Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures’ “ROOFMAN.”
Watch the first trailer for director Derek Cianfrance’s ROOFMAN.
Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname: Roofman.
After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys “R” Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.
One of this geek’s favorite filmmakers, Cianfrance’s other superb films include BLUE VALENTINE, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS and he was also the co-story writer for SOUND OF METAL, which received a best original screenplay nod at the 93rd Oscars.
ROOFMAN’s cast includes Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Melonie Diaz, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang and Peter Dinklage.
The magical world of Oz, where you can expect the unexpected.
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, WICKED makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots), and a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman).
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical.
The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff. Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Center L to R: Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of WICKED
“If you want to be inside the world, you have to build it.”
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Watch the new WICKED featurette.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
L to R: Director Jon M. Chu with Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (as Glinda) on the set of WICKED
The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.
Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff.
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Universal Pictures has dropped the second trailer for director Jon M. Chu’s WICKED.
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.
WICKED, in theaters on November 27, 2024, is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. WICKED PART TWO is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.
With a cast featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage, watch the trailer now.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future.
Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots), and a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman).
Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero in WICKED
Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff.
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Ariana Granda is Glinda in WICKEDCynthia Erivo is Elphaba in WICKED
(L-R) Shirley MacLaine as Astrid and Peter Dinklage as Phil Loder, in AMERICAN DREAMER. Courtesy of Vertical
In the comedy AMERICAN DREAMER, Peter Dinklage plays a curmudgeonly college professor with a dream to buy a home far beyond his limited means, while Shirley MacLaine plays a wealthy retiree who has just such a fabulous home for sale for an unbelievable price – with one big catch. Loosely inspired – very loosely – by real events, the major delight of this sometimes crazy comedy is in the pairing of Dinklage and MacLaine, who make a perfect, and perfectly insane, comedy duo in this film.
Dinklage plays Dr. Phil Loder who teaches economics from a sociological view at a small college. Loder may teach economics but his own economics are pretty dismal for a professor of the dismal science. Underpaid and twice-divorced, he doesn’t have tenure, and he can’t even seem to get a parking spot for his vintage car. Meanwhile, he spends his time dreaming about coming home to a grand mansion, preferable to be greeted by a beautiful wife. In fact, he has neither, and the twice-divorced professor is living alone in a dinky apartment. He spends all his free time searching for that perfect home, with his real estate broker Dell (Matt Dillon) inviting him to open houses for homes that fit his criteria but not his budget.
No one milks surly and begrudging for comedy like Dinklage, and he is entirely in his element here. While the college that employs him shows him little respect, his economics course has suddenly become popular with student, who enjoy his lectures peppered with snark and sarcasm representing his doom and gloom worldview. He has even drawn the romantic attention of a graduate student, Clare (Michelle Mylett) which he rationalizes is OK since she is over 21.
On the outs with his real estate agent after an outburst of temper, Loder scans the ads for a dream home – and finds an intriguing possibility. The grand waterfront property lists for millions but it has a second, special offer – if the buyer agrees to live on the property while also letting the elderly owner, a childless widow, remain for the rest of her life, the buyer can have it for mere $250,000. That’s still out of the professor’s range but he might be able to raise that amount.
Loder dispatches the real estate agent to make the deal, and sets out to sell everything to meet the price. When he gleefully shows up to move in, he finds matters are not quite as he imagined – or was told by the agent.
For one thing, he finds he must live in a rundown apartment over a garage instead of the huge main house. And the former owner, who Loder never met, turns out not quite to be the invalid teetering on death that the agent described. In fact, Astrid Finnelli (Shirley MacLaine) is pretty lively, puttering around the water-side property on her scooter and having no compunction about banging on Phil’s door regardless of the time if she has a question. Every day he’s there, a new wrinkle crops up, but the rule-breaking Loder doesn’t make matters any better, often being his own worst enemy.
The situation presents endless problems that challenge Loder, forcing him to adapt and change in ways he never expected. Dinklage milks the physical comedy aspects of this farcical tale, with perhaps a bit more bare skin than we really need to see.
MacLaine plays her character, who clearly is not on the verge of death, with the kind of imperious, aristocratic snobbery she does so well, with a touch of her “Downton Abbey” character. Her clueless, demanding aristocrat and Dinklage’s grumbling pro-proletariat academic make for a wonderful comic pair, and there are laughs in most every scene they share.
At one point, Dinklage’s Loder calls in a private investigator, played by Danny Glover, to try to figure out this twisty situation he finds himself in, and Glover brings a dry humor side to the humor proceedings.
Dinklage and MacLaine have great comic chemistry and as so good together, they draw laughs just glaring at each other. The film offers up a series of every escalating comic situations in classic comedy style. The humor is a bit raucous but never going too far, with each humorous scene building on the next. The humor in AMERICAN DREAMER is classic slapstick low-comedy, not sophisticated satire, but Dinklage’s character does go through a re-evaluation of his approach to the world and people, coming out with a fresh, more humane perspective. Astrid turns out to have another side, a more charitable, kinder one, which has a profound effect on Dinklage’s Loder, and gives the film am unexpected charm by its end.
The magic in AMERICAN DREAMER is in the unlikely pairing of Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine, who light up the screen every time they share it, an effect grows more charming as the film unfolds.
As these comedies always do, the two start as adversaries but eventually begin to understand one another and even become friends. But the film goes further, and as the characters grow, they reveal unsuspected sides, with warm, generous hearts that reach out to those who need help, something we never expect at the film’s start.
AMERICAN DREAMER opens Friday, Mar. 8, in theaters and streaming on demand.
So what’s one of the biggest complaints about modern movies (aside from pricey concession snacks)? Much of the grumbling concerns the many sequels to successful films, often leading to a franchise. Last week we had THE MARVELS and there’s another TROLLS romp bouncing into the multiplex this weekend. In a bit of convoluted logic, many studio execs may think, “If you’re sick of sequels, how about a prequel, instead?”. Yes, it’s semantics but it’s a way of bringing in fans of the original while not having to pay the big salaries of those older pricier casts. Now, we’ve got that “master candy maker” waiting in the wings to spruce his chocolate factory right before Christmas, and for Thanksgiving, we’re going back to that dreary dystopian future of a quartet of flicks we thought had concluded eight years ago. But since the author of its source books took a look back at its history, we’ll now get to see if “the odds” are still in their favor (Lionsgate Films) with THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES.
As the story begins we’re back on the mean streets of the Capitol of Panem as two children search for food. Dodging dangerous wild dogs they make it back to the squalid apartment they share with their Grandma’am (Fionnula Flanagan). Flash ahead seven or so years and the young boy, Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) gets ready for his high school graduation. He’s hoping he’ll be awarded the Plynth award which would take care of the expenses for Grandma’am and his older cousin Tigris (Hunter Schafer). But he’s in for a shock at the ceremony when Dean Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) announces that to get this cash prize, he and his classmates will have to be “mentors” to the winning “tributes” competing for survival in the televised tenth-annual Hunger Games. Oh, and the mentors can increase their chances by coming up with new ideas (the ratings are slipping) to head game maker Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis). Soon Snow meets his assigned pair of tributes, one of whom is the beautiful, but defiant songbird from impoverished District 12, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachael Zeglar). She expresses her rebellious nature by crooning ballads that may earn her viewer support, but does she have the killer drive to eliminate her violent rivals? And what happens when the venue arena is nearly destroyed by undercover rebels? Will the crafty Snow find a way to give Gray the needed “edge”, especially as their emotional bond becomes more intense?
Handling the most pivotal role in the film, the character with the strongest connection to that original trilogy of books (stretched to four movies) is relative big-screen newcomer Blyth. We know “Corie’s” future, so Blyth must subtly give us a bit of behavioral foreshadowing. He appears noble, and we’re rooting for his budding romance, but there’s that “ultimate fate” that Blyth conveys well. It helps that he has chemistry with the Gray character, given spunk and song by Zeglar in a big switch from the sweet Maria in the recent WEST SIDE STORY remake. Early on she shows us that Lucy doesn’t have that murderous instinct, and must rely on rallying the masses with her music. Zeglar displays that panic in combat, but is in complete control as she becomes a country crooning crusader, reminding us of many “Nashville belles” like Patsy Cline. As for the “game bosses”, Davis channels a bit of her Amanda Waller persona from the DC “movie verse” (supposedly she’ll survive the recent “purge”) as the cruel devious, mad-scientist Gaul, sporting a single blue eye to make her more “alien”. Dinklage is a sneering sod as the equally cruel and deceitful academic, chugging tiny tubes of booze as he weaves his web of evil. The story’s only real comic relief role is deftly handled by Jason Schwartzman as the smarmy unctuous host of the televised global death match, weatherman/magician “Lucky Flickerman”, an obnoxiously flamboyant phony. The superb character actor Burn Gorman shows up in the film’s last half as a strict military man, but he’s given little to do other than to hover ominously over Snow and Gray.
To offer another connection to the previous quartet of films, their original director Frances Lawrence returns to helm the screenplay adaptation by Michaels Lesslie and Arndt of the Suzanne Collins novel. Once again he creates the look and feel of a grim, soul-crushing future world with desaturated colors as clouds drift over the double sword-wielding statue at the center of Panem. And that may be part of the many problems in that we’ve seen it already, four times over. While the original “opened up the story” by having the skirmishes occur in the more pleasant countryside, this one’s “game” is played in an empty concrete arena filled with slabs of stone and dark hallways. Then, when we believe a “conclusion” has happened, the film jumps ahaead to a new setting for a “B” plot that feels more like an entirely new tale. And it’s not nearly as interesting making it seem as though it will never really finish. The final “epilogue” has so many “future jumps” and foreshadowing (and a subplot that’s left unresolved) that the casual viewer will feel hopelessly lost and unsatisfied after such a long investment of time. Perhaps it would’ve worked more coherently as a streaming app miniseries. This certainly won’t gain any new followers of the franchise as only the hardcore fans will embrace the rambling, uninvolving THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES.
One Out of Four
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES is now playing in theaters everywhere
Experience the story of THE HUNGER GAMES – 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem.
Opening in theaters only November 17, 2023, THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES is the fifth installment in the franchise. It is directed by Francis Lawrence, who returns to, and expands upon, this incredible world after directing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and 2. The film is shepherded by franchise producer Nina Jacobson, who produces for Color Force along with Brad Simpson.
This installment brings together an all-new cast in Tom Blyth (“Billy the Kid”), Golden Globe® winner Rachel Zegler (2022, Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy, West Side Story), four-time Emmy® winner Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”), Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”), Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), and Academy Award® winner Viola Davis (2016, Best Supporting Actress, Fences).
PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material
L-r, CHEETOR, MIRAGE and ARCEE in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present
In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production
A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
Ok, another Transformers movie. All the others (6 in total if you include Bumblebee) have been pretty solid fan favorites under the direction of uber-action director Michael Bay. I was expecting more of the same this time around…. but hang on, not so fast. This is different.
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS is set in 1994, and for those keeping score, that’s a whole 8 years before the Bay-helmed Transformers: The Movie (2007). And because this installment is more like a prequel, it doesn’t have to worry about being a continuation of the same story. One of the more noticeable differences is that unlike the first film, the Transformers are not here to save and protect the human race, rather they are suspicious and view humans as enemies. They are “hiding” on earth because there is something preventing them from getting back to their home planet.
This is where we come in. A giant, malevolent, planet-eating dark god known as Unicron is out to destroy every planet in the universe, starting with one that is inhabited by a faction of Transformers known as the Maximals (yes, there are other Transformers besides Autobots and Decepticons). Before the planet is ultimately destroyed, the leader of the Maximals, a gorilla named Apeling, sacrifices himself and sends what is left of the Maximals through a time-traveling portal to prehistoric earth. This includes Airazor (Michelle Yeoh) a peregrine falcon, and Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman) a lowland gorilla that was named after the hero of the Autobots, Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen).
L-r, OPTIMUS PRIMAL, CHEETOR, WHEELJACK and ARCEE in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present
In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production
A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
Back to 1994, Brooklyn, NY. When museum researcher Elena (Dominique Fishback) accidentally cracks open a bird sculpture relic with strange markings, it turns out to be a Transwarp Key that can open a portal that either gets the remaining Autobots on earth back to their home planet of Cybertron, or much worse, it can allow the aforementioned evil Unicron to use the portal to destroy the universe.
Across town, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) is an ex-military electronics expert, trying to support his family. He attempts to steal a silver-blue Porsche 964 Carrera, and once inside discovers that it’s really an Autobot named Mirage (Pete Davidson). Let me just stop here and say, yes, THAT Pete Davidson. Whoever made the decision to cast him in this role was GENIUS. Davidson delivers with the sarcastic, smart-ass wit and humor of Bugs Bunny, combined with the ultimate heart of Bumblebee. He connects so well to the audience that it makes me wonder why the past Transformers movies didn’t think to make use of household names to voice the Transformers. It really made a difference here (this reviewer secretly hopes for a stand-alone Mirage movie because Davidson is so fun!)
MIRAGE in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS” Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Meanwhile, Optimus prime becomes aware of the Transwarp Key and puts out a call for all Autobots to assemble. Unicron is also coming for the key, and he sends the Terrorcons, led by the especially nasty Scourge (Peter Dinklage) to retrieve it. This is where Mirage enlists Noah’s help and convinces a skeptical Optimus Prime to let him join the team. The Terrorcons have snatched the key and the only way to get it back is to combine forces with the remaining Maximals to get it back and thus, save the universe.
Again, director Steven Caple Jr.’s TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS, feels so different than previous Transformers movies. You have the new characters, the Maximals, who because they have the characteristics of the animals they embody, they feel more real and more personal than what was, in the past, just basically talking robots. There is much more emotion in their existence. And speaking of emotions, it’s really quite a feat that the star and most recognizable of the Autobots, Bumblebee, still elicits such a reaction from the audience. Any time Bumblebee is onscreen in this movie, the audience goes absolutely nuts.
Another cool aspect of TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS is the music. The score from film composer Jongnic “JB” Bontemps is fantastic, but what really connects is the early 90’s hip hop tracks that are used to pump up the action sequences. They fit nicely into the time frame and has the audience moving in their seats. This fun film will delight fans of the classic ’90s animated television series “Beast Wars: Transformers.”
All in all, TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS is the best TRANSFORMERS of them all and is exactly what the franchise needed. It feels fresh and the infusion of the new characters is what is needed going forward, and we are ready for more of the same! Transformers, Roll Out!
4 out of 4 stars
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS arrives in theaters June 9, 2023.
L-r. RHINOX, WHEELJACK, OPTIMUS PRIME, MIRAGE, CHEETOR, ARCEE, OPTIMUS PRIMAL and Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, below, star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present
In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production
A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023. The score is from composer Jongnic “JB” Bontemps (Wedding Season, Redfall).
Use the new “Transform Your Car” AR Lens on Snapchat to convert your car into a full-size robot!
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts presents the Transform Your Car AR Lens on Snapchat. For the first time, Transformers fans can experience what they’ve always imagined: seeing their own car convert into a full-size robot. Built on SnapML, Snapchat’s machine learning technology, a user’s phone can scan any car—regardless of make, model, year or color—and watch as it converts into a robot.
Paramount Pictures is the first brand to utilize CarML (Machine Learning), a new technology created using SnapAR to apply effects to cars everywhere. The Transform Your Car Lens experience brings the blockbuster IP to every fan by giving them a Transformer, created from their own car.
Paramount Pictures has released the hot new trailer for TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS, based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures.
The film stars Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Velez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, Tongayi Chirisa.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.
Paramount Pictures and Skydance PresentIn Association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures
