Although Summer has long passed, it’s not too late for another youth-oriented movie adaptation. So, what is it, another flick based on a popular series of “young adult” novels, or perhaps a “tear-jerker” like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS or IF I STAY? Is it another comic book or classic TV show getting the big screen treatment? Nope, this is based on a game. But not a video or computer game like the Lara Croft franchise or the recent NEED FOR SPEED. It’s an “old school” board game, one that’s been around for ages. The box office sinking of BATTLESHIP has not deterred the folks at Hasbro Films (an off-shoot of the toy empire). After all, GI Joe and those Transformers are still raking in the bucks. Plus THE LEGO MOVIE’s success will spawn a trio of spin-offs. Oh, and there’s a chance of cross-over money from the ravenous fright flick fans, since this game supposedly contacts the netherworld. Switch off the lamps, light up the candles, and enter the world of OUIJA.
It begins with a flashback to a pre-teen girls’ slumber party as a pretty lil’ blonde gives her BFF, along with the theatre audience, the rules of the game. Flash ahead years later and the ladies are about to finish up high school when tragedy strikes. That BFF, Laine (Olivia Cooke) is shattered by her loss. She must know why this happened and so she gets out, of course, that dusty old ouija board. Since she can’t do this alone, Laine recruits her beau Trevor (Daren Kagasoff), her rebelleous kid sister Sarah (Ana Coto), the deceased’s beau Pete (Douglas Smith), and mutual pal, diner waitress Isabelle (Bianca Santos). Needless to say, they get much more than they bargained for when all matter of weird stuff starts happening. Laine realizes that they opened a portal that has allowed an evil force into our dimension, a force that targets the five friends. Is there any way they can stop this entity and send it back before its vengeance is unleashed upon them all?
First time feature director Stiles White (a veteran special effects artist), working from the screenplay he co-wrote with Juliet Snowden, pummels the film with every PG-13 “spookshow” cliché we’ve seen again and again. Characters pop into frame with exploding music beats while others emerge from the shadows silently for no good reason other than to try to make the heroine and audience jump. The spirits are a variation of the pale, stringy-haired wild wraiths so common since THE RING from a dozen years ago. And they’re intent on offing the cast as if this were a kids’ cable channel FINAL DESTINATION. There’s none of the inventive, infectious energy that made THE CONJURING an unexpected multiplex thrill ride. Cooke leads the good-looking cast through the motions while glowering as if she was fretting over exams (much as her role in THE QUIET ONES or on TV’s “Bates Motel”). The whole cast is interchangeable, as if they were plucked from the latest CW prime time show or a soft drink commercial all running around a generic West coast town. At least Coto gets a mild punk/goth look (a ripped shirt!) along with a “grrril” snarl. We do get a couple of supporting turns from two screen vets. One’s from a current popular horror franchise, another’s a fave film teen witch. These ladies are the only adults to make an impression, the rest are invisible and ineffectual (Laine and Sarah’s single Pop skips out early on a business trip). During a brief scene in which Laine meets a school counselor we almost expect his dialogue to be replaced by the saxophone “waa-waa” of the adults in the Peanuts animated TV cartoons. The film will work for its intended audiences as young girls will bury their faces in their boyfriends’ shoulders (and to be fair, both will spring from their seats a few times), but for those of us who have been to more than a couple of movie haunted houses, it is a real slog. Do they have to play the game in the dead of night? Why not enjoy a potluck lunch before opening the window to begin the summoning? Sorry, logic’s got no place here. Instead of heading to theatres, OUIJA would be better off gathering dust with the other games
In what has become a highly anticipated annual tradition, Hasbro, Inc. is returning to Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, with an array of special edition action figures and toys from Hasbro’s most popular brands inspired by the comics, movies, animated series and video games that made them popular. Fans can expect special edition figures from Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and ROM THE SPACE KNIGHT brands as well as its licensed properties, STAR WARS® and MARVEL.
“Our brand teams always enjoy creating and developing these unique and highly sought after special edition toys and figures for Comic-Con attendees”
The special edition items will be available at the Hasbro Toy Shop booth (#3329) at Comic-Con International starting on Preview Night, July 23rd (while supplies last), as well as in limited quantities after the convention concludes at HasbroToyShop.com. Highlights of the collection of special edition toys include the TRANSFORMERS DINOBOTS Action Figure Collection featuring the breakout stars of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, and MARVEL’S The Infinity Gauntlet and 3.75-inch Action Figure Pack, complete with four exclusive 3.75-inch MARVEL INFINITE SERIES action figures and a wearable foam Infinity Gauntlet glove!
“Our brand teams always enjoy creating and developing these unique and highly sought after special edition toys and figures for Comic-Con attendees,” said John Frascotti, chief marketing officer, Hasbro. “These products are crafted with the most passionate fan in mind, and we are thrilled to be able to provide our fans with new versions of their favorite pop-culture, iconic brands each year at Comic-Con.”
The comprehensive list of Hasbro’s 2014 San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition Figures Features:
TRANSFORMERS
TRANSFORMERS DINOBOTS Action Figure Collection
(Ages: 8 & up/ Approx. Retail Price: $159.99/ Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
The DINOBOTS are back! The breakout stars of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION are featured in this set, each with a G1-inspired deco, complete with vac-metal parts! Voyager scale GRIMLOCK and Deluxe scale SNARL, STRAFE and DINOBOT SLUG charge into battle in the steel and gold look that made them famous back in 1985. The DINOBOTS come in a package designed by world-famous pop-up artist Matthew Reinhart (TRANSFORMERS: THE ULTIMATE POP-UP UNIVERSE) that converts into the famed Autobot Ark and Mount St. Hilary from the original G1 animation!
TRANSFORMERS 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR EDITION Action Figure Collection
(Ages: 8 & up/ Approx. Retail Price: $184.99/ Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the TRANSFORMERS brand, this Special Edition set presents your favorite TRANSFORMERS characters as you’ve never seen them before—as hard-rockin’ robots in the universe’s greatest band, the Knights of Unicron! The four Deluxe Scale rock god action figures—OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, SMOOTH JAZZ and SOUNDWAVE—each feature glam rock deco, metal band hair and the titanic egos that once tore them apart. Also joining the tour are LASERBEAK, who converts into a note-shredding electric guitar and RATBAT, who converts into the funkiest keytar on this side of CYBERTRON. The entire set is packaged in an amazing “roadie case,” including special edition posters, stickers and tell-all history booklet depicting the hardest-rocking band in the history of CYBERTRON!
KRE-O TRANSFORMERS KRE-O CLASS OF 1984 KREON 30-Pack
(Ages: 6 & up/ Approx. Retail Price: $59.99/ Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Party like it’s 1984 with this “Yearbook” edition of 30 of your favorite AUTOBOT and DECEPTICON KREONS, all in unique G1 and G2 decos! Fan-favorites like OPTIMUS PRIME, SOUNDWAVE and ARCEE are included, along with ULTRA MAGNUS, DECEPTICON RUMBLE and DECEPTICON FRENZY making their KREON debut! Also includes totally tubular ‘80s accessories like a floppy disk, a boom box…even a KREON mullet!
MY LITTLE PONY
MY LITTLE PONY MANE-IAC MAYHEM Pony
(Approximate Retail Price: $49.99; Ages 3 & up; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Get ready for the most evil nemesis of the POWER PONIES, MANE-IAC MAYHEM pony. Her wild and ‘electrifying’ green mane is almost as devious as her piercing red and green eyes. This power-mad pony from Maretropolis features a metallic purple outfit, accessorized with fashionable black and gold glittery boots. She comes with her trusty sidekick, SPIKE THE DRAGON as “Hum Drum.” Get the MANE-IAC MAYHEM pony at Comic-Con 2014!
MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS
MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS MANE-IAC MAYHEM Doll
(Approximate Retail Price: $29.99; Ages 5 & up; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Brace yourself, because you’re not ready for the wild and wily ways of this crazy MANE-IAC MAYHEM doll! With a maniacal hairstyle inspired by the MANE-IAC MAYHEM pony from the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic animated series created by Hasbro Studios, this doll has an over-the-top outfit and sunglasses, and her boots are off the chain. Get this madcap doll at Comic-Con 2014!
STAR WARS
STAR WARS® THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH JABBA THE HUTT™ THRONE ROOM ACTION FIGURE Set
(Approximate Retail Price: $64.99; Ages 4 & up; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
The fan-favorite STAR WARS THE BLACK SERIES 6-inch action figure line jumps to hyperspace in 2014 with the introduction of iconic in-scale vehicles and alien creatures, all featuring the incredibly accurate design and high level of articulation fans have come to expect from THE BLACK SERIES collection. Fans will have their first opportunity to collect a 6-inch scale JABBA THE HUTT at San Diego Comic-Con with the JABBA THE HUTT’S Throne Room Action Figure Set, which comes with railing, hookah and in-scale articulated SALACIOUS CRUMB action figure. The figures are packed in a special, scene-accurate display that depicts JABBA’S throne room, complete with space for last year’s HAN SOLO in Carbonite figure (no longer available).
MARVEL
MARVEL’S THE THANOS IMPERATIVE LEGENDS Action Figure Pack
(Ages: 4 & up; Approximate Retail Price: $99.99; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
The battle to save the universe is on, and this ragtag alliance of interstellar heroes is just the bunch to save the day! Based on the cosmic MARVEL Comics story THE THANOS IMPERATIVE, this special edition collection features five 6-inch-scale MARVEL LEGENDS INFINITE SERIES figures—BLACK BOLT, STAR LORD, BLASTAAR, MARVEL’S MEDUSA and MARVEL’S GLADIATOR. The cosmic favorite come in a special-edition package designed to look like the GALACTUS ENGINE, the ultimate weapon from THE THANOS IMPERATIVE.
MARVEL’S THE INFINITY GAUNTLET and 3.75” Action Figure Pack
(Ages: 4 & up; Approximate Retail Price: $74.99; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Based on the classic MARVEL Comics cosmic story THE INFINITY GAUNTLET, this special edition pack is your chance to wield the mightiest weapon in the universe! The set includes four exclusive 3.75-inch MARVEL INIFINITE SERIES action figures—THANOS (w/ INFINITY GAUNTLET), MISTRESS DEATH, MARVEL’S NEBULA and MARVEL’S STARFOX. Plus, continue the action with the included wearable foam Infinity Gauntlet glove, a role-play replica of the reality-controlling artifact!
JEM DOLL
Rockin’ Romance JEM Doll
(Ages: 15 & up; Approximate Retail Price: $139.99; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Fans will have a truly outrageous experience at Comic-Con 2014 when they see the special edition ROCKIN’ ROMANCE JEM doll! The fully articulated ROCKIN’ ROMANCE JEM doll stands 12.5 inches tall and features rooted pink hair with corkscrew curls in a stylish side ponytail, complete with flashy bow, and stunning long eyelashes. Ready for romance in a pink polka dot dress with a jeweled collar and sparkly high-heel pumps, ROCKIN’ ROMANCE JEM is ready for a night on the town with her beau Rio Pacheco! Fans will be delighted to see their favorite rock star delivered in a special commemorative edition retro pack, inspired by the original never-before-released ROCKIN’ ROMANCE box art created for the original line in the 1980’s! But that’s not all…to further protect what is sure to become one of the most sought after collectibles of the JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS collection, this Truly Outrageous Comic-Con and HasbroToyShop.com exclusive souvenir comes nested in a super sturdy, ultra sleek mirror finish outer box!
MIGHTY MUGGS
MIGHTY MUGGS ROM THE SPACE KNIGHT Special Edition Figure
(Ages: 6 & up; Approximate Retail Price: $22.99; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
Celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic ROM THE SPACE KNIGHT toy with this special edition MIGHTY MUGG! Since the release of the original Parker Brothers toy in 1979, ROM THE SPACE KNIGHT has built a devoted following, and now toy fans will be able to purchase the first MIGHTY MUGG ROM THE SPACE KNIGHT figure, featuring 5.5 inches of 100% recycled awesome!
MAGIC: THE GATHERING
MAGIC 2015 PLANESWALKER Pack Featuring Garruk’s Axe by NERF
(Ages: 13 & up; Approximate Retail Price: $110.99; Available through HasbroToyShop.com or Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)
The 2014 MAGIC: THE GATHERING SDCC exclusive once again brings the sleek “black on black” premium treatment to this year’s Core Set Planeswalker line-up, but this time there is a twist: There are six Planeswalker cards, and they feature new art by renown comic artist Jae Lee! Each set also comes with the first ever NERF item for MAGIC: THE GATHERING: Garruk’s Axe. Pick up your set at the Hasbro booth at SDCC, and be the envy of the Multiverse.
Following the convention, a limited number of each item will be available for purchase online at HasbroToyShop.com.
“As the sine qua non of the franchise, it’s the robots — endowed here with character-rich physicality and almost human-scaled facial features — who give the film its emotional heft. Optimus Prime’s charismatic leadership of his team, as well as his unwavering compassion for the humans, again makes him the movie’s moral anchor. Drift, with his samurai getup and Watanabe’s dignified line readings, strikes a neat balance with Goodman’s cigar-chewing, wisecracking Hound. Still, the character most likely to be beloved by audiences, especially tykes, remains Bumblebee.”
“The giant scale action in this one is amazingly staged once again. There are few filmmakers alive who would even try to stage things on a scale like this, much less make it look like something that’s sort of effortless. Bayhem just keeps getting better.”
Photo credit: Industrial Light & Magic / Paramount. Left to right: Hound, Bingbing Li plays Su Yueming, Stanley Tucci plays Joshua Joyce, Bumblebee, Jack Reynor plays Shane Dyson, Nicola Peltz plays Tessa Yeager, Mark Wahlberg plays Cade Yeager, Optimus Prime, Drift, and Crosshairs. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.
With help from a new cast of humans (led by Mark Wahlberg), Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Photo credit: Industrial Light & Magic / Paramount. Optimus Prime (center) TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
A new chapter in the Transformers universe, TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION stars an all new live action cast lead by Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing , Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, T. J. Miller, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Titus Welliver
In T4, John Goodman will play Autobot Hound, Ken Watanabe will play Drift, while Peter Cullen reprises his role as the voice of Optimus Prime, and Frank Welker takes on another new character, Galvatron.
Rounding out the voice-over cast are actors John DiMaggio, Robert Foxworth and Reno Wilson. DiMaggio will take on the new characters Crosshairs, while Foxworth reprises the role of Ratchet and Wilson returns as Brains.
Recently I spoke with British actor Mark Ryan, who provides the voice of LOCKDOWN, about the latest installment of the hugely successful TRANSFORMERS series.
According to Hasbro, LOCKDOWN is one of the most feared bounty hunters in the universe. He captures everything he tracks, collecting his prizes in his massive prison ship. Few of his targets have outmaneuvered him, and even fewer have escaped his jails.
In the film, LOCKDOWN is a bounty hunter who transforms into a grey 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Coupe who is capable of turning his own face into a cannon gun.
Mark Ryan has been combining his acting, singing, writing and directing talents in a successful international career for more than 30 years.
He performed in several major musicals in London’s West End, including four years in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit “Evita,” originating the role of Magaldi and then playing Ché. He originated the character of Nasir for the cult British TV series “Robin of Sherwood“ and has appeared in dozens of films and television series, both in the U.S. and UK.
He recently co-starred in the premiere season of “Black Sails,” Michael Bay’s television series for Starz.
WAMG: You previously voiced fan favorites Bumblebee and Jetfire for the TRANSFORMERS film franchise. What is it like to be involved in the new film?
Mark Ryan: I’m very excited about this particular one. I think the way the filmmakers have taken it and the way it’s evolved, makes this next chapter fantastic. The very fact that they have the Dinobots, and the way the story progresses in the movie, gives it a rollercoaster ride feel.
The cast is superb. Everybody involved, from Kelsey Grammer to Mark Wahlberg – who is such a lovely guy – it’s a great cast.
WAMG: You’re part of such a successful franchise.
MR: It’s one of those things in your lifetime, as an actor, you kind of – when I came to Hollywood, seventeen years ago, it was one of those things where I could do anything I wanted to do in England. I’ve been in the West End for seven or eight years in various shows, I was in a hit TV show there (“Robin Of Sherwood), I’ve toured.
As an actor, I’ve done all different kinds of things, so when I ended up coming here I thought it would be really nice to be involved in a large Hollywood-style franchise where you’re making epic-sized movies. It’s really is a dream come true.
Here we are seven years later and I’m still involved with Michael Bay’s movies. It’s a really amazing gift from the industry. I’ve travelled the world and been invited to these different conventions around the world. I really enjoy meeting and talking to the fans. I’m a fan myself. I grew up with Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea, Star Trek and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. I love hearing the fans reactions and what they think about the films. It’s an amazing privilege to be involved with the whole process.
WAMG: How cool is it that you’re LOCKDOWN – the new Lamborghini Aventador?
MR: It’s very cool! It’s a bit like when we did JETFIRE (TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN). I was actually in the studio with Mike and we were going through voices, seeing which one would work best for the character.
We were trying to round out the character and he was asking if this is how a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird would sound. What he didn’t know was that I was a SR 71 geek myself, so I almost exploded in the studio when I saw what it looked like and I went on about it.
Michael is looking at me, going, “You really do know about this aircraft.” It’s huge, with big iron spikes, sitting the Aerospace Museum. It’s an amazing piece of equipment.
I feel exactly the same about the Lamborghini. It’s one of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen.
If you reading this, Lamborghini, I’d really like to go in one.
WAMG: With all the new TV spots rolling out, audiences are beginning to get a good look at LOCKDOWN. It’s pretty neat.
MR: It’s very cool. I’ve been going around these past seven years, signing people’s Camaros. One guy owns the actual car from the first movie – the classic Camaro – while people around the country have the cars with the BUMBLEBEE paint job. People are very enthusiastic about their cars, so I’ve been going around signing those over the years.
I don’t know how many Lamborghinis I’ll be signing. I’m sure there will be the rare occasion when someone drives up.
Photo credit: Andrew Cooper. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
WAMG: What sort of input did you get from Michael Bay as you were recording LOCKDOWN?
MR: It’s an interesting process. Now we’ve got this whole on set voice thing down to a fine art which, when we first started doing this, I don’t think it had been done quite like this way, but Michael was very smart and very wise. What he wanted was to have a voice on set with the actors so they could change their pacing, change the way they did it, where they had a reactive voice that could answer back to them. It feels more live and more real when you have a human being in front of you.
I’ve spoken to people who’ve acted in front of a green screen for special-effects driven films and they’ve said what’s the most difficult thing to do is when nobody is there, or it’s just a pole, and you’re trying to do the lines, but there’s nobody there to bounce it back off.
During the course of this is I have Michael on one side and I’m in the middle with a headset, so he can give me direction. He can change lines, we can adlib or throw things in. Plus he lets me know what’s going on in the scene as well as everyone on the set playing a Transformer.
For this film, LOCKDOWN’S voice grew out of me thinking about the character while on set. I wanted to bring something new and different to Michael because there are only so many voices that can come out of one head. This is just the result of that. It was the actual performance on set that stuck in Michael’s head.
Without giving any of it away, it’s all part of an evolution, both the technical way we filmed it, and the way the characters get fleshed out from the script during the filming.
WAMG: You’ve worked on Bay on the TV show “Black Sails.” It looked like a rigorous, but fun show to be a part of. I was really sad to see your character, Mr. Gates, go.
MR: So was I. (laughs). It’s a good show. It’s well put together, well produced, and well directed. There’s a whole movement online to resurrect my character. There are many who’d like for Mr. Gates to return in one form or another.
It was great working on the show. There are many from the show who are deserving of some Emmys and I’m very proud of the performances we gave over the course of filming. We had such great material to work with and brilliant actors to work with on set.
WAMG: Audiences know your books and your work in film and TV, especially “Robin Of Sherwood,” which I was a fan of. What’s it been like to meet the fans at conventions?
MR: Just a quick note of “Robin Of Sherwood,” we recently had the 30 year anniversary convention inChepstow, Wales run by a chap called Barnaby Eaton-Jones. Thirty years later it was absolutely amazing. People who followed the show, brought their kids who are now following the show. Now there are new followers all over the world who watch the show on DVD. It’s incredible.
The show is a very deep part of my life and I’m very proud of the work we did on that.
I’ve written two books, I’ve been in theater and toured with Monty Python’s Eric Idle. When I meet people, I hear ‘Oh I like Monty Python, I like Transformers, I like Robin of Sherwood – it’s all very humbling. It’s very humbling to know something that you were involved with affected people’s lives and gave them that spark of entertainment.
People will ask me how did I manage to do all these things and I tell them, ‘don’t limit yourself. Everything you try in this life, give 110% effort.’ You can’t go wrong. Even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll take something from that experience that you’ll be able to apply in a different area or challenge. Life is an amazing adventure.
WAMG: Have you see any of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION?
MR: I’ve seen a lot of it – I see the scenes as we’re recording the voiceover in the studio with Michael in the room. He’s very involved with every aspect of the movie. He’s hand on all the way through and I think that’s what makes him one of the most talented, dedicated filmmakers I’ve ever worked with.
Technically there isn’t anything on a set he doesn’t understand. He understands lighting and cameras, special effects, and stunts. He has an intense understanding of how everything works. The whole process of editing and CGI he knows so well. He knows what works and has an amazing eye. He looks at the film from the point of view of the audience and what will give them a spectacular ride to watch. He’s a tremendously gifted director.
(JUNE 23: Director Michael Bay poses for photos beside a Bumblebee Autobot at Pangu Hotel on June 23, 2014 in Beijing, China. Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for Paramount)
WAMG: I love the visual look of his films – ARMAGEDDON, PEARL HARBOR and the TRANSFORMER series of films. No one thought the first movie would be received as well as it eventually was.
MR: It was an amazing achievement. Take OPTIMUS PRIME and BUMBLEBEE – you’re making a movie with two alien characters and giving them human traits where people sympathize with them and are rooting for them. It’s quite something. No one thought it would work and here we are four films later, with one of the most successful franchise in cinema history. That’s due to Michael Bay.
WAMG: What do you think about the footage we’ve seen in the trailers and TV commercials for the film? The film looks thrilling.
MR: You ain’t seen nothing yet!
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens on
June 27th in theaters, Real D 3D & IMAX 3D
Photo credit: Andrew Cooper. The Autobots in TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Andrew Cooper Left to right: Director/Executive Producer Michael Bay with Mark Wahlberg (as Cade Yeager) on the set of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win a First Edition Optimus Prime From TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION.
Are you Team Decepticon or Team Autobot? Plus tell us your favorite Transformer and why!
ENTER YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND E-MAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE A WINNER.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.
CONTEST ENDS – JUNE 27th, 11:59p est
If you live in the St. Louis area, be sure sure to enter our contest for a chance to win tickets to the advance screening on Wednesday, June 25. ClickHERE.
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens on June 27.
The fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, T. J. Miller, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Titus Welliver star.
The film begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.
With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
In T4, John Goodman will play Autobot Hound, Ken Watanabe will play Drift, while Peter Cullen reprises his role as the voice of Optimus Prime, and Frank Welker takes on another new character, Galvatron.
Rounding out the voice-over cast are actors John DiMaggio, Mark Ryan, Robert Foxworth and Reno Wilson. DiMaggio and Ryan will take on the new characters Crosshairs and Lockdown respectively, while Foxworth reprises the role of Ratchet and Wilson returns as Brains.
(c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
Hasbro may have naming and branding rights to the film, but don’t let the “source material” fool you. BATTLESHIP is an action-packed, fun-filled piece of pure popcorn entertainment that deserves a spot amongst the best of it’s kind. The board game-inspired film is directed by Peter Berg (THE KINGDOM, VERY BAD THINGS) who has given the film it’s greatest strength… a knowledgeable and talented commander at the helm of this summertime blockbuster.
Taylor Kitsch (JOHN CARTER, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) stars as Lt. Alex Hopper, a smart yet unfocused and discipline-challenged Navy officer. Alex has no direction in life and nothing but trouble in his future, so his big brother Commander Stone Hopper, played by Alexander Skarsgard (STRAW DOGS, TRUE BLOOD) recruits Alex by way of an ultimatum in an attempt to help turn his life around. Brooklyn Decker (JUST GO WITH IT) plays Alex’s girlfriend Sam, who also happens to be the daughter of Admiral Shane, played by Liam Neeson (THE GREY, TAKEN).
With the back story planted in the backs of our minds, the core of BATTLESHIP begins as humanity is caught off guard when a message sent into deep space is answered by a visit from an alien race far from being your childhood E.T. It becomes quickly apparent that these invaders are far more advanced in every way than we mere, puny humans, but like so many times before in the motion pictures, we humans strike back and fight to survive, proving we can overcome any obstacle thrown at us, regardless of how overwhelming the opposing force may be.
BATTLESHIP does not set itself up as a film with some stellar, intricately designed plot. It truly does wear it’s heart on its sleeve, stating with bold bravado that it intends to satisfy your primal desire for action, big guns and explosions… lots and lots of explosions. The difference being that BATTLEFIELD does this with such technical confidence combined with a script written specifically to show off how cool the film will look and feel. Despite a cast filled with several stars, the real star of the film is the visceral, bone-rattling experience of the characters they play.
In so many ways a happy melding of INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) and PEARL HARBOR (2001), Peter Berg’s BATTLEFIELD overcomes my initial skepticism and surpasses my expectations of another Michael Bay style showcase of explosions with weak writing and exaggerated plots. Sure, it may sound like I’m splitting hairs, but Berg manages to bring together the massive special effects, the non-stop action, the patriotism, the kinetic visual style, the somewhat hokey love story, and the thin plot in a way that encourages pleasurable suspension of disbelief.
BATTLESHIP features strangely simple lizard-like humanoid aliens in Halo-esque armor. The only design element of the aliens I found slightly off-putting are the weird quadruple-thumb claw-like hands. These seem a flawed choice for a race of being so technically advanced, more interested in orchestrating a full-scale invasion than with taking an immediately aggressive approach. Initially, this has the human military confused as they struggle to understand and defeat the aliens’ superior weapons and defensive technology. Cut off from the rest of the Naval fleet by a giant force field dome, Alex Hopper and his Destroyer crew must find a way not only to survive, but to save humanity.
The alien ships are vaguely Transformer-like, but its more accurate to think of them along the lines of the classic ’80s cartoon M.A.S.K, whereas the alien ships reconfigure themselves into a sort of “battle mode” when the need arises. The alien arsenal is different enough to satisfy the science-fiction fans without being absurdly over-the-top and unrealistic. On the other hand, the over-sized fireball-fueled circular saws of death that the aliens unleash on Hong Kong were pushing the boundaries of being absurd, but with an audience now well-accustomed to TRANSFORMERS films, I doubt it will be an issue.
Did I mention there are a lot of explosions? Good. The audience is likely to cheer loudest during the all-out battle scenes, as they did when I saw the film and with good reason. BATTLEFIELD draws on that video game culture of craving glorified violence and I couldn’t have been more happy to comply. Overall, the acting was average, but this isn’t the kind of film you see hoping for an Oscar-worthy performance. Liam Neeson is a great actor, but he and Alexander Skarsgard as well have far less screen time than Taylor Kitsch, accompanied by his crew including Petty Officer Raikes, played by hip hop star Rihanna, making her acting debut. Surprisingly, she does all right as the Vasquez-like [ALIENS] woman who controls the “big guns” of Hopper’s Destroyer ship.
BATTLESHIP is more than just a board game turned into a movie, which I’m sure is what most people think it will be. With that said, its still a film that’s all show and little substance in as satisfying a way as that can be. The ultimate question on so many of your minds is most likely “how can they make the Battleship game into a movie?” Here’s my answer to you… they have not turned the board game into a movie, but rather made a cool movie that shares the name of the game. Without giving anything away, there is one scene — a very crucial scene — whereas the board game’s general method of play is cleverly and indirectly referenced. Audiences should be able to pick up on this scene — for those who have played the game — smile at the reference and then continue to enjoy the film unencumbered by any actors yelling the line “You sunk my battleship!”
Relativity Media has partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce a live-action tent-pole film based on STRETCH ARMSTRONG, the iconic action hero figure launched in the 1970s, it was announced today by Relativity’s Co-President, Tucker Tooley and Hasbro’s President and CEO, Brian Goldner
Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. The film is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date.
The film will be produced by Relativity’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Hasbro’s Goldner (Transformers) and Bennett Schneir, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Motion Pictures (Battleship). Tooley (Immortals) will serve as executive producer.
Hasbro has become an entertainment powerhouse by creating hit movies and television shows from its rich portfolio of world class brands. Since 2007, Hasbro’s Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises have grossed nearly $3 billion at the worldwide box office. 2012 is shaping up to be another stellar year for Hasbro with its partners Universal Pictures releasing Battleship in April and Paramount Pictures releasing G.I. Joe: Retaliation in June. In television, Hasbro Studios produces shows like Transformers Prime and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that can be seen on the HUB television network in the U.S. and in more than 140 countries globally.
“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Hasbro, a company whose global reach and ability to innovate has made them immensely successful in the arena of brand re-imagination– as evidenced by their legacy of creating such franchises as Transformers and G.I. Joe,” said Tooley, “We look forward to bringing Stretch Armstrong to audiences worldwide.”
“Stretch Armstrong is a great example of Hasbro’s rich portfolio of intellectual properties that we are continuing to develop globally,” said Goldner, “We are excited to partner with Relativity on this movie as they are a growing and innovative studio.”
Stretch Armstrong is the classic action hero figure first launched by Hasbro in 1976 and re-launched in the 90’s, sold successfully throughout North America and in markets across the world. The original Stretch’s unique design broke free of traditional action figures, as he could be stretched over and over and always returned back to his original size. The nostalgic toy is considered to be rare and collectible to this day.
Relativity recently released Oscar®-winner Steven Soderbergh’s dynamic action-thriller Haywire in theatres. Looking ahead, Relativity will release the the heart-pounding Navy SEAL action-thriller Act of Valor (in theatres February 24, 2012) and magical adventure comedy Mirror Mirror (in theatres March 30, 2012), starring Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Nathan Lane, and Armie Hammer. The studio just wrapped production on the comedy 21 and Over and is currently in pre-production on Nicholas Sparks’ gripping love story Safe Haven and the international espionage thriller Hunter Killer.
MichaelBay.com directs us over to this TRANSFORMERS 3 video along with a brief description – “Optimus Prime turns the corner hard followed by an explosion on the corner of Jackson and LaSalle.” Cool beans that this guy got a link from Bay.
I’m all for Bay and his penchant for explosions, but not if its Optimus Prime!! However, I do like the long trailer that Optimus is finally sporting.
On Sunday, Tyrese “Epps” Gibson posted these pictures over on Twitter ( @Tyrese4ReaL). “My New Uniform for Tranformers 3 revealed!!” and “Me & Rosie working hard!! She’s a sweet one!!”
Sam, Optimus and the rest of the usual suspects will be battling Shockwave, the robot cyclops-turned-laser-cannon, who became dictator of Cybertron after the other Autobots and Decepticons journeyed to Earth.
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura recently told IGN that as far as he’s concerned TRANSFORMERS 3 should be the final film in the franchise.
“I would think so…It may not be the end of the line of Transformers for Hasbro and Paramount,” he laughed. “But I would think so… [Director] Michael [Bay] I’m sure is… He’s spent a lot if years working on one thing.”
Even Bay said as much in an interview with USA Today last month.
“As a trilogy, it really ends,” he says. “It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending.”
The third installment stars Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, James Avery (Silverbolt), Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and Ken Jeong. Directed by Bay, with a screenplay from Ehren Kruger, TRANSFORMERS 3 will be in theaters next summer in 3D on July 1, 2011.
Ever since it was announced nearly a year ago that STRETCH ARMSTRONG would be making the leap to the big screen, dozens of people (okay, maybe not even that many) were clamoring for information as to what thespian would be stepping into the role of the stretchy one. Well, that wait is over, and those dozens of fans may soon be growing to millions.
Universal has announced none other than TWILIGHT star Taylor Lautner will be taking on the role. What’s more, we will be getting he, his abs, and his stretchy appendages (still no word on how much that, little tidbit about the character will factor into the film) in glorious 3-D. Oh, joy!
Universal also announced with this news that the film will be releasing in 2012 along with BATTLESHIP, another Hasbro property the studio owns. This comes as news of a push-back for BATTLESHIP, which was to have bowed on July 29, 2011. The Peter Berg directed film will now come out on Memorial Day, 2012.
Says Brian Goldner, President and CEO of Hasbro, Inc.:
Universal has put all the elements in place to successfully launch two of our classic Hasbro brands on the big screen. The addition of Taylor Lautner and the 3-D twist to Stretch Armstrong, in addition to giving Pete Berg and the filmmakers the extra time and resources to make Battleship an even bigger summer blockbuster, is sure to pay dividends when the film is released in 2012.
Says Universal co-chairman, Donna Langley, about Lautner coming on board STRETCH ARMSTRONG:
In the past two years, Taylor has emerged as a real star at the global box office. He brings the perfect balance of energy and athleticism to the role of an unlikely super hero with a fantastic super power. We couldn’t be more pleased that he has agreed to be our Stretch.
There is still no word on who will be stepping in as director of STRETCH ARMSTRONG, though Brian Grazer is producing and the film will be based on a screenplay by Steve Oedekerk.
Though he is good at both, Peter Berg is a better director than he is an actor. With movies such as ‘Very Bad Things,’ ‘The Rundown,’ ‘Friday Night Lights,’ and ‘The Kingdom’ under his belt, the man seems poised to direct decent to nearly great films for the rest of his life. Yes, I’m even counting ‘Hancock’ in that range. This is also not to mention that his executive produced “Friday Night Lights” TV series is the best thing on television.
It seems Berg is next setting his sights on the board game world. He is in talks to direct the big-screen adaptation of ‘Battleship,’ based on the Hasbro game. Jon and Erich Hoeber (‘Whiteout”) are on board to write the screenplay.
Universal, who is backing the project, look to turn the board game into an epic, naval adventure. This comes as part of Universal’s six-picture deal with Hasbro to turn board games such as Monopoly, Candy Land, and Ouija into feature films. The company is also remaking ‘Clue.’
For all my fellow children of the 80’s I bring good news. Two of our most beloved animated cartoon shows from our childhood are getting a respectable DVD treatment. Shout! Factory and Hasbro are teaming up to bring the original ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ episodes to DVD.
The first of these epic DVD releases scheduled to hit store shelves will be ‘The Transformers: The Complete First Season — 25th Anniversary Edition’. This is set for June 16, 2009, a week before Michael Bay’s live-action sequel ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ hits theaters on June 24, 2009.
The 3-disc DVD set will include the original 1984 broadcast version of all 16 episodes of season one, in the intended story line order. The DVD will feature a remastered picture and a new stereo soundtrack created from it’s original audio recordings, unlike the original Rhino DVD release made from incomplete work prints. Shout! Factory will release DVD sets of the complete series of ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ later this summer.
This anniversary edition of season one will sell for $29.99 and tentatively include the following extras:
Triplechanger: From Toy to Comic to Screen: The Origins of the Transformers featurette
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