The first trailer for 20th Century Fox’s upcoming film, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB, has arrived.
Join this all-star cast on their wild adventure, when the film hits theaters everywhere on December 19.
A knight, a hun, an Egyptian god, Rebel Wilson and a monkey…what more could you ask for?
Get ready for the wildest and most adventure-filled NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM ever as Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.
From director Shawn Levy, the film also stars Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Dan Stevens, Rebel Wilson, and Ben Kingsley.
Look for NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB this Christmas.
Opening in theaters and VOD July 30th, watch the trailer for WAR STORY.
A battle-scarred photojournalist (Catherine Keener) risks her life to rescue a young refugee in this gripping, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller. Sir Ben Kingsley also stars.
The film screened earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. The Hollywood Reporter‘s Todd McCarthy wrote the second feature from director Mark Jackson was, ” A compelling, beautifully filmed character study of a war zone photographer in personal turmoil..”
In her Sundance review, Kim Voynar (Movie City News) said, “War Story is cinematic storytelling at its finest.”
20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for director Ridley Scott’s EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS.
Starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley, the film will be in theaters December 12.
Earlier this year, moviegoers saw Darren Aronofsky’s superb NOAH with Russell Crowe in the lead, as well as 20th Century Fox’s SON OF GOD.
From the director of GLADIATOR and PROMETHEUS comes the epic adventure EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS, the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of an empire.
Using state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion, Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharoah Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
Check out the brand new trailer for THE BOXTROLLS. Think animation with a dash of Monty Python thrown in.
Based on Alan Snow’s bestseller HERE BE MONSTERS, the voice cast includes Ben Kingsley, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Toni Collette, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, and Tracy Morgan.
The third animation collaboration is from LAIKA and Focus Features, the companies that brought you the Academy Award-nominated features PARANORMAN and CORALINE. Expect their latest film to take one of the spots for Best Animated Feature when the Oscar nominations are announced Thursday morning, January 15, 2015.
Meet a new breed of family – THE BOXTROLLS, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge.
When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.
From directors Anthony Staachi and Graham Annable, the family event movie, THE BOXTROLLS, releases in theaters on September 26.
Before the new stop-motion animated film THE BOXTROLLS hits theaters on on September 26, Focus Features and LAIKA invite you to get creative and build your very own Boxtroll at TheBoxtrolls.com.
One grand prize winner’s Boxtroll will be brought to life as a real puppet by LAIKA artists, and other Box-tastic prizes are available.
LAIKA artists put a ton of blood, sweat and tears into bringing THE BOXTROLLS to life. But that’s only three ingredients.
A family event movie from the creators of CORALINE and PARANORMAN that introduces audiences to a new breed of family – THE BOXTROLLS, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge.
When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.
Based on the novel Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow, the voice cast includes Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, and Tracy Morgan.
From Liberty Studios comes the brand new trailer for their upcoming film, WALKING WITH THE ENEMY. Inspired by a true story, this powerful new film of love, courage and sacrifice, stars Jonas Armstrong, Hannah Tointon and Ben Kingsley.
Set in Hungary during the final months of World War ll, a young man sets out to find his displaced family by stealing a Nazi uniform to pose as an officer.
Filled with suspense and danger, he undertakes extraordinary measures to reroute his family and other Jews to safety by disrupting the activities of the German occupiers.
Check out the brand new site,http://www.walkingwiththeenemy.com/, where you can view clips and other assets, read what critics are saying about the film, learn about the film’s contribution to the Wounded Warrior project and much more.
Directed by Mark Schmidt, WALKING WITH THE ENEMY hits theaters this Friday, April 25. Visit the film’s official Facebook page and click on the “Theaters” tab to find out if it’s playing near you
Birds are fascinating creatures. This is true, but most people take birds for granted, so many of them flying about overhead. Birds are everywhere, and as creepy as that thought may be to some, they are always watching over us, constant spectators of the human experience below. Her on planet Earth, we go though life struggling primarily to answer two questions… who am i and what should I do with this life i have?
It’s no wonder there are some drawn in by a fascination for these feathered friends of ours. Those who watch, track and seek out birds of all species are generally referred to as “birders.” The term’s definition may be argued by some, including those in the film A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING. Directed and co-written by Rob Meyer, this film is a coming of age story about an awkward 15-year old boy named David Portnoy.
David, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, is grieving the loss of his mother, even as his father Donald plans his upcoming marriage to Juliana. David struggles with this rapid change in his family life. As a way to distract himself, and perhaps feel closer to his late mother, David takes up birding with two fellow enthusiasts at his school. David’s mother was a birder and accomplished researcher in the field and David shows a compelling level of knowledge and passion for the hobby in general.
A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is not about birds. Yes, the film contains many references to birds, jokes about birds, even bird metaphors, but the film is about David dealing with his teenage emotions regarding loss, love and growing up. Donald, played by James Le Gros, is understanding and patient at first, but as his wedding approaches he becomes less tolerant of David’s birding ways. Juliana, played by Daniela Lavender, was the nurse who cared for David’s dying mother. Despite her caring, warm spirit and genuine love for Donald and David, this fact clearly makes the situation that more unnerving and difficult to grapple with for David.
David’s journey of self-discovery begins, by chance, as he spots what he believes to be an extinct species of duck. Having snapped a blurry photo f the mystery bird, David seeks the opinion of renowned birder Lawrence Konrad, played by veteran actor Sir Ben Kingsley. David then enlists the help of his small school birding club to find the elusive bird and make what could be the greatest birding find of his generation. Along with his two nerdy birding companions, of whom have equivalent social personalities of Sheldon and Howard from The Big Bang Theory, they reluctantly allow Ellen, a student photographer, to accompany in exchange for the use of her telephoto lens.
Ellen, played by Katie Chang, clearly has an interest in David early on, but it takes some time and circumstances for David’s eyes to open and for the teenage hormones to kick in, despite Ellen’s thinly veiled, but equally awkward efforts to test the terrain. Together, the four adventurers head out into the Connecticut woods from New York in an older teenager’s “borrowed” convertible. Some mishaps occur on the way, but the journey allows for the viewer to get a strong sense of what David is going through, internally and with those around him. Chang’s mellow, almost neutral performance compliments Smit-McPhee’s uneasiness. Chang gives Ellen a nerdy, but confident worldly edge which plays well against, and ultimately alongside the textbook skinny, socially awkward David.
As usual, Ben Kingsley is a joy to watch. Invoking his trademark vocal traits and mannerisms, Kingsley lends a role model type figure to David’s story. This is crucial, especially since his father is preoccupied with his upcoming wedding. A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING feels a bit like STAND BY ME, only nerdier, and without a dead body. One thing the film succeeds at is showcasing the birding hobby as a storytelling device, much in the way THE BIG YEAR did, starring Jack Black and Steve Martin, except with a more intimate, realistic approach that allows the film to feel more dramatically accurate, whereas THE BIG YEAR just felt like a vehicle for blockbuster comedy.
The small, independent spirit of A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING carries a lot of weight for the film as the script is lacking in areas. Some of the more emotional moments in the story fall a little flat, perhaps partially due to a mostly young cast, but writing is always where these issues begin. Visually, the film does not feel amateurish and the film is accompanied by an equally enjoyable soundtrack, which also conveys a similar independent spirit. This independent spirit is another character trait of David’s, and perhaps what makes his story so intriguing.
A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING does not break any boundaries. It does not redefine any genres, nor is cause for any controversy. The film is simply a pleasant exploration of a boy’s journey from innocence to an opening of himself to what can be, what will be and what is most important in life.
A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is currently available on Video On Demand and in Theaters beginning Friday, March 21st, 2014.
Jaguar North America has announced the three British thespians to appear in “Rendezvous,” its 60-second television advertisement to debut during the second half of Super Bowl XLVIII, along with details of its largest-ever brand and product marketing campaign, called “British Villains,” which introduces the Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe (on sale spring, 2014).
“Rendezvous” stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong, and was filmed by Oscar-winning British director, Tom Hooper, in London. It is Jaguar’s first Super Bowl TV advertisement.
Jaguar also previewed its Super Bowl spot with “The Setup,” staring Sir Ben Kingsley, during the CBS and FOX NFL Divisional Playoff games, January 11 and 12. At the end of the commercial, viewers were invited to view “The Setup” on the campaign’s dedicated landing page, www.BritishVillains.com, and use the unique hashtag, #GoodToBeBad to engage with the brand throughout the campaign.
The original score for “Rendezvous” was composed and conducted by Alexandre Desplat, who worked with Tom Hooper on The King’s Speech and recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra at the iconic Abbey Road studios.
Check out the previews below. These dashing gents could prove to be too distracting for those of us trying watch the Big Game in February.
“With ‘British Villains,’ Jaguar will present itself on the Super Bowl stage as a challenger to the usual luxury car suspects, with a unique cinematic expression of our modern British style,” said Jeff Curry, Brand Vice President, Jaguar North America. “With the three renowned actors, Sir Ben, Tom and Mark, who have all played memorable film rogues, we have brought together the best of British film to star in a major motion picture caliber campaign that addresses the simple cultural observation that Brits often play the best villains in film. This talent, coupled with the direction of Academy Award-winner director Tom Hooper, enables us to launch our campaign for the F-TYPE Coupe in a manner that captures the new spirit of the entire brand inspired by our latest sports car.”
“Jaguar is truly a beloved British brand and it’s exciting to help them make some noise as they debut in a beloved American event, the Super Bowl,” said Sir Ben Kingsley. “As for being known for playing the roles of renowned villains, I’ll have to ponder that one – I think I’m flattered?!”
The campaign creative, developed with a cinematic vision, centers around the new “Rendezvous” television commercial. In addition to the 60-second spot to air in the Super Bowl, a 30-second preview of “Rendezvous” will debut online on January 28 and run on high-profile, digital channels throughout February.
The “British Villains” campaign and its many supporting assets were produced specifically for the launch of the F-TYPE Coupe around the broadcast of the 2014 Super Bowl and builds on the momentum of Jaguar following the successful launch of the F-TYPE convertible and a 41 percent sales increase in 2013.
“British Villains” captures the premise that Brits have long made the best villains in landmark films, combining intelligence with charm, restlessness with calm, and always confident. In the world of pop culture, villains disrupt the status quo and challenge the establishment, while living one step ahead of, and better than, the pack. The campaign asks the question, ‘Have you ever noticed how in Hollywood movies, all the villains are played by Brits?’ It was filmed by Hooper in London in a creative partnership with his Smuggler Films production house.
“This is one of those jobs that can really be a lot of fun, so I was quite happy to oblige when Jaguar asked me to be a part of their first Super Bowl commercial,” said Hooper. “To work with the caliber of great actors we cast in this project is a truly special experience on its own and reflects the cinematic approach that we took in the production with Jaguar.”
SPARK44, the lead strategic communications partner for Jaguar, was responsible for the creative positioning and strategy behind the campaign, while Mindshare managed the communications planning and buying. In addition to broadcast, the multi-channel campaign will feature unique outdoor creative throughout New York City, print, digital and consumer activations hosted with a wide array of media partners, and special events in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
During the game, Jaguar aims to be the most real-time engaged advertiser during the Super Bowl through a unique physical space called “The Loop,” developed by Mindshare, where multiple screens will monitor real-time consumer data and translate it into actionable insights, and ultimately, rapid marketing decisions, or “Adaptive Marketing.”
“The Loop” is the first real-time marketing tool to impact paid media – whereby media dollars can be quickly shifted and redeployed to leverage opportunities uncovered by the data. Rapid, relevant and responsive, “The Loop” puts data at the center and creates a channel-agnostic, holistic approach to real-time marketing in an unprecedented manner.
The amazing people at LAIKA (CORALINE and PARANORMAN) have debuted a second trailer for THE BOXTROLLS, and hoo-boy, is it ever CUTE!
The stop motion animation is incredible. With all the fine detailing and so much artistry, I can’t wait for this stunning film!
THE BOXTROLLS – a 3D stop-motion and CG hybrid animated movie is based on Alan Snow’s bestselling fantasy adventure novel Here Be Monsters.
The voice cast includes Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, Academy Award nominee Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Game of Thrones), Emmy Award nominee Jared Harris (Mad Men), Simon Pegg (Star Trek), Nick Frost (the upcoming The World’s End), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), and Tracy Morgan (30 Rock).
THE BOXTROLLS is a comedic fable that unfolds in Cheesebridge, a posh Victorian-era town obsessed with wealth, class, and the stinkiest of fine cheeses. Beneath its charming cobblestone streets dwell the Boxtrolls, foul monsters who crawl out of the sewers at night and steal what the townspeople hold most dear: their children and their cheeses. At least, that’s the legend residents have always believed. In truth, the Boxtrolls are an underground cavern-dwelling community of quirky and lovable oddballs who wear recycled cardboard boxes the way turtles wear their shells.
The Boxtrolls have raised an orphaned human boy, Eggs (voiced by Mr. Hempstead-Wright), since infancy as one of their dumpster-diving and mechanical junk-collecting own. When the Boxtrolls are targeted by villainous pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher (Mr. Kingsley), who is bent on eradicating them as his ticket to Cheesebridge society, the kindhearted band of tinkerers must turn to their adopted charge and adventurous rich girl Winnie (Ms. Fanning) to bridge two worlds amidst the winds of change – and cheese.
THE BOXTROLLS is being directed by Anthony Stacchi (co-director of the hit animated feature Open Season) and Graham Annable (story artist on Coraline and ParaNorman), and produced by David Ichioka and Travis Knight.
Focus Features will release the film into theaters on September 26, 2014.
So, it’s time again for a film based on a popular young adult book series. Yup, already. Seems like the latest Percy Jackson adventure just left the multiplexes while the publicity machine for the second Hunger Games is in full swing. Well, this one has a bit of a different pedigree. First off, it is set fully in a space-hopping, science fiction future instead of the magical and supernatural based Jackson, Harry Potter, and Twilight (HG is set in the future, but minus much of the typical SF gadgetry). And it’s not based on a book series from the last ten years or so. The original short story that spawned the series was published way back in 1977. It does feature a teen hero and his pals, with adults offering guidance (much like the faculty at Hogwarts). But this is no school or camp. These kids are for-real soldiers defending the planet. Hitting the theatres at long last is Orson Scott Card’s ENDER’S GAME. Let’s blast off…
As the film begins we are told that fifty years ago, an insectoid alien race, the Formics, attacked the Earth. Luckily they were driven back to their home world, but the military believes that they may return anytime. Teens (and some pre-teens) are recruited by the military and trained to defeat the Formics in a re-match. One such gifted teen is Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) who is whisked away to the training station, floating miles above Earth. Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and Major Anderson (Viola Davis) believe Ender has the special skills needed to lead the forces against another invasion. Throughout the training period Ender endures bullies, excels at a testing computer game, and eventually commands his own squadron which includes best pal (and maybe gal) Petra ( Hailee Steinfeld). The squad must act as one to win the training games and become Earth’s defenders. But Ender has a feeling that he’s not getting the full story…
Although he’s featured prominently in the TV spots, Ford is not the main focus (I guess marketing wants us to make a connection to some other Ford SF flicks. hmmm?). The main character is right in the film’s title and Butterfield does his best to bring him to life. Trouble is that the hero is kind of bland. Ender is too somber and serious. A few times he lightens up by putting down another bullying cadet, but then he’s dour once more. We wonder why Petra and the others are drawn to him (well, he’s not a thug likes some others up there). Steinfeld, who was so terrific in the TRUE GRIT remake, feels shackled by the standard moon-eyed girlfriend role. Ford pops in to liven things up a bit with his usual “growl and scowl” (his “go to” for many recent roles) while his character’s relationship to Ender remains murky. Davis is there as a more sympathetic adult coach, but the script doesn’t give her coherent motivations and the character away to be replaced by… Ben Kingsley, who pops up as a mystery man there to explain things to Ender (including his own distracting facial tattoos), and comes off as a watered-down Obi-Wan Kenobi. Miss Sunshine Abigal Breslin is there as Ender’s much-adored big sister Valentine who’s there as his Jiminy Cricket as she gives him a pep talk.
For the longest time Scott Card resisted offers for film versions of his work, saying it could not be visually translated. Even though he’s listed as one of the producers, he may still be correct. The film sluggishly lurches from one set piece to the next with little sense of urgency. The Formics are never shown gearing up for battle or hovering toward our planet. They’re just “out there”. The endless training sequences quickly become tiresome especially a sort of lazer-tag team battle in zero gravity. Ender’s gang seems to spend half the film floating and firing at one another. A subplot involving a computer role-playing has some slick animation, but hardly advances the story. The big invasion simulation test finale’ has the cadets sitting at control screens using drone ships to blast away at Formic fleets that just look like swarms of bees or locusts while Ender waves his arms about and shouts commands. It all just resembles a really sleek, hi-tech Chuck E, Cheese. Again, not very cinematic. The Formic themselves resemble CGI gigantic preying mantises and reminded me of the beasties in the much superior STARSHIP TROOPERS. That flick embraced its satirical elements while earning an R-rating for a load of gratuitous nudity and gore. The new flick also has a political subplot that keys in to current debates, but it has little of the older flick’s cheesy fun. You’d be better entertained by popping in a disk of that older flick that by spending an interminable two hours with these junior troopers. As the old insecticide ads said, “Quick Ma’, the Flit!”.
