Keanu, your new IMAX experience

In a recent press announcement from 20th Century Fox’s Bruce Snyder, President of Domestic Distribution, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” will be simultaneously released in regular theaters and IMAX on December.
“The suspense, action and sheer intensity of the movie is ideally suited to IMAX’s immersive format. We’re very excited to once again expand our relationship with IMAX to offer moviegoers a chance to experience another one of our tent-pole movies in a truly unique and premium way,” enthuses Snyder.
Based on the 1951 sci-fi classic, Keanu returns to his strong suit in the sci-fi sci-fi realm as he takes on the role Klaatu in the film. Klaatu is a humanoid alien from outer space who comes to Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot named Gort to try and stop humans from destroying each other and the planet. Caught in the midst of it all is Princeton University professor Helen Benson (played by Jennifer Connelly) who had been recruited by the government for an event which they believe threatens the human existence.
Paying homage to the original, director Scott Derrickson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) stated that the trailer currently playing online and in theaters concluded with the image of the robot Gort instead of Keanu’s character Klaatu. “It was intentional,” Derrickson said. “I certainly took a lot of time to explore other possibilities. It wasn’t just a foregone conclusion in my mind that we would be sticking to the original. I tried looking at a lot of different possibilities, worked on a lot of different ideas with artists and just always a nagging sense that there was something right about the way the original, that there was something about this alien entity choosing a human form or being in a human form that had value even by modern standards, not by 1950 standards. I also am such a fan of the original film. You have to also just have some respect for Gort. Gort is Gort. There’s no question what we designed pays homage to the original,” explains Derrickson.
“One of the biggest challenges of this movie was whether or not audiences would really buy the whole idea — and there’s no question that you buy it, there’s no question that you believe Keanu’s performance. He really thinks through every moment and every beat with tremendous rigor. And he is very clear, I think, about what works for him and his physicality,” Derrickson said. “And yet it’s not like he’s doing things that are highly unusual or highly quirky. What he’s doing is something that’s not quite so upfront and center or distracting, but it still really gives you a feel of alien-ness and keeps you aware of the fact that this being you’re walking through this movie with is not a human being.”
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” opens December 10 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3” GROSSES P31.6-M, SMASHES RECORDS IN RP

MANILA, Oct. 27 – Walt Disney Pictures’ “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” graduated Valedictorian at the Philippine box-office, claiming the No. 1 spot with a nationwide three-day (Oct. 24-26) opening weekend gross of P31.6-million in only 129 screens. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International which distributed the film.
Families, teens, college students and yuppies propelled “HSM 3” to record-breaking heights, posting the all-time biggest opening for a live-action musical in the country, outpacing previous holder (and another Disney title) “Enchanted” by a whopping 168% at P18.8-M. The feat becomes even more incredible with the fact that “HSM 3” smashed the record with only a three-day opening, compared to “Enchanted” with five.
“Senior Year’s” opening also now ranks as the fifth highest ever for a Disney-branded live-action feature, after “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “National Treasure: Book Secrets” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” in that order.
Fans and even critics gave thumbs up to “High School Musical 3’s” incredible new music and exciting dance numbers that were designed to take maximum advantage of the big screen (the first two “HSM” movies were originally made for the Disney Channel).
The Top 20 cinemas that registered the biggest box-office receipts are Trinoma (P2.03-M), Power Plant (P1.58-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.46-M), SM Mall of Asia (P1.39-M), SM North EDSA (P1.34-M), SM Megamall (P1.14-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.07-M), Shangri-la (P1.01-M), Greenhills (P996,328) and Greenbelt III (P967,222).
Rounding up the list are Gateway Cineplex (P775,220), Robinson’s Ermita (P739, 374), Ayala Center Cebu (P707,456), SM Cinema Cebu (P700,321), Robinson’s Galleria (P646,269), SM Southmall (P635,493), SM San Lazaro (P624,460), Festival (P601,229), Eastwood (P571,569) and SM Fairview (P549,672).
“Senior Year” brought to the big-screen the all-singing, all-dancing exploits of the clean-cut captain of the Wildcats, Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), beautiful brainiac Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) and scheming rich girl Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale). In the film, high school seniors Troy and Gabriella face the prospect of separation as they head off to different colleges. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about the future.
Still playing across the Philippines, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

Royal Premiere Indeed for 007

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the latest James Bond film “Quantum of Solace” announce that Prince William and Prince Harry have graciously agreed to attend the world premiere of the 22nd 007 adventure on Wednesday, October 29th 2008 at London’s Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square.
At the request of Prince William and Prince Harry, the event will benefit two charities, Help For Heroes and The Royal British Legion. The premiere will be attended by the film’s leading actors Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric and Gemma Arterton. Directed by Marc Forster, the movie will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment in UK cinemas on Oct. 31, to be followed by the Philippines on Nov. 5.
Wilson and Broccoli commented, “We are thrilled Prince William and Prince Harry have agreed to attend the world premiere of our latest James Bond film, and are pleased this event will help raise much needed funds to support the servicemen of our country through The Princes' chosen charities.”
Starring Daniel Craig as the legendary secret agent, James Bond, “Quantum of Solace” is directed by Marc Foster and written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Oscar® winner Paul Haggis (“Crash”). The film picks up the storyline just one hour after the end of “Casino Royale,” marking the first direct sequel in the franchise.
Fueled by the betrayal of Vesper, the woman he loved (in “Casino Royale”), Bond's determination to track down the mastermind behind Quantum, sinister organization leads to Haiti, where he finds an unlikely ally in Camille (Kurylenko), a beautiful but feisty stranger. As Bond gets closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the terrorists and even M (Dench).
“Quantum of Solace” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures International.

Max Marks the Spot

MARK Wahlberg is hell-bent on revenge in the bullet-fired action flick “Max Payne.” Wahlberg plays Max Payne as the tough homicide cop who becomes involved in a relentless quest for justice that is dark and dangerous following the murder of his wife and newborn baby. A man with a one-track mind, sitting in a day job (in the police force’s ‘cold case’ department) from 9 to 5, he is hunting the streets at night in his quest for revenge. He has nothing to lose and will break any rules and risk his own life as he delves deeper into a terrifying underworld. Facing betrayal and danger, Max Payne is on a tireless and challenging journey that will test his strength and every cell of his being.

Based on a video game, this neo-noir , mythological action thriller, also starring Mila Kunis and Chris O’ Donnell, is a riveting ride. Wahlberg takes us further in the movie’s twist and turns with the following q&a:

Q: What was the attraction of MAX PAYNE for you?

A: “I liked the story and character. I had just made “The Lovely Bones,” which involved a similar situation with a parent losing a child but the character in that film is completely different. It was great making MAX PAYNE because I could get out there and do what the bad side of me would do, if something like that would, God forbid, ever happen to my family. I wanted to play a character who is just completely bad ass, who is ruthless in his mission to get the kind of information he needs to solve this horrific crime.”

Q: MAX PAYNE is based on a video game. How similar is the movie to the game?

A: “I read the script before I even knew it was based on a game, and then I looked at the game and I liked it. The film does the game a lot of justice but I had never played a game like it. The games I grew up playing were like Pac-Man that had no story whatsoever, whereas MAX PAYNE has a very elaborate story. So it is definitely going to satisfy the die hard game fans and hopefully will also bring in film audiences; maybe they will become fans of the game as well.”

Q: Directors say you have an authenticity that is not common among actors. How much of that stems from your own youth and background on the streets of Boston? Is the realism of a part like MAX PAYNE fuelled by what you have gone through?

A: Definitely. It wasn’t until recently that I appreciated all the things I had to go through to get to where I am now. I have a lot of real life experience to draw from. That helps me as an actor and I think that’s why people respond to me in this kind of film.”

Q: Why are you so good at playing cops?

A: Because I’ve been arrested by them so many times and because there is a very fine line between cop and criminal. I’m not saying that is true of every cop, but some of the guys I grew up with became cops and they did worse stuff than I did. I think the cops are also the ones who have really hard lives.”

Q: How much action is there and how tough was the film for you?

A: It was harder than anything I’ve done, harder than movies like “Fear,” “The Departed” and “Shooter” – times ten. Most of the action was shot on film with very little CGI (computer generated effects). You don’t see me hanging off any wires or anything like that. So anytime you see me flying through the air, I was actually jumping off something or landing on the ground. That was me in action.”

Q: Do you sometimes have to pinch yourself as a reminder of much your life has changed?

A: “Of course. Every single day the first thing I do when I wake up is to thank God for all the beautiful blessings that have been bestowed upon me. When I pray, I ask for the will and strength and courage and confidence to do the right things in my life. I know I have been put in this position for a reason and it is important not to forget about where I came from. It is my job to help other kids who are in similar situations, who are going through what I went through. I want to try to motivate them and inspire them. Hopefully through my foundation they will be able to pursue their own dreams, just as I have done.”

Born and raised in Boston following some tough teenage years, Wahlberg discovered an intrinsic talent and passion for acting. His early films were “Renaissance Man,” “The Basketball Diaries” and “Fear.” He made his name internationally in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s highly praised film, “Boogie Nights.” He went on to star in “Three Kings,” “The Perfect Storm” and “The Italian Job.” Wahlberg was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Martin Scorsese’s drama, “The Departed.” His recent films include “Shooter,” “Four Brothers,” The Happening” and “We Own the Night.”

He is also the executive producer of HBO’s award winning TV show, “Entourage.” A committed philanthropist, his organization, the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, works with inner city youth.

“Max Payne” opens October 15 in theaters nationwide from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

High School Musical: The Movie!

Actor Zac Efron still remembers the moment he realized that a modestly budgeted cable movie by the name of “High School Musical” was about to change his life. “One of my friends called me and told me to look on iTunes,” he says, “so I turned on my computer and there was ‘High School Musical’ in the top 5 most downloaded albums. This was a week before the film even came on television.”

One week later, when “High School Musical” did make its debut, it was seen by 7.7 million viewers, which made it the Disney Channel’s most successful film to date. Meanwhile, the soundtrack album quickly rose to the top of the charts, going on to sell 4.1 million copies in the United States alone and becoming the bestselling release of 2006. Which was, of course, just the start…

“High School Musical” may be as American as apple pie and twice as wholesome, but the all-singing, all-dancing exploits of clean-cut basketball captain Troy Bolton (played by Efron) and his fellow students struck a chord with young teens around the world. “High School Musical” and last year’s sequel, “High School Musical 2,” have been translated into 24 different languages and seen by over two hundred and fifty million fans in 100 countries.

Now, production is complete on what is promised to be a bigger HSM experience: “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” will open on the silver screen in cinemas worldwide on October 24. The hysteria seems certain to continue.

All of which begs the question, How did a low-budget television musical that was shot in 24 days and featured a cast of unknowns, give birth to perhaps the biggest entertainment phenomenon of the new millennium?

“High School Musical’s” producer and creator Bill Borden says that the initial idea behind “HSM” was simply to make something he could watch at home with his three young sons. “We’d want to watch something as a family and we kept coming back to things like ‘The Sound of Music’ because musicals were the only option, apart from animated films. So, I decided to do a musical that would appeal to the age group of my kids, and they like rock and roll and pop, rather than Hollywood or Broadway show tunes.”

The second stroke of inspiration – obvious in retrospect perhaps – was situating the story in an average American three-year high school, filled with the pressures of fitting in and learning to make your own decisions. Teens in America saw their own feelings and experiences portrayed in the songs and dances through the hallways, classrooms, gym, and cafeteria of East High. Teens around the world got a glimpse into the American teen finding his own voice through American rituals like ‘the big show’ or ‘the big game.’

The cast takes the stories they are telling seriously. “I think we’re showing what it really feels like to be in high school and how things seem big and serious and dramatic. How the girl who’s like Sharpay really is a bit frightening,” says Monique Coleman, who plays the brainy Taylor McKessie. “Most movies about high school tend to make fun of themselves and poke fun at the situation.”

“I don’t agree when people say ‘High School Musical’ is old-fashioned,” concludes Kenny Ortega, the director of all three films. “It’s just that no one had made a film like it for a while, which is very different from it being old-fashioned. What’s happened is that we’ve reawakened this yearning for a certain innocence, a certain fantasy and hopefulness and joy. People were ready to see that again and I think they will embrace it on the big screen too. I’m not sure there’s any mystery to that at all.”

Mirror, Mirrors

“The Hills Have Eyes” director Alexandre Aja will deliver the scares anew in the upcoming horror movie “Mirrors” which is based on the Korean hit film “Into the Mirror.”

“Mirrors” stars television’s hit series “24” actor Kiefer Sutherland as an ex-NYPD cop whose life has gone downhill. In an attempt to sort his life out, he accepts the job of night watchman in a department store that has suffered a severe fire years earlier, and where only a few huge mirrors survived the flames. During his night rounds, the ‘mirror world’ contacts him and asks him to do impossible things which put those closest to him in imminent danger.

Director Aja, in the following q&a cites and shares his experiences during the film’s production.

Q: Where did the ideas for the film come from?

A: After “The Hills Have Eyes,” I wanted to deal with a different subject. I’ve always been attracted to the supernatural. It concerns a whole area of genre films that combine fantasy with horror. The idea of the mirror, an everyday object that everyone takes for granted and hardly notices, stuck with us. How many times a day do we look at ourselves, look at this image which we totally depend upon, in a mirror.... It is a little like checking to see if we are still there! Everyone has a different and particular relationship with the mirror. Some of us are quite narcissistic; others can’t stand the sight of their own reflection. We managed to convince Fox to let us take the basic theme, an ex-cop confronted with a mirror, and to turn it into a different story that has nothing to do with the original remake idea.

Q: Did working on this film make you think differently about mirrors?

A: I was terrified. I couldn’t even handle the mirror in my bedroom! Each time I was writing a mirror scene, I managed to frighten myself first before finalising a scene.

Q: When did you decide to choose Kiefer Sutherland?

A: As far as I’m concerned the most important part of a film will always be the story. His portrayal in “Flatliners,” which marked me on a personal level as it did my entire generation. It was one of the numerous reasons that made me choose him. Although his role as Jack Bauer in “24” has increased his fame, Jack is a more contained character who controls emotions well. Those who have only ever seen him in “24” will be very surprised. When we first met, I found out that he himself had a particular relationship with mirrors. He does not like looking at himself in the mirror, which is pretty rare for an actor. There are no mirrors in his house. He never looks at the monitor.

Q: What is the atmosphere like in the film?

A: The story takes place in New York, the city of reflections like no other, due to its incredible skyline of buildings. However, the attention is not focused on New York as a city; it is just a background for this ghost ship of an old abandoned department store. The intensity grows as Kiefer gradually gets caught up in a whirlpool of mystery that he must solve.

Q: Where does this film figure in your career?

A: Up until now I’ve been really lucky. Since the success of “The Hills Have Eyes,” I’ve found myself in increasingly favourable situations. I’ve often taken the risk of imposing my vision to those in America who decide, and run the risk of losing everything. “Mirrors” was a long process and I had to defend my point of view but in the end, the film is exactly as I imagined it, totally without compromise.

“Mirrors” also stars Paula Patton (“Déjà Vu”) and Amy Smart (“Crank,” “Butterfly Effect”) to be shown in local (Phils.) cinemas soon from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Narnia Talk: Mostly About Mosely

WILLIAM Moseley reprises his role as Narnia’s High King, Peter, who returns to the enchanted land with his three siblings to help Prince Caspian save Narnia from tyranny under the reign of the evil King Miraz, in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” The sequel represents Peter’s final appearance in the series. Moseley (now 21 years old) had his first motion picture starring role in the first “Narnia” film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” for which he earned nominations for the Saturn and Young Artists Awards. The young actor says his anticipation and anxiety to get back in front of the movie cameras echoed what his character Peter endured in the time between his fifteen-year reign of Narnia and his return to the kingdom in the new story. Just like his character, the handsome British native returned to secondary school. “Finishing the first film was an amazing experience,” Moseley says. “Then it was all taken away. Even though I didn’t react the same way Peter does, I can really understand how he feels.” Once the senior sibling returns to Narnia, “he becomes slightly arrogant,” the actor notes of his character. “There's fighting within the group. Peter cannot accept Caspian. His plans are not set from his heart, but from his ego. Even when he doubts himself, he still is too stubborn to back down and accept that he might be wrong. And ultimately, he pays the highest price. In the process, Moseley says, his character becomes a man. “When he gets back to Narnia, it’s 1,300 years later and people don't know he's a high king. They just see a boy. Peter has to prove who he is to the Narnians.” “When we cast William as Peter, he was just 15 and had never done anything like this before,” director Andrew Adamson notes. “William’s transformation was not dissimilar to that of his character Peter in the story, from this 17-year-old boy into a young man. I don’t think he’d even been on a movie set before. He was just this really great kid you wanted to be your big brother. And now, William has turned out to be a handsome and capable young man.” Moseley believes moviegoers will see the Pevensies in a new light in “Prince Caspian.” “Peter and Susan especially. These two had challenges in the first film, but nothing on this level. I think audiences will be surprised and engaged by both the physical battles and the emotional battles endured by our characters.” "They've all grown up really well,” Adamson says, sounding like a proud parent of the young actors portraying the Pevensie clan. “A large reason for me to do this again was working with the same children. There is this wonderful relationship between the kids, how they became a family and how they let us become a part of that family. There's change in very positive ways in growing up, but I'd like to say the movie didn’t change who they are, which I'm really happy about.” Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.