Lynn Collins
Release Date: Friday March 9, 2012

More on JOHN CARTER when I get it!!

Image via JoBlo

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Cameron And Worthington Set To Team Again In MYTH?

Wow. Didn't expect to see the two of them working together again until AVATAR 2 and 3 but there's news out of THR that seems to indicate action on another big sci-fi actioner entitled MYTH. Is this based on the video game of the late 90's? Hmmm.

Will Staples is supposedly in talks right now with Fox to write and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (TRANSFORMERS) to produce. Worthington would also produce (and star) with Cameron teaming as executive producer. So not quite the same roles as AVATAR obviously.

No one else has commented on the possibility of this project being based on the video game but perhaps there is a connection. Staples after all, wrote the CALL OF DUTY line of video games. Connection? Again, I think perhaps.

Its all early in the game but for now - and with the talent circling - I am definitely excited by the possibilities! No question it will be 3D. What do you think of the whole thing?

Monday, June 13, 2011

WATCH: Three New CARS 2 Clips From Pixar!

It's almost time for some more Pixar goodness! CARS 2 hits theaters June 24 and anticipation is building.

I have three new clips from the movie to show you from Disney / Pixar and you will recognize snippets of them from previous trailers, etc. Some nice new footage!

Have a look:







CARS 2 (In Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D)
DISNEY•PIXAR

Website and Mobile Site: Disney.com/cars
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/pixarcars
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/disneypixar

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release: June 24, 2011
Voice Talent: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Jason Isaacs, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, Thomas Kretschmann, Guido Quaroni, Lloyd Sherr, Paul Dooley, John Ratzenberger, Jenifer Lewis, Michael Wallis, Katherine Helmond, John Turturro, Franco Nero, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard, Bruce Campbell, Michel Michelis, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Lewis Hamilton, David Hobbs
Director: John Lasseter
Co-Director: Brad Lewis
Producer: Denise Ream
Story By: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis and Dan Fogelman
Screenplay By: Ben Queen
Composer: Michael Giacchino

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.

John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Cars 2” is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up”; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”). The film hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

Notes:
· John Lasseter made his feature film directing debut with “Toy Story” in 1995. He has since directed such Disney•Pixar classics as “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2” and “Cars” and served as executive producer of all other Pixar films to date. He is currently the chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and principal creative advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering.
· “Cars 2” is the 12th feature-length animated film from Pixar Animation Studios (its first 11 have earned $6.5 billion at the global box office). Pixar, which has earned 29 Academy Awards® and seven Golden Globes®, celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2011.
· “Cars” originally released on June 9, 2006, and grossed nearly $462 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Oscars® and one Golden Globe®, winning the first ever Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.
When star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.

Can Pixar continue its streak of movie perfectionism? Don't see them stopping now do you? Especially with Lasseter at the helm!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Oh YEAH! Zemeckis is BACK! In Talks To Direct Hanks In MAJOR MATT MASON!!

I could not be happier - I am beside myself. I simply love Robert Zemeckis' live action movies (and the ROGER RABBIT hybrid) and it is with great pleasure that I pass on to you (via Variety) that Zemeckis is in talks to direct Tom Hanks in MAJOR MATT MASON.

Yes, the Oscar winning team are at it again! It gets better. Hanks has championed this for a couple of years now and in fact co-wrote the screenplay with Graham Yost (I am a HUGE fan) of SPEED, BAND OF BROTHERS, THE PACIFIC fame. Graham is the son of Elwy Yost who fronted SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES for 25 years (I lived in the Toronto area for 10 years). Their family oozes credibility.

Gary Goetzman is producing.

MAJOR MATT MASON will be a S3D release, but no official word that it will be native or conversion. My bet is native given the toys that Zemeckis could play with these days! Hanks' Playtone Productions has done one other 3D production to date: MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON 3D.

The budget is pegged at over $100 million and it is based on the retired (but probably soon to return) Mattel action figure.

Here's a brief Wikipedia description of the Mattel character:
Major Matt Mason was an action figure created by Mattel, an astronaut who lived and worked on the moon. When introduced in 1966, the figures were initially based on design information found in Life Magazine, Air Force Magazine, Jane’s, and other aviation- and space-interest periodicals. Later, the line would attempt to transition into the realm of science fiction.

Tom Hanks in space again!! Brilliant. More when I get it!

Friday, June 10, 2011

WATCH: New TV Spot For CONAN THE BARBARIAN!

Be sure to watch this in HD - cause it looks wicked! Love the new shots we're seeing here from Lionsgate. More of the verbal interaction between Conan (Jason Momoa) and Khalar (Stephen Lang) which helps present a bit more of their characters.

The whole thing is looking much more epic with this glimpse!

CONAN THE BARBARIAN opens August 19 in S3D!



More when I get it. Check out all of our Conan coverage right here.

Watch: First Look At Pixar's Short LA LUNA!

Nice! Having watched this thing a dozen times now (its not long) I can say that I am quite taken by it.

Interestingly enough, I actually got some vibes from Sony's CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS with the father / son dynamic and personality quirks. That's a kudo to Sony Pictures Animation's efforts of late.

Pixar really nails the human condition don't they? Why can't more studios do this with live action? THIS is what I want to see made in native 3D with real actors. My vote says, make it happen!

Check out the short:

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Warner Bros. Animation Announces Three New 3D LOONEY TUNES Theatrical Shorts... And...

YES! A mainstay of my childhood is continuing its climb back to center stage - The Looney Tunes! Controversial to some as there is some questionable violence involved but loved by most, I can't wait to see the results. I turned out fine after all! For the most part.

Apparently there are feature films in development too for some of their heavy hitters like Bugs Bunny, Pepe Le Pew and the ACME Warehouse. But one would imagine that Daffy Duck, Sylvester & Tweety and the others couldn't be far behind.

Here's the official press release from Warner Bros for the shorts:

THE LOONEY TUNES — AND THE LEGENDARY MEL BLANC — RETURN TO THE SILVER SCREEN, STARTING IN 2011

Two of the Original Films Feature Voice Recordings Made by Mel Blanc

ANNECY, France and BURBANK, Calif. (8 June 2011) — “Thufferin thuccotash!” Sylvester the Cat, Tweety Bird, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner will all return to theaters in three original Looney Tunes 3D theatrical cartoon shorts produced by Warner Bros. Animation and directed by Matthew O’Callaghan (Coyote Falls). Two of the new shorts — Daffy’s Rhapsody and I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat — will feature the voice of the late, great Mel Blanc. The legendary actor/comedian known as The Man of a Thousand Voices brought to life some of the most revered characters in animation history during a celebrated career spanning six decades. Blanc will appear in the shorts — which are created using state-of-the-art CG animation and rendered in stereoscopic 3D — via original songs he recorded in character in the 1950s.

The announcement was made today by Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television, who oversees television animation for the Studio, and Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Animation (WBA). Register unveiled news of the three original shorts — which also include an as-yet-untitled adventure featuring the Coyote and Road Runner — during a presentation at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

“Everyone at Warner Bros. Animation grew up loving the Looney Tunes characters, and it has been both a great honor and an enormous challenge to continue the legacy of these animation icons and introduce them to a new generation of fans,” said Register. “And to have the incomparable Mel Blanc voicing these characters once more is nothing short of a dream come true for all of us.”

Register added, “This will probably be the last time that Looney Tunes fans will have an opportunity to see an original Mel Blanc short featuring these characters. We are honored to bring Mr. Blanc and his legacy to Looney Tunes fans once again.”

Daffy’s Rhapsody: In the first of the new shorts, a persistent Elmer Fudd chases Daffy Duck (Blanc) on stage during a musical performance. The short features Blanc performing the song “Daffy Duck’s Rhapsody.” Daffy’s Rhapsody is scheduled to debut in theaters on November 18, 2011, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Happy Feet 2.

I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat: A classic game of cat and bird transpires in Granny’s apartment as Tweety Bird goes to great lengths to avoid the clutches of his arch-nemesis Sylvester the Cat. The short also features the hit song of the same name, which was performed by Blanc, and sold over three million copies worldwide.

Untitled Coyote & Road Runner: Wile E. Coyote’s epic quest to capture the Road Runner continues in this all-new short. Will the Coyote finally get his paws on his elusive prize?

The three new shorts are all directed by Matthew O’Callaghan and executive produced by WBA’s Sam Register (The Looney Tunes Show, Teen Titans, Ben 10). The producers are Spike Brandt (The Looney Tunes Show, Duck Dodgers) and Tony Cervone (The Looney Tunes Show, Duck Dodgers).

The new theatrical shorts follow closely after the launch of The Looney Tunes Show, an all-new modern comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation which debuted in May and airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Cartoon Network. The animated sitcom finds Bugs and Daffy living together as unlikely roommates: Bugs is as brazen, sarcastic and ahead-of-the-game as ever, while Daffy — despite his narcissistic, sociopathic and paranoid tendencies — is Bugs’ best friend and seemingly permanent houseguest.

In 2010, Warner Bros. Animation unveiled its first three CG cartoon shorts, all of which featured Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. The first, Coyote Falls, was shortlisted for the Academy Award® for Best Short Film (Animated) and was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject.

Photo caption: Elmer Fudd (left) and Daffy Duck (right) star in Daffy’s Rhapsody, an all-new Looney Tunes 3D theatrical cartoon short from Warner Bros. Animation. Daffy’s Rhapsody will feature the voice of the late, great Mel Blanc, who will appear in the shorts — which are created using state-of-the-art CG animation and rendered in stereoscopic 3D — via original songs he recorded in character in the 1950s. Daffy’s Rhapsody will be released in theaters on November 18, 2011, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Happy Feet 2.

Remember we will see DAFFY"S RHAPSODY pre-rolling in front of Warner Bros. HAPPY FEET 2 on November 18!

Thanks to Collider for alerting me to this.


Wednesday, June 08, 2011

See: New CONAN THE BARBARIAN Character Posters!

Hey guys - check the new CONAN THE BARBARIAN posters!

Click images to enlarge...

Here's the movie's synopsis:
The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age now come alive like never before in a colossal 3D action-adventure film.

A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.

Deftly adapted from the original works of Robert E. Howard and faithful to the mythology and psychology of his iconic character, CONAN THE BARBARIAN stars Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan, Saïd Taghmaoui and Ron Perlman. The film is directed by Marcus Nispel, and written by Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer and Sean Hood.

- Official Site: http://www.ConanTheBarbarianIn3D.com
- Join the Barbarian Army: http://www.facebook.com/ConanTheBarbarian
- Official Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/#!/lionsgatemovies

Director: Marcus Nispel
Writer: Thomas Dean Donnelly
Studio: Lionsgate
Cast: Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang
Release: August 19, 2011

Oh man, can't wait for this one. Seeing Stephen Lang all pumped up with 3D badness again makes the eyes water a little bit... BRING IT!!

"I watch 3D. I post 3D. I comment 3D... I am content." -Jim Dorey 2011

Introducing MarketSaw Mobile!!

Check it out guys! When accessing MarketSaw from your smartphone via browser you will be directed to this cool optimzed mobile MarketSaw experience!!

And yes, I just bought a Motorola Atrix 4G Dual Core so I am pimping MarketSaw on it... :-)

Enjoy. More massive improvements coming soon!

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

MUST WATCH: 8 New GREEN LANTERN Clips!! **SOME SPOILERS**

Wow. Mini spoiler alert guys! With this much footage (approaching 8 minutes!) of Warner Bros.' GREEN LANTERN you have to start worrying about do I want to spoil some big screen scenes!!

So you have been warned. You will see some new things in these clips that you might have wanted to see on the big 3D screen. BUT - it is worth it :-)

Without any further delay - here are all the clips:

















IMPRESSIVE or what? :-) Man oh man, can't wait to see this thing in three dimensions!!

Monday, June 06, 2011

WATCH: New Trailer For FRIGHT NIGHT! First Look At David Tennant

Got the new trailer for FRIGHT NIGHT for you. This one goes much further than the first and introduces us to David Tennant who plays Peter Vincent.

Here's the storyline:
Senior Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin) finally has it all going on: he's running with the popular crowd and dating the most coveted girl in his high school. In fact, he's so cool he’s even dissing his best friend. But trouble arrives when Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves in next door. He seems like a great guy at first, but there’s something not quite right—but everyone, including Charlie's mom (Toni Collette), doesn't notice. After observing some very strange activity, Charlie comes to an unmistakable conclusion: Jerry is a vampire preying on the neighborhood. Unable to convince anyone, Charlie has to find a way to get rid of the monster himself in this Craig Gillespie-helmed revamp of the comedy-horror classic.

Movie Info:
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Marti Noxon
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Release: August 19, 2011



Keep in mind that FRIGHT NIGHT is a R rated film! I am hoping for an exciting and horrific 3D movie... :-)

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