Well Marvel movie maniacs, are you getting ready to head to the multiplex for the newest screen incarnation of our favorite web-slingin’ hero? We movie geeks are a couple of steps ahead of you, and maybe the fine folks of Sony Studios. Looking over Spidey’s 50 year history, we’re amazed at his terrific roster of bad guys. Sure Batman has the greatest comic book villain ever in the Joker, but things get pretty goofy a few notches down ( Tweedledom and Tweedledee? ). Really, the webhead’s got a great line-up just waiting for their close-up. All right you NYC menaces, who’ll be the next evildoer to try and squash that bug?
10. MOLTEN MAN
Ah, the last really great villain of the Steve Ditko era, The Molten Man is sort of a spin-off. A low-level criminal named Raxton takes a bath in a special liquid alloy created by Professor Smythe, builder of those pesky Spider-Slayer robots funded by J. Jonah Jameson. Quickly he emerges with bright golden impenetrable skin and unbelievable strength. In later incarnations he was almost a walking lava-man who left footprints of fire, determined to scorch our favorite wall-crawler. Thanks to some extra thick webbing, Spidey was able to hold him for police pick-up ( wonder is he left a ” courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man” card ? ). Just think how CGI will make him glow and hiss steam as he marches towards our hero for a truly heated battle royal in a future flick!
9. THE RINGMASTER AND HIS CIRCUS OF EVIL
Hey you, stop sniggering over jokes about circus folk! The first time Spidey faced this troupe he needed a little help! Back in landmark issue # 16 , that swirling disc in the middle of the Ringmaster’s top hat hypnotized our hero and the entire audience except for a blind lawyer named Matt Murdock. That’s right, the man without fear himself, Daredevil in his snazzy yellow and dark red original duds. After a brief dust-up, the duo took on the rest of the circus: twin acrobats the Great Gambonnos, Cannonball, Samson the strongman, and the crafty Clown, who later took over as leader and added that mistress of serpents, Princess Python ( Hmm, something about a Ditko-drawn bad girl ). This is one surprising resilient group. Later, they even took on the Hulk and turned the big green galoot into a clown. Wonder how many of his grease paint brethren could fit into a car with him? Maybe Jim Carey as the Ringmaster and Angelina Jolie tossing snakes at our webhead in the next movie?
8. ELECTRO
After his first appearance in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 9, the powerful villain Electro became so popular that he was “farmed out” to battle many other Marvel heroes, including Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, and others. With the ability to harness the power of lightning and electricity, Electro (aka Maxwell Dillon) gave webhead all he could handle in their numerous battles. Those stories are notable for Spidey using his scientific knowledge, rather than his Spider-powers, to defeat a bad guy in some ways more powerful than he was, employing such tactics as rubber insulation and water to short circuit the super-charged criminal. Also a member of the infamous Sinister Six, Electro was such an impressive nemesis that director James Cameron allegedly featured the character as the main villain in his aborted Spider-Man film.
7. THE SPIDER SLAYER ROBOTS
Another of Spidey’s foes that kept coming back for more, the Spider-Slayer Robots first appeared in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 25 and recurred in several early issues. A product of J. Jonah Jameson’s hatred for the webcrawler, the robots were actually the invention of scientist Dr. Spencer Smythe, who just happened to be an expert in arachnids and robotics (!). Smythe was hired by JJJ to create the perfect killing machine – of Spider-man. When the first robots were defeated, Smythe went on a personal vendetta against both Spidey and JJJ. In one of the most memorable stories (and comic book covers) of the early issues, Spider-man is handcuffed to Jameson next to a time bomb. JJJ never gave up, though, and in later issues he hired Dr. Marla Madison to create more killer robots. J. Jonah ended up marrying Dr. Madison, but don’t worry – more recently, Smythe’s son Alistair has taken up the task of trying to best Spider-man with yet more lethal machines.
6. THE VULTURE
One of Spidey’s most enduring enemies, The Vulture (aka Adrian Toomes) was a brilliant but (of course) twisted scientific genius who invented a flight harness -complete with wings that gave him superior strength and agility. The Vulture is often seen silently swooping down out of the sky to pummel our hero, so Spidey really had to have his Spider-sense on full alert when battling this creepy-looking villain. Making his first appearance in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 2, the Vulture showed up in several of the early comics, most notably as a member of the Sinister Six in the first AMAZING annual, and in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 48 – 49, where Spidey had to do battle with two Vultures (awesome!) Later incarnations of the Vulture included advanced weaponry in the flight suit, and even a Vulture who is genetically altered to look like a real vulture!
5. MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE
I’m surprised Morbius, the Living Vampire has never been brought to the big screen. With his white skin and red and blue outfit, he’d make the type of powerful cinematic presence that’s in style these days. Morbius is technically not a vampire, at least in the old-school sense. He was a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist, who had attempted to cure himself of a rare blood disease with an experimental treatment involving vampire bats and electroshock therapy. However, he instead became afflicted with a far worse condition that mimicked the powers and the thirst for blood of legendary vampirism. Morbius had to digest blood in order to survive and had a strong aversion to light. Morbius first appeared as a villain in The Amazing Spider-Man #101 (Oct. 1971), and went on to become the hero in his own comic book series.
4. THE SCORPION
J. Jonah Jameson may be cranky and stubborn, but at least he learns from his mistakes. In his all-consuming hatred of Spidey, JJJ decided to create a super-powered being to eliminate that wall-crawling pest. Funded by the newspaperman, Dr. Farley Stillwell transforms reporter Mac Gargan into The Scorpion in issue # 20. He can match the web-slinger in strength and agility plus he’s got that deadly stinging tail he controls with his mind. Of course Scorpy turned against JJJ, so the old blowhard went with Professor Smythe’s Spider Slayer robots for his next plot against our hero. The green suited foe would return many times and even take on Captain America in that hero’s book. IF you think the Lizard’s tale is deadly in the new flick, imagine the Scorpion’s tale comin’ at ya’ in 3D!!
3. THE RHINO
The Rhino wasn’t the sharpest tool in the Spider-man villain shed, but he had a Hulk-like momentum in his speed, strength, and rage that made him a formidable foe. The character debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #41 (Oct. – Dec. 1966) as a nameless thug for hire working for an Eastern European country. He volunteered to participate in an experiment that bonded a super strong grey polymer to his skin, thus augmenting his strength and speed, resulting in the powerful baddie known TheRhino. He can withstand bullets, falls from great heights and even anti-tank weaponry without sustaining injury. Although he died at the end of his debut story, the character proved popular enough to be revived, becoming a perennial opponent for both Spider-Man and the Hulk.
2. MYSTERIO
How can ya’ not love a bad guy who conceals his identity by wearing a big fishbowl-like globe over his head? Former movie special whiz Mysterio was one of Spidey’s most unusual early villains ( for one thing he’s not got that animal motif thing going on ). First the guy poses as the webhead to frame him for a crime spree, then he enlists the help of ole’ J. Jonah to publicly defeat the wall-crawler using his film trickery. Our hero triumphed, but soon faced him again as one of the original Sinister Six in Annual #1. With all the new effects tricks at his disposal today (CGI, prosthetics, pyrotechnics ) imagine Spidey facing all manner of movie menaces in a future action epic!
1. KRAVEN THE HUNTER
Perhaps the most respected big game hunter in the world, Kraven the Hunter (real name: Sergei Kravinoff) was obsessed with his quest to capture the most elusive trophy of all – Spider-Man’s head on his wall! Unlike other hunters, Kraven typically disdains the use of guns or bow and arrows, preferring to take down large dangerous animals with his bare hands. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 (August 1964) and initially committed suicide after believing he defeated Spider-Man after burying his adversary alive. He was brought back to life with the curse that he can only die now at the hands of Spidey himself. Kraven is the half-brother of Dmitri Smerdyakov, better known as The Chameleon, who appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (March 1963)
THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN Opens in Theaters everywhere today!
Here’s a big Summer release that’s generated a surprising amount of controversy. Usually the hot button films are released in the Fall or Winter to grab some buzz and capture a couple Oscar noms. But this popcorn flick has ignited heated debates among movie and comic book fans. The main question instigating message board dust-ups: Is it too soon to reboot the Spider-Man movie franchise? Well, it was eight years between BATMAN & ROBIN and BATMAN BEGINS. Four years passed between Brosnan’s last Bond, DIE ANOTHER DAY, and Craig’s first 007, CASINO ROYALE. Some fans think five years is way to soon for Spidey, but that’s the amount of time from Eric Bana as THE HULK to Edward Norton as THE INCREDIBLE HULK ( which is the version of the green guy that’s stealing scenes in MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS ). Director of the Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi, took a pass on doing a fourth ( he, like most fans, found SPIDER-MAN 3 more than a bit lacking , so he didn’t want to rush a script ). With Raimi out, stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst took a pass. So for Sony Pictures it was ” Spider-Man Begin Again” ( almost the title of this new film ). Now the debate is moot. Director Marc Webb’s ( no kiddin’ with the last name! He also made 500 DAYS OF SUMMER ) THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN swings into theatres just in time for the big July Fourth holiday. Yup, the flick’s a done deal. The only thing to discuss now is this particular film’s merits. Does it stand ( or wall-crawl ) on its own?
Right off the bat ( no, his flick comes out July 20! ) we see Peter Parker in a new light. Actually he’s a young lad of eight when the film starts and he’s whisked away by his parents, Richard and Mary ( Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz ) to the home of his Uncle Ben ( Martin Sheen ) and Aunt May ( Sally Field ). Cut to Midtown high schooler Peter ( Andrew Garfield ), a science prodigy raised by Ben and May. Cleaning out the basement, he finds Richard’s old briefcase. Seems that Dad worked as a research scientist at the megalithic Oscorp company alongside Dr. Curt Conners ( Rhys Ifans ). Pete bluffs himself into an intern group at he company, but he’s almost given away by the group’s intern tour guide, Midtown’s other whiz-kid Gwen Stacy ( Emma Stone ). He wanders away from the group, speaks with Conners, and suffers an injury in one of the research rooms. Said injury has a profound effect on Peter who discovers that he has amazing powers. When tragedy strikes he uses these enhanced abilities ( along with a home-made suit and mask to hide his identity ) to fight evil as Spider-Man. Visiting the home of Conners, Peter innocently helps him unlock the key to accessing animal DNA ( the doc hopes to regenerate his lost arm like a reptile ). When the Oscorp higher-ups threaten to try his formula at a veteran’s hospital ( they’ve gotta’ make sure it works before the serum is given to their dying boss, the mysterious Norman Osborn ), Conners decides to be the test subject. Meanwhile major stuff’s happening to Pete aside from his crime-fighting gig. He begins a tentative romance with Gwen that’s complicated when he learns that her father is a police captain ( Denis Leary ) determined to arrest a certain wall-crawling vigilante. Soon all their lives converge when NYC is threatened with annihilation.
Another bit of controversy swirling about the film is the origin story and, yes, as I hinted previously, we get the origin story once more. Sure it’s been 10 years since the first Raimi film told it masterfully, but I believe it was needed for the start of this new franchise ( we’ll have to see if audiences respond positively to this flick, or it’ll be rebooted once more ), and it’s not a note for note rehash. Comic book purists may cry foul at the liberties taken with that classic tale from Amazing Fantasy #15, but it makes harder connections to the events portrayed in this new film. Peter’s destiny has a tighter link to his parents and to the shady deals at Oscorp. Hopefully this chain of events will provide an interesting conspiracy in follow-ups. This also keys into the darker aspect of the new film. Spidey is almost always operating during the night hours ( like that guy from Gotham City ). Danger lurks at every shadow, not only from criminals but from the law. While in the original trilogy the police gave the web-head a wink and a pass, here all officers are determined to bring him down by any means. This Big Apple isn’t the bright shiny place we’ve seen our hero bouncing from place to place before.
Another big beef is the film’s villain. Frankly I was pleased that the producers went with a single bad guy, even though Spidey has perhaps the best rouges gallery in comicdom ( sure the Joker’s the greatest comic book criminal ever, but after Catwoman, Clayface, and Two-Face the other Gothamites are kinda’ silly ). This was one of the main problems with the dismal SPIDER-NAN 3 which paired the Sandman and Venom ( this may harken back to the paired bad guys in BATMAN RETURNS ). Several comic fans don’t like the look of the Lizard. They may be more accustomed to the large snout that artist Todd MacFarlane drew, but this design is closer to that original Steve Ditko look. Also the film version is bulked up…considerably, almost to the point of being a scaly Hulk. Several times he grabs Spidey and flings him about like a rag doll. The Lizard’s a formidable foe, but the human element is what makes him tick. Like screen villains the Green Goblin and Dr. Octopus, Conners wishes to benefit humanity, and he’s got a personal connection to Peter ( the connection to the Sandman seemed incredibly forced in 3 ). After their first couple of encounters Peter and Connors respect each other, so Peter struggles to stop the monster without killing the man inside. Ifans does a great variation of the classic Jekyll and Hyde character as a decent man forced to make a very bad decision. Although his face is surrounded by CGI scales ( I’ll bet a motion-capture suit was used ), Ifans brings a great deal of humanity to this ‘ beastie’.
Ifans is not the lone stand-out in this terrific supporting cast. Leary treads a fine line between being a committed law-enforcement officer and a sentimental father. His comic timing is put to great use in the Captain’s run-in with Pete ( particularly at a tense family dinner ). This blustery demeanor provides many welcome laughs and makes the character’s change of heart more poignant. Speaking of heart, Sheen and Fields have tons to spare as Peter’s adoptive parents. They’re a bit younger than Robertson and Harris from the Raimi films ( this helps with the opening sequence ), but have just as much warmth as the previous actors. Sheen even gives Pete a big ole’ dose of tough love that’s tempered with his considerable screen charm. Fields’s role is not as showy, but she really conveys the caring mother role when stunned by all the cuts and bruises adorning Pete’s face when he returns home after his night patrols. Now this is a couple that would raise a hero, super-powers or not.
Speaking of heroes, the movie soars or plummets based on the fella’ in the title role. And his love interest, to a great extent. Garfield’s Parker is very different from the previous screen incarnation. Before the bite, this Pete’s a bit of a rebel ( skateboarding in the school hallways! ) and pro-active. He even steps in to stop a bully ( and gets his skinny posterior handed to him ). This is a darker, conflicted Parker ( we can still see that sad-eyed child watching his folks dash into that rainy night ). After getting on the radar with terrific work in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, this is the film that will establish Garfield as a great movie star. While Maguire was a terrific nerdy Peter Parker from those early comics, Garfield is that wiseacre with a mask ( quick with a quip and an uppercut ) that we’ve loved all these years. And when he’s on the ground, there’s a very special lady ( played by a very special actress ) that makes his spirit soar. Stone can now add super-hero action flick to the list of film genres that she’s conquered. Her Gwen is smart ( pretty much Pete’s intellectual equal ), fiesty, funny, and so adorable in those outfits inspired by John Romita’s comic art designs. While Dunst’s Mary Jane wasn’t much interested in the pre-powers Pete, Gwen falls for that photo-takin’, science geek almost immediately ( or at least soon after that bullying incident ). Bryce Dallas Howard was brought into that murky SPIDER-MAN 3 as a younger threat to MJ, but in the comics Gwen was Pete’s first, pure true love. Garfield and Stone truly sizzle on screen ( Stone really inspires her co-stars to bring their A game), so it’s no big shock that they’re dating off set. The gamble to put the director of 500 DAYS OF SUMMER really paid off. Turns out Webb can do the big action stuff, but he truly excels at presenting the exhilaration of first love. The battles are great ( still can’t top the fights with Doc Ock in SPIDER-MAN 2 though ), but the romance is what makes this a superior Summer cinema spectacle ( pardon the Stan Lee-isms! )
So, is it worth seeing in 3D? Well it was shot in the format, so the swinging stuff works well along with the over-the-skyscapers shots. A big complaint from the first Spidey flick was that he bounced around like a video game character. Instead of relying too much on CGI, Webb tried to work more with stunt people to do the web-swinging live whenever possible. I’ve only a few problems with this re-telling. It seems the writers really went out of their way to present scenes where Spidey takes his mask off ( this was a sore point in Raimi’s trio ). I know it helps the audience connect with the actor ( his expressions aren’t hidden ), but it’s strange to see the character so often exposed. This does work well for a scene when a child his rescued by our hero. Now, about that outfit, the film-makers have taken that great Ditko design ( which Raimi adhered to pretty closely ) and made it way-too busy and intricate. Guess I’m too much of a purist, but I hate seeing blue on the fingers of the gloves! AArgrrr ( as they say in the funny books )! Do like how the mechanical wrist web-shooters ( no organic spinnerets! ) work with the suit. Oh, and the film could use a good 5 minute trim ( but wait for the mid-end credit bonus scene ). Aww, no more nit-pickin’! Like last Summer’s X MEN : FIRST CLASS, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN takes a comic book property that we all thought had exhausted its movie possibilities and returned it to cinematic glory. It doesn’t surpass MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS for super-hero movie spectacle, but it’s miles above SPIDER-MAN 3. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN proves that there’s still plenty of life ( and love ) left in that 50-year-old web-slingin’ wise guy. Really amazing, indeed!
In ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT one of filmdom’s most beloved trios – “Ice Age’s” Manny, Diego, and Sid” – embark upon their greatest adventure after cataclysm sets an entire continent adrift. Separated from the rest of the herd, they use an iceberg as a makeshift ship, which launches them on an epic seafaring quest. Manny and the gang are challenged like never before to become heroes and do the impossible, as they encounter exotic sea creatures, explore a brave new world, and battle ruthless pirates. Scrat’s reunion with his beloved but cursed acorn catapults him to places no prehistoric squirrel has gone before.
One of the world’s most beloved franchises, the fourth installment voice cast includes Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Dennis Leary, John Leguizamo, Seann William Scott, Chris Wedge, Josh Peck along with newcomers Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lopez, Drake, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, and Wanda Sykes. “The Simpsons” short, titled “The Longest Daycare” starring Maggie Simpson, will be in 3D and released in front of ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT.
20th Century Fox, Blue Sky Studios and WAMG invite you to enter for your chance to win a Family Four-Pack to the advance 3D screening of ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT. The screening is Saturday, June 7 at 10 am.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.
3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: In ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS Sid (John Leguizamo) adopts three Tyrannosaurus eggs that he finds in an icy underground cavern. What does he name the 3 dinosaurs?
Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (4) four. Sponsor’s employees and their dependants are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity. Please refer to passes for any other possible restrictions. No purchase necessary.
The film is rated PG for Mild Rude Humor and Action/Peril.
Don’t forget to do “The Sid Shuffle” and be sure to catch the new Twentieth Century Fox Animation’s/ Blue Sky Studios’ ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT in theaters on July 13th!
Three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone returns to the screen in this first trailer for the ferocious thrillerSAVAGES, featuring the all-star ensemble cast of Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir. In theaters on July 6, the film is based on Don Winslow’s best-selling crime novel that was named one of The New York Times’ Top 10 Books of 2010. The screenplay is by Shane Salerno & Don Winslow & Oliver Stone.
Universal Pictures and WAMG invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of SAVAGES in St. Louis on July 2nd.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW.
3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Are you a savage? Tell us in 2 – 3 sentences about your savage life.
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Laguna Beach entrepreneurs Ben (Johnson), a peaceful and charitable Buddhist, and his closest friend Chon (Kitsch), a former Navy SEAL and ex-mercenary, run a lucrative, homegrown industry—raising some of the best marijuana ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with the extraordinary beauty Ophelia (Lively). Life is idyllic in their Southern California town…until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demands that the trio partners with them.
When the merciless head of the BC, Elena (Hayek), and her brutal enforcer, Lado (Del Toro), underestimate the unbreakable bond among these three friends, Ben and Chon—with the reluctant, slippery assistance of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta)—wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. And so begins a series of increasingly vicious ploys and maneuvers in a high stakes, savage battle of wills.
A 3D motion picture event movie, KATY PERRY: PART OF ME is a backstage pass, front row seat and intimate look at the fun, glamorous, heartbreaking, inspiring, crazy, magical, passionate, and honest mad diary of Katy. Katy’s film opens nationwide July 5, 2012.
“KATY PERRY: PART OF ME” from Paramount’s Insurge Pictures will get its in-theater debut in the U.S. and Canada on Monday, July 2with fan sneak premiere events of the 3D film presented exclusively in RealD® 3D in advance of its scheduled theatrical release on Thursday, July 5. Fans who follow@KatyPerry on Twitter were the first to hear from Katy herself about the special screening. At each participating location, “KATY PERRY: PART OF ME” Twitter Fan event moviegoers will receive pink collectible Katy Perry RealD® 3D glasses and an exclusive pin-up poster.
The “KATY PERRY: PART OF ME” Twitter Fan Premieres will play in 100 locations in 64 markets in the U.S. and Canada. Each location will offer two show times daily: 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the Twitter Fan Premieres are on sale at http://www.KatyPerryPartofMe.com/Sneak.
Fans can go to www.Twitter.com/KatyPerry and use#KP3DMovie Sneak to share information about the movie with friends.
St. Louis fans – WAMG is offering you the chance to see the film onJuly 2nd with passes to the preview along with a Katy Perry Prizepack!
2 FREE Passes to the advance screening
Hoodie
Special 3D glasses
iPhone skin
Beach Ball
Tattoos
Get your glam-cams ready because WAMG has just the contest for you …
Send in a photo of a Katy Perry-inspired outfit
ONE winner will receive the prize pack along with 2 tickets to the advance screening (July 2nd, 7pm)
You must be in the ST. LOUIS area the day of the screening
Contest ends Friday June 29. The winner will be notified via email
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The film is directed by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, produced by Brian Grazer, Katy Perry, Martin Kirkup, Bradford Cobb and Steve Jensen, and executive produced by Craig Brewer, Randy Phillips, Michael Rosenberg, Erica Huggins, Edward Lovelace and James Hall.
Horror movies are almost predictably cyclical compared to other genres of filmmaking. Often, one generation is born in reaction to the previous. As the slasher boom of the seventies and eighties led to a glut of critically panned sequels and imitators that dominated the next ten years, the “torture porn” era was born as response, leaving its mark on the 2000s. With those films now aging and losing ground, an emerging trend in horror is showing signs of taking hold; ghost stories.
Ghost stories are certainly nothing new in horror; THE EXORCIST, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR and POLTERGEIST were all successful ghost stories released within ten years of each other and while they certainly weren’t imitators, their success relied partially on the theatre-filling fear that each prior film inspired. But, unlike slasher films, ghost stories have always been a riskier bet for a studio looking to make a quick buck off a genre known for guaranteed profit. THE EXORCIST, considered as much a classic as FRIDAY THE 13TH, only has five related films compared to the latter’s twelve. Even the SAW franchise, both more recent and generally considered less broadly appealing, has spawned more derivatives than any such supernatural-inspired horror flick.
Then, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY proved that, with the right style and (more importantly) marketing, a ghost story could make a profit on a budget even smaller than the standard slasher production. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY wasn’t just a clever film; it was also perfectly timed to engage audiences who were tired of the HOSTEL and SAW derivatives. Like Saw before it and Halloween before that, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY has triggered a wave of sequels, imitators and innovators: THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, INSIDIOUS, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, THE DEVIL INSIDE…
Three new “ghost stories” loom on the horizon of 2012, bringing something new to the table that may or not lead to box office and/or critical success. First off is THE POSSESSION, produced by Sam Raimi (of EVIL DEAD fame) whose own stab at supernatural horror (DRAG ME TO HELL) did not live up to expectations. Director Ole Bornedal’s only notable work is 1994’s NIGHTWATCH, a Dutch suspense film remade in 1997 by the same director, starring the up-and-coming Ewan McGregor and Josh Brolin alongside Patricia Arquette and Nick Nolte. Unlike that film, THE POSSESSION has a lesser-known cast; the biggest names are Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Matisyahu. The recently revealed trailer for the film has been received positively, and appropriately so.
The story appears to rely on a tedious trope; broken-but-hopeful family man adores daughter, spoils her by buying a mysterious box from a yard sale. Contained within the box is a spirit that proceeds to terrorize father, child and estranged mother. This bears more than a passing resemblance to INSIDIOUS but, rather than working entirely on the “child-in-danger” angle, the shocks come from some surprisingly surreal and creative visual effects paired with Raimi-esque camera work. There’s also a Hebrew mysticism angle that might just derail what appears, in the trailer, to be an effective, simplistic frightener. Personally, I’m going to have to refer to my inner pessimist and declare this one dead in the water; LIONSGATE is the studio responsible and that doesn’t bode well. Arrives in theaters August 31st.
Bearing an even more straightforward setup is LOVELY MOLLY, a horror tale that blends the found-footage elements of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY with a straight-forward “haunted house” story involving a newly wed couple moving into her family home, leading them to deal with both her dark past and a supernatural force. Much is made of the main character’s mental state; it’s nothing new to make the audience question what is real and what is imagined but with the right performance, it can be a gratifying alternative to solid scares. This film has been released already and the reviews for it are neither scathing nor encouraging, which says something given the low-budget and fresh cast. It’s a fairly clever twist on an ongoing obsession that provokes more than just a bit of curiosity. Some of the imagery presented by the website and trailer are particularly intriguing. Hopefully we’ll see a home video release fairly soon, as the theatrical premiere was very limited.
From the director of THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE and starring Ethan Hawke, SINISTER is widely known as the film successfully pitched by an Ain’t It Cool News writer. Reviews of its stealth debut at SXSW have been unanimously positive despite the director’s previous efforts coming off stunted. The story seems to take LOVELY MOLLY’s focus on the descent into madness and adds it to the “threatened family” approach of THE POSSESSION. By lashing together multiple plot elements (The Ring comes to mind) as well as retaining a lead actor of some merit, the film is probably far more engrossing than THE POSSESSION or LOVELY MOLLY. Ironically, the film’s trailer is a strong contradiction of the reviews; it’s fierce and intimidating for a film that’s said to be almost sedate. Unlike THE POSSESSION, this one is rated R so I’m betting that, between the two, this will be superior.
With these three films, we have reached a point in the continuum of this era where filmmakers are struggling to stand-out from the glut of similar releases. While nobody would argue that trends like these are necessarily bad, by now creators should be aware of the impending critical mass and seeking to differentiate their work by bringing fresh themes to the screen. There are small but burgeoning movements focusing on horror anthologies (V/H/S, THE THEATRE BIZARRE, THE ABC’s OF DEATH) and a revitalization of the giallo genre (AMER, RED RED, SORORAL, YELLOW) so hopefully those will expand and encourage diversity in a genre known for saturation.
Hi guys! Melissa here with a BRAVE new tale. This week I had the chance to attend the BRAVE press day Monday, June 18th at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California. Kelly Macdonald (Merida), Kevin McKidd (Lord MacGruffin and Yound MacGruffing), and Craig Ferguson (Lord Macintosh) were all present, as well as Mark Andrews (Director) and Katherine Sarafian (Producer). Below, you will find the Q&A from Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson.
Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor.
Q&A With CRAIG FERGUSON, KELLY MACDONALD, & KEVIN MCKIDD
Q :We all know the Disney Princess franchise is huge.
KELLY :Yes.
Q :Number one, what was your first feeling when you knew you were going to be the newest Disney Princess? And secondly, do you have any plans to continue with the voice of Merida in any future projects, whether they be toys or more films?
KELLY :Um, I, ah, um, attention to detail is not my strong point and – and I have, it – it quickly passed my by that I was going to be the first female protagonist in a, in a Pixar movie until quite recently, until, really until I started doing interviews. Um, and I – I’m kind of glad that I didn’t know what I was doing, because it would have been a lot of pressure. But, um, it, I don’t think, I – I don’t think I personally have watched a Pixar movie and – and felt – felt wronged in that there wasn’t a female protagonist. I think that, you know, they make films about fish, and toys, and robots, and, you know, and there’s some really strong female characters in those films and in the INCREDIBLES and – and Jessie from TOY STORY. So I never felt like I was, um, missing out on that. But I am very, I feel very privileged having said all that, I am very privileged. And what was the second part?
Q :Are you continuing with the voice in any future parts?
KELLY :No, I – I mean, I – I – I’ve been doing, ah, there is kinds of kids games, Leapfrog games and – and video games. I actually did more voice work on the video game then I did in the actual movie.
CRAIG :Disney is so powerful that Kelly no longer owns her own voice. [Laughs]. So, ah, as she speaks to you now, she begins to owe the Disney Corporation money.
KELLY :Money. Yeah. [Laughs]
CRAIG :I will now answer all of her questions. [Laughs]
Q : Oh, thank you. Kelly, first of all, I’m sorry. Two things, are you the go to girl now for Scottish heroines?
CRAIG :Scottish heroin.
KELLY :I know, Scottish heroin. I don’t know where you heard that nasty rumor, ah, no.
Q : But to what extent could you identify with this character? I mean, was there any aspect of it that you could relate to?
KELLY :I think what you, I wasn’t, I wasn’t Merida-like when I was a teenager. I was, I was, she’s very adventurous and outdoorsy and energetic, and I was not. I was indoorsy and, um, just not. Um, but I – I was a teenage girl, so that was the – the thing that I can, ah, I, ah, zoned in on really. I, like I – I, you know, it’s that all teenagers are awful, but teenage girls are kind of worst I think, than teenage boys.
Q : What about her rebelliousness?
KELLY :What about her rebelliousness?
Q : Can you relate to that?
KELLY :No, well, I, my mom was really, I could have done with a bit more of that to be honest, something to rebel against. I didn’t really, she was very, um, easy-going and I didn’t have much to rebel against. I kind of, you know, I moved, I moved, I moved away from home when I was 17 and that was fine. And, you know, I – I made my own choices quite early on.
Q : For all three of you, great performances. I just wanted to ask you, most of the time in animation, the voice actors go into a booth by themselves and the director is there and someone’s there feeding them lines and so forth. Did any of you have an opportunity to work either with each other in the booth or with anyone else during the whole process.
KEVIN :No, no, not at all. I mean, everyone was in different areas of the country and parts of the world. So there wasn’t, it was a shame, but I think (Producer) Katherine Sarafian so often says that, we never would’ve gotten any work done if we were all in the same room, you know.
KELLY :That’s true.
KEVIN :Um, but no, it was a shame we didn’t get a chance to do sessions together, but no we didn’t.
KELLY :Did they normally do that, I don’t know if that’s the norm?
KEVIN :Don’t know.
KELLY :I think, I think it, I think it’s the norm when, that you’re on your own.
KEVIN :Yeah.
KELLY :And – and you concentrate on that one – one voice.
Q : So how was it being solo rather than working with some people?
KEVIN :It’s great because it’s all about you. [Laughs] You know, because …
CRAIG :I think, I think it’s nice because you make the movie in your head …
KEVIN :Yeah.
CRAIG :… while you’re doing it. You can, you can work when you, you know, you close your eyes and – and see the film in your head and just participate in it. And what the interesting thing about this film is when – when I saw the film, after I had seen it in my head, it – it was better. Um, [Laughs], which – which means that Pixar, are – are better than me at making [Laughs], ah, animated films. But I – I think, I think that that’s not going to be news, you know.
Q : So we all know animation is a long process that takes many years and the story continually develops through that. How did your characters change as the story developed?
KELLY :Well I – I – I – I’m kind of the late comer to the – the movie. I, I mean, they started making this seven years ago and I’ve only been involved for the past sort of 18 months. So I think I, I think they pretty much had Merida down and knew what that, what was going on there. But I think you probably had more experience.
KEVIN :Um-hum. Yeah.
CRAIG :Well, ah, Kevin’s character, um, changed a lot, you’ve been on for a long time.
KEVIN :Yeah, I was, I was, I started I think four years ago and Young MacGuffin, I was only cast as Young MacGuffin to start with. And then at that time he was going to end up winning Merida’s hand in marriage. And then the story …
KELLY :I didn’t know that.
KEVIN :Yes, but …
CRAIG :But no one would’ve believed that. That’s what I’m saying. Once you got, once you got … See this is why we have to work as separately. [Laughs] Because … [Laughs]
KEVIN :Exact, and so, but, the shift, I think it was a good shift, you know …
KELLY :Right… because of the whole point, the whole message is that – that this protagonist is – is – is as you said, I’m going to find you one in my own sweet time, you know? And, um, so I was guided that poor Young MacGuffin didn’t get to win the hand of Merida. But, um, I think for the greater good of the, of the film and the, and the message it was a good thing. Um, and Lord MacGuffin was always kind of as he was based on a grumpy big proud old man, you know.
Q : This is for all three of you. I want you to think long and hard about this. If you could turn your mom into an animal, what animal would you choose to follow in their footsteps?
KEVIN :Wow. [Laughs] Okay.
KELLY :Careful now.
CRAIG :I – I – I would …
Q : Well you couldn’t actually turn her into it, but you could help see the ground work of it.
CRAIG :So you could sort of be involved in a conspiracy to turn your mother into a … [Laughs] I don’t, I don’t think, I – I don’t think I would ever have done that.
KELLY :No, uh-huh.
CRAIG :I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t have thought my relationship would have been improved by her having claws. [Laughs]
KELLY :I agree.
KEVIN :Yeah.
KELLY :Oh, I – I can’t even think of an animal that, I mean, she – she’s a homebody, my mom. I would, I would, I think I would turn her into a cat, because I think she would be very happy.
KEVIN :Aahh.
KELLY :In front of the fire.
KEVIN :I don’t know what I would turn my mom into. [Laughs] But it all feels like every answer’s going to be bad. Um …
KELLY :Insulting.
KEVIN :Ah, yeah. I mean, turn her into a beautiful hummingbird, so she could fly and be free, there you go, so, yeah.
KELLY :Awe.
CRAIG :Oh, yeah, that’s very nice, yeah.
KEVIN :My mom will like that. [Noise] [Laughs]
CRAIG :I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright. [Laughs]
KEVIN :I’ll give you my real answer later.
Q : Given the way that North American actors tend to mangle Scottish accents when they play Scottish parts, going back to, “I cannot do it captain,” do you all feel gratified that this is a cast of people mostly doing their own accents? And are your voices in the film close to your speaking voices?
CRAIG :I didn’t understand a word of that. [Laughs]
Q : I’m very sorry. Most …
CRAIG :No, no, no, no, no, no. [Laughs] I think it, I think it’s – it’s very, I think it’s just like a sign of the times. I think the world is different than it was maybe 20, 30 years ago, when, ah, regional accents were a very exotic and odd thing. But – but, you know, with – with, ah, the internet and with the YouTube and with, you know, with all the different, ah, communication systems that exist in the world, I think regional accents are, people’s ears are much more tuned to – to authenticity and accents now. And I think that’s part of the smart planning of – of this film. The, and also, if you’re going to make a film about Scotland, it’s probably a good idea to have Scottish people. [Laughs]
KELLY :But also, I, having, ah, I – I am Scottish, and I also read things that have said that I have a terrible Scottish accent. So – so …
CRAIG :Really?
KELLY :Yeah. What people don’t know, they don’t know, you know. It’s like, um, yeah, so.
KEVIN :Wow.
Q : I’m still hoping that by the end of this press conference we’ll all get kilts. My question is, you know, how Pixar is always famous for going to the place and research the place really well, like they did with UP, and they did the same thing here for BRAVE. Did you give your contribution to Chapman and Andrews about the looks and the vibe for the film? Like, oh we don’t do that in Scotland, or characters, or anything like that? Did you give any suggestions or any inputs to it?
KEVIN :Well, you know, the film was very well formed by the time I – I joined it. And the story was pretty much set and all that stuff. So they just, I think they just wanted us to really bring our voice, you know, you voices into, and to – to, they were very open to us in, you know, they said, this is the line of dialogue. And we’d say, yeah, we could say it that way, but it would be more natural, or a Scottish person would say it more like this. Or it could be funnier if you say it this way. So they were very open to us, you know, changing things and giving them different options. You know, as far as, the look of it, I think they had all that stuff sorted.
CRAIG :Yeah, they – they – they kind of know what they’re doing. I think it would be a bad idea to, as a voice actor, to run over to Pixar and tell them it doesn’t look very good. [Laughs] I – I don’t know, I don’t know how long you would be working there. [Laughs]
KEVIN :Yeah. [Laughs]
KELLY :Also I – I think the filmmakers have seen more of Scotland than I’ve seen it.
CRAIG :They’ve been around a lot.
KEVIN :Yeah.
KELLY :Yeah, they’ve seen a lot.
CRAIG : They’ve seen a lot of it, yeah.
Q : I think you may need to stand up so they can see you.
KELLY :Oh, hello.
KEVIN :Hello.
Q : This is for Kelly. What’s the best part about playing Princess Merida?
KELLY :The best part is that, um, I had so much fun. I got to play, um, I got to play this part that I would never get to play in a live action film. Because I’m not a teenager and, um, I got to be really cheeky and obnoxious to my mom, which was quite fun. Um …
KEVIN :Um-hum.
KELLY :Yeah, I – I, it was just, it was just the most fun I – I – I’ve ever had at work without having to wear a costume and get my hair done.
Q : This is for Kevin. How did you go about developing two distinct tonal influences for the two voices that you’re doing?
KEVIN :Yeah. Well, I started as Young MacGuffin and, um, it took us a while because they wanted the Young MacGuffin to be kind of that, you know, nobody could understand a word he says in the film because his Scot-, his accent’s so thick. And we started messing about with this sort of made up words and all that. And, um, and that didn’t seem to work, and I suggest this dialect which is from my area in Scotland called the Doric, which my grandfather spoke and it’s a very thick, almost Norwegian style, um, dialect, you know, that’s quite strange. And, um, so I did that and then we started going, well you’re going, and then they offered me Young, Lord MacGuffin, the older character, the dad. And I, we started doing sessions where I do both of at the same time and I ended up just sort of meeting somewhere in the middle, kind of neither, between a rock and a hard place. So we just had to kind of, we’d do it in the mornings with Lord MacGuffin because my, because I’ve just woken up and my voice was all … And then after lunch we would do Young MacGuffin was the – the thing we landed on. Um, and, you know, I just kind of like basically channeled my dad for Lord MacGuffin, because he’s grumpy and old and I’ve channeled myself, um, as a Young, because I was a very, very painfully shy, um, boy. Um, that’s why I became an actor. So I channeled that painfully shy, young boy that I was.
Q : Is there a network of Scottish people in Hollywood? Do you guys get together and read stories? [Laughs]
CRAIG :We can’t tell you that. [Laughs] Or we’d have to kill you. (inaudible). [Laughs].
Q : This is for all three of you. I know we’ve talked a lot about the voice work, I mean, you’ve captured the essence of these characters. My question is, during the voice work, did you know or have a feeling, and when was that, that this film was special?
KELLY :I think as soon as I was asked to – to go in and meet some people from Pixar, I mean, just the name Pixar, you know it’s going to be special. And so, I had no doubt in my mind that the finished product was going to be, ah, just really special and – and – and cutting edge, you know, that – that – that’s the great thing about Pixar, is like every movie that they bring out is like the most cutting edge technology. And, um, but you look back at the films, and TOY STORY was, ah, 15 years ago and you don’t, you don’t look back and think, oh, if they had the technology they have now it could be such a better film. It’s still, it stands up and it – it – it’s extraordinary, what they do is extraordinary and to think that comes from the, from the top John Lasseter is a very special man and – and just the, um, it’s just people that love their jobs and do their jobs very well.
Q : But it’s more than just the creative, I mean, it’s more than the creative, the voice work was phenomenal and was there a moment when you were in the booth that you knew, you had a special feeling, or you knew that this would turn out to be something great, all of you?
CRAIG :I don’t know, I don’t know how productive it would be to – to have that special feeling while you’re doing the work. You know, I think that it would be counterproductive. I – I think it’s better to – to do, ah, particularly in – in an environment where so much of what, of what the performance is, is not you, you know, you do the voice and you have that. But there are so many things that are outside of your control. So trust is involved. When – when you see the name, when you, when the name Pixar is on the offer, what it is, it’s not really an offer, it’s more of summons.
KELLY :Yeah, um-hum, yeah.
KEVIN :Um-hum, yeah, yeah.
CRAIG :It’s like Pixar requires your presence in this film.
KEVIN :Yeah.
CRAIG :And you go or you’re a fool, you know.
KELLY :Yeah.
CRAIG :And so that’s kind of like what happens, is that, they’ve earned that right by the – the, they’re, by – by what they’ve done. And so, what I, what I think the special feeling, if you have any special feeling, ah, but it’s not a, you know, any kind of judgment on your own performance, but other than – than – than realizing what these people have done, trusting that they will be able to do it again, and letting them. And that’s really what it is, it’s really trust if there’s any emotion involved.
KEVIN :Um-hum. Yeah, no …
Q : I’d like to ask Craig, could you contrast this experience on BRAVE with doing Gobbler in HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON?
CRAIG :I – I could …
Q : Are they very different or the same?
CRAIG :Well, um, it’s a different person, ah, ah, it’s a different person, so – so – so that’s different, but the technique of doing it is – is much the same. Ah, the – the – the, ah, you know, it’s not the biggest stretch in the world to go from one Scottish speaking character to another Scottish speaking character. But – but that’s – that’s kind of, ah, I assume that’s why they asked me to do it, you know. But, um, the contrast if any, I think was the, ah, the personality of the character involved.
CRAIG :It was a different personality. That’s really what it is.
Q : A lot of fun on both then?
CRAIG :Oh, lots of fun. I – I was always kind of interested in the accent work when I did the – the character before the Viking character with the Scottish accent that, many of you people over here said, how come the Viking sounds Scottish? And no one said, how come the Young Viking sounds American? No one asked me that? [Laughs]
KEVIN :Yeah.
Q : Kevin, sorry, I need to go here, but Grey’s has such a disastrous ending with losing little Grey and all that. Can you talk a little bit about the deaths in the cast? And since your one of the few characters who knows he has his job, you weren’t on the plane and you didn’t finish your Residency, what do you hope for the next season?
KEVIN :Well, you know, it’s – it’s, it was a really dramatic finale. I mean, they’re – they’re brilliant writers on that show, you know, they really know how to grab people and keep them especially in their finales and their season premieres. You know, they, you know, they’re killing people off, having planes crash, I amazed that, you know, a plane crashing into a mountain side and only that many people died, you know, it’s like. Um, but they really do a great job and it was, it was sad to see Chyler Leigh go, you know, um, very sad. And it, we don’t know, I mean, I don’t know what’s going to happen next.
KEVIN :I mean, they – they keep their scripts very close to their chest, we start back shooting through, in three weeks, four weeks’ time. So, I could tell you more then, but, I mean, I know as far as what the premiere’s going to be, it’s going to be pretty intense, you know? Um, I mean, it’s going to, it’s a real game changer, you know, doing something like that to a show, killing people and making people go through a trauma like that, it’s a game changer. So, it be, it’ll be fun to see where we all go there, you know.
Q : Hi there. To expand a little bit on what you were talking about, Craig and also for the both of you. In addition to these two characters, you brought Al to back to live in such a wonderful way. Are you finding animated characters to be any more complex, layered, more interesting to you than real life characters? And for you guys like of the same way. I guess you’ve done more animated than the other two right?
KELLY :I’ve done, nothing. This is my first. Yeah.
CRAIG :I think that, I – I think that it – it – it’s good for me because I’m not a very good actor. So what I do is … [Laughs] I – I don’t get in my own way. I, what I’ll do is, I’ll do the voice. I’m pretty good at voices and then people who are good at acting can draw in good acting. So – so I – I do the voice and then they draw in good acting. Because I may, I – I think I get in my way, I think I would get in my way with a lot of that. Plus, I have a day job and so I can’t go and make a film. I can go to the Valley and for a couple of hours and work on one, but I can’t, I can’t go away and make a film, I can’t go on location, I can’t, I can’t do any of that.
CRAIG :Not that anyone is asking me, but I, but even – even [Laughs]. Beware, you know, I – I – I’m not, I’m not available, so don’t even bother. You know, so, but that – that’s what I think is. Also, the thing that is about it, that – that I like about it, is that you’re not limited, and – and Kelly said this, you’re not limited by who you are physically.
KEVIN :Um-hum.
CRAIG :You know, you can play anybody and anything. So – so the world that, the worlds and the, and the – the opportunities that are available to you as an actor, are – are expanded by just working only with your voice. Not, they’re not lessened, it – it – it’s, there’s, you can do anything and be anywhere. And we have a tradition where we are from, I don’t know if you did much, but – but certainly Kevin and – and I did radio work.
KEVIN :Um-hum.
CRAIG :In Scotland and you, and you do that when you start out, or you certainly you used to, and doing radio drama, radio comedy it – it’s kind of, it’s very similar to what we do here I think.
Q : I wanted to ask, I believe the theme of the movie is taking control of your destiny or whatever. Is it something in your life that was kind of out of control for a bit that you took control over?
KELLY :Are you asking that to Kevin? I think she’s asking you that.
KEVIN :Ah, yeah, I mean, I guess, I was from a wee town in the northeast of Scotland and, you know, and there was nobody up there that, I think I was about eight or nine when I suddenly wanted to do this crazy acting thing. And I had no clue how to ever pursue that up there, you know, there was no theater, you know, national theater in Scotland or anything up there, you know, there’s sheep, and, ah, fields …
CRAIG :And they’re a very tough crowd. [Laughs]
KEVIN :Exactly. And so, yeah, it was like, you know, I kind of just had to really take matters into my own hands and sort of really doggedly pursue this thing, which I tried to eventually – managed to get to be lucky enough to get to do. So, yeah, I mean, I think the message is a very powerful one for young people. Um, because I really took, you know, it’s like this – this kids who’s on one path, you know, I was going to be a plumber like my dad essentially and I manage, and I kind of changed that. Now there’s probably good sides and bad sides to me changing my own fate, you know.
CRAIG :Very difficult to get a good plumber in Los Angeles.
KEVIN : [Laughs] Exactly. So, you know, there, I think that’s another subtle message in the film that, do you really want to change your fate or not, you know, there’s always a payoff, you know.
Q : I want to know how you prepared yourself to do such wild character? And what is the wildest thing that you have done in your life?
KELLY :Oh, dear.
KEVIN :The wildest thing? [Laughs]
CRAIG :You have no idea, who you just asked. [Laughs] I – I can’t tell you even now, the wildest things that I’ve done in my life. But I, ah, I – I think that, ah, I think the preparation is done for you in a way that, in a sense that, I think that – that, movies are good if they’re cast well. Certainly, and what I think they have done, is they may have cast people who are likely in these roles. So, it’s not a huge leap for me to – to be this character in this film. I don’t think it’s an enormous leap for either the, of my two colleagues here to do the same thing. It’s about, it’s about you cast the right actor for the role and that, I think that’s – that’s 90 percent of the preparation right there. I get, you trust that they’ve done that. And you bring to whatever you have to it.
KEVIN :Yeah.
Q : Yeah. Kelly, did it make a difference in your performance to be aware of this character Merida, to have this curly hair, red hair?
KELLY :No, I – I mean, I, like I said, I – I – I became involved about a year and a half ago. So they had, you know, they knew what Merida was going to look like and – and, but I didn’t, you know, when I went in for my recording sessions, there wasn’t photos of … You know, I keep saying photos, like she’s a real person. Drawings of her, um, up in the sound studio or, you know, I didn’t think about it too much. It was very like, ah, Craig said, it was kind of you, I kind of forgot about that and just got on with the job in hand. And – and then and I, you know, I had it all in my head. And luckily, we had, ah, Mark Andrews at the helm, who’s the most energize – energetic kind of, ah, amazing presence. And he would bring it, would bring it to life and that really helped me actually. Um, but I didn’t think about the hair, I didn’t think about any of that stuff, um, for no particular reason. So when I saw the finished product, I was completely, it was, it was almost like a total surprise, you know.
Q : I actually had wanted to ask a accent question, but I don’t know if we’ve covered that ground way too much. So let me throw to another one. You didn’t get to work with him because of the nature of the making these, but I think that everyone that we’ve ever had a chance to interview, who’s related to Scotland, has stories about Billy Connolly and being impacted by him, probably over the last 25 years he’s had such influence. Can you talk a bit about that in the sense of even though you didn’t get to actually work with him directly, being in a film with him and what his humor has meant to you?
KEVIN :Wow, I mean, you know, I remember a few years ago, I think it was about 15, maybe 20 years ago, he did a tour of the north, of – of all the little villages halls and the whole Scotland. He went around and did all the kind of Town Halls of Scotland. And he came to my town Elgin and because I was this theater, oh, so sort of theater rat, you know, um, in Elgin. I got to do a follow spot for two nights in Elgin Town Hall.
KELLY :Oh, wow.
KEVIN :And I couldn’t keep the follow spot still because I was laughing so hard and the follow spot was going like that. And he started making jokes about me, you know, he was like, you up there, (inaudible) or stay still with the follow spot. He’s been, I mean, I, he’s like the god of, you know, the granddaddy of Scottish comedy and he’s been unbelievable and, you know, it’s, I’ve – I – I still haven’t properly met him. I’ve done his follow spot, but I still haven’t properly met him. [Laughs]
CRAIG :Billy would, Billy is, ah, ah, Elvis to me. Billy’s Jackie Robinson as far as I’m concerned. Billy changed the game. You know, when I was a kid, when I was at school, Billy released an album, a comedy album called Solo Concert. And now, if you listen to young black comedians talk about Richard Pryor, that’s who Billy is to me. You know, that – that just, I had never seen anyone do anything who sounded like me, who came from the same socioeconomic group as me and did that. I’d never seen that before.
CRAIG :I had seen English actors pretend to be Scottish. I had seen characters of Scottish people, but I had never seen anything like that. So – so Billy to me is like, you know, it’s something, I think John Lennon said before Elvis there was nothing, I think it was John Lennon that said that. And that’s kind of how I feel about Billy. Before Billy there was nothing, you know, I – I, it was, it was a – a different thing, it was, it was a different game. So in one sense he is, ah, um, ah, found of Billy, god. [Laughs]
KELLY :No, for me, I hurled myself at Billy Connolly when I first, I, he was in, he was doing a session when I first went in to read for the part, ah, Billy had just been doing a session before me. And, before – before I even knew what happened, I was like around his neck like a monkey. And I thought, what am I doing? [Laughs]. So, yeah, I, it’s not just a male thing.
KEVIN :Is he coming tonight?
KELLY :No, I don’t think so.
CRAIG :Don’t think so, I think he’s in Australia.
KELLY :We’re sort of past the halfway point, so (inaudible). She’s still alive, she’s alive, she’s alive.
Opens on June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters. “Brave” is rated PG by the MPAA.
Focus Features and the Los Angeles Film Festival held the world premiere of SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD on Monday, June 18th, 2012 at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14… and WAMG was on the red carpet.
Stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley were in attendance, as well as writer/director Lorene Scafaria, and co-stars Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Rob Corddry, Gillian Jacobs, Derek Luke, Melanie Lynskey, T.J. Miller, Bob Stephenson, and Jim O’Heir; producers Steve Golin, Joy Gorman Wettels, Mark Roybal, and Jeannie McCarthy; executives James Schamus, Rick Finkelstein, Donna Langley, and Adam Fogelson.
Additional stars included Bo Burnham, Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Katie Naylon, Drew Barrymore, Dana Fox and Chris Mann; directors Jaime Travis, Dee Rees and Lisa Cholodenko; producers Nina Wolarsky and Mark Heyman.
Taking audiences on a humorous, moving, and intimate journey against an epic backdrop of Earth’s final days, “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” is the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Lorene Scafaria. Set in a too-near future where time at once stands still and is slipping away forever, the writer/director explores what people will do and how they will feel when humanity’s end is near. A 70-mile-wide asteroid is en route to Earth, and the last best attempt to counter it has failed. Also failing is the marriage of soft-spoken insurance salesman Dodge (Golden Globe Award winner Steve Carell); the breaking news that the world will end in an estimated 21 days cues his wife to leave him on the spot. Dodge is a man who has always played by the rules of life, while his neighbor Penny (Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley) is an extroverted woman who hasn’t. From these opposite perspectives, both initially choose to navigate the impending end of the world with blinders on. Dodge declines joining his friends in increasingly reckless behavior, while Penny fixates on her relationship issues with a self-absorbed musician.
The two misfits meet first when Penny has a rough night and then again when she belatedly delivers Dodge a lost letter. That letter could alter Dodge’s future; it’s from his high-school sweetheart Olivia, the love of his life. When a riot breaks out around their apartment building, Dodge realizes that he must seek Olivia out before it’s too late while Penny makes the decision to spend her last days with family in England. Seizing the moment, Dodge promises to help Penny reach her family if she will provide transport for the two of them in her car immediately. She agrees, and they escape. On the road together, the unlikely traveling companions’ respective personal journeys accelerate, and their outlooks – if not the world’s – brighten.
Who wants to see MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED… AGAIN… cuz seeing Alex, Gloria, Marty, Melman and Circus Afro just once wasn’t enough.
Your friends here at WAMG have some special Madagascar-style passes!
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED Run-Of-Engagement passes are good for Admit-Two (2) to the regular run at any WEHRENBERG THEATRE, Monday through Thursday.
Official Rules:
1. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.
2. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Name the villainous leader of animal control in MADAGASCAR 3.
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED has been rated PG for some mild action and rude humor by the MPAA.
In MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus.
DreamWorks Animation SKG Presents Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, a PDI/DreamWorks Production featuring the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer, Andy Richter, Frances McDormand, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston and Martin Short. The screenplay is written by Eric Darnell and Noah Baumbach (“Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Greenberg”). It is produced by Mireille Soria (“Madagascar 2″) and Mark Swift (“Madagascar 2″). The music is by Hans Zimmer.
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED is in theaters now!
In a story inspired by true events, Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, is tasked with fulfilling his estranged father’s last wishes—delivering an inheritance to a sister he never knew he had.
From DreamWorks Pictures comes PEOPLE LIKE US, a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father’s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about this family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process.
The film also stars Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer.
DreamWorks Pictures and WAMG invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of PEOPLE LIKE US in St. Louis on June 26th.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.
3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: As we’re in the Summer movie season, tell us the 1982 musical that Michelle Pfeiffer starred in 30 years ago.
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
A DreamWorks Pictures presentation, “People Like Us” is directed by Alex Kurtzman, produced by Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen and Clayton Townsend, and written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jody Lambert. The film releases in U.S. theaters on June 29, 2012.
