Friday, June 12, 2015

JURASSIC WORLD REVIEW



Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Ty Simpkins

Directed by: Colin Trevorrow

Written by: Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver

  Some people may not have liked the sequels to "Jurassic Park", but they didn't bother me. Of course, they weren't anything close to the original, which is usually the case with sequels. That brings us to "Jurassic World", and where it stands in the Jurassic Park franchise. Lets say it easily beats the previous sequels, and comes extremely close to surpassing the original!


First and foremost, the new Jurassic World theme park will blow audiences away. The Jurassic Park theme park had some good ideas, but all of the technology was used to create the dinosaurs while adding little to the park. The new park uses futuristic technology that greatly enhances the park goers experience with things like the Gyrosphere, and new stadium seating. If the audience thought they wanted to go to Jurassic Park, they will be drooling to go to something like Jurassic World.


Of course the added technology would be nothing without the dinosaurs. There's a good mix of new dinosaurs, and some of the franchise favorites. The star of the movie is the Indominus Rex, which is a genetically enhanced dinosaur that ends up being like a T-Rex on steroids and then some. It’s the top predator that escapes to wreck havoc on the park. Another awesome new dinosaur is the Mosasaurus, which looks almost like a giant swimming lizard. It's quite a sight watching it jump out of the water, and chomp down on a great white shark like it’s an appetizer.


Then there are the old favorites like the raptors. In the previous movies, they were responsible for plenty of human deaths. While they’re still dangerous this time around, the raptors get treated like trained dogs. Their intelligence is taking to a new level as they learn to take human commands. Of course there are plenty of the usually herbivores roaming the park. They’re still boring, and make a good meal for the predators. And yes, what would the park be without the most popular dinosaur in the franchise... the T-Rex!


Believe it or not there are humans in the movie! The story centers around Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), who runs Jurassic World, and her two nephews, Gary (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson), who come to visit the park. Claire is too busy dealing with the park, so the boys venture around the park pretty much on their own. No good comes of this as the boys find themselves lost in an open area of the park when all hell breaks loose. That’s when Claire turns to Owen (Chris Pratt), who is the raptor trainer, for help in returning the boys to safety. They set off to save the boys, while the park is about to come under attack by the Indominus Rex.

  Claire and Owen have a great dynamic going on throughout the movie. They start almost like heart broken teens, and end up being brought together in the chaos. Chris Pratt continues his run of strong performances, and Bryce Dallas Howard will grow on the audience as her character develops. Ty and Nick do a good job as the new set of children put in harms way, but not as good as the original tandem of children in "Jurassic Park."


Another thing that's really great about this movie is how it pays much respect to the original movie, and theme park. There are plenty of references to the original park and there are a few scenes that bring the two parks together. It certainly should get some smiles from the audience. One of the characters is even wearing an original Jurassic Park t-shirt!

  While there’s plenty of originality in "Jurassic World," there are still plenty of story lines that are similar to the original and the other sequels. Those story lines include rescuing the children, and having a group of people looking to sabotage things for their own interests. Besides having a superior park with some better dinosaurs, what really stands out is the ending dinosaur fight. While the original had a great fight, this one is spectacular. There are plenty of twists and turns, and it finishes off with a bang!

  It's rare to say a sequel can be better than the original, but "Jurassic World" comes very close to surpassing "Jurassic Park." The park itself is a technological upgrade with an even fiercer top predator. The dinosaurs look as real as ever, and always are an amazing thing to witness on the big screen. The characters are very likable, and there's a great dynamic between Owen and Claire supported by some good acting. However, they still might not be better than Jeff Goldblum, and his performance as the unusual Dr. Malcolm. Just like the fantastic ending, “Jurassic World” is an awesome movie, but it’s still hard to beat the original so I give it 4 stars! 

HorrO

Thursday, June 11, 2015

New Trailer for Universal Pictures' EVEREST



Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind.  Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.  The epic adventure stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal.



Everest is directed by Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns, Contraband) and produced by Working Title Films’ Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, Cross Creek Pictures’ Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson, as well as Nicky Kentish Barnes and Kormákur. 

Universal Pictures and Cross Creek Pictures’ presentation of Everest—in association with Walden Media—is adapted for the screen by William Nicholson (Gladiator) and Oscar® winner Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). 

The film was shot on location in Nepal on the foothills of Everest, the Italian Alps and at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and Pinewood Studios in the U.K.  Universal will distribute Everest worldwide.

Genre: Epic Adventure                
Cast: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal
Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur
Screenplay by: William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy   
Produced by: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Baltasar Kormákur, Nicky Kentish Barnes, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson
Executive Producers: Angela Morrison, Liza Chasin, Evan Hayes, Randall Emmett, Peter Mallouk, Mark Mallouk, Lauren Selig

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

BRIDGE OF SPIES" Starring Tom Hanks and Directed by Steven Spielberg Unveils Poster




Dreamworks Bridge of Spies is in theaters on October 16, 2015.

BRIDGE OF SPIES
DREAMWORKS PICTURES/FOX 2000 PICTURES

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Twitter: @BridgeOfSpies

Genre: Dramatic Thriller
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release date: October 16, 2015
Running time: TBD

Cast: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Amy Ryan, Sebastian
Koch, Alan Alda
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producers: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger                         
Executive Producers: Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King
Written by: Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, DreamWorks Pictures/Fox 2000 Pictures’ “Bridge of Spies” tells the story of James Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

Directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg, “Bridge of Spies” stars: two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as James Donovan; three-time Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm. The film is produced by Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen. “Bridge of Spies” will be released in theaters on October 16, 2015.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Walt Disney Records Set to Release "Inside Out" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack



WALT DISNEY RECORDS SET TO RELEASE “INSIDE OUT”
ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK WITH
SCORE COMPOSED BY MICHAEL GIACCHINO

Soundtrack Available June 16, 2015

BURBANK, CA – June 4, 2015 -- Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” features an original score that captures the emotional spirit of the story by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino.  The soundtrack will be released by Walt Disney Records on June 16, 2015.    Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.", "Up") and produced by Jonas Rivera, p.g.a. ("Up"), Disney•Pixar's "Inside Out" opens in U.S. theaters on June 19, 2015. 

Giacchino worked with director Pete Docter on “Up” (garnering an Academy Award® for best original score) and also counts Disney•Pixar’s films “Cars 2,” “Ratatouille” and “The Incredibles” among his credits. But, says the composer, “Inside Out” was different. “Pete [Docter] wanted the music to feel as if it was coming from the inside—from internal thoughts,” says Giacchino. “We were going for something atmospheric. Something that wasn’t traditional film score.”

According to the composer, the goal of the music mirrored the goal of the film. “It had to feel emotional,” says Giacchino. “I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to sound, but I knew how I wanted it to feel. This film is personal.”
  
The score was recorded with a 70-piece orchestra with an organ and a rhythm section that consisted of guitars and a drummer.

“I had a lot of fun writing the music,” continues Giacchino. “There’s a 1930s jazzy section we wrote for the Forgetters, and we channel classic horror in the Subconscious. The film really goes all over the map musically, but what I love most about it is that we never forgot that it’s an emotional story that’s being told.”

“Inside Out” is preceded by the short “LAVA” from Pixar Animation Studios, director James Ford Murphy and producer Andrea Warren. Inspired by the isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes, “LAVA” is a musical love story that takes place over millions of years.  The short features the theme performed by Kuana Torres Kahele (Uku & Narrator) and Napua Greig (Lele).  The “Lava” theme will be available at digital retail on June 16, 2015.

About Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out”:
Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind to find out. 

Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.  

When Riley's family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.

About Michael Giacchino:
Michael Giacchino has credits that feature some of the most popular and acclaimed film projects in recent history, including “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” and “The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”  Giacchino’s 2009 score for the Pixar hit “Up” earned him an Oscar®, a Golden Globe®, the BAFTA, the Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award and two GRAMMY® Awards.
Additional projects include collaborations with Disney Imagineering on music for Space Mountain, Star Tours (with John Williams) and the Ratatouille ride in Disneyland Paris. Giacchino also was the Musical Director of the 81st Annual Academy Awards®. Currently, his music can be heard in concert halls internationally with both “Star Trek” and “Star Trek Into Darkness” films being performed live-to-picture with a full orchestra. 
This summer, in addition to Pete Docter’s “Inside Out” from Disney•Pixar, Giacchino has two other major films hitting theaters: “Tomorrowland,” directed by Brad Bird and Universal’s “Jurassic World,” directed by Colin Trevorrow.
The Inside Out original motion picture soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on June 16, 2015.   The album is now available for pre-order at iTunes (http://smarturl.it/iosa1) and Amazon.com (http://smarturl.it/iosama1).

For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/ disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic.  To purchase Disney music, visit the online store at www.disneymusicstore.com.    

Friday, June 5, 2015

THE GOOD DINOSAUR - New Teaser Trailer & Poster Now Available!



"The Good Dinosaur" asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct?  Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.


U.S. Release Date:                              November 25, 2015
Director:                                               Peter Sohn
Producer:                                             Denise Ream

Notes:
·       Peter Sohn made his directorial debut with the Pixar short film “Partly Cloudy.” He has worked in the art, story and animation departments, and also has voiced the characters of Emile from Academy Award®-winning “Ratatouille” and Scott “Squishy” Squibbles from “Monsters University.” 
·       Denise Ream produced the Golden Globe-nominated film “Cars 2” for Pixar Animation Studios, and served as associate producer for Disney•Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning film “Up.” She also has an extensive background in producing visual effects and animation for live action films.

Site: Disney.com/thegooddinosaur
Hashtag: #GoodDino