Melissa Thompson

Special LA Screening Celebrates Upcoming Diamond Edition Release of ALADDIN

In celebration of the upcoming ALADDIN: DIAMOND EDITION release, Scott Weinger, the voice of Aladdin, hosted a special screening of the film at the Walt Disney Studios lot and WAMG was there for Sunday’s fun events.

There was a host of fun activities for kids – a coloring table, ring toss, belly dancing lessons and a nice pre-movie breakfast. Youngsters in attendance also left with gifts such as Disney action figures, the iconic fairy wings, and a special Golden Books edition of Aladdin.

For many of the kids in the audience, this was their first time seeing ALADDIN, including star Scott Weinger’s own son and his delighted friends, further confirming that this Disney classic holds up through generations.

Disney’s beloved masterpiece will make your heart race and your spirit soar.

Experience the laughter, adventure and Academy Award-winning music (1992: Best Music, Original Song, “A Whole New World,” Original Score) for the first time on Blu-ray and Digital HD. And now ALADDIN shines even brighter with never-before-seen tributes to the enchanting talent of Robin Williams, the “Genius behind the Genie.

ALADDIN: DIAMOND EDITION will be available for the first time on Blu-ray and Digital HD on September 29th and on Blu-ray/DVD on October 13.

Scott Weinger was joined by Ron Clements (“Aladdin” Producer/Director); Jodie Sweetin (“Full House/Fuller House”); Luna Blaise (ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat”); Joey Bragg (Disney Channel’s “Liv and Maddie”); Ricky Garcia (Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever”); Murray Rundus (Disney Channel’s “Gamer’s Guide”); Nina Lu (Disney Channel’s “Bunk’d”); Lauren Taylor (Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever”); Nathan Arenas (Disney Channel’s “Bunk’d”); Kamil McFadden (Disney Channel’s “KC Undercover”)

BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Actor Scott Weinger speaks during a special LA screening celebrating Diamond Edition release of "ALADDIN" at The Walt Disney Studios on September 27, 2015 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Scott Weinger — (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: A view of the atmosphere during a special LA screening celebrating Diamond Edition release of "ALADDIN" at The Walt Disney Studios on September 27, 2015 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) — (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Guests attend a special LA screening celebrating Diamond Edition release of "ALADDIN" at The Walt Disney Studios on September 27, 2015 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) — (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

The voice cast includes Robin Williams (Jumanji, Night at the Museum) as The Genie, Scott Weinger (TV’s “Full House”) as Aladdin, Linda Larkin as Jasmine, Gilbert Gottfried (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) as Iago, Jonathan Freeman (Aladdin: the Musical on Broadway) as Jafar, Douglas Seale (Rescuers Down Under, For Love or Money) as Sultan and Frank Welker (Mulan, The Smurfs 2) as Abu.

Producers/Directors: John Musker and Ron Clements (Moana, The Little Mermaid, Hercules)

Writers: Ron Clements and John Musker (Moana, The Little Mermaid, Hercules) Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean 1-4)

Music & Lyrics: Alan Menken – Music (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Howard Ashman – Lyrics (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), Tim Rice – Lyrics (The Lion King, Evita)

Release Dates: September 29, 2015 (Digital) & October 13, 2015 (Physical)

Product SKUs: Disney Movies Anywhere, Digital HD & SD, Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital) and DVD

Blu-ray & Digital Bonus Features:

The Genie Outtakes – Robin Williams’ Genie outtakes are magically brought to life.
Genie 101 – Our host, Scott Weinger (the voice of Aladdin), takes us through the various transformattions of the famous (and formerly famous) celebrity references of the Genie.
Ron & John: You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me – Directors John Musker & Ron Clements sit down and discuss the experiences of their long-running partnership together at Disney.
Aladdin: Creating Broadway Magic – Join host Darren Criss as we take “a new fantastic point of view” at the story of how Aladdin went from a classic Disney animated film to become Broadway’s smash hit with Composer Alan Menken and others.
Unboxing Aladdin – Our host, Joey Bragg from Disney Channel’s Liv & Maddy, explore the Easter eggs and hidden secrets of Aladdin in this unboxing video.
Classic Bonus – ALL classic bonus from the original DVD release

DMA Exclusive Bonus Features: Deleted Song – “My Finest Hour” – Jafar takes the stage in this never-before-seen deleted song. Includes intro from Ron & John. (DMA exclusive)

DVD Bonus Features: Select Classic Bonus, including:

Deleted Song / “Proud Of Your Boy” (Original Demo Recording)
Deleted Song / “You Can Count On Me”
Deleted Song / “Humiliate The Boy”
Deleted Song / “Why Me”
Deleted Scene / “Aladdin & Jasmine’s First Meeting”
Deleted Scene / “Aladdin in the Lap of Luxury”

Ratings: G in US & Canada (bonus materials are not rated)

Feature Run Time: Approximately 91 Minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1:85:1

Audio: Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital. DVD: English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.

Languages: English, French and Spanish

Subtitles: English (ESL/SDH), French and Spanish

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyAladdin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyAnimation
Website: http://movies.disney.com/aladdin
DMA App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/disney-movies-anywhere-watch

New Poster And TV Spot For CREED Feature Michael B. Jordan And Sylvester Stallone

Fans of the Rocky films, get ready.

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first poster and TV spot, starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan, for the highly-anticipated movie, CREED.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

CREED also stars Tessa Thompson (“Selma,” “Dear White People”) as Bianca, a local singer-songwriter who becomes involved with Adonis; Phylicia Rashad (Lifetime’s “Steel Magnolias”) as Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow; and English pro boxer and former three-time ABA Heavyweight Champion Anthony Bellew as boxing champ “Pretty” Ricky Conlan.

Ryan Coogler directs from a screenplay he wrote with Aaron Covington, based on characters from the “Rocky” series written by Sylvester Stallone.

Joining Coogler behind the scenes are director of photography Maryse Alberti (“The Wrestler”) and costume designers Emma Potter (“Song One”) and Antoinette Messam (“Orphan”), as well as his “Fruitvale Station” team: editors Michael P. Shawver and Claudia Castello; production designer Hannah Beachler; and composer Ludwig Göransson.

CREED opens in theaters on November 25.

Visit the film’s official site: http://creedthemovie.com/

https://instagram.com/creedmovie/

https://twitter.com/creedmovie

https://www.facebook.com/creedmovie

Check Out The Thrilling New Trailer For Ron Howard’s IN THE HEART OF THE SEA

Hitting cinemas on December 11th, watch the intense new trailer for director Ron Howard’s IN THE HEART OF THE SEA.

With a Screenplay by Charles Leavitt and story by Charles Leavitt and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, JURASSIC WORLD), the film is based on the book In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick.

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. IN THE HEART OF THE SEA reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive.

Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.

This film has been rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and peril, brief startling violence, and thematic material.

Visit the film’s cool website: http://www.intheheartoftheseamovie.com/

Watch The New CREED Trailer Starring Sylvester Stallone And Michael B. Jordan

Rocky is back!

Sylvester Stallone is Rocky Balboa and Michael B. Jordan is Adonis Johnson in the new trailer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema’s exciting upcoming drama CREED.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Ryan Coogler directs from a screenplay he wrote with Aaron Covington, based on characters from the “Rocky” series written by Sylvester Stallone.

CREED opens in theaters on November 25.

Visit the film’s official site: http://creedthemovie.com/

Ben Foster Stars As Lance Armstrong In Stephen Frears’ THE PROGRAM Trailer

A new trailer for THE PROGRAM has arrived.

From Academy Award nominated director Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) and producers Working Title Films (The Theory Of Everything, Everest, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), comes the true story of the meteoric rise and fall of one of the most celebrated and controversial men in recent history; Lance Armstrong, the world-renowned Tour de France champion.

The film will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 13.

The world needs heroes and Lance Armstrong was the ultimate sporting hero. Following a gruelling battle with cancer, Lance returned to his cycling career in 1999 more determined than ever and with his sights set firmly on winning the Tour de France. With the help of the infamous Italian physician Michele Ferrari and team director Johan Bruyneel, he developed the most sophisticated doping program in the history of the sport. This program allowed Lance and his American teammates to dominate the world of cycling, winning the Tour an unprecedented seven times.

However not everyone believed the fairytale…Sunday Times journalist, David Walsh, at first charmed by Lance’s charisma and talent, soon began to question whether the ‘world’s greatest athlete’ was ‘clean’. Walsh sought to unveil the truth, his ensuing battle with Armstrong risked his own career, ostracised him from the cycling community and cost his paper, The Sunday Times, hundreds of thousands in legal costs. But the indefatigable Walsh eventually uncovered the truth when a select few prepared to talk came forward, exposing one of the greatest deceptions of our time.

Inspired by the award winning book ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ by David Walsh, and featuring a stellar cast including Ben Foster (Lone Survivor), Chris O’Dowd (Calvary), Guillaume Canet (Tell No One) and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad), THE PROGRAM is a tense and suspenseful thriller.

Visit the official site: http://www.theprogrammovie.com/

LOVE THE COOPERS Trailer Stars Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Amanda Seyfried, Ed Helms, Anthony Mackie and Olivia Wilde

Just in time for the holidays comes a new family film featuring a huge cast with a Christmas theme.

Directed by Jessie Nelson and written by Steven Rogers, LOVE THE COOPERS follows the Cooper clan as four generations of extended family come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration.

As the evening unfolds, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn to night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

Starring Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton, Jake Lacy, Anthony Mackie, Amanda Seyfried, June Squibb, Marisa Tomei and Olivia Wilde, watch the first trailer for the upcoming holiday film, LOVE THE COOPERS.

How fun does this look – big stars, holiday theme. Count me in!

Yahoo Movies interviewed director Jessie Nelson about the film.

Highlights include Nelson’s comments on:

How Love the Coopers might remind you of other festive movies with big ensembles: We’re in the spirit of Love Actually or The Family Stone…We’ve got a lot of comedy but we also have a lot of warmth and heart – that embraces the painful insanity of the holidays.

John Goodman playing the role of the family patriarch after 20 years: He was really excited to get a role like this…He had that dream dad vibe and Diana had always wanted to work him.

The scene that impressed Nelson the most – when the family goes Christmas caroling: I had no idea of the level of musicianship from some of my actors. Alan Arkin is an amazing ukulele player. John Goodman plays the harmonica beautifully. Ed Helms can play the guitar so well. Diane sings beautifully, and June Squibb has a beautiful voice. It was amazing what they did with that scene.

CBS Films will release LOVE THE COOPERS in theaters on November 2015.

https://twitter.com/lovethecoopers
https://www.facebook.com/cbsfilms
http://www.cbsfilms.com/love-the-coopers/

LOVE THE COOPERS In First Poster – Stars Diane Keaton And John Goodman

Here’s a first look at the teaser poster from CBS Films’ upcoming family comedy LOVE THE COOPERS.

Starring Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Amanda Seyfried, Olivia Wilde, Ed Helms, Marisa Tomei, Anthony Mackie & Alan Arkin, the new trailer will be debut tomorrow morning.

LOVE THE COOPERS follows the Cooper clan as four generations of extended family come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. As the evening unfolds, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn to night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

Directed by Jessie Nelson and written by Steven Rogers, LOVE THE COOPERS opens in theaters on November 13th.

https://twitter.com/lovethecoopers
https://www.facebook.com/cbsfilms
http://www.cbsfilms.com/love-the-coopers/

Watch Chef Bradley Cooper In First BURNT Trailer

Bradley Cooper cooks up a storm as a troubled chef in this first trailer for BURNT.

Chef Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) had it all – and lost it. A two-star Michelin rockstar with the bad habits to match, the former enfant terrible of the Paris restaurant scene did everything different every time out, and only ever cared about the thrill of creating explosions of taste. To land his own kitchen and that third elusive Michelin star though, he’ll need the best of the best on his side, including the beautiful Helene (Sienna Miller). BURNT is a remarkably funny and emotional story about the love of food, the love between two people, and the power of second chances.

The movie also features Omar Sy, Daniel Brühl, Matthew Rhys, Uma Thurman and Emma Thompson.

Directed by John Wells (AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY), BURNT hits theaters everywhere on October 23, 2015.

Follow the movie:

https://instagram.com/Burnt_Movie/

https://twitter.com/BurntMovie

https://www.facebook.com/BurntFilm

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Art Awakens Contest Kicks Off Today

In celebration of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, Lucasfilm and HP proudly present “Art Awakens.”

“Art Awakens” is an exciting new program for Star Wars fans old and new, across the country to revitalize creativity by “Bending the Rules” of the Force, themed around a galaxy far, far away.

“Art Awakens” kicks off today (August 11) with the launch of a two-month-long nationwide fan art competition across the US. Amateur artists can submit their STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS inspired art on ArtAwakens.com for a chance to be showcased in an upcoming professional art exhibit later in the year.

Additionally, coming this November to Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles is a three-day STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS art exhibit featuring top professional and emerging contemporary artists. All new original pieces will be auctioned off in the name of Star Wars: Force for Change to benefit UNICEF Kid Power, which gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power band, kids earn points which unlock food packets for malnourished children around the world.

Five lucky winners of the STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Fan Art Contest, chosen by a judging committee that includes members from Disney, Lucasfilm and the legendary visual effects house Industrial Light & Magic and others, will have their art showcased in the professional gallery exhibit. The winners will also have the opportunity to be flown out to Los Angeles to attend the VIP opening night, among other prizes from HP.

Additionally, an HP “Bend the Rules” Award will be granted to one of the five grand prize winners upon completion of a questionnaire with the highest score in the Innovative Use of Technology category. The HP “Bend the Rules” Award winner will receive an HP Notebook Computer to help them push the boundaries of art and creativity.

Official “Art Awakens” URL: ArtAwakens.com

Official Art Awakens hashtag: #ArtAwakensContest

No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited or restricted. Open to legal residents of the 50 US and DC, who are at least 18 years old at time of entry with a Tumblr account in good standing. Ends October 11, 2015 at 11:59:59 am PT. Subject to Official Rules at: ArtAwakens.com. Sponsor: ABC, Inc. d/b/a Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Burbank, CA

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS IS IN THEATERS DECEMBER 18TH, 2015

Stay connected with StarWars.com and the official Star Wars app. Download Star Wars for FREE from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON – The Review

Simply put, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, director F. Gary Gray’s biopic of the rap group N.W.A., is nothing you thought it would be and everything you hoped it would be. And it’s been in the making for 27 years.

Based on the true story and rise to fame of members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (taken from the name of the first and only album released by the 5 original members) is both a biopic and a coming of age story that keeps you riveted in your seat for two and half hours.

In 1987, Compton, CA was a hotbed of gangs, drugs, and a brutally corrupt LAPD. With no real voice to express their frustration and anger, drug dealer Eazy-E and local DJ Andre Young, (aka Dr. Dre) decided to start a group with neighborhood friends Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and MC Ren. What followed was a journey none of them could have predicted.

Having grown up in South Central LA, director F. Gary Gray (Friday, The Italian Job, The Negotiator) nails the whole look of the film perfectly. From the streets of Compton, to the recording studios and the sold out arenas, the film has an authenticity of that time period that is remarkable. One scene in particular, where the group is performing at local roller-skating rink immediately transports you to 1987 and characters everyone knew at some point or another in the late 80’s.

And speaking of characters, the casting is also somewhat of a stroke of genius. The three leads, O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube), Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre) and Jason Mitchell (Eazy-E) don’t just portray these characters, they become them. You can see the camaraderie and authenticity every time they are on screen together, which is what director Gray was most insistent on getting right, having the young actors spend a huge amount of time getting to know each other and bond before a single camera rolled.

Although mostly unknown, (O’Shea Jackson Jr. is the real-life son of Ice Cube, playing his famous father) the young cast definitely did their research. And this is where the heart of the movie comes from, and it is most evident in the performance scenes (the most impressive of the film) where it absolutely just explodes. It is crystal clear in the concert scenes that these were not crowds of extras sent over by Central Casting. These were true fans that knew they were about to experience something special (not to mention a performance by the real Dr. Dre and Ice Cube at the end of filming those scenes). They brought audience participation to a whole other level. Giving the film a bit of real Hollywood “street cred” is multi-award winning actor Paul Giamatti as group manager and svengali Jerry Heller. Heller is pretty much the catalyst for everything good and bad that happens to the group, including their meteoric rise and ultimate breakup over money and egos, and Giamatti plays it with such finesse that it doesn’t come off as the cartoonish white guy. Also frighteningly present is infamous gangster and rap mogul Suge Knight (played so well by R. Marcus Taylor, you think it’s a good thing the real Knight is behind bars). Without spoiling anything, his scenes are wonderfully ironic.

What really comes across as the most moving though, is the real, honest friendship between the members of N.W.A. Obviously, some have become more successful than others (Beats by Dre, anyone?) and Ice Cube became a huge movie star along the way, but the journey is theirs and theirs alone to tell. The love, the pain, the fights, the dis tracks and the triumph – it’s all on full display and fans will lap it up. And not just fans of N.W.A. This film is for fans of hip-hop, rap music, and all of these larger than life characters that all came straight outta Compton.

5 out of 5 stars

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON opens Friday, August 14

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STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS IS IN THEATERS DECEMBER 18TH, 2015

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5 out of 5 stars

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