Watch this new video from Disney’s PLANES which features music by the film composer, Mark Mancina.
From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Disney’s Planes” takes off in theaters on Aug. 9, 2013. For more information, check out Disney.com/Planes, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyPlanes and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures.
Watch this funny video video with Arnold Schwarzenegger as he pumps you for the first ever YouTube Comedy Week!
YouTube Comedy Week will showcase the best of comedy with live events, video premieres and creative collaborations from the world’s funniest people. From May 19-25, YouTube Comedy Week will bring together the biggest names in comedy on YouTube and beyond to create a one of a kind experience for comedy fans. Check it out at www.youtube.com/comedyweek
Disney Interactive is providing an in-depth look into the Pirates of the Caribbean Play Set within Disney Infinity through an all new set of character images, action screenshots and a gameplay trailer featuring both Play Set and Toy Box modes. Pirates of the Caribbean will be part of the title’s starter pack that is launching on August 18, along with The Incredibles and Monsters University.
[popup-slideshow id=8831 text=”Click here to see screen shots from the game!“]
Within the Pirates of the Caribbean play set, gamers can take on the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa and Davy Jones as they set sail to new lands in search of adventure and gold. Key highlights include:
· Combat and Customization: Players will be able to explore new lands while battling via water and land to become the king of the sea. Additionally, players can customize their ship, by choosing everything from the overall décor of the vessel to the cannons on board.
· Play Set: The Pirates of the Caribbean play set adds its own specialized game play mechanics and pieces to the Disney Infinity world such as unique weaponry that when activated in Toy Box mode allows players to create all-new combat challenges, build and customize worlds and much more.
· Toy Box mode: The pirate trio of Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa and Davy Jones are able to interact with all of the previously revealed Disney Infinity characters from The Incredibles, Monsters University and Cars to create new and exciting adventures on the high seas and beyond.
Disney Infinity is an all-new video game initiative starring the beloved characters from Walt Disney and Pixar Studios’ most popular franchises. Players can place real-world toy versions of their favorite Disney characters onto a device called the Infinity Base and transport them into the virtual game worlds of Monsters University, the Incredibles, Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as into a giant Toy Box.
Some exciting news from our friends at D23. Here is the full press-release:
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club and the Walt Disney Archives are proud to announce the return of the “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” exhibit to the D23 Expo. During the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center, August 9 – 11, 2013, this all-new exhibit curated specifically for the D23 Expo 2013 will feature: the 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins, ABC’s hit television series Once Upon A Time, and a look at the longstanding connection between Disney and L. Frank Baum’s beloved series of books about the land of Oz.
“Treasures” will showcase a selection of crown jewels from the Walt Disney Archives Collection, many of which will be displayed publicly for the first time by the Archives. As the 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins approaches, the Archives will be presenting a wide array of pieces from the Academy Award®-winning 1964 film including concept art and matte paintings, Mary and Bert’s carousel horses, the snow globe from the “Feed the Birds” sequence, costumes worn by many of the central characters and the recently acquired carpet bag, which Mary carries with her when she arrives at the Banks’ household. Also part of the exhibit will be the Fan Art Gallery, themed to Mary Poppins. D23 Members were invited to submit their work as part of the D23 Expo Fan Art Contest, and the winners’ colorful creations will be displayed in this year’s gallery.
On the heels of the global success of Oz The Great and Powerful, the Archives is proud to assemble artifacts illustrating Disney’s long association with L. Frank Baum’s Oz books. Highlights include a costume from 1957’s “Rainbow Road to Oz”—a segment from The Fourth Anniversary Show, which celebrated Walt’s four years on television, starring many of the Mickey Mouse Club’s Mouseketeers—as well as concept art from unrealized attractions and Disney Studio productions. Also featured are props and costume pieces from 1985’s Return to Oz including the Tik-Tok puppet, “Powder of Life” tin, and Dorothy’s costume and slippers. And, of course, there will be an assortment of costumes from this year’s Oz The Great and Powerful.
Now finishing its second hit season, Once Upon A Time has become a huge hit among Disney fans for its ability to remain true to many of Disney’s classic stories while expanding their worlds with a modern twist. The Archives is honored to be presenting a selection of elegantly designed costumes from the show.
The D23 Expo 2013 will also feature the Disney Legends Awards—a tradition that pays tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; the return of the D23 Expo Dream Store, featuring a wide selection of unique merchandise; an expanded Collectors Forum, where Disney fans can buy, sell and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia and merchandise—and this year’s Forum will also include the worlds of Marvel and Star Wars—plus amazing live events, special celebrity appearances, panels and presentations and unique experiences from every corner of Disney, from upcoming feature film and television sneak peeks to what’s new and what’s next from our theme parks around the world.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Big Hero 6,” an action comedy adventure about brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who finds himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—Hiro joins forces with a reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their city. Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action and all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the CG-animated “Big Hero 6” hits theaters in 3D on November 7, 2014.
BRIDGE TO SAN FRANSOKYO – Concept art showcases an iconic bridge and treasured landmark of the high-tech, fast-paced city of San Fransokyo, the setting for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ action comedy adventure “Big Hero 6”— in theaters on November 7, 2014.
SAN FRANSOKYO AT NIGHT – Pictured in concept art, the high-tech city of San Fransokyo is home to brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada and his team of first-time crime fighters in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ action comedy adventure “Big Hero 6”—in theaters in 3D on November 7, 2014.
You have read correctly. FLASHDANCE the 1983 cult classic has been adapted for the stage and is now playing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Not only has the stage production brought back the Academy Award winning songs with such hits as “Flashdance – What a Feeling”, “Maniac”, “Gloria” and “Manhunt”, but has also created 16 brand new songs! If you’re feeling a little nostalgic toward the 80’s and just can’t stop belting out “WHAT A FEELING!!” in the shower, then sing some more ‘cause your favorite defining soundtrack of 80’s is now live on stage.
Oh, you’re not one of the millions that have fallen in love with the movie? It’s okay, me neither. FLASHDANCE surprisingly appeals to all walks of life. The reason is simple; FLASHDANCE is a very common and appealing story that many of us have related to for decades. Yes, 3 decades, because heck, even though this is a story we have all heard before, it is a story from 1983 after all.
FLASHDANCE, in case you’re not familiar with $150 million grossing pop culture hit, is the story of Alex Owens, JILLIAN MUELLER (Memphis, American Idiot, and Bye Bye Birdie), who is an inspiring dancer that is trapped as a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a risqué bar dancer at night. Trying to fulfill her dreams of getting into Shippley Academy Dance School she becomes faced with a romance with her boss at the steel mill. Alex will have to understand the meaning of love and that it can ignite her passion to go the distance.
Her boss Nick Hurley is played by MATTHEW HYDZIK and is a Pittsburgh native that is thrilled to be part of the world premiere tour of FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL. Matthew has last been seen on Broadway in West Side Story and Grease, as well as national tours of Rent, Fame and Grease. Needless to say, he was phenomenal and had a very strong voice. Unfortunately, the amazing voices fall flat quickly after him.
It was of course great to hear classics such as “Gloria” and “Maniac” in which you can’t do too wrong with, however the arrangement of “Gloria” seemed a bit slow and the audience is forced hearing this catching tune several times in other rearrangements. “Maniac” comes to play during the all too famous sexy wet hair striptease that you have most likely seen one way or another. The scene was undoubtedly astonishing and well produced.
KLARA ZIEGLEROVA completes the challenging job of scenic design, which was one of the true highlights of the show. The stage production has to be flashy to compliment the fantastic footwork as the backdrops utilize many clever projectors headed by PETER NIGRINI. These aren’t just giant videos or graphics in the back. In fact there are many well-disguised screens and creative projector elements that quickly start to blend with the real elements and props on stage. Remember this show must go from a steel mill, to strip clubs, to house sets, and even the iconic audition room from “What a Feeling”. In order to create these quite different styled sets, ZIEGLEROVA had to be a little abstract. It works well and appears to be quite complicated.
With using all of this new tech, it was tough for the stage production to feel more organic, which is fine however it kind of took away from that classic 80’s feel you may be searching for. Many may actually like this aspect to the show as it actually feels quite modern. This however may actually be a slight problem in the show to some. The fans of the movie will be attending FLASHDANCE to get that 80’s vibe and feeling of living in the past; that youthfulness that they miss from a time they either grew up in or lived their most important years.
I was actually hoping that FLASHDANCE was going to live off the success of another cult-classic movie turned stage production, XANADU. That’s right I’m talking about the disco-skating horrible 80’s movie. That show actually poked fun at itself as that team knew they couldn’t take themselves seriously. Oh sure, that film is a far cry from FLASHDANCE , but still contains some of the ridiculousness of the 80’s. You do indeed have some of the ugly fashion, classic songs from the decade, and a few nods to the past. Sadly, much of the costume design could fly in today’s world and there are hardly any jokes toward the decade. Alex’s hair was thankfully not as big as in the movie.
This root “feeling” one inherits while watching the movie is also lost with the new songs orchestrated for FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL. The new songs are definitely refreshing and contain that ever-so-popular key chain all pop songs from the 80’s felt necessary. However, it turns into a mix of rather WICKED-like music mixed with cherished songs from the movie that create a hodge-podge of nods from the past to a whole new type of show.
FLASHDANCE is yet still a fun-filled sexy musical that has the makings of a successful entertaining night on the town. The show is paced well sprinkled with sexy dance numbers here and there with dramatic, emotion evoking songs along with some silly numbers that will surely get you smiling. The vocals are kind of rough or down right odd in places, which could have worked well if they didn’t take the show so seriously. Instead we get some silly songs in the midst of over dramatic quarrels that seem a bit over-the-top.
Gloria (Alex’s best friend from the bar dancing world) played by KELLY FELTHOUS is a bit of the comedic relief, but just reminds me of Galinda from WICKED with the same characteristics, vocal tone, and singing pitch. Her boyfriend Jimmy, DAVID R. GORDON, has some comedic lines that just fall flat. His delivery is fine, but the script just didn’t have it for any of the laughs. GORDON has a couple of songs that appear a bit jarring compared to the rest of the musical. This may have been written that way, but I couldn’t help but feel the audience squirm when this totally different style of singing popped into the show out of nowhere. He would definitely be great in a hipster rock band, but I didn’t find its place in FLASHDANCE.
The show as a whole is fun and energetic with lots of sensual pulsating dancing. I still enjoyed myself and would still recommend anyone that is a fan of the movie to still see how it was portrayed on stage. For those of you that aren’t too familiar with the movie itself, it’s still worth a gander and can make for an excellent date night. I might even tip toe around the idea of it being mostly family friendly. Well, mid-teens and up, but those teenagers may feel a little strange next to their parents during some near revealing dance numbers.
As did the movie, the whole show depends on that climatic audition. I can’t say much, but if you are familiar with the scene, it’s tough for the stage production to capture the emotion that is seen with multiple camera angles and close-ups. Director and choreographer SERGIO TRUJILLO puts his own spin and flair to the original scene. You’ll be the judge if it works or not.
FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL is now playing a Segerstrom Center for the Arts until May 19th, 2013.
Single tickets start at $20 and are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787.
Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.
The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”).
For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Academy Award®-nominated (1993 for Best Picture) The Fugitive on September 3 with a new anniversary Blu-ray™ edition. The heart-pounding thriller stars Harrison Ford as wrongly-convicted Dr. Richard Kimble and Tommy Lee Jones in his Oscar®[i]- and Golden Globe®[ii]-winning performance as Kimble’s relentless pursuer. Andrew Davis directed.
Synopsis: Chicago surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must find the real killer, and the reasons for the slaying, after being targeted in a nationwide manhunt led by tenacious United States Deputy Marshal Sam Gerard.
Based on the 1960s classic TV series, the motion picture; The Fugitive, garnered seven Academy Award nominations[iii] including Best Picture. In 2001, The American Film Institute also listed it as one of the 100 Most Thrilling American films[iv]. Additionally, Andrew Davis was nominated by the Directors Guild of America in 1994 for his work on the motion picture, known for its spectacular stunts, including the devastating bus-train collision and a breath-taking leap down a huge waterfall. Besides Ford and Jones, the film features a fine ensemble including Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, Jeroen Krabbé, and Julianne Moore.
Special Features:
New Featurette The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase featuring Andrew Davis, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones and more
Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford
Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones
On the Run with the Fugitive Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
“The Fugitive” [2000 WB Pilot] New to Release!
Theatrical Trailer
The Fugitive 20th Anniversary Edition will be available for $19.98 SRP.
Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park International (HPI) announced on May 7, 2013 that the company has picked-up international rights to directors Will Finn and Daniel St. Pierre’s 3D animated family adventure film LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY’S RETURN starring Lea Michele, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi and Kelsey Grammer. The film is from a script by Adam Balsam and Randi Barnes, based on the series of books by Roger Stanton Baum. Bonne Radford is producing alongside Ryan Carroll and Roland Carroll of Summertime Entertainment.
The film, scheduled for a May 2, 2014 domestic theatrical release by Clarius Entertainment on a minimum of 3,000 screens, will be introduced by HPI’s President Eric Christenson and will screen at the upcoming Marché du Film. Cannes screenings are scheduled for Saturday, May 18th at 4:00pm at Olympia 2, Monday May 20th at 4:00pm at Olympia 2, and Tuesday, May 21st at 4:00pm at Olympia 8. The film will also screen in competition at the 2013 Annecy International Animation Festival. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will be handling home entertainment distribution for North America. Sony will be distributing the soundtrack.
LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY’S RETURN is a 3D animated feature film based on the adventure books by Roger Stanton Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, and is a continuation of the world’s most popular and beloved fairy tales. In the story, Dorothy (voiced by Michele) awakens to a devastated post-tornado Kansas, but is soon whisked back to Oz and its new villain in this 3D-animated musical adventure. There she is joined by familiar faces including the Scarecrow (Aykroyd), the Lion (Belushi) and the Tin Man (Grammer).
Bonne Radford, one-time head of feature animation at Dreamworks and VP of Animation at Amblin, produced THE ROAD TO ELDORADO, as well as executive produced CURIOUS GEORGE. Will Finn is best known for animating such classics as ALADDIN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE LITTLE MERMAID. Daniel St. Pierre has worked as a director, production designer and art director on a number of hits including THE LION KING, SHARK TALE and TARZAN.
Hyde Park has an impressive slate of films in production which will be presented at the Marché du film including ELMORE LEONARD’S SWITCH, with a multi-star cast led by Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes and Tim Robbins, EVERY SECRET THING starring Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks and Dakota Fanning, A FRIGGIN’ CHRISTMAS MIRACLE with Robin Williams, Lauren Graham and Joel McHale, CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR starring Nick Jonas and Isabel Lucas and the Roger Spottiswoode-directed MIDNIGHT SUN.
It was a big night for The Walt Disney Studios at the 14th Annual Golden Trailer Awards in Beverly Hills. The preview for “Iron Man 3” took two awards, BEST SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER and the top prize, BEST IN SHOW. The “Wreck It Ralph” trailer nabbed BEST ANIMATION/FAMILY, “Monsters University” had the MOST ORIGINAL TRAILER, and as a capper, Disney studio marketers were given the first-ever TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE award for their campaign on 2012’s “Marvel’s The Avengers.” The studio got two additional offstage nods for BEST ANIMATION/FAMILY TV SPOT on “Monsters University” and MOST ORIGINAL SPOT for “Brave.”
Between volleys of jokes by headliner ROB SCHNEIDER and host AISHA TYLER, 18 of 67 total awards were handed out. JUSTIN CHON of the “Twilight” movies presented, as did LAKE BELL, writer, director and star of “In A World…,” a critically acclaimed new comedy which has its dramatic climax at a Golden Trailer Awards ceremony.
Among other kudos, the “Skyfall” promo took BEST ACTION, and BEST DOCUMENTARY went to the “Brooklyn Castle” trailer, and BEST VIDEO GAME went to the “Tomb Raider” preview. The 18 show awards are listed below. The full list, which includes the best of the year in TV Spots, posters, foreign trailers, festival trailers and more, can be found at http://goldentrailer.com
The heroes of the GTA show are trailer cutters— the people whose artistry has turned movie ads into wildly popular entertainment, generating over 5 billion streams a year. Stand-out agencies at last night’s event were Trailer Park, for the “Iron Man 3” and “Monsters University” trailers, and Buddha Jones, which won trophies for BEST INDEPENDENT TRAILER for “Silver Linings Playbook,” BEST HORROR for “Mama,” and the coveted GOLDEN FLEECE AWARD—best trailer for a bad movie—for “Hit and Run.”
Evelyn Brady-Watters reflected, “It’s great when trailers for small dramas or docs win BEST IN SHOW, but this year, the blockbusters really show off the economic power of a great, creative trailer. The ‘Iron Man 3’ preview is a world-wide phenomenon, and last year’s two-time nominee for “Marvel’s The Avengers” anchored a campaign that earned $1.5 billion and our new TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE award.”
Monica Brady, Executive Producer of the GTA, added “This year we’re seeing such well crafted material, with great sound design. At the theater the other night, the audience was actually clapping for the trailers – they’re really gearing people up for this summer season.”
The jury for the 14th Annual Golden Trailer Awards comprised: Bill Block, Producer and CEO of QED International (“District 9”); Brian Cavanaugh-Jones, Producer/President, Automatik Entertainment (“Safe”); Daniel Diamond, President of QED International (“You Got Served”); Andrew Dunn, Cinematographer (“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”); Drew Goddard, Writer/Director (“Cabin in the Woods”); Angelique Higgins, Producer and Partner in Launchpad Productions; Andrew Panay, Producer and CEO of Panay Films (“Hit and Run”); David Paterson, Producer (“Bridge to Terabithia”); Nicholas Stoller, Writer/Director (“5 Year Engagement”); and Lee David Zlotoff, Writer/Producer (“MacGyver”).
In an exciting new collaboration with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the Winchester Mystery House is launching "Festival Fright Nights." This all-new Halloween event will...
