Coming Soon

Having just returned from Disney, and with Clara's unexpected rekindling of interest in Wall-E (seriously, completely random yesterday, "I want to watch Wall-E" - we're on viewing 5 by now) I did some digging into upcoming Disney and Pixar films. Found a couple of fun things.

First there is a new movie coming out called Brave (previously called The Bear and the Bow). The director was the first female director of a feature-length cell animation film (Prince of Egypt) and will be the first female director of a Pixar film. Also, a sequel to Monsters Inc. is in the works. Check out this blog post.

Brave is coming out in June 2012, and Monsters Inc. 2 in November 2012. Gonna be a good year for Pixar!

Also, there is a Cars 2 in the works. Mater is Lightning's new crew chief and they are traveling around the world (five countries for different races). It will be released in June 24, 2011.

Other things forthcoming:

Tangled (film) A princess stolen from her parents’ castle as a baby, Rapunzel is locked in a hidden tower longing for adventure. Now an imaginative and determined teenager, she takes off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade with the help of a dashing but infamous bandit, Flynn Rider. With the secret of her royal heritage hanging in the balance and her captor in pursuit, Rapunzel and her cohort find adventure, heart, humor, and hair ... 70 feet of magical golden hair. Animated feature, planned for release on November 12, 2010 (limited) and November 24 (wide). Directed by Byron Howard and Nathan Greno. Stars Mandy Moore (Rapunzel), Zachary Levi (Flynn Rider), Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel). Music is by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Adapted from the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale. The working title of the film was Rapunzel.

Winnie the Pooh (film) Animated feature film planned for Spring 2011.

King of the Elves (film) An animated feature planned for a Christmas 2012 release. An average man living in the Mississippi Delta reluctantly helps a desperate band of elves and is in turn named their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught up in a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life. Directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker. Based on Phillip K. Dick’s short story.

Iron Man

Last night the girls had a girls night out. So tonight, the boys decided to go catch a movie. And the fare? Iron Man.

Generally not one for comic book movies - I confess the Spiderman movies haven't really done much for me; I don't think I've seen the third one - the buzz surrounding Iron Man has been incessant. First it was the reviews, then came amazing word of mouth. My Twitter stream was awash with people who had seen the movie, ranting and raving about how good it is. I caught a review or two and terms that seem oxymoronic, like comic book movie with character development and plot, jumped out at me. When David suggested we head to a 9:30p showing after Mutual, Aaron and I accepted.

The theatre had a few people in it, few enough that each party in the theatre had their own row, but enough that when you laughed you heard others laughing with you. The movie started off with bits of action, but more story than techno toys blowing things up. As the movie continued the excitement built, I was thoroughly engaged, and I really enjoyed the movie. I find myself saying that it was a good movie, worth checking out.

Let's break it down a bit. Robert Downey Jr. is better known to me as the guy in the news with issues than as a great actor. He takes a strong turn as the party-it-up playboy turned hero. He appropriately played his character first as a charicature and then as the most accessible human you could imagine. The first time he flies in the Iron Man suit one shares in the wonder of flight. The view from the sky gives you the "playing God" wonder that to date has been the hallmark of Google Earth. I found myself rooting for Tony Stark.

Other principle actors include Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges. Gwyneth was good, enjoyable, nothing to write home about. The real wunderplayer was Jeff Bridges. Head shaved bald and a salt-and-pepper beard transformed him into an almost unrecognizable character. The three leads played well off each other.

The special effects were ILM, and therefore done well. Many of the explosions were especially life-like and believable. The main character's father had worked on the Manhattan Project, and one nice touch in the final explosion was a mushroom cloud very reminiscent of those grainy black-and-white videos we've seen of nuclear explosions.

But the real star of the show was the score. Composed by a relatively unknown, Ramin Djawadi, it gave the movie edge and punch. Electric guitar was added to the standard orchestra, and most songs featured heavy strings and guitar. Kristin has often joked that I fall for any song with prominent strings, and this stuff was no exception. First rate music. As we walked out of the theatre I caught Aaron singing the main theme. I came home and purchased the soundtrack off iTunes.

Final verdict: go see this movie. It is totally a theatre movie and just wouldn't compare at home, no matter how big your screen. With so many other great movies coming out this summer (we saw trailers for The Dark Knight, The Happening, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) this flick is the perfect way to kick off the summer movie season.

Update: Friday night, two days later. Am listening to the soundtrack. Very awesome. Definitely listen AFTER you've seen the movie.

Sweeney Todd

It doesn't get any crazier than a Tim Burton movie starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. And if you're in the mood for dark/crazy, wander on over to Yahoo!Movies and check out the trailer for the upcoming Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.A film adaptation of the Sondheim musical, the movie is set for release on December 21st. The palette looks classic Burton - every imaginable shade of black, grey, brown gray, and white - with creep intensity from Helena. The two main characters appear to be wearing a pound of make-up each.The villan, Judge Turpin, is played by Alan Rickman. He appears a number of times in the trailer and looks perfect for the part. Check out the raised eyebrow and expression in the screen cap.As my coworker Diana put it (by the way thanks for sending me the link!), Sweeney Todd isn't a favorite musical, but anything Burton is guaranteed to be done well and is therefore worth a viewing. If anyone is interested in accompanying me, post a comment and let me know. Kristin doesn't do musicals. Otherwise I'll go this one alone.

Film the Fifth

Tonight dear cousin Jane braved the wiles of a sick Clara and came a-babysitting so Kristin and I could take in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. A huge thanks to Jane for the babysitting offer, as well as being such a good babysitter.

We walked into the theatre with 10 minutes to spare. My eyes fell up two center seats, albeit lower in the theatre than is my preference, when someone waving and calling out my name caught my attention. It was our friend Paige! Of all the places showing Phoenix, of all the screenings at said places, we happen into the same one. And she and her friend Joanne happen to have empty seats next to them. As we sat down we remarked that fate helped us keep the 'see every Potter movie with Paige' tradition alive. ("It is fate, but call it Italy if it pleases you, Vicar.")

It must be noted that I walked into this movie with certain expectations. First, book five, while a book I greatly enjoyed, is one of tougher books to get through, owning to its length and Harry's teenage angst. Second, movie four was incredibly weak. Lastly, the trailer for movie five all but screamed, "This is why I'm hot!" There was action, Harry getting his Cho on, and Helena Bonham Carter; an exciting sample that was equal as enticing. I was pumped to see this movie. As the opening bars of Hedwig's Theme rolled out, I grabbed Kristin's arm and squeezed it to communicate my excitement. This was going to be good.

And by and large it was! The movie ended up being my second favorite, closely following on the heels of Azkaban. (Cuarón's interpretation was memorable in oh so many ways.) In fairness, films one and two, simple translations of scenes from the first books onto the screen, might have scared off viewers had they made too strong a departure. Columbus was building the foundation for a multi-billion dollar franchise. Movie four, on the other hand, had no such excuse. Cuarón had already blazed the trail. Newell could have done better.

For movie five the screenwriter made some interesting choices as far as reworking scenes and events into a coherent story. In the process we lost the zits spelling 'sneak' but he did manage to keep the "emotional range of a teaspoon" and "you've got to admit he's got style" quotes. There was also a shout out to Dumbledore's brother, but that's Kristin's connection to share.

The music was very well done. The composer was Nicholas Hopper (looked him up and didn't see anything familiar). During the opening sequence, the entr'acte if you will, he played with Hedwig's Theme - a risky move, playing around with a Williams composition - to great effect. A few songs sounded almost Thomas Newman-esque. One of the best choices was to forgo music for the final dual between Dumbledore and Voldemort. The sound of the battle and visuals built excellent tension. IMDB says he is signed on to do the music for movie six.

All that being said, the movie wasn't perfect. My chief complaint was the handling of two scenes in particular, leading Umbridge into the forest and the stand-off in the department of mysteries. Each felt like it lacked a build-up to a key moment - Umbridge being carried away, Sirius' death and the breaking of the prophecy - which I feel could have help build tension and emotion for the most-engaging final fight. Also, Helena played Bellatrix a little weirder than I suspect Bellatrix to be. But then again, this is the wife/partner/whatever of Tim Burton we're talking about. You've got to expect a little freakiness.

On the way home I commented to Kristin that the movies really have to be taken as individual artistic expressions, which happen to be set in Rowling's Potter universe. When it comes to canon, we have the books and interviews with Rowling. Sure the movies are important, but just because the screenwriter focused on a certain theme it doesn't mean Rowling intended that to be the primary statement for the novel.

All that said, go and see the movie. It's a great time.

How I Love Digital Projection and Kiosks

The two greatest occurrences of the early 21st Century would have to be digital projection and self-service kiosks. I love being able to buy movie tickets without having to talk to a person. And I love walking into the movie, knowing that when the familiar green band of the previews begins the image will turn on, freeze without the jumps and skips of celluloid film, then disappear in a display of the flawless imagery that is digital projection.

Today Honor, Andrew, Braden, Chase, Delainey and I went to go see Ratatouille at the Tysons Theatres. This was the third time I've seen a movie in digital projection, the previous two were Cars and Shrek 3. It's always an amazing experience.

Ratatouille deserves every column-inch of good press it has received. The movie is witty, brilliant, and filled with treasures for both the child and adult audiences. (Think the love/hate couple and the shape of Anton Ego's office.) The visuals were incredible. First to mention are the advances in representing humans in computer animation. Ratatouille is a far cry from the pseudo stick figures of the Toy Story movies. Additionally, watching Remy, the lead rat, you alternately love this goofy character trying to figure out who he is and are repulsed by his mannerisms, that remind you that this is a rat (glowing eyes and creepy movements). The graphics were top-rate, with heart-stopping water sequences. Having taking a computer animation class, I know how hard it is to model dynamic objects. The water was absolutely incredible. I think I squealed in delight at one point.

Brad Bird, who directed the Incredibles, also directed Ratatouille. One of the things I loved most about The Incredibles was the 50s/60s/70s style of the movie, and how perfectly they kept to the style throughout the movie. (I wanted to eat dinner in the island's lava dining room.) Similarly in Ratatouille, you are introduced to a version of Paris that is simultaneously retro and current-day. This results in a film that feels classic and timeless all in the same breath. The rich color palate looks as breath-taking in stills as they do in the movie.

The movie was a hit with all involved. Afterwards we braved the crowds at the Apple Store to check out the iPhone. I held one. It is a thing of beauty. I'm sure I'll blog more about it later.

Wii Party & Best Movie Ever

As we walked into the One True Grocery Store today, we passed one of those Red Box movie rental machines. I quickly flicked through the titles telling Kristin all the movies we had to rent. After she rolled her eyes at all the dumb movies she has no desire seeing, I came to Music & Lyrics. We decided it was the perfect type of fluff for a Saturday night at home.

We needed some detox after our early evening activity: five 12- and 13-year-old boys descending on our house for a Wii Party. As a reward for a month's worth of good behavior in Deacons' Quorum Meeting, we grilled burgers & dogs and played boxing, bowling, tennis, and the cow race game on our Wii. Teenage boys are a curious sort. I was highly entertained by the topics of conversation, the need to communicate at max volume, and their ability to turn any social interaction into a wrestling match. The house survived, though the couches received two years' worth of abuse in two short hours.

After they left, we popped in the movie. For those who not familiar with the story line, Hugh Grant is a 80's has-been musician who is recruited by the IT teenage starlet to write her next hit song. Drew Barrymore ends up penning the lyrics to the song with appropriate romantic comedy twists and turns. The band Hugh Grant's character played in was named PoP! and the music video for their hit song "PoP! Goes My Heart" plays during the opening credits.

The music is pure synth-pop and beautifully captures the 80's new wave look while poking just the right amount of fun without pushing it over the edge into the realm of full-on spoof. I can't seem to get enough of the video and keep playing it again and again. Kristin asked me if I realized that they are making fun of the 80's. In response I appropriately glared.

It was a Mandate, not a Man Date

My second cousin-in-law, Bryce, and his wife Lisa were given a pass for two to last night's advanced screening of Ocean's Thirteen. Unable to secure a babysitter for little Sophie, Lisa insisted, nay mandated, that Bryce look for someone to take along. Figuring that it was highly unlikely that the parents of a five-month-old had plans for a Tuesday night, they gave us a ring to see if one of us was interested in attending. Kristin really wants to see the movie, but the prospect of having to come into the city at rush hour squashed that idea, so I met Bryce on the platform of the metro station near my office and we headed downtown.

Though we had to wait in line for a little under an hour - the passes to such screenings say, "Events are overbooked and seating is first come-first serve" - we were seated about fifteen minutes before the screening began in decent enough seats. (I know someone in the peanut gallery will make the comment, "Any free seat is a great seat." so I'm preempting you.)

The movie was a lot of fun, Clooney and Pitt's interplay was impeccable, the visual style very Soderbergh, and the special effects stunning. The three spiraling gold towers of the fictional hotel Bank were seamlessly folded into The Strip. It was so outlandish that I half expect someone to actually try to build the thing. There was plenty of eye candy for those who prefer men in fine suits. For those of us who prefer the fairer sex, the lone prominent female actor was a skeletor who could stand to gain a few pounds. Overall, it was a good Ocean's movie with high stakes, double and triple crossings, and crazily staged plots and ploys to get even. I would highly recommend it.

At some point in the evening, Bryce and I discussed the classification for our trip to the screening. The man date is a term popularized by the media that applies to an evening outing for two men who are friends. We, however, felt that the term mandate better applied, for the reason mentioned above. Regardless, I had a great time and look forward to spending some time with Bryce, Lisa & Little Sophie before the big move.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Trailer 2

The second trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has been released and is available on quicktime.com. The trailer was originally attached to Spiderman 3. It features some great scenes, as well as plenty of new footage. There are two versions: regular and high definition. Great shots include:

• Weasley brothers making their break
• Voldemort and Dumbledore throwing down
• Some crazy department of mysteries scenes
• Harry getting his Cho on
• and more action than many a summer blockbuster!

A few screen captures:

The door from Harry's dreams
Harry's escorts to 12 Grimmauld Place
The Ministry of Magic
Our first-ever view of Azkaban
Voldemort, look dapper indeed
The High Inquisitor and Weasleys' Wild-Fire Whiz-Bangs
Prophecies at the Department of Mysteries

Oh, and because I am a dweeb, right click here and select "Save as" or "Save link as" to download the high definition trailer. Warning: it's 95 megs.

Ratatouille 9-Minute Preview

Over at apple.com there is a new 9-minute preview of Ratatouille. The graphics are first class, the story looks fun, and the rat is so realistic it is almost squirm inducing. Go check it out:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/ratatouille/preview.html

Blonde. James Bond.

Went and saw the new James Bond movie with Bonnie & David. Kristin isn't much of a Bond fan, and is also on the verge of coming down with something, so she passed. We got excellent seats in a huge theatre - this is one of those movies best seen on a BIG screen with good sound. This theatre had both.

It's been said everywhere, so I don't think I need to dwell on it much, but this was one good movie. More action that past Bonds. More believable. (Sadly) fewer gadgets. Both Bonnie and my coworker Holly testified to both Daniel Craig's dreaminess and sex appeal. Great locations. High stakes poker. A rousing huzzah for the film.

While watching the opening credits I caught a reference to free running. For those not in the know, free running is a way of running, vaulting, jumping, and climbing created by Sebastien Foucan and most often practiced in urban areas. I first discovered it when randomly browsing Google Video. Since then it has surfaced throughout pop culture, including two Madonna videos and the opening sequence of Casino Royale. The breath-taking opening sequence you might have heard about is all free running. And they even got Sebastien Foucan to play the bad guy Bond chases.

So, go see the movie. Click the links in the paragraph above to learn about free running and to see clips. The first Madonna video to which I link is full of free running. The second only has a little in the beginning. For quick samples, click here, here, and here.

HOLY FREAKING HARRY TEASER TRAILER POTTER

GO NOW.

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX TEASER TRAILER HAS BEEN RELEASED.

The links:

• Trailer at Yahoo.com
• The Official Web Site
• Four minute featurette on the movie at google.com
• The making of Kreacher at google.com

My quick take is that it looks amazing. Kreacher doesn't bother me, which is surprising as I despise Dobby. Brother Jared pointed out that the new Death Eater masks look cool. And Helena Bonham Carter looks awesome as Bellatrix Lestrange.

Update: Figured out how to download the high definition Quicktime Trailers. For all three links, right click and choose "Save As." Enter the file name 'Harry Potter.mov'. If you don't, it will save the movie as a dll file, which won't play.

• 1080 resolution
• 720 resolution
• 480 resolution

A Few Film Updates

Looks like the trailer for Eragon has finally been released.

Newsweek has a few sneak peeks of Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. The first article talks about Emma Watson (Hermione). Apparently she is unsure whether or not she wants to participate in films six and seven. They also included a few pictures (see below).

The second is a full interview with Emma.

UPDATE: mtv.com has more HP5 pics. If the site is slow, it's not you. They recently redesigned and the new site stinks.