After the huge success of “Alvin and the Chipmunks” comes the hotly anticipated “Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel” in which the mischievous and delightful trio – Alvin, Simon and Theodore have to deal with school along with their new temporary guardian Toby (played by Zachary Levi).
Life changes a hundred eighty degree turn for the Chipmunks when Alvin inadvertently causes an accident on stage which results in Dave Seville’s severe bone fracture forcing him to stay for months in a French hospital. Dave then designates his aunt as the Chipmunks’ guardian. Unfortunately, the wheelchair-bound Aunt Jackie also encountered a bad accident, leaving Dave’s cousin, the likeable but irresponsible Toby in charge of the Chipmunks.
Toby is hardly the type of secure family figure the Chipmunks need at this important crossroads in their lives. Levi tunes us in the following q&a how he and the Chipmunks got along in the film.
Q: What is Toby’s character like?
A: “Toby is just a big kid. He is the nerdy cousin of Dave. He is in his mid to late twenties and is a real man-child who didn’t do anything with his life. He might have the potential, but doesn’t have the drive yet to get anywhere.”
Q: How qualified is Toby to be the guardian of the Chipmunks?
A: “Toby is not qualified to take care of the Chipmunks, but he does have a good heart. He sees the Chipmunks and learns about family and love between brothers. He also learns to face his own fears. As little Theodore stands up to his fears, Toby does too.
Q: How was it working in the film?
A: “I spent most of the movie talking to characters who aren’t really there. But I feel that as long as you play it honestly, there is a certain reality that will come out of it. Using your imagination is crucial, but I enjoy it, its fun and challenging. It’s nice to work those muscles out.
Q: What will the audience look forward in the sequel?
A: “People like the characters…parents remember them and kids love them. This might sound crazy but I honestly think it’s a blessed idea. They have hit on something incredibly special. At the end of the day this film hearkens back to great classic family entertainment that we don’t really get too much these days. It’s a big high-energy family comedy that everyone will love.”
One of People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2007 and Entertainment Weekly’s “30 Under 30” list of actors to watch in 2008., Zachary Levi’s rise to fame came when he played a computer geek-turned-unwitting government agent on the surprise hit series, “Chuck.”
After graduating from high scholl, Levi starred in regional productions of “Grease,” “The Outsiders,” “Oliver,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Big River.” With a struggling actor’s salary, Levi took odd jobs to pay the bills, including work as a busboy, as an employee at Blockbuster and at a car wash which would later on become his tool for character-building.
Levi’s film credits include “Big Momma’s House 2,” “American Carol,” “Spiral,” “Wieners” and “Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie.”
“Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel” opens January 8 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Of Nice and Men
There's something about Amelia, and also All About Steve...
Two new endearing films from 20th Century Fox: "All About Steve” and “Amelia” -- brought to the fore by talented actors Bradley Cooper and Richard Gere.
Multi-layered Bradley Cooper whom audiences recently seen in the box-office hit “The Hangover” stars opposite Sandra Bullock in the heartwarming comedy “All About Steve.” Cooper is news cameraman Steve Hartman whom whiz woman Mary Horowitz (Bullock) pursues after their first hot date outside Mary’s house, her parent’s house. Realizing she has found her soul mate, Mary goes on a rendezvous following Steve in news coverage. Gentle and polite, Steve can’t easily get it across the socially-challenged cruciverbalist Mary that they are not an item. What happens is a series of offbeat situations between Mary and Steve that eventually got people and the news moving across the country. Despite the media storm surrounding her, Mary with her upbeat, unaffected manner brings together a small community of new friends. Steve, despite being stalked all throughout pans on the spotlight to Mary to tell the world that the ones who don’t fit in are the ones who really stand out.
During pre-production, it became evident to Bullock who also produces the movie that Bradley Cooper fit the bill as the handsome cameraman Steve, who elicits a passionate response from Mary during their very brief first date. Cooper’s rugged good looks, innate charisma and impeccable comic timing, most recently on display in his lead role in the blockbuster comedy “The Hangover,” proved to be an irresistible combination. “He has the ability to play the cad believably, yet can still evolve into someone who’s misunderstood,” says Bullock. Cooper says the feeling was mutual and taking on the role was an easy decision. “The draw for joining the project was Sandy [Bullock],” he recalls. “The prospect of working with such a wonderful actress was enticing, and I thought it would be a great experience.”
Cooper, with his extensive training and experience in theater, television and film, is one of the most sought after actors of his generation. He recently starred in the hit comedy, “The Hangover.” His other film credits include “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “Yes Man,” “Wedding Crashers” and “Wet Hot American Summer.” Born in Philadelphia, PA, Cooper graduated with honors in the English program at Georgetown University. After moving to New York City, he obtained his Masters in the Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School University.
Parallel to what was done in Julia Roberts’ role in “Pretty Woman,” Richard Gere once again empowers women as he puts Hilary Swank right on the spotlight in the movie biopic “Amelia.” In the upcoming flight of “Amelia,” Gere plays the wealthy influential publishing magnate George Putnam who was the man behind the fame of world’s pioneer aviatrix Amelia Earheart.
Amelia Earheart’s (Swank) early aviation triumphs and meteoric rise to fame and fortune were propelled along by her tempestuous partnership and eventual marriage to publisher George Putnam (Gere). Bound by mutual ambition, admiration and ultimately a great love, their bond could not be broken with her brief passionate affair with Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). And in the summer of 1937, Amelia set off on her most daunting mission yet: a solo flight around the world that she and George both anxiously foresaw as destined, whatever the outcome, to become one of the most talked-about journeys in history.
Golden Globe winner Richard Gere who plays George Putnam with so much charm is best known for his notable roles in acclaimed hit films “Chicago,” “Unfaithful,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Days of Heaven,” “American Gigolo,” “Pretty Woman” and “Primal Fear.” Gere has proven himself as an enduring Hollywood star who made women’s heart race in his other films which include “”Nights in Rodanthe,” “Shall We Dance,” “”The Interpreter,” “Autumn in New York,” “Sommersby” and “Runaway Bride.”
Off screen, Gere is an accomplished pianist, music writer and humanitarian. A student and friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he also became an accomplished photographer and made his first book, “Pilgrim,” a collection of images from twenty-year journey throughout India, Nepal, Zanskar, Tibet, Mongolia and China.
“All About Steve” and “Amelia” opens very soon in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Two new endearing films from 20th Century Fox: "All About Steve” and “Amelia” -- brought to the fore by talented actors Bradley Cooper and Richard Gere.
Multi-layered Bradley Cooper whom audiences recently seen in the box-office hit “The Hangover” stars opposite Sandra Bullock in the heartwarming comedy “All About Steve.” Cooper is news cameraman Steve Hartman whom whiz woman Mary Horowitz (Bullock) pursues after their first hot date outside Mary’s house, her parent’s house. Realizing she has found her soul mate, Mary goes on a rendezvous following Steve in news coverage. Gentle and polite, Steve can’t easily get it across the socially-challenged cruciverbalist Mary that they are not an item. What happens is a series of offbeat situations between Mary and Steve that eventually got people and the news moving across the country. Despite the media storm surrounding her, Mary with her upbeat, unaffected manner brings together a small community of new friends. Steve, despite being stalked all throughout pans on the spotlight to Mary to tell the world that the ones who don’t fit in are the ones who really stand out.
During pre-production, it became evident to Bullock who also produces the movie that Bradley Cooper fit the bill as the handsome cameraman Steve, who elicits a passionate response from Mary during their very brief first date. Cooper’s rugged good looks, innate charisma and impeccable comic timing, most recently on display in his lead role in the blockbuster comedy “The Hangover,” proved to be an irresistible combination. “He has the ability to play the cad believably, yet can still evolve into someone who’s misunderstood,” says Bullock. Cooper says the feeling was mutual and taking on the role was an easy decision. “The draw for joining the project was Sandy [Bullock],” he recalls. “The prospect of working with such a wonderful actress was enticing, and I thought it would be a great experience.”
Cooper, with his extensive training and experience in theater, television and film, is one of the most sought after actors of his generation. He recently starred in the hit comedy, “The Hangover.” His other film credits include “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “Yes Man,” “Wedding Crashers” and “Wet Hot American Summer.” Born in Philadelphia, PA, Cooper graduated with honors in the English program at Georgetown University. After moving to New York City, he obtained his Masters in the Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School University.
Parallel to what was done in Julia Roberts’ role in “Pretty Woman,” Richard Gere once again empowers women as he puts Hilary Swank right on the spotlight in the movie biopic “Amelia.” In the upcoming flight of “Amelia,” Gere plays the wealthy influential publishing magnate George Putnam who was the man behind the fame of world’s pioneer aviatrix Amelia Earheart.
Amelia Earheart’s (Swank) early aviation triumphs and meteoric rise to fame and fortune were propelled along by her tempestuous partnership and eventual marriage to publisher George Putnam (Gere). Bound by mutual ambition, admiration and ultimately a great love, their bond could not be broken with her brief passionate affair with Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). And in the summer of 1937, Amelia set off on her most daunting mission yet: a solo flight around the world that she and George both anxiously foresaw as destined, whatever the outcome, to become one of the most talked-about journeys in history.
Golden Globe winner Richard Gere who plays George Putnam with so much charm is best known for his notable roles in acclaimed hit films “Chicago,” “Unfaithful,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Days of Heaven,” “American Gigolo,” “Pretty Woman” and “Primal Fear.” Gere has proven himself as an enduring Hollywood star who made women’s heart race in his other films which include “”Nights in Rodanthe,” “Shall We Dance,” “”The Interpreter,” “Autumn in New York,” “Sommersby” and “Runaway Bride.”
Off screen, Gere is an accomplished pianist, music writer and humanitarian. A student and friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he also became an accomplished photographer and made his first book, “Pilgrim,” a collection of images from twenty-year journey throughout India, Nepal, Zanskar, Tibet, Mongolia and China.
“All About Steve” and “Amelia” opens very soon in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Digital Innovations in Greenbelt 3 Cinemas
MODERN living found great comfort when practically everything became digital. Touted as one of the wonders of cutting edge technology, the digital age has changed the way we view the world around us. From watches to cameras, mobile phones to television sets, going digital has made life easier and truly rewarding.
Taking cue from this dynamic movement, Ayala Malls Cinemas sparks excitement in the local cinema exhibition landscape as it unveils an innovative technology designed to take movie-watching experience a notch higher. The THX certified Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1is now equipped with Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology, guaranteed to give discerning movie goers a one-of-a-kind viewing pleasure.
This ground-breaking approach to film exhibition gives a refreshing dimension to the silver screen. What was once viewed as “flat” images now spring to life with realistic clarity and brilliant colors.
Audiences in the posh cinema will be asked to wear special glasses with filtering lenses. From the moment the first scene unfolds, viewers will actually feel as if they were “in” the movie virtually experiencing what the characters are going through.
Enhancing the 3D Digital Cinema experience is the theater’s THX sound system. Setting the standards in high quality film presentation, the THX sound system delivers a full dynamic audio range that is uniformly distributed throughout the theater.
The Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology is just one of the major attractions that discerning mall goers can look forward to. As one of the country’s premiere lifestyle centers, Greenbelt provides world-class shopping and dining options, not to mention a myriad of enjoyable leisure activities for the whole family. The interesting mix of premium retail outlets and concept restaurants provides a unique charm that complements state-of-the-art innovations in shopping malls and movie theaters.
Taking cue from this dynamic movement, Ayala Malls Cinemas sparks excitement in the local cinema exhibition landscape as it unveils an innovative technology designed to take movie-watching experience a notch higher. The THX certified Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1is now equipped with Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology, guaranteed to give discerning movie goers a one-of-a-kind viewing pleasure.
This ground-breaking approach to film exhibition gives a refreshing dimension to the silver screen. What was once viewed as “flat” images now spring to life with realistic clarity and brilliant colors.
Audiences in the posh cinema will be asked to wear special glasses with filtering lenses. From the moment the first scene unfolds, viewers will actually feel as if they were “in” the movie virtually experiencing what the characters are going through.
Enhancing the 3D Digital Cinema experience is the theater’s THX sound system. Setting the standards in high quality film presentation, the THX sound system delivers a full dynamic audio range that is uniformly distributed throughout the theater.
The Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology is just one of the major attractions that discerning mall goers can look forward to. As one of the country’s premiere lifestyle centers, Greenbelt provides world-class shopping and dining options, not to mention a myriad of enjoyable leisure activities for the whole family. The interesting mix of premium retail outlets and concept restaurants provides a unique charm that complements state-of-the-art innovations in shopping malls and movie theaters.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Ashley Leads the Teen Pack
TODAY’s hottest dolls Ashley Tisdale, Megan Fox, Alexis Bledel and Hayden Panattiere star in heartwarming funny films painted on different palettes of adolescent years.
Ashley Tisdale’s comedic chops will tickle every lad’s fancy in “Aliens in the Attic” (previously “They Came from Upstairs”) as she appears alongside talented youngsters Carter Jenkins and Austin Butler and veteran comedians Kevin Nealon and Gillian Vigman in this comedy adventure. Tisdale takes on the role of Bethany as the pretty teenage girl who wants to impress her older boyfriend Ricky, played by Robert Hoffman while in the midst of fighting aliens who invaded their vacation home from upstairs. As Bethany and the kids learn to help each other, audiences will be taken on a fun and wild journey full of state-of-the-art special effects and side-splittingly funny adventures.
For guys who are too coy to express their feelings, “I Love You Beth Cooper” will give you the courage to finally let it out your chest. In the movie, nerdy Dennis Cooverman (played by newcomer Paul Rust) surprises popular cheerleader Beth Cooper played by Hayden Panattiere when he finally proclaimed his love for the hottest girl in school during his valedictory address. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up that very night and decides to show him the best night of his life.
Alexis Bledel is an A-grade student in “Post Grad” where she plays Ryden Malby who did well in high school thereby receiving one of the most coveted college scholarships. But when her dream job after college is stolen by her college nemesis, Ryden is forced to move back with her eccentric family where her only upside is spending time with her best friend Adam (Zach Gilford) and meeting hot next-door neighbor David (Rodrigo Santoro).
Megan Fox goes diabolical in the intriguing, pitch-black, horror comedy “Jennifer’s Body” from Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”). Fox is a gorgeous cheerleader in the movie possessed by a demon who starts feeding off the boys in a small Minnesota farming town. Amanda Seyfried plays her “plain Jane” best friend and must kill her, then escape from a correctional facility to go after the Satan-worshiping rock band responsible for the horrible transformation.
“Aliens in the Attic,” “I Love You Beth Cooper,” “Post Grad” and “Jennifer’s Body” will open very soon in cinemas from 20th Century Fox films to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Ashley Tisdale’s comedic chops will tickle every lad’s fancy in “Aliens in the Attic” (previously “They Came from Upstairs”) as she appears alongside talented youngsters Carter Jenkins and Austin Butler and veteran comedians Kevin Nealon and Gillian Vigman in this comedy adventure. Tisdale takes on the role of Bethany as the pretty teenage girl who wants to impress her older boyfriend Ricky, played by Robert Hoffman while in the midst of fighting aliens who invaded their vacation home from upstairs. As Bethany and the kids learn to help each other, audiences will be taken on a fun and wild journey full of state-of-the-art special effects and side-splittingly funny adventures.
For guys who are too coy to express their feelings, “I Love You Beth Cooper” will give you the courage to finally let it out your chest. In the movie, nerdy Dennis Cooverman (played by newcomer Paul Rust) surprises popular cheerleader Beth Cooper played by Hayden Panattiere when he finally proclaimed his love for the hottest girl in school during his valedictory address. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up that very night and decides to show him the best night of his life.
Alexis Bledel is an A-grade student in “Post Grad” where she plays Ryden Malby who did well in high school thereby receiving one of the most coveted college scholarships. But when her dream job after college is stolen by her college nemesis, Ryden is forced to move back with her eccentric family where her only upside is spending time with her best friend Adam (Zach Gilford) and meeting hot next-door neighbor David (Rodrigo Santoro).
Megan Fox goes diabolical in the intriguing, pitch-black, horror comedy “Jennifer’s Body” from Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”). Fox is a gorgeous cheerleader in the movie possessed by a demon who starts feeding off the boys in a small Minnesota farming town. Amanda Seyfried plays her “plain Jane” best friend and must kill her, then escape from a correctional facility to go after the Satan-worshiping rock band responsible for the horrible transformation.
“Aliens in the Attic,” “I Love You Beth Cooper,” “Post Grad” and “Jennifer’s Body” will open very soon in cinemas from 20th Century Fox films to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Aliens Meet Ashley Tisdale
HIGH School Musical star Ashley Tisdale appears alongside talented youngsters in the upcoming adventure comedy “Aliens in the Attic,” an adventure comedy written by Mark Burton who wrote “Madagascar” and the Award-winning “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbits” with Adam F. Goldberg, who also wrote “The Muppets: Wizard of Oz.”
“Aliens in the Attic” spirals into adventure when the Pearsons go on a family vacation. But soon, the kids realize that they are not alone as there are a group of knee-high aliens who have invaded their vacation house. As the aliens begin to attack from the attic, Bethany (Tisdale) along with the other kids must use all their skills, imagination and cooperation to protect the adults from the little creatures, who want to take over the world.
The movie takes the audience to the perfect family vacation home in Michigan, an idyllic place, especially for a bit of father and son bonding time fishing on the nearby lake. It’s definitely a low-tech house. There are no Playstations or iPods or any other technology these kids are used to. “In that spirit, we’re trying to provide a place where these families will feel there’s a great opportunity to throw technology away for a moment, to get rid of their iPods and just embrace being in the great outdoors, with evergreen trees, meadows, and a big rambling beautiful house,” explains the production designer Barry Chusid, who is famous for his work on “The Day After Tomorrow.”
“There are so many little things that are truly southern hemisphere, which are very different to the northern hemisphere,” continues Chusid. “Often times when you watch a movie, it’s not something that you actually look at and see but rather something you feel, whether it’s just the height of a doorknob or an electrical outlet. What we have done is to make everything look like a normal Michigan vacation spot so that the story can be all about the characters and the aliens and their journey. I think we’ve tried to meet the challenge head on and have some fun.”
The movie is certainly funny but it’s also a nuanced and warm look at family relationships and the struggle to find one’s own identity. “The cast has been incredibly enthusiastic, I imagine because the script gives them all a lot of opportunities to shine. Ashley is the perfect older sister. Her comedic timing, endless energy and consummate skill in front of the camera really inspired all the other kids,” enthuses director John Schultz.
“My character Bethany is a typical teenager,” says Tisdale of her role. “She has a younger brother and a younger sister and has that sibling relationship with her brother where they’re annoyed with each other all the time and he’s always embarrassing her,” she explains. “But she’s also someone who beneath the mean older sister exterior has a lot of heart and obviously when she knows what’s going on with the whole situation, jumps right in there with the family and sticks up for them, as well as for herself, so she was really fun to play.”
“Aliens in the Attic” opens very soon in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
“Aliens in the Attic” spirals into adventure when the Pearsons go on a family vacation. But soon, the kids realize that they are not alone as there are a group of knee-high aliens who have invaded their vacation house. As the aliens begin to attack from the attic, Bethany (Tisdale) along with the other kids must use all their skills, imagination and cooperation to protect the adults from the little creatures, who want to take over the world.
The movie takes the audience to the perfect family vacation home in Michigan, an idyllic place, especially for a bit of father and son bonding time fishing on the nearby lake. It’s definitely a low-tech house. There are no Playstations or iPods or any other technology these kids are used to. “In that spirit, we’re trying to provide a place where these families will feel there’s a great opportunity to throw technology away for a moment, to get rid of their iPods and just embrace being in the great outdoors, with evergreen trees, meadows, and a big rambling beautiful house,” explains the production designer Barry Chusid, who is famous for his work on “The Day After Tomorrow.”
“There are so many little things that are truly southern hemisphere, which are very different to the northern hemisphere,” continues Chusid. “Often times when you watch a movie, it’s not something that you actually look at and see but rather something you feel, whether it’s just the height of a doorknob or an electrical outlet. What we have done is to make everything look like a normal Michigan vacation spot so that the story can be all about the characters and the aliens and their journey. I think we’ve tried to meet the challenge head on and have some fun.”
The movie is certainly funny but it’s also a nuanced and warm look at family relationships and the struggle to find one’s own identity. “The cast has been incredibly enthusiastic, I imagine because the script gives them all a lot of opportunities to shine. Ashley is the perfect older sister. Her comedic timing, endless energy and consummate skill in front of the camera really inspired all the other kids,” enthuses director John Schultz.
“My character Bethany is a typical teenager,” says Tisdale of her role. “She has a younger brother and a younger sister and has that sibling relationship with her brother where they’re annoyed with each other all the time and he’s always embarrassing her,” she explains. “But she’s also someone who beneath the mean older sister exterior has a lot of heart and obviously when she knows what’s going on with the whole situation, jumps right in there with the family and sticks up for them, as well as for herself, so she was really fun to play.”
“Aliens in the Attic” opens very soon in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Ice Agers are Back
THE world’s beloved prehistoric squirrel/rat known as Scrat is back in “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” Ice Age’s 3rd installment ups the stakes even more for the hapless yet indefatigable Scrat, giving him a rival for the nut – a wily and attractive female squirrel/rat named Scratte (rhymes with “sautee”). Their battle of the sexes brings a new level of fun, action and especially romance to the beleaguered figure.
The burgeoning love and the fight for the nut go hand in hand for the rodent couple, no more so than during a scene that has them tangling – then tangoing – to Lou Rawls’ classic “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” “When we sat down to map out the scene,” recalls director Carlos Saldanha, we said, ‘Okay, they’re fighting over the nut. What can we do beyond a standard fight scene that will make it romantic, but still action-packed?” The resulting sequence, like so many others, points to the filmmakers’ desire to break new ground with each “Ice Age” film. (Even the object of their pursuit – the nut – gets an expanded role in this film, warbling a heartfelt tune based on Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally),” with special lyrics by co-screenwriter Yoni Brenner.)
Scrat, whose raison d’être is an elusive acorn, is initially envisioned for “Ice Age” as a peripheral character. Scrat’s explosive popularity in that first film’s teaser trailer led the filmmakers to expand the role significantly. “Ice Age: The Meltdown” explored new attitudes and frustrations for Scrat, as his quest remained unfulfilled. Not only did he instigate the meltdown and ensuing flood, Scrat ended up saving the day. The character’s exasperated squeaks, squeals, squawks, grunts and groans are again voiced by Chris Wedge, who helmed “Ice Age” and executive produced the two follow-ups.
Scratte, like all the “Ice Age” characters, was designed by noted artist Peter de Sève, who has been with the films since the inception of “Ice Age.” He worked to make the two rodents physically similar, but with important distinctions. “Scratte is smarter than Scrat,” he points out. “And she’s more refined and evolved.”
Karen Disher, who heads the film’s story department, voices Scratte. But Disher’s responsibilities extended beyond her vocal work. Unlike the film’s main story, scripted by Michael Berg & Peter Ackerman and Mike Reiss and Yoni Brenner, from a story by Jason Carter Eaton, the story department, working closely with Saldanha, created the Scrat-Scratte scenes. Disher and her team embraced the task of inventing new challenges for the beloved Scrat. “Working on the Scrat-Scratte scenes is the purest form of animation,” she notes.
“Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” opens very soon this July in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
The burgeoning love and the fight for the nut go hand in hand for the rodent couple, no more so than during a scene that has them tangling – then tangoing – to Lou Rawls’ classic “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” “When we sat down to map out the scene,” recalls director Carlos Saldanha, we said, ‘Okay, they’re fighting over the nut. What can we do beyond a standard fight scene that will make it romantic, but still action-packed?” The resulting sequence, like so many others, points to the filmmakers’ desire to break new ground with each “Ice Age” film. (Even the object of their pursuit – the nut – gets an expanded role in this film, warbling a heartfelt tune based on Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally),” with special lyrics by co-screenwriter Yoni Brenner.)
Scrat, whose raison d’être is an elusive acorn, is initially envisioned for “Ice Age” as a peripheral character. Scrat’s explosive popularity in that first film’s teaser trailer led the filmmakers to expand the role significantly. “Ice Age: The Meltdown” explored new attitudes and frustrations for Scrat, as his quest remained unfulfilled. Not only did he instigate the meltdown and ensuing flood, Scrat ended up saving the day. The character’s exasperated squeaks, squeals, squawks, grunts and groans are again voiced by Chris Wedge, who helmed “Ice Age” and executive produced the two follow-ups.
Scratte, like all the “Ice Age” characters, was designed by noted artist Peter de Sève, who has been with the films since the inception of “Ice Age.” He worked to make the two rodents physically similar, but with important distinctions. “Scratte is smarter than Scrat,” he points out. “And she’s more refined and evolved.”
Karen Disher, who heads the film’s story department, voices Scratte. But Disher’s responsibilities extended beyond her vocal work. Unlike the film’s main story, scripted by Michael Berg & Peter Ackerman and Mike Reiss and Yoni Brenner, from a story by Jason Carter Eaton, the story department, working closely with Saldanha, created the Scrat-Scratte scenes. Disher and her team embraced the task of inventing new challenges for the beloved Scrat. “Working on the Scrat-Scratte scenes is the purest form of animation,” she notes.
“Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” opens very soon this July in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Owen's Night at the Museum 2
OWEN Wilson reprises his miniature character as cowboy Jedediah in the fun-filled family movie “Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian.”
The movie is the sequel to the massively popular 2006 hit, “Night at the Museum” wherein Ben Stiller played a security guard at New York’s Natural History Museum who discovered that the museum comes to life at the end of the day. In “Night at the Museum 2,” Larry Daley (Stiller) is no longer in uniform, he is now a successful entrepreneur but still misses the thrill of his former job. A distress call from his miniature pal Jedediah (Owen Wilson) takes him right back to the museum world and back into uniform. This time he goes to Washington to the Smithsonian Institute where he and his old friends face a villainous plot to stage a coup in the museum complex led by a hilarious Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) and his henchmen: Ivan The Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon, (Alain Chabat) and Al Capone (Jon Bernthal). Speeding to the nation’s capital, Larry will stop at nothing to regain his friends and restore order to the National Mall, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Air and Space Museum, before the stroke of dawn.
“It feels good to be back,” says Owen Wilson, one of the many original stars in Night at the Museum who return for this all new adventure. Wilson reprises the role of Jedediah, the miniature cowboy from the Museum of Natural History’s collection – now being held captive at the Smithsonian.
Wilson continues: “We all had such a good time playing these wonderful characters in the first movie, we all became great friends, and it was exciting to see family audiences respond so well to it. So it was easy to return. This story is a continuation of all the character’s paths, but it’s also a much bigger movie and you can see that Shawn has really grown as a director.”
The actor also confesses that he still has a soft spot for the inches-tall Wild West buckaroo. “He’s just a little cowboy who can barely be heard screaming against the injustices of the world,” muses Wilson. “What’s great is that you can’t be too over-the-top when playing a character this minute.”
Hollywood’s most sought after comedic talent, Owen Wilson is known for his memorable turns in both mainstream films and thought-provoking independents. Wilson has also made his mark as a writer, collaborating frequently with director Wes Anderson. Their work on “The Royal Tenenbaums” earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Wilson’s film credits includes “Marley & Me,” “Wedding Crashers,” “You, Me and Dupree,” Disney's animated blockbuster “Cars” as the voice of McQueen,” “The Darjeeling Limited,” “The Life Aquatic,” “Drillbit Taylor,” “The Cable Guy,” “Armageddon,” “The Minus Man,” “Shanghai Noon,” “Zoolander,” “Behind Enemy Lines,” “I Spy,” “Shanghai Knights” and “Starsky and Hutch.” Wilson also served as associate producer on the Oscar®-winning film As Good As It Gets.
“Night at the Museum 2” opens May 22 (Friday) in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
The movie is the sequel to the massively popular 2006 hit, “Night at the Museum” wherein Ben Stiller played a security guard at New York’s Natural History Museum who discovered that the museum comes to life at the end of the day. In “Night at the Museum 2,” Larry Daley (Stiller) is no longer in uniform, he is now a successful entrepreneur but still misses the thrill of his former job. A distress call from his miniature pal Jedediah (Owen Wilson) takes him right back to the museum world and back into uniform. This time he goes to Washington to the Smithsonian Institute where he and his old friends face a villainous plot to stage a coup in the museum complex led by a hilarious Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) and his henchmen: Ivan The Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon, (Alain Chabat) and Al Capone (Jon Bernthal). Speeding to the nation’s capital, Larry will stop at nothing to regain his friends and restore order to the National Mall, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Air and Space Museum, before the stroke of dawn.
“It feels good to be back,” says Owen Wilson, one of the many original stars in Night at the Museum who return for this all new adventure. Wilson reprises the role of Jedediah, the miniature cowboy from the Museum of Natural History’s collection – now being held captive at the Smithsonian.
Wilson continues: “We all had such a good time playing these wonderful characters in the first movie, we all became great friends, and it was exciting to see family audiences respond so well to it. So it was easy to return. This story is a continuation of all the character’s paths, but it’s also a much bigger movie and you can see that Shawn has really grown as a director.”
The actor also confesses that he still has a soft spot for the inches-tall Wild West buckaroo. “He’s just a little cowboy who can barely be heard screaming against the injustices of the world,” muses Wilson. “What’s great is that you can’t be too over-the-top when playing a character this minute.”
Hollywood’s most sought after comedic talent, Owen Wilson is known for his memorable turns in both mainstream films and thought-provoking independents. Wilson has also made his mark as a writer, collaborating frequently with director Wes Anderson. Their work on “The Royal Tenenbaums” earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Wilson’s film credits includes “Marley & Me,” “Wedding Crashers,” “You, Me and Dupree,” Disney's animated blockbuster “Cars” as the voice of McQueen,” “The Darjeeling Limited,” “The Life Aquatic,” “Drillbit Taylor,” “The Cable Guy,” “Armageddon,” “The Minus Man,” “Shanghai Noon,” “Zoolander,” “Behind Enemy Lines,” “I Spy,” “Shanghai Knights” and “Starsky and Hutch.” Wilson also served as associate producer on the Oscar®-winning film As Good As It Gets.
“Night at the Museum 2” opens May 22 (Friday) in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
AVATAR to Revolutionize Cinema
AVANT-GARDE filmmaker James Cameron who gave us gigantic hits “Titanic,” “True Lies 1 & 2” and “Terminator 1 & 2” will re-define movie experience when “Avatar” finally bows to theaters come December 2009.
Conceived as a potential franchise filmed in 3D for release in the new digital 3D format, “Avatar” is the story of a wounded ex-marine (played by Sam Worthington), thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.
Just as he did with the then little known Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron wanted a new face to portray the lead, Jake Sully. Having searched around the world and screen tested a number of emerging young actors, Cameron has chosen the young Australian Sam Worthington, a rising star who has been recognized by The Australian Film Institute and The Film Critics Circle of Australia in his homeland from such work as “Somersault” and “Dirty Deeds.” Zoe Saldana (“The Terminal,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”) will portray the local woman Jake first betrays, then loves. The movie also stars Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi.
Said Cameron, “For me, as a lifelong fan of science fiction and action, “Avatar” is a dream project. We’re creating an entire world, a complete ecosystem of phantasmagorical plants and creatures, and a native people with a rich culture and language. The story is both epic and emotional. The two things that make this film even possible are pioneering advances in CG effects and performance capture, as well as my 22 year relationship with Fox, since only with great trust can you operate so close to the cutting edge. I plan to honor that relationship by bringing them a winner. And I have the team to do it, the best team of artists and technicians I’ve ever been privileged to work with. This one’s going to be a grand adventure.”
“Every year, our business makes hundreds of films, most of which come and go. But a Jim Cameron film is different,” said Fox executives Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos. “Jim’s movies raise the bar, both in storytelling and use of technology. “Avatar” will do so again. The world he has created is breathtaking and the action breathless. “Avatar” will be a seismic change in the movie going experience.”
The film’s new image-based process of facial performance capture gets all the subtle nuances of the actors’ performances. The virtual camera system also allows Cameron to work intimately with the cast while seeing in real-time, as each scene evolves, the computer generated worlds and characters. This revolutionary approach allows Cameron to direct scenes with CG characters and environments exactly as he would on a live action set.
The edited performances and scenes, incorporating Cameron’s hands-on camera moves, will be turned over to Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning visual effects house Weta Digital (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). Weta’s artists will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.
“Avatar” is the latest creative partnership between Cameron and Twentieth Century Fox, one of the most successful filmmaker-studio alliances in motion picture history. Cameron and Fox first joined forces in 1985 for “Aliens,” which became a sci-fi classic. Next came “The Abyss,” which revolutionized visual effects technology; and “True Lies,” a blockbuster starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1996, Fox greenlighted Cameron’s “Titanic,” which became the most successful film in history, and won a record-breaking eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.
Conceived as a potential franchise filmed in 3D for release in the new digital 3D format, “Avatar” is the story of a wounded ex-marine (played by Sam Worthington), thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.
Just as he did with the then little known Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron wanted a new face to portray the lead, Jake Sully. Having searched around the world and screen tested a number of emerging young actors, Cameron has chosen the young Australian Sam Worthington, a rising star who has been recognized by The Australian Film Institute and The Film Critics Circle of Australia in his homeland from such work as “Somersault” and “Dirty Deeds.” Zoe Saldana (“The Terminal,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”) will portray the local woman Jake first betrays, then loves. The movie also stars Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi.
Said Cameron, “For me, as a lifelong fan of science fiction and action, “Avatar” is a dream project. We’re creating an entire world, a complete ecosystem of phantasmagorical plants and creatures, and a native people with a rich culture and language. The story is both epic and emotional. The two things that make this film even possible are pioneering advances in CG effects and performance capture, as well as my 22 year relationship with Fox, since only with great trust can you operate so close to the cutting edge. I plan to honor that relationship by bringing them a winner. And I have the team to do it, the best team of artists and technicians I’ve ever been privileged to work with. This one’s going to be a grand adventure.”
“Every year, our business makes hundreds of films, most of which come and go. But a Jim Cameron film is different,” said Fox executives Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos. “Jim’s movies raise the bar, both in storytelling and use of technology. “Avatar” will do so again. The world he has created is breathtaking and the action breathless. “Avatar” will be a seismic change in the movie going experience.”
The film’s new image-based process of facial performance capture gets all the subtle nuances of the actors’ performances. The virtual camera system also allows Cameron to work intimately with the cast while seeing in real-time, as each scene evolves, the computer generated worlds and characters. This revolutionary approach allows Cameron to direct scenes with CG characters and environments exactly as he would on a live action set.
The edited performances and scenes, incorporating Cameron’s hands-on camera moves, will be turned over to Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning visual effects house Weta Digital (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). Weta’s artists will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.
“Avatar” is the latest creative partnership between Cameron and Twentieth Century Fox, one of the most successful filmmaker-studio alliances in motion picture history. Cameron and Fox first joined forces in 1985 for “Aliens,” which became a sci-fi classic. Next came “The Abyss,” which revolutionized visual effects technology; and “True Lies,” a blockbuster starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1996, Fox greenlighted Cameron’s “Titanic,” which became the most successful film in history, and won a record-breaking eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Night at the Museum 2: Twice the Fun
HUGELY entertaining adventure unfolds in the upcoming sequel (now entitled) “Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian” which stars funny man Ben Stiller as he reprises his role as Larry Daley which is directed by Shawn Levy (“Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Night at the Museum 1”).
This time, the stakes are higher as Daley (Stiller) is once again embroiled in an astonishing adventure with a host of enthralling historical figures who have come to life. In the sequel, Daley is no longer working the night shift as a security guard at the Natural History Museum. He is now a successful entrepreneur and has left the world of presidents, dinosaurs, cowboys and Neanderthals behind him. But he has lost his way, something is missing from his life and he finds himself returning to the familiar personalities he befriended from ancient and modern history.
The action takes place in Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian Institute, where the former museum security guard falls for aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and joins together his old pal, the miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and others including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and Albert Einstein (Eugene Levy) to defeat a group of notorious villains who are plotting a dastardly takeover of the museum.
Director Levy recounts how “Night at the Museum” changed his career and how they doubled the fun and adventure in the sequel “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” in the following q&a:
Q: Have you expected that “Night at the Museum” will be such a worldwide hit?
A: “We knew while we were filming the first Night at the Museum that we were onto
something, but no one anticipated the film would be embraced the way it was by audiences worldwide. We had a feeling it was going to do something, but you don’t expect like $585 million. It certainly changed my career – and it’s been really fun.”
Q: Where is the storyline of the sequel based this time?
A: “Screenwriters Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon are expanding on what made the first film such a success. “We start by going to the Smithsonian, which is the biggest museum in the world. And it involves aircrafts and various historical figures. It has 18 museums and I’ll just say that in this movie, they leave the museum. So it’s not just inside; they bust out into the world. The scale of the visuals is very different. But what is more important is that we have a great story, great characters and genius actors.
Q: How did you reinvent the adventure shooting in the Smithsonian?
A: “The script is better, the cast is bigger, the action’s bigger, so we’re feeling pretty good. I’m here telling you, I don’t think anyone’s going to be disappointed. “Everybody…literally everybody is back. And we got Amy Adams playing Amelia Earhart. We got a number of other really cool pieces of casting, so it’s all good.”
Q: How is it working with Ben Stiller again?
A: “Ben Stiller has a brilliant comedic mind and there is a level of trust and comfort between us now that works really well.
Following success on television with efforts for The Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, Levy has eased into a filmmaker with youthful vigor and a penchant for lightweight, family-friendly comedies. Included in his roster of age-defining television works are “The Secret World of Alex Mack,” “The Journey of Allen Strange and The Famous Jett Jackson” (which the highest-rated movie to that point for The Disney Channel). He then stepped into the big leagues with the feature “Big Fat Liar,” “Just Married,” “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “The Pink Panther.”
24/7 fun and adventure for the whole family when “Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian” opens on May 22 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
This time, the stakes are higher as Daley (Stiller) is once again embroiled in an astonishing adventure with a host of enthralling historical figures who have come to life. In the sequel, Daley is no longer working the night shift as a security guard at the Natural History Museum. He is now a successful entrepreneur and has left the world of presidents, dinosaurs, cowboys and Neanderthals behind him. But he has lost his way, something is missing from his life and he finds himself returning to the familiar personalities he befriended from ancient and modern history.
The action takes place in Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian Institute, where the former museum security guard falls for aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and joins together his old pal, the miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and others including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and Albert Einstein (Eugene Levy) to defeat a group of notorious villains who are plotting a dastardly takeover of the museum.
Director Levy recounts how “Night at the Museum” changed his career and how they doubled the fun and adventure in the sequel “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” in the following q&a:
Q: Have you expected that “Night at the Museum” will be such a worldwide hit?
A: “We knew while we were filming the first Night at the Museum that we were onto
something, but no one anticipated the film would be embraced the way it was by audiences worldwide. We had a feeling it was going to do something, but you don’t expect like $585 million. It certainly changed my career – and it’s been really fun.”
Q: Where is the storyline of the sequel based this time?
A: “Screenwriters Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon are expanding on what made the first film such a success. “We start by going to the Smithsonian, which is the biggest museum in the world. And it involves aircrafts and various historical figures. It has 18 museums and I’ll just say that in this movie, they leave the museum. So it’s not just inside; they bust out into the world. The scale of the visuals is very different. But what is more important is that we have a great story, great characters and genius actors.
Q: How did you reinvent the adventure shooting in the Smithsonian?
A: “The script is better, the cast is bigger, the action’s bigger, so we’re feeling pretty good. I’m here telling you, I don’t think anyone’s going to be disappointed. “Everybody…literally everybody is back. And we got Amy Adams playing Amelia Earhart. We got a number of other really cool pieces of casting, so it’s all good.”
Q: How is it working with Ben Stiller again?
A: “Ben Stiller has a brilliant comedic mind and there is a level of trust and comfort between us now that works really well.
Following success on television with efforts for The Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, Levy has eased into a filmmaker with youthful vigor and a penchant for lightweight, family-friendly comedies. Included in his roster of age-defining television works are “The Secret World of Alex Mack,” “The Journey of Allen Strange and The Famous Jett Jackson” (which the highest-rated movie to that point for The Disney Channel). He then stepped into the big leagues with the feature “Big Fat Liar,” “Just Married,” “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “The Pink Panther.”
24/7 fun and adventure for the whole family when “Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian” opens on May 22 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sexy Mutants
RAMPAGE of action-packed scenes and slams of stunning visual effects abound as badass mutants clash in the upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” In the prequel, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Logan/ Wolverine that made him an international superstar - practically indestructible, the tough, animalistic fighting machine that has healing powers, adamantium claws, a tormented spirit and a primal fury known as ‘berserker rage.’
“X-Men Origins” pits Wolverine against ‘uber mutants’ created by William Stryker (Danny Huston) for a covert military cadre called Team X. Together, the mutants face off against each other and an enemy who has sworn to see them destroyed, in a battle – a revolution – that will set the course of the epic war that lies ahead.
Foremost of Team X’s key member is Wolverine’s brother Victor Creed aka Sabretooth, a feral being of unimaginable power played by Liev Schreiber. Incredibly brutal, Sabretooth possesses powers similar to Logan’s. Victor’s ferocity encompasses a feline-like fighting style and leaping ability; at times, he’ll race to the attack on all four limbs. Logan and Victor did not learn they were brothers until their teens, in the aftermath of a family tragedy that leads to the emergence of Logan’s signature berserker rage and claws, turning him into something more and something less than human. Logan and Victor flee their home, forming a bond that transcends even brotherhood.
“I think of Victor as Logan’s doppelganger, his darker side,” says Liev Schreiber. “What drives both of them is their desire to find their place in their world – to belong to something. And that one thing that Victor belongs to is Logan. When that bond is broken, Victor looks to reconnect with his brother, for better or for worse.”
Ryan Reynolds essays another Team X member as Wade Wilson who will later be known as Deadpool. Wade is a highly efficient killing machine and a brilliant swordsman. The charismatic Reynolds captures the essence of the legendary character, giving a powerful performance as the mutant who is nicknamed the ‘Merc with the Mouth’ for his endless stream of wisecracks. “Wade is entered into the Weapon X Program, which turns him from a mortal with incredible genetic abilities into what is basically an immortal with a deadly weapon,” explains Reynolds.
Reynolds seemed destined to take on the role; the actor is a longtime fan of Marvel’s Deadpool comics, “I’ve wanted to play Deadpool most of my adult life,” says Reynolds. “It’s a beloved character with comics fans, so it’s not a responsibility I take lightly.” Wade/Deadpool’s weapon of choice are katana swords, and Reynolds trained extensively to make his swordplay convincing. “I lived, ate and breathed swords,” he recalls.
Another Team X member is Bradley, portrayed by Dominic Monaghan (“Lost,” “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). Bradley can control and manipulate electricity. “With Team X, he was a guerrilla soldier, but when things got out of hand, and he saw things he didn’t want to see, he left the unit,” explains Monaghan.
Team X member John Wraith, who becomes Wolverine’s closest friend, is a teleporter who can appear or disappear at will. “He’s not to be messed with,” says actor and music icon Will.i.am, of the famed group The Black Eyed Peas, who makes his motion picture acting debut in the film.
An equally fearsome warrior is Agent Zero, an expert tracker with lethal marksmanship skills, played by Daniel Henney. The American-born actor, who became an enormous star in South Korea, notes that Zero and Logan, although once members of the Team, are enemies. “He’s always been jealous of Logan,” says Henney, “and he’s determined to stop him.”
The mutant known as Gambit aka Remy LeBeau was not a member of Team X – Logan encounters him much later in his journey – but he plays a key role in Logan’s revenge-fueled quest. Gambit has the ability to charge matter with volatile kinetic energy, causing the object in question to explosively release its charge on impact. Gambit’s favorite things on which to direct his special talents are a deck of playing cards and a simple bö staff – both of which he turns into powerful weapons when the occasion dictates.
Actor Taylor Kitsch, who nabbed the role after wrapping work for the season on the acclaimed series “Friday Night Lights,” says he understands that “the fans have been waiting [for Gambit’s appearance in an X-Men film],” and reports that he worked hard to live up to their expectations. His training included long sessions with the bö staff and fighting sticks – as well as interminable hours going through packs and packs of trading cards, learning the character’s signature moves. “By the time cameras rolled, I could do quite a bit with a deck of cards,” he says.
Trained in theater, Jackman relishes his roles both as Wolverine and as the film’s producer. Along with director Gavin Hood, as well as Jackman’s producing partner in Seed Productions, John Palermo, and producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter, Jackman oversaw virtually every aspect of the film’s pre-production, production and post-production periods. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of his duties as producer was casting.
“This film has lots of great characters new to the X-Men movies,” says Jackman. “It was particularly rewarding to establish these new characters and find the right actors to play them. The whole mantra for everybody involved with this film was, ‘We have to exceed expectations on every level’ and I think we’ve done that with the story, the action, fights, visual effects and the characters. It is great fun.”
From 20th Century Fox , “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” opens April 30 (Thursday) in theaters nationwide – Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Bacolod, Naga, Subic, Pampanga, Baguio, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cabanatuan, Batangas, Gen. Santos and Zamboanga.
“X-Men Origins” pits Wolverine against ‘uber mutants’ created by William Stryker (Danny Huston) for a covert military cadre called Team X. Together, the mutants face off against each other and an enemy who has sworn to see them destroyed, in a battle – a revolution – that will set the course of the epic war that lies ahead.
Foremost of Team X’s key member is Wolverine’s brother Victor Creed aka Sabretooth, a feral being of unimaginable power played by Liev Schreiber. Incredibly brutal, Sabretooth possesses powers similar to Logan’s. Victor’s ferocity encompasses a feline-like fighting style and leaping ability; at times, he’ll race to the attack on all four limbs. Logan and Victor did not learn they were brothers until their teens, in the aftermath of a family tragedy that leads to the emergence of Logan’s signature berserker rage and claws, turning him into something more and something less than human. Logan and Victor flee their home, forming a bond that transcends even brotherhood.
“I think of Victor as Logan’s doppelganger, his darker side,” says Liev Schreiber. “What drives both of them is their desire to find their place in their world – to belong to something. And that one thing that Victor belongs to is Logan. When that bond is broken, Victor looks to reconnect with his brother, for better or for worse.”
Ryan Reynolds essays another Team X member as Wade Wilson who will later be known as Deadpool. Wade is a highly efficient killing machine and a brilliant swordsman. The charismatic Reynolds captures the essence of the legendary character, giving a powerful performance as the mutant who is nicknamed the ‘Merc with the Mouth’ for his endless stream of wisecracks. “Wade is entered into the Weapon X Program, which turns him from a mortal with incredible genetic abilities into what is basically an immortal with a deadly weapon,” explains Reynolds.
Reynolds seemed destined to take on the role; the actor is a longtime fan of Marvel’s Deadpool comics, “I’ve wanted to play Deadpool most of my adult life,” says Reynolds. “It’s a beloved character with comics fans, so it’s not a responsibility I take lightly.” Wade/Deadpool’s weapon of choice are katana swords, and Reynolds trained extensively to make his swordplay convincing. “I lived, ate and breathed swords,” he recalls.
Another Team X member is Bradley, portrayed by Dominic Monaghan (“Lost,” “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). Bradley can control and manipulate electricity. “With Team X, he was a guerrilla soldier, but when things got out of hand, and he saw things he didn’t want to see, he left the unit,” explains Monaghan.
Team X member John Wraith, who becomes Wolverine’s closest friend, is a teleporter who can appear or disappear at will. “He’s not to be messed with,” says actor and music icon Will.i.am, of the famed group The Black Eyed Peas, who makes his motion picture acting debut in the film.
An equally fearsome warrior is Agent Zero, an expert tracker with lethal marksmanship skills, played by Daniel Henney. The American-born actor, who became an enormous star in South Korea, notes that Zero and Logan, although once members of the Team, are enemies. “He’s always been jealous of Logan,” says Henney, “and he’s determined to stop him.”
The mutant known as Gambit aka Remy LeBeau was not a member of Team X – Logan encounters him much later in his journey – but he plays a key role in Logan’s revenge-fueled quest. Gambit has the ability to charge matter with volatile kinetic energy, causing the object in question to explosively release its charge on impact. Gambit’s favorite things on which to direct his special talents are a deck of playing cards and a simple bö staff – both of which he turns into powerful weapons when the occasion dictates.
Actor Taylor Kitsch, who nabbed the role after wrapping work for the season on the acclaimed series “Friday Night Lights,” says he understands that “the fans have been waiting [for Gambit’s appearance in an X-Men film],” and reports that he worked hard to live up to their expectations. His training included long sessions with the bö staff and fighting sticks – as well as interminable hours going through packs and packs of trading cards, learning the character’s signature moves. “By the time cameras rolled, I could do quite a bit with a deck of cards,” he says.
Trained in theater, Jackman relishes his roles both as Wolverine and as the film’s producer. Along with director Gavin Hood, as well as Jackman’s producing partner in Seed Productions, John Palermo, and producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter, Jackman oversaw virtually every aspect of the film’s pre-production, production and post-production periods. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of his duties as producer was casting.
“This film has lots of great characters new to the X-Men movies,” says Jackman. “It was particularly rewarding to establish these new characters and find the right actors to play them. The whole mantra for everybody involved with this film was, ‘We have to exceed expectations on every level’ and I think we’ve done that with the story, the action, fights, visual effects and the characters. It is great fun.”
From 20th Century Fox , “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” opens April 30 (Thursday) in theaters nationwide – Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Bacolod, Naga, Subic, Pampanga, Baguio, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cabanatuan, Batangas, Gen. Santos and Zamboanga.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Cool Stars in Dragonball Movie
LEGIONS of Dragonball fans had gone frantic when news came out that their well-loved Goku will soon be made into a full-length live action movie. As threads of exchanges in the world wide web got longer, one issue weighed most than the others… What will they do to Goku’s hair? Fans obviously wanted to see that unique signature-styled spiked coif that made Goku such a worldwide manga phenomenon.
Created for television by Akira Toriyama, Dragonball has spawned best selling graphic novels and videogames. The television series has exploded into a global phenomenon that has generated more than four billion dollars in merchandising sales. Considered as the gold standard of anime-based video games, it now has more than 25 different games and over ten million units sold since May 2002. The series is 500 episodes strong and has posted top ratings in Europe, Asia and in the U.S. As such, the challenges in adapting Dragonball for the big screen were formidable, starting with creating a story that would satisfy the hardcore fans and introduce the world to non-fans.
Turning a beloved global property into a motion picture is no easy task, and it took years after 20th Century Fox acquired the rights of the graphic novel series to make it happen. Its big-screen adaptation finally began to come together when filmmaker James Wong, whose works in the science fiction/fantasy genre is unmatched, took an interest in the property. Wong and screenwriter Ben Ramsey worked to hit the right combination of the fantastic and relatable. “I believe that the appeal of Dragonball, beyond its super-cool action, is the richly creative world that Toriyama invented,” says Ramsey.
Wong and Ramsey took note of the fact that Dragonball is set in a multi-cultural environment, where future and past become one. It is a world where “race place no significant role.” To that end, the casting process for the film is, as Wong puts it, “color blind.”
Justin Chatwin (Tom Cruise’s son in “War of the Worlds”) landed the role of Goku after an exhaustive worldwide search. Goku is a high school student whose innocence and guilelessness are left behind when he begins his hero’s journey. “The character has a great arc – from nerd to the planet’s savior,” says Wong.
Goku’s transformative journey is all well and good, as are his martial arts skills, but a subject of equal scrutiny was the character’s…hair. “That was my first question to James (Wong),” says Chatwin with a laugh. “What are you going to do with the hair? It’s so important that even the hair has an arc!” Indeed, Goku’s hairstyle evolves through the film into its signature, spiky “do.”
Joining Goku’s adventures are Emmy Rossum (“The Day After Tomorrow”) who plays Bulma, a beautiful woman intent on retrieving the mystical Dragonballs for her own reasons; Jamie Chung (“Samurai Girl”) is Chi Chi, a young martial artist who captures Goku’s eye; and screen legend Chow Yun-Fat (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) is Roshi, the Master who guides Goku on the young man’s epic quest to save the Earth from the forces of darkness.
Playing Goku’s nemesis are James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) who takes on the role of Lord Piccolo, whose return could signal the Earth’s destruction; international performing sensation Joon Park is Yamcha, a charismatic “bad boy” whose schemes could thwart the heroes’ journey; popular Japanese actress Eriko (“Heroes”) is Mai, an assassin who works with Piccolo; Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) is Sifu Norris, a Master and contemporary of Roshi’s; and Randall Duk Kim (“The Matrix Revolutions”) is Goku’s grandfather Gohan, whose lessons for Goku begins to prepare the young man for the monumental tasks that lie ahead.
Emmy Rossum appreciated the challenges of playing such a multi-faceted character whose hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners attitude begins to change after she joins Goku and Roshi on their search for the Dragonballs. “Bulma comes to realize that life is about much more than her personal quest,” says Rossum. “The character in the manga and now our film is so alive, funny and spunky. She’s anything but ordinary. In the manga, Bulma sports a blue bob, which became her signature look. Rossum recalls that the filmmakers tried different ways to capture that coloring and style, including dyes, hair extensions and wigs, but ultimately went in a more realistic direction. Nevertheless, there are traces of blue and purple laced throughout the character’s wardrobe.” A bonus for the actress was learning to ride Bulma’s speedster, which the production created from a Harley motorcycle.
One of today’s brightest and most appealing young stars, Chung brought much more to Chi Chi than martial abilities. She has the sparkling energy necessary to fully capture the two sides of the character. “Chi Chi is the ‘It Girl’ – the most popular girl in high school,” says Chung. “She comes from a wealthy family, and everyone expects certain things from her. But she has a second life – a secret life – marked by her passion to fight. She comes off like the girl next door, but when she turns it on, she kicks butt!”
Working with Piccolo is Mai, an exotic beauty tainted by malevolence. Her weapons of choice are throwing knives known as shiruken. Japanese-born actress Eriko, who came to “DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION” after wrapping a recurring role on “Heroes,” says she enjoyed playing a “strong, tough woman on a mission.” James Wong adds that Eriko gives the role a “special quality and toughness.”
Inspired by the manga, the filmmakers had produced a movie mix of action, humor and character relationships for the new movie. “Huge action set pieces, state of the art visual effects, and elaborate martial arts sequences would be key elements of “Dragonball: Evolution,” as well as the exploration of the characters, their rich histories, and their evolving relationships,” says Wong.
Fantastic action adventure explodes when “Dragonball: Evolution” opens in cinemas across the nation from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Created for television by Akira Toriyama, Dragonball has spawned best selling graphic novels and videogames. The television series has exploded into a global phenomenon that has generated more than four billion dollars in merchandising sales. Considered as the gold standard of anime-based video games, it now has more than 25 different games and over ten million units sold since May 2002. The series is 500 episodes strong and has posted top ratings in Europe, Asia and in the U.S. As such, the challenges in adapting Dragonball for the big screen were formidable, starting with creating a story that would satisfy the hardcore fans and introduce the world to non-fans.
Turning a beloved global property into a motion picture is no easy task, and it took years after 20th Century Fox acquired the rights of the graphic novel series to make it happen. Its big-screen adaptation finally began to come together when filmmaker James Wong, whose works in the science fiction/fantasy genre is unmatched, took an interest in the property. Wong and screenwriter Ben Ramsey worked to hit the right combination of the fantastic and relatable. “I believe that the appeal of Dragonball, beyond its super-cool action, is the richly creative world that Toriyama invented,” says Ramsey.
Wong and Ramsey took note of the fact that Dragonball is set in a multi-cultural environment, where future and past become one. It is a world where “race place no significant role.” To that end, the casting process for the film is, as Wong puts it, “color blind.”
Justin Chatwin (Tom Cruise’s son in “War of the Worlds”) landed the role of Goku after an exhaustive worldwide search. Goku is a high school student whose innocence and guilelessness are left behind when he begins his hero’s journey. “The character has a great arc – from nerd to the planet’s savior,” says Wong.
Goku’s transformative journey is all well and good, as are his martial arts skills, but a subject of equal scrutiny was the character’s…hair. “That was my first question to James (Wong),” says Chatwin with a laugh. “What are you going to do with the hair? It’s so important that even the hair has an arc!” Indeed, Goku’s hairstyle evolves through the film into its signature, spiky “do.”
Joining Goku’s adventures are Emmy Rossum (“The Day After Tomorrow”) who plays Bulma, a beautiful woman intent on retrieving the mystical Dragonballs for her own reasons; Jamie Chung (“Samurai Girl”) is Chi Chi, a young martial artist who captures Goku’s eye; and screen legend Chow Yun-Fat (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) is Roshi, the Master who guides Goku on the young man’s epic quest to save the Earth from the forces of darkness.
Playing Goku’s nemesis are James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) who takes on the role of Lord Piccolo, whose return could signal the Earth’s destruction; international performing sensation Joon Park is Yamcha, a charismatic “bad boy” whose schemes could thwart the heroes’ journey; popular Japanese actress Eriko (“Heroes”) is Mai, an assassin who works with Piccolo; Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) is Sifu Norris, a Master and contemporary of Roshi’s; and Randall Duk Kim (“The Matrix Revolutions”) is Goku’s grandfather Gohan, whose lessons for Goku begins to prepare the young man for the monumental tasks that lie ahead.
Emmy Rossum appreciated the challenges of playing such a multi-faceted character whose hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners attitude begins to change after she joins Goku and Roshi on their search for the Dragonballs. “Bulma comes to realize that life is about much more than her personal quest,” says Rossum. “The character in the manga and now our film is so alive, funny and spunky. She’s anything but ordinary. In the manga, Bulma sports a blue bob, which became her signature look. Rossum recalls that the filmmakers tried different ways to capture that coloring and style, including dyes, hair extensions and wigs, but ultimately went in a more realistic direction. Nevertheless, there are traces of blue and purple laced throughout the character’s wardrobe.” A bonus for the actress was learning to ride Bulma’s speedster, which the production created from a Harley motorcycle.
One of today’s brightest and most appealing young stars, Chung brought much more to Chi Chi than martial abilities. She has the sparkling energy necessary to fully capture the two sides of the character. “Chi Chi is the ‘It Girl’ – the most popular girl in high school,” says Chung. “She comes from a wealthy family, and everyone expects certain things from her. But she has a second life – a secret life – marked by her passion to fight. She comes off like the girl next door, but when she turns it on, she kicks butt!”
Working with Piccolo is Mai, an exotic beauty tainted by malevolence. Her weapons of choice are throwing knives known as shiruken. Japanese-born actress Eriko, who came to “DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION” after wrapping a recurring role on “Heroes,” says she enjoyed playing a “strong, tough woman on a mission.” James Wong adds that Eriko gives the role a “special quality and toughness.”
Inspired by the manga, the filmmakers had produced a movie mix of action, humor and character relationships for the new movie. “Huge action set pieces, state of the art visual effects, and elaborate martial arts sequences would be key elements of “Dragonball: Evolution,” as well as the exploration of the characters, their rich histories, and their evolving relationships,” says Wong.
Fantastic action adventure explodes when “Dragonball: Evolution” opens in cinemas across the nation from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Cena Cinema!
Automobiles, streetcars and ferryboats are transformed into potential weapons of mass destruction in “12 Rounds” starring wrestling idol John Cena. In the movie, Cena plays everyday cop Danny Fisher in New Orleans struggling to save his kidnapped girlfriend from a revenge-seeking criminal. The revenge embroiled Fisher in a cat-and-mouse chase of “12 Rounds” in the city of New Orleans. As each round nears to a conclusion, the tasks keeps Danny guessing at every treacherous turn, hurtling the determined cop through the city at a breakneck pace.
Q: Initial reaction to the title was that it was 12 rounds of boxing, but that’s not the case.
A: Everyone gets that idea and they are pleasantly surprised when they find out it’s 12 challenges and not 12 rounds of boxing. I think people will be pleasantly surprised with the movie as well. I don’t know what people are expecting but I think this movie will exceed their expectations.
Q: Can you describe your character in the movie?
A: Danny fisher is just a regular cop, who makes a bit of a lucky bust and knows it. . The whole everyman thing is easy, I’m just trying to be me, I like the fact that Danny struggles. He doesn’t come out of a phone booth and stop bullets.
Q: How is this character different from the Marine?
A: The Marine was more like a terminator character, there is even a line in the movie, “this guys like the terminator.” He’s very impervious to bullets, indestructible, a guy who can’t be defeated. Danny Fisher really is a normal dude. There are moments in the movie were he experiences defeat, doubt, he doesn’t have faith in what he can do. It’s a very normal scenario for someone to go through as opposed to the Marine, who is very super human.
Q: How does this movie help in your career as an actor?
A: It’s more than another role for me; this is my initiation into the rarified air of action movie star. Moreover, the film’s Danny Fisher is the type of action hero that I enjoyed watching, as a fan of the genre. The ‘80s was the era of the ‘everyman’ hero. nd there hasn’t been that style of hero since then. Guys like Bruce Willis in ‘Die Hard’ proved that an everyday person can be an action hero. If I’m even considered in that club, I’m definitely off to a great start.”
Q: How was it working with Ashley Scott who plays your girlfriend in the movie?
A: Ashley Scott was great, not only is she a beautiful young woman but she’s very fun to be around. The dynamic of the couple is a couple that’s been around for a while, but really, the guy is very gun shy and the girl is very, very independent and fun to be with and she’s just that.
Q: How was it working with the director of Die Hard 2?
A: Renny Harlin is a great guy, both personality and professionally. He was so very well prepared that he had the entire movie shot before I got there for pre-production. He had it in his head what he wanted to do with the movie before having even met me. I was fascinated by that, every day, he would come to the set with unbelievable shot lists and people would think that he wouldn’t be able to get it done and he got it done. On a personal level, very, very good guy to know and a very great guy to hang with.
“12 Rounds” opens March 25 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Q: Initial reaction to the title was that it was 12 rounds of boxing, but that’s not the case.
A: Everyone gets that idea and they are pleasantly surprised when they find out it’s 12 challenges and not 12 rounds of boxing. I think people will be pleasantly surprised with the movie as well. I don’t know what people are expecting but I think this movie will exceed their expectations.
Q: Can you describe your character in the movie?
A: Danny fisher is just a regular cop, who makes a bit of a lucky bust and knows it. . The whole everyman thing is easy, I’m just trying to be me, I like the fact that Danny struggles. He doesn’t come out of a phone booth and stop bullets.
Q: How is this character different from the Marine?
A: The Marine was more like a terminator character, there is even a line in the movie, “this guys like the terminator.” He’s very impervious to bullets, indestructible, a guy who can’t be defeated. Danny Fisher really is a normal dude. There are moments in the movie were he experiences defeat, doubt, he doesn’t have faith in what he can do. It’s a very normal scenario for someone to go through as opposed to the Marine, who is very super human.
Q: How does this movie help in your career as an actor?
A: It’s more than another role for me; this is my initiation into the rarified air of action movie star. Moreover, the film’s Danny Fisher is the type of action hero that I enjoyed watching, as a fan of the genre. The ‘80s was the era of the ‘everyman’ hero. nd there hasn’t been that style of hero since then. Guys like Bruce Willis in ‘Die Hard’ proved that an everyday person can be an action hero. If I’m even considered in that club, I’m definitely off to a great start.”
Q: How was it working with Ashley Scott who plays your girlfriend in the movie?
A: Ashley Scott was great, not only is she a beautiful young woman but she’s very fun to be around. The dynamic of the couple is a couple that’s been around for a while, but really, the guy is very gun shy and the girl is very, very independent and fun to be with and she’s just that.
Q: How was it working with the director of Die Hard 2?
A: Renny Harlin is a great guy, both personality and professionally. He was so very well prepared that he had the entire movie shot before I got there for pre-production. He had it in his head what he wanted to do with the movie before having even met me. I was fascinated by that, every day, he would come to the set with unbelievable shot lists and people would think that he wouldn’t be able to get it done and he got it done. On a personal level, very, very good guy to know and a very great guy to hang with.
“12 Rounds” opens March 25 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
V is for...
TOM Cruise receives most important award in Germany despite controversies...
“Valkyrie,” Tom Cruise’s most controversial film to-date and one of world history’s most stunning story has finally opened in Philippine cinemas last February 11.
Tom Cruise stars as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in the suspense film “Valkyrie,” based on a true story that chronicles the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants the world has ever known.
The movie had been the focus of controversy even before the first frame was even shot. The film’s rough ride to the big screen started when the German government forbade the film’s production on Bendler Block, Berlin, the site of Stauffenberg’s execution stating that the ‘dignity of the place’ will be violated.
It was only when producer/writer Christopher McQuarrie McQuarrie met with German officials and assured them of the production’s intentions to tell the remarkable story of Stauffenberg and his fellow conspirators with the dignity it deserved, they were allowed to film at locations all over Berlin, including the Bendlerblock. When filming had begun in 2007, Berthold Stauffenberg, Claus Stauffenberg’s son declared in a German newspaper interview that the film is ‘bound to be rubbish.’
More controversies arise as the film progressed wherein Cruise’s Scientology began to receive negative attention in Germany. For the Germans, Scientology is regarded as ‘an organization pursuing commercial interests’ rather than religion. “There was a small minority who made comments about my religion but for me it was like ‘well, okay...’ Of course people want to talk about that and there were a couple of people who felt that way about it but most of the things that were said just weren’t true,” Cruise explains.
The film also suffered accidents wherein ten extras are injured after falling off the back of a truck during filming in Berlin. As more photos and footages of the film are released, more criticism came up in Germany including that of the altered photos of the real Stauffenberg to look more like Tom Cruise and rumors have it that Cruise had to re-record some of his lines to correct the German accent.
But just who is Stauffenberg and why had there been so much resistance on the film? At the center of Valkyrie is Claus von Stauffenberg, the charismatic aristocrat who would ultimately risk everything to carry a bomb into Hitler’s private conference room.
Descended from 700 years of German nobility, Stauffenberg grew up in Bavaria as part of an elite family. Artistically inclined, he loved architecture, music, and poetry, but in the 1920s became a military officer. He was said to have been singled out by his superiors for possessing a genius for military organization and logistics, and he rapidly rose in the ranks. Stauffenberg became Chief of the General Staff of the Reserve Army – a job that would take him into direct personal meetings with Hitler. He suddenly found himself in the perfect position to make an assassination attempt on the Führer.
The historian Annedore Leber wrote of Stauffenberg: “[He was] the prototype of those young higher officers who, though their own future careers were never in doubt, nevertheless had the will to take action. They acted from the officer’s sense of responsibility to his troops, the citizen’s sense of responsibility to his people.”
In the end, with all the hard work that went into the film and the incredible experience of making it, Cruise is very pleased with the end result. “The film is a ticking clock,” he says. “This is a dynamic suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through. I’m proud that we got the film made, and I’m very proud of what everyone accomplished.”
In the midst of the controversies that surrounded the film, early reviews reveal that there are no comedy German accents and one of Tom Cruise’s digitally erased hand ‘looks pretty great.’ And in November 2007, just right after filming “Valkyrie,” Tom Cruise received a Bambi award, the most important media award in Germany for “Courage” – not only for displaying courage in making Valkyrie, but also his courageous choices of film roles.
“Valkyrie,” Tom Cruise’s most controversial film to-date and one of world history’s most stunning story has finally opened in Philippine cinemas last February 11.
Tom Cruise stars as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in the suspense film “Valkyrie,” based on a true story that chronicles the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants the world has ever known.
The movie had been the focus of controversy even before the first frame was even shot. The film’s rough ride to the big screen started when the German government forbade the film’s production on Bendler Block, Berlin, the site of Stauffenberg’s execution stating that the ‘dignity of the place’ will be violated.
It was only when producer/writer Christopher McQuarrie McQuarrie met with German officials and assured them of the production’s intentions to tell the remarkable story of Stauffenberg and his fellow conspirators with the dignity it deserved, they were allowed to film at locations all over Berlin, including the Bendlerblock. When filming had begun in 2007, Berthold Stauffenberg, Claus Stauffenberg’s son declared in a German newspaper interview that the film is ‘bound to be rubbish.’
More controversies arise as the film progressed wherein Cruise’s Scientology began to receive negative attention in Germany. For the Germans, Scientology is regarded as ‘an organization pursuing commercial interests’ rather than religion. “There was a small minority who made comments about my religion but for me it was like ‘well, okay...’ Of course people want to talk about that and there were a couple of people who felt that way about it but most of the things that were said just weren’t true,” Cruise explains.
The film also suffered accidents wherein ten extras are injured after falling off the back of a truck during filming in Berlin. As more photos and footages of the film are released, more criticism came up in Germany including that of the altered photos of the real Stauffenberg to look more like Tom Cruise and rumors have it that Cruise had to re-record some of his lines to correct the German accent.
But just who is Stauffenberg and why had there been so much resistance on the film? At the center of Valkyrie is Claus von Stauffenberg, the charismatic aristocrat who would ultimately risk everything to carry a bomb into Hitler’s private conference room.
Descended from 700 years of German nobility, Stauffenberg grew up in Bavaria as part of an elite family. Artistically inclined, he loved architecture, music, and poetry, but in the 1920s became a military officer. He was said to have been singled out by his superiors for possessing a genius for military organization and logistics, and he rapidly rose in the ranks. Stauffenberg became Chief of the General Staff of the Reserve Army – a job that would take him into direct personal meetings with Hitler. He suddenly found himself in the perfect position to make an assassination attempt on the Führer.
The historian Annedore Leber wrote of Stauffenberg: “[He was] the prototype of those young higher officers who, though their own future careers were never in doubt, nevertheless had the will to take action. They acted from the officer’s sense of responsibility to his troops, the citizen’s sense of responsibility to his people.”
In the end, with all the hard work that went into the film and the incredible experience of making it, Cruise is very pleased with the end result. “The film is a ticking clock,” he says. “This is a dynamic suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through. I’m proud that we got the film made, and I’m very proud of what everyone accomplished.”
In the midst of the controversies that surrounded the film, early reviews reveal that there are no comedy German accents and one of Tom Cruise’s digitally erased hand ‘looks pretty great.’ And in November 2007, just right after filming “Valkyrie,” Tom Cruise received a Bambi award, the most important media award in Germany for “Courage” – not only for displaying courage in making Valkyrie, but also his courageous choices of film roles.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Sexiest Drover Down Under
Hugh Jackman stars in director Baz Luhrmann’s sweeping epic along with Nicole Kidman. Kidman plays an aristocratic English woman: Jackman is a tough cattle drover. Two people from opposite ends of the globe - they couldn’t be more different - yet they find their lives inextricably intertwined as they embark on a remarkable journey across hundreds of miles of the country’s most brutal terrain.
Hugh Jackman is swept away by “Australia” as he talks more about the film where he finds himself in an unforgettable, rousing and deeply moving story.
Q: Is your character simply known as The Drover?
A: “My character is called The Drover. He is essentially an outsider; in his back story he was married to an Aboriginal woman who died. It was illegal to marry an Aboriginal woman back then, so you were not accepted in white society, however you were not fully accepted into Aboriginal society either because you are were white. So he was truly an outsider. He became known as the best drover around. He does actually have a name but you are going to have to watch the movie to find out what that is.”
Q: Can you talk about The Drover’s relationship with Nicole Kidman?
A: Baz has been very open about it, making comparisons to “The African Queen,” as “Out of Africa” and “Gone with the Wind.” If you put those epic films in a melting pot, I think you’ll understand the relationship pretty well. Nicole and I have known each other for almost 15 years. She was best friends with my wife and we know each other well, so it was really terrific to work together.”
Q: Was it daunting physically?
A: “It was challenging. My character is called The Drover. A drover is the Australian version of a cowboy and my journey involves taking cattle a long way across one of the most inhospitable parts of the planet for a long period of time. Drovers, these men who do this for a living, are as tough as you can get.”
Q: What impresses you most about Nicole?
A: ”Without a doubt, the first thing that springs to mind about Nicole is her professionalism and I actually don’t use that word lightly. I have been trained in the theater where to be described as professional is probably the highest praise. Nicole works herself to the bone every single day to get everything out of every scene with every character, no matter what. There is not a harder worker than Nicole. She’s very enthusiastic and demanding of herself. I learned a lot about her, her technique. She is phenomenal.”
Q: Obviously this film means so much on a personal level, what are your own Australian roots?
A: “Both my parents are English and came out to Australia in 1967 and I was born the following year. My parents and immigrants like them were known as what was called ‘ten pound poms’ because back then the Australian Government were trying to get educated English people and Canadians (to be honest, educated white people) to come and live in Australia. So they offered them citizenship and a whole load of incentives. For the very small, meager sum of ten pounds you could sail your entire family out to Australia, so that’s what my father chose to do.”
Q: What was it like getting your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recently?
A: “I will be honest, I was touched by it. I am an Australian so that whole idea of the Hollywood star is a dream. We have all seen it a million times and of course I have been there and seen the hands. I remember going to see all the names of the great movie stars years ago. And my first reaction when they told me it was happening to me was shock. I thought ‘don’t they know I am just a kid from the Northern suburbs of Sydney? Why are they giving one to me?’ It was a time to go ‘wow’ and remind myself that this was a moment to remember. My dad does not usually say much, but he hugged me and I think he was really proud. It meant a lot to me, yes.”
Hugh Jackman was born in Sydney and studied journalism before taking up acting. He attended drama school and worked on a variety of Australian films and TV shows early on in his career, as well as stage productions. He played the lead role in “Oklahoma” in London’s West End and became a worldwide star with his role as Wolverine in “X-MEN.” He reprised his role in “X2: X-Men United” and “X-MEN: The Last Stand.” Jackman stars in the upcoming film, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
Jackman won a Tony Award in 2004 for his Broadway performance in “The Boy from Oz.” His movie credits include “Van Helsing,” “Swordfish,” “Kate and Leopold,” “The Prestige” and “The Fountain.” The actor, 39, is married to Deborra-Lee Furness and they have two children.
“Australia” opens January 28 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Hugh Jackman is swept away by “Australia” as he talks more about the film where he finds himself in an unforgettable, rousing and deeply moving story.
Q: Is your character simply known as The Drover?
A: “My character is called The Drover. He is essentially an outsider; in his back story he was married to an Aboriginal woman who died. It was illegal to marry an Aboriginal woman back then, so you were not accepted in white society, however you were not fully accepted into Aboriginal society either because you are were white. So he was truly an outsider. He became known as the best drover around. He does actually have a name but you are going to have to watch the movie to find out what that is.”
Q: Can you talk about The Drover’s relationship with Nicole Kidman?
A: Baz has been very open about it, making comparisons to “The African Queen,” as “Out of Africa” and “Gone with the Wind.” If you put those epic films in a melting pot, I think you’ll understand the relationship pretty well. Nicole and I have known each other for almost 15 years. She was best friends with my wife and we know each other well, so it was really terrific to work together.”
Q: Was it daunting physically?
A: “It was challenging. My character is called The Drover. A drover is the Australian version of a cowboy and my journey involves taking cattle a long way across one of the most inhospitable parts of the planet for a long period of time. Drovers, these men who do this for a living, are as tough as you can get.”
Q: What impresses you most about Nicole?
A: ”Without a doubt, the first thing that springs to mind about Nicole is her professionalism and I actually don’t use that word lightly. I have been trained in the theater where to be described as professional is probably the highest praise. Nicole works herself to the bone every single day to get everything out of every scene with every character, no matter what. There is not a harder worker than Nicole. She’s very enthusiastic and demanding of herself. I learned a lot about her, her technique. She is phenomenal.”
Q: Obviously this film means so much on a personal level, what are your own Australian roots?
A: “Both my parents are English and came out to Australia in 1967 and I was born the following year. My parents and immigrants like them were known as what was called ‘ten pound poms’ because back then the Australian Government were trying to get educated English people and Canadians (to be honest, educated white people) to come and live in Australia. So they offered them citizenship and a whole load of incentives. For the very small, meager sum of ten pounds you could sail your entire family out to Australia, so that’s what my father chose to do.”
Q: What was it like getting your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recently?
A: “I will be honest, I was touched by it. I am an Australian so that whole idea of the Hollywood star is a dream. We have all seen it a million times and of course I have been there and seen the hands. I remember going to see all the names of the great movie stars years ago. And my first reaction when they told me it was happening to me was shock. I thought ‘don’t they know I am just a kid from the Northern suburbs of Sydney? Why are they giving one to me?’ It was a time to go ‘wow’ and remind myself that this was a moment to remember. My dad does not usually say much, but he hugged me and I think he was really proud. It meant a lot to me, yes.”
Hugh Jackman was born in Sydney and studied journalism before taking up acting. He attended drama school and worked on a variety of Australian films and TV shows early on in his career, as well as stage productions. He played the lead role in “Oklahoma” in London’s West End and became a worldwide star with his role as Wolverine in “X-MEN.” He reprised his role in “X2: X-Men United” and “X-MEN: The Last Stand.” Jackman stars in the upcoming film, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
Jackman won a Tony Award in 2004 for his Broadway performance in “The Boy from Oz.” His movie credits include “Van Helsing,” “Swordfish,” “Kate and Leopold,” “The Prestige” and “The Fountain.” The actor, 39, is married to Deborra-Lee Furness and they have two children.
“Australia” opens January 28 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Owen and Life's Lessons
From David Frankel, director of the worldwide smash hit “Devil Wears Prada” comes “Marley and Me” starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, an endearing roller coaster story of a growth of a family where a dog plays the catalyst.
Adapted from John Grogan’s book “Marley & Me” and its universal themes of marriage and family resonated to millions of readers, from all walks of life, propelling it to the top of the best-seller charts. “People from all over the world wrote me letters about how the book mirrored their lives,” says the author. “[Those connections were] somewhat accidental; I just stumbled on that. But many people, of course, do fall in love, get married and build families, and that’s what “Marley & Me” is about.”
In the movie, newlyweds John and Jenny Grogan (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) decide to leave behind the harsh winters of Michigan and head south to begin their new lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. They obtain jobs as journalists at competing local newspapers, buy their first home, and begin to make their way through the challenges of a new marriage, new careers and, possibly, the life-changing decision to start a family.
Unsure of his preparedness for raising children, the Grogans decided to adopt Marley, a cute, twelve pound yellow Labrador, who in no time at all, grows into a 100-pound steamroller of unbridled energy that turns the Grogan home into a disaster area. He flunks obedience school, chews off dry-wall, takes a bite out of the sofa, overturns garbage cans, steals a Thanksgiving turkey, consumes pillows and flowers, drinks toilet water, and chases the UPS guy. Even a newly-purchased, expensive necklace isn’t safe from Marley’s voracious antics.
Amidst the mayhem he generates through the years, Marley sees the Grogans through the ups and downs of family life, through job and home changes, and most of all, through the myriad challenges of a growing family. As John and Jenny come to realize, Marley – “the world’s worst dog” – somehow brings out the best in them.
While the book and film feature a dog’s name in the title, they tell much more than a story about said canine. “[Marley & Me] is not a dog story,” says Grogan. “When I wrote it, I didn’t think of it as a dog book, and I still don’t. I saw it as a growth-of-a-family story, with the dog being a catalyst. It’s a comedy with a poignant side to it.”
Director Frankel echoes the author’s sentiments, “The story is about the highs and lows of being young and in love and encountering the challenges of marriage. It also deals with the dreams that get sacrificed for the joys of children, and about the challenges of balancing career and family.”
Though “Marley and Me” is not a “dog story,” the titular pooch is certainly a major player in the tail…er…tale. Noting Grogan’s description of Marley being a “catalyst” in the Grogan family dynamic, Frankel points out that “the story tells us how important a dog’s perspective can be to us – and specifically to the Grogans. Dogs are wonderful because they don’t think about the future or the past; they know only the joy of living in the present. And humans, sadly, often forget that.”
“Marley and Me” opens February 4 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Monday, January 12, 2009
YES, Positively Funny!
FROM the director of such hit comedies as “The Break-Up” and “Bring It On” comes Warner Bros.’ positively hilarious tale “Yes Man” starring comic superstar Jim Carrey.
In the film, Carl Allen (Carrey) is in a rut. When he’s not turning down loan applications at the bank where he works, he is turning down invitations from his friends, watching television alone on his couch. He’s effectively become a “ No Man. ” Carl’s life takes an unexpected and radical turn when he grudgingly attends a self-help seminar led by a “Yes” guru who urges his devotees to say yes more and transform their lives. The initially skeptical Carl agrees to try spontaneity by saying yes… to everything.
Unleashing the power of “Yes” begins to transform Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways, getting him promoted at work and opening the door to a new romance. But his willingness to embrace every opportunity might just become too much of a good thing.
Peyton Reed directed “Yes Man” from a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller and Jarrad Paul & Andrew Mogel, based on the book by Danny Wallace. The film is produced by Oscar®-winning producer Richard D. Zanuck (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”) and David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” films, “I Am Legend”). Marty Ewing, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.
“Yes Man” also stars Zooey Deschanel (“Bridge to Terabithia”), Bradley Cooper (“Wedding Crashers”), John Michael Higgins (“Fred Claus”) and Terence Stamp (“Get Smart”).
Opening soon across the Philippines , “Yes Man” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
In the film, Carl Allen (Carrey) is in a rut. When he’s not turning down loan applications at the bank where he works, he is turning down invitations from his friends, watching television alone on his couch. He’s effectively become a “ No Man. ” Carl’s life takes an unexpected and radical turn when he grudgingly attends a self-help seminar led by a “Yes” guru who urges his devotees to say yes more and transform their lives. The initially skeptical Carl agrees to try spontaneity by saying yes… to everything.
Unleashing the power of “Yes” begins to transform Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways, getting him promoted at work and opening the door to a new romance. But his willingness to embrace every opportunity might just become too much of a good thing.
Peyton Reed directed “Yes Man” from a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller and Jarrad Paul & Andrew Mogel, based on the book by Danny Wallace. The film is produced by Oscar®-winning producer Richard D. Zanuck (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”) and David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” films, “I Am Legend”). Marty Ewing, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.
“Yes Man” also stars Zooey Deschanel (“Bridge to Terabithia”), Bradley Cooper (“Wedding Crashers”), John Michael Higgins (“Fred Claus”) and Terence Stamp (“Get Smart”).
Opening soon across the Philippines , “Yes Man” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
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