Tag: Adventure

PRODUCTION UNDERWAY ON MARVEL STUDIOS’ “CAPTAIN MARVEL”

March 26, 2018 Published by

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (March 26, 2018) – Marvel Studios has begun principal photography in Los Angeles, California, on its newest film, “Captain Marvel.” The production is shooting in and around the greater Los Angeles area, which will also serve as the production base for the film. The production will also shoot on location in Fresno, California, as well as locations in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Set for release in the United States on March 8, 2019, Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” is directed by the writing/directing team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, whose credits include “Mississippi Grind” and “Half Nelson.” An all-star collective of accomplished writers penned the screenplay, including Meg LeFauve (“Inside Out,” “The Good Dinosaur”),  Nicole Perlman (upcoming “First Man,” Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy”), Geneva Robertson-Dworet (“Tomb Raider,” upcoming “Sherlock Holmes 3”), Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch (“Glow”), and Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.

The film stars Academy Award® winner Brie Larson (“Room,” “Kong: Skull Island”), Samuel L. Jackson (Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “The Hateful Eight”), Ben Mendelsohn (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Ready Player One”), Djimon Hounsou(“Blood Diamond,” Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy”), Lee Pace (“The Book of Henry,” Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy”), Lashana Lynch (“Brotherhood,” “Fast Girls”), Gemma Chan (“Humans,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), Algenis Perez Soto (“Sambá,” “Sugar”), Rune Temte (“Eddie The Eagle,” “The Last Kingdom”), McKenna Grace (“I, Tonya,” “Gifted”), with Clark Gregg (“Live by Night,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”), and Jude Law (“Spy,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”).

 

The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.  Set in the 1990s, “Captain Marvel” is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 Kevin Feige is the producer of Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel.” Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patty Whitcher and Stan Lee are executive producers, with Lars Winther serving as co-producer/first assistant director and David Grant serving as co-producer.

 Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s creative team includes director of photography Ben Davis (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri,” Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange,”), Oscar®- nominated production designer Andy Nicholson (“Gravity,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”), costume designer Sanja Hays (“The Fate of the Furious,” “Star Trek: Beyond”), editors Elliot Graham (“Steve Jobs,” “Molly’s Game,”) and Debbie Berman (Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”), two-time Oscar nominee, visual effects supervisor Christopher Townsend (Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), stunt coordinator Jim Churchman (Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange” and “Ant-Man” ) and six-time Oscar nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudick (Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Black Panther”). 

 

Based on the Marvel comic character first appearing in 1968, “Captain Marvel”  continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ant-Man,”  “Captain America: Civil War,” “Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Thor: Ragnarok” and, most recently, “Black Panther.”

 With the release of “Black Panther” in February, Marvel Studios continued its unprecedented success. At the time of release, the film recorded the second biggest opening weekend of all time with $202 million and is on track to the become the highest grossing superhero film at the domestic box office. The film has grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide to date. “Black Panther” propelled the Marvel brand’s #1 domestic box-office opening streak to a record-breaking 19 consecutive films.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Trailer

March 16, 2018 Published by

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Anthony and Joe Russo direct the film, which is produced by Kevin Feige.

Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee are the executive producers. Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay. “Avengers: Infinity War” releases in U.S. theaters on April 27, 2018.

Genre:                         Action-Adventure

Directors:                    Anthony and Joe Russo

Producer:                    Kevin Feige

Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Stan Lee

Screenplay by:            Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely


AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR – SOCIAL CHANNELS 

MARVEL STUDIOS

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In Theaters April 27th

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Tomb Raider Movie Review

March 15, 2018 (updated March 15, 2018) Published by

Better Title: Indiana Croft and the Raiders of Tomb

Lara Croft is the main character from a video game ‘Tomb Raider’. She shares many things in common with Indiana Jones. Both are adventurous treasure seekers, who travel all about the globe. Both have fathers who also were adventurous treasure seekers and both are handy with person weapon. With Indiana, it is his bullwhip; for Croft, she uses a bow and arrow. They fight evil people who are looking to harm the earth and its people. Indiana fights Nazis, and Croft faces off against an evil organization called Trinity.

Lara (Alicia Vikander) is the daughter of a successful London businessman named Lord Richard Croft (Dominic West). But for seven years, he has been missing and presumed dead. Lara will not accept that fact. The entire holdings of the Croft empire would be in her control, if she would only sign the papers that officially declare her Dad is dead. Her guardian Ana Miller (Kristin Scott Thomas) is waiting still for Lara to come to her senses. But instead Lara has found a key hidden by her Dad before he left on a journey many years ago. This leads her to a secret hideaway that her Dad had created, and she learns the reasons he left.

She makes her way to retrace her Dad’s steps by going to Hong Kong and find the ship he last sailed on. She finds the ship, and the ship’s captain is the son of the man that took her Dad years ago. Lu Ren (Daniel Wu) has given up on the past, because he lost his dad at the same time. But Lara convinces Lu Ren to take her to an unknown island where her father was headed. Perhaps they can both find out what happened to both their parents. This island is supposed to hold the tomb of an ancient Queen of Japan.

But a bad storm shipwrecks the two of them on a reef, and they are separated. Lara swims to the island, but is taken hostage by the mysterious group who is also on the island searching for the Queen’s tomb. This group is led by Vogel (Walton Goggins), and he is as ruthless as his thugs. Lu Ren is also there, physically forced into hard labor. Many other lost souls are also being forced to work against their will. The entire focus is to find the tomb, and that is what brought Richard Croft there to search years ago. Vogel claims to have killed Lara’s dad years ago.

But Richard Croft is still alive on the island, and soon he meets up with Lara. But they are captured by Vogel again and they find their way into the tomb. That is when the real Indiana Jones stuff stars to happen. Vogel is working for Trinity, the shadowy evil group who wants to use the special supernatural power of the ancient Queen of Japan for some evil purpose. Richard has pledged his life to stop it, and Lara is there to make sure that something works out right. But there are Indiana Jones-type life-or-death bobby traps to puzzle out. There are ‘National Treasure’ type riddles to figure out.

A Video game based movie is pretty similar to a Comic book based movie. You go into it knowing that it is a bit removed from reality. But with “Tomb Raider”, the writing and direction are trying to make it part of the real world. It could have used director Roar Uthaug playing it with a few winks and nods to the audience. But it strives for a Shakespeare level of literary value that just is not there. It is a very well-done popcorn matinee type movie. Even the soundtrack swells and drumbeats you into how you should feel about a scene.

Alicia Vikander knows that this is less than Oscar worthy material, but she puts in a very physical and high-value performance.  Walton Goggins is great yet unsettling as he plays a very bad man, slowly going nuts on that island. Dominic West is decent and he gets some heroics in the end. Daniel Wu is OK and he gets a few good lines. Kristin Scott Thomas plays a very minor role overall, and then the plot attempts to ‘Keyser Söze’ her character, with does not work out well.

Has this been done before? Yes, of course. Has it been done better?  Yes, but there is a certain charm to Vikander and her attempt to turn Lara Croft into a more brainy, and not quite as busty, woman adventurer. She handles the roles well, but the movie does not live up to what it could have been.

A Wrinkle in Time Movie Review

March 7, 2018 (updated March 7, 2018) Published by

This is a story of light overpowering the darkness, good overwhelming evil and love’s triumph over hate. There are some magical moments in the film but a few instances of head-scratching will occur, as well. We are taken on a journey that a young woman, Meg (Reid), must take in order to move forward with her life. Doubting love, unhappy with life and questioning her self-worth most of all, the sweet and happy-go-lucky little girl of the past has lived the last four years in misery and prefers keeping to herself, the only person she can trust. She knows her little brother, the highly intelligent and gifted Charles Wallace, played by an adorable and very into the part, Deric McCabe, loves her. If she’s to believe in love, however, why did her father leave her if he loved her as much as she loved him? The central question eating away at Meg is if he could just walk away, so could anyone else so why get attached?

Its been four years since she last saw her father, Mr. Murry (Pine), a brilliant Nasa scientist who believed you could fold time and move through it. Alone one night, he simply disappeared without a trace. At the time, he and her mother were working on a theory of projecting oneself through the universe with one’s mind. They introduced this idea to a group of scientists who weren’t ready to hear such a thing, not ready to hear that there were no rules to space and time. Her mother, played elegantly by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, a physicist and the more prudent of the two, knew telling them too early about the act of ‘Tessering’, moving from one place to another by closing your eyes, opening your mind and finding the right rhythm or frequency to travel, would not be taken seriously but her husband told them anyway only to be rejected. Not including her in another decision, he works in their lab and vanishes. Unsure if he left because he doesn’t love them anymore, the family is devastated and all work in science is halted… or so they thought. Young Charles Wallace has a secret to share with his big sister and the timing couldn’t be better.

He has been in contact with three divine, ethereal beings, referred to as the Mrs. as their names are (in order of appearance), Mrs. Whatsit (Witherspoon), Mrs. Who (Kaling) and the blessed, more powerful, Mrs. Which (Winfrey). They’re colorful, otherworldly souls who are aware of Mr. and Mrs. Murry and their achievements. They inform Meg, Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin (Miller) that they have heard a call from Mr. Murry and that they intend to help the children find him. They also tell them that he may be in danger. The spirits teach a very stubborn Meg that she needs to believe and to open her heart to find the right pitch in order to leap or Tesser into another dimension. She’s suspicious but joins the group to find herself on another plain in the universe. At a later moment, Mrs. Which explains that to Meg that a lot went into making her and that she’s a part of this giant universe, too. She deserves love… is love.

Zach Galifianakis, who gives a wonderful and somewhat stirring performance as Happy Medium (a fun play on words), a seer who helps point them in the direction their father can be found, tries to break through the wall Meg has surrounded herself with. It’s at this point that they all agree they need to show Meg what’s at stake. The It, which is the darkest mind in the universe, that can reach any and everywhere, even earth, wants to bring pain, despair and darkness to the universe and is where their father is trapped. They must save him, and but the Mrs. can go no further. The children are given a few gifts to help them and are sent out on their own. Once they are on their own, the movie has visual delights that will fascinate and amuse all who watch, especially the youngest in the audience. Structures begin to move and change which is interesting. There are some creepy moments and surreal moments, all done exceptionally well. Michael Peňa makes his appearance in a scene you wish you could rewind to watch again, and before he’s gone, he grabs Charles Wallace and infects him with the evil energy. The actor playing Charles Wallace is wonderful here, portraying a loving child one moment and conjuring a demon the next. He tries to get Meg to join him but she fights for their lives against the darkness; fights for them all. Megs final Tesser is glorious and you’ll know what I mean by that when you experience it yourself.

The film is good. This will be the family movie of the year. Youngsters will have a wonderful time watching it and so will you. Forget about Madeline L’Engle’s fantasy novel, just enjoy the film. I had a few problems with how director DuVernay didn’t set up the connection with Meg and her father enough for the audience to truly feel the love and bond between and scene with them toward the end which makes him look like a complete coward and turns you against him. That doesn’t make sense but overall, she did an exceptional job directing these young actors and bringing this beautiful story to the screen. The score and the soundtrack are fantastic, as well. See this at the theatre to experience it all the ways it should be.

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Ready Player One x Hot Topic Present: The OASIS Experience

March 5, 2018 Published by

Saturday, March 24th 2018

 

 WHAT:              Ready Player One x Hot Topic Present: The OASIS Experience Multi-City First Look Tour Stop

 

WHEN:             Saturday, March 24th, 2018                                   WHERE:           Tempe Festival of the Arts

                        Press Access: 11:00 AM                                                             On 5th Street, East of Mill Avenue

                        Open to the Public: 12:00 PM                                                      Tempe, AZ 85281

*event access on a first-come, first-served basis                            *Truck will be located in front of Tempe City Hall

WHO:               Based on the world of Ready Player One and the OASIS, Ready Player One x Hot Topic Present: The Oasis Experience is a limited-time only traveling retail experience that pops up in 7 key markets in the weeks leading up to release.  Welcome to 2045 will feature exclusive fashion collaborations with Hot Topic, Funko Pop Collectibles and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.  Offered on a first-come, first-served basis, the traveling retail experience also features an exclusive first-look at the film and other socially-shareable moments such as exclusive black-light posters, and a museum of holographic artifacts from 2045.

From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. 

The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse.  But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance).  When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world.  When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) joins the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.

                Three-time Oscar winner Spielberg (“Schindler’s List,” “Saving Private Ryan”) directed the film from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline.  “Ready Player One” was produced by Donald De Line, Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Dan Farah, with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris deFaria and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers. 

                “Ready Player One” stars Tye Sheridan (“X-Men: Apocalypse,” “Mud”), Olivia Cooke (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Bates Motel”), Ben Mendelsohn (“Rogue One – A Star Wars Story,” “Bloodline”), Lena Waithe (“Master of None”), T.J. Miller (“Deadpool”), Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), with Simon Pegg (the “Star Trek” movies, the “Mission: Impossible” movies) and Oscar winner Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies,” “Dunkirk”). 

Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.”

Opening on Thursday, March 29, 2018, the film will be distributed in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film has been rated PG-13.

ReadyPlayerOneMovie.com

“READY PLAYER ONE” INVITES YOU TO JOIN THE LEADERBOARD

February 26, 2018 (updated February 26, 2018) Published by


“READY PLAYER ONE” INVITES YOU TO JOIN THE LEADERBOARD


Enter for the chance to win free Lyft rides through 2045,
premium music from Spotify, and Atom movie tickets

 

BURBANK, CA, February 26, 2018 – In Steven Spielberg’s new science fiction action adventure, “Ready Player One,” the race is on to be the first to find three keys in the virtual world of the OASIS.  But fans don’t have to wait to 2045 to level up their lives in the digital universe.  In anticipation of the film’s March 29th release, Warner Bros. is giving fans the opportunity to win one of three keys opening the door to fantastic prizes from Atom Tickets, Spotify or Lyft.

Launching on February 26th, the Join the Leaderboard Sweepstakes offers three prizes that will be game-changers for years to come:

Copper Key:  Atom Tickets – Enjoy movies on the big screen for free until 2045.

Jade Key:  Spotify – Win codes for 27 years’ worth of Spotify Premium.

Crystal Key:  Lyft – Let Lyft take you where you need to go until 2045.

            The sweepstakes will close on March 12th and winners will be announced in three stages: the winner of the Copper Key will be revealed on March 19th; the Jade Key on March 21st; and the Crystal Grand Prize on March 26th.

            For entry information and rules, please visit www.jointheleaderboard.com. *Unlock multiple entries by sharing “Ready Player One” content with friends via the website.


About “Ready Player One”:

From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon.

The film is set in 2045, with the real world on the brink of chaos and collapse.  But people have found salvation in the OASIS, an immersive virtual universe where you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone.  The OASIS was created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance).  When Halliday died, he left his immense fortune, and total control of the OASIS, to the first person to win three keys, unlocking the door to a digital Easter egg he hid somewhere in his seemingly infinite creation.  His challenge launched a game that gripped the entire world, but after five years the scoreboard remained tauntingly empty…until now.

An unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan)—under his avatar name, Parzival—finally conquers the first contest, instantly becoming a celebrity…and a target.  Ruthless corporate mogul Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) proves he will stop at nothing to beat Wade and take over the OASIS, and suddenly the virtual stakes are all-too-real.  Ultimately realizing he cannot win alone, Wade joins forces with his friends—now the High Five (Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Lena Waithe, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki).  Together, they are hurled into a reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of discovery and danger to save the OASIS.

            Spielberg directed the film from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline, based on the book by Cline.  Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Spielberg and Dan Farah produced the film, with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris deFaria and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers.  “Ready Player One” stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen, with Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance.

            Behind the scenes, Spielberg collaborated with director of photography Janusz Kaminski, production designer Adam Stockhausen, editors Michael Kahn and Sarah Broshar, and costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone.  The score is by composer Alan Silvestri.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.”  Opening on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX®, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film has been rated PG-13.

readyplayeronemovie.com

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states & D.C., 18 or older. Ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 3/12/18. Winners randomly selected. Visit www.jointheleaderboard.com for full details including eligibility, how to enter, odds, prize descriptions & limitations. Void in Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522.

Annihilation Movie Review

February 23, 2018 (updated February 23, 2018) Published by

“Annihilation” is the movie adapted from the first book in a trilogy by Jeff VanerMeer. It is a science-fiction look at a strange cosmic phenomenon created on the Gulf Coast by a bizarre meteor. Many miles around the lighthouse where it landed is covered by an other-worldly dome that they call “The Shimmer”. Every team of military experts that are sent in to investigate is never heard from again. That is, until he comes back…

Lena (Natalie Portman) is an ex-military vet who is now a biology teacher at a university. Her husband Kane (Oscar Isaac) is a Special Ops soldier who was on a secret mission but when missing. Kane turns up a year later, back at home. But he is very ill and falls into a coma. Lena and Kane are taken by the military to Area X, which the home of “The Shimmer’. That is where Kane and his unit had been sent, and nobody else has every returned.

Lena volunteers for the next mission, led by Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Ventress is a psychologist who will lead a group of female scientists into the mysterious Area X. The others on the mission are Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez), Radek (Tessa Thompson) and Sheppard (Tuva Novotny). All are specialists and they want to unravel the mystery of “The Shimmer’.

However, once inside they discover that weeks pass by like days.  The radios and even the compass are non-functional. All that they have are their wits and their wills. They must learn to trust each other, and trust in the mission. But when they find that nature inside “The Shimmer” has gone a little kooky, they feel that this has become a suicide mission. The things that they are encountering are becoming more insane, and more deadly.

Lena has her own mission, to find out what was going on with Kane when he was sent here. But the things that she finds out make her more disturbed.  Dr. Ventress seems to have her own personal mission, while the others are being led down a path of potential human destruction. The final goal is to find the source of the mystery, which is near the lighthouse. But what can be found in there, and will anyone be alive to find out?

Alex Garland has created some fantastic screenplays in the past, and his first director effort for “Ex Machina” was superb. But here, he is constrained by the original material, and he makes some awkward choices. He has scenes with Lena being interrogated after the mission, and these are intercut with the overall movie. It is a trite excuse to explain or bring up some unknown fact. The scientific language about the event origins and what is happening are somewhat clunky.

Natalie Portman does a very credible job as Lena, with her military and science background helping her to cope. Almost all the other characters are basic movie stereotypes, with minimal depth or back-story. Even Oscar Isaac has very little to do, even when he is critical to the story. The worst off is Benedict Wong, who has to play the inquisitor behind a clean room mask.

This movie is however quite beautiful in how it looks and in the details of the alien environment. The soundtrack is also simple and unassuming, until it slowly builds up tension and suspense towards the end. The photography is amazing and also eerie as it goes deeper and deeper into “The Shimmer”. The story is good, but some of the ideas pull from other sources. Perhaps some parts resemble “The Day of the Triffids” and short story “Weeds” by Stephen King.

“Annihilation” is a brain-teaser, and that itself makes it a cut above most sci-fi movies. But perhaps the subject is a little too weird for most audience members. Let’s hope that “Annihilation” is not what happens to this movie in terms of box office revenue…

game-Night-advance-movie-screening

Game Night – Movie Review

February 22, 2018 (updated February 23, 2018) Published by

Come to Game Night! Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are hosting! Actually, Bateman is one of the producers of the movie, as well, which isn’t all that much of a surprise. This has Jason Bateman comedy written all over it. I was surprised he didn’t write it because it so fit his dry wit. When he gets a fresh winner of a script like this and works with directors like John Francis Daley (Vacation reboot) and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses), who know where his strengths lie and use him to his full potential, gold is struck. It certainly is here. This is what I’d consider a must-see because it was so well written and put together. It’s never once slow or overdone. They even took care to make you feel a part of the game. It’s shot to make it seem as if the actors in the film, the ‘players in YOUR game,’ are moving around a board. At one point, you’ll even see these delightfully insane characters involved in a dangerous game of keep away. Warning, you and everyone in the theatre will laugh until you cry so be sure to check at the customer service desk first to see that the volume is turned up to a level where you can hear over one another.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play Max and Annie who have wanted nothing more than to play games since they met over trivia in a bar years ago. Now middle-aged, they haven’t grown up much beyond the kids they were when playing board games with the family was the perfect Friday night. Now they’ve gotten several of their friends hooked and every Friday they stream into Max and Annie’s to see what the night has in store for them. Another satisfying element about the comedy is that each and every one of the actors cast, play off of each other exceptionally well, especially Jesse Plemons who plays Gary, their next-door neighbor who used to be welcome on game night. He was only a part of the fun because they were friends with his ex-wife, Debbie, who has since moved. His character is creepy and some of the earlier funny scenes are watching Max and Annie try to get out of his inviting himself over. Plemons plays him so admirably that you’ll never recognize him as being Todd from Breaking Bad.

What spoils this particular game night isn’t just the threat of Gary finding out it’s taking place, but that Max’s handsome and successful brother, Brooks (Chandler), is in town and wants to play.  Not only does he come play and, as you might have guessed, unapologetically alerts Gary to the festivities, but he decides he’s hosting next. Unenthusiastically, they all decide to attend and the event Brooks has in store for them this evening is unlike what is usually held. No cards, paper, dice or pegs needed, just your wits. He hires a company to stage a murder mystery for them to solve. They’re paired up and the couple who solves the whodunit gets a Corvette Sting Ray. Now the movie turns into a thriller, mystery as Brooks is kidnapped. Twist! Kidnapped not by the company he hired to kidnap him but by people for whom he has done bad business. This is quite a unique set up and a fun adventure for the audience lies ahead.

The comedic timing everyone displays, while all of this is playing out, is spot on accurate. Rachel McAdams is irreplaceable as her Annie and Bateman’s Max banter back and forth, clueless as to what is really going on. Max even tells the kidnappers to drive safely as they’re pulling his struggling brother out of the house. Hysterical. Do yourself a favor and make this movie a part of your Friday Night amusement. You won’t be sorry. It meets all the requirements of a fantastic and memorable night out.

*Stay through the entire credits for two extra scenes!

A WRINKLE IN TIME ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK TO FEATURE RARE NEW RECORDINGS

February 21, 2018 (updated February 21, 2018) Published by

A WRINKLE IN TIME ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK TO FEATURE RARE NEW RECORDING FROM SADE AND

END CREDIT TRACK BY DJ KHALED FEATURING DEMI LOVATO,

PLUS NEW SONGS BY SIA, KEHLANI AND CHLOE X HALLE

 

SOUNDTRACK PRODUCED BY AVA DuVERNAY

SCORE BY COMPOSER RAMIN DJAWADI

Burbank, Calif. — Feb. 20, 2018 – Walt Disney Records is set to release the digital version of the original motion picture soundtrack to Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” from visionary director Ava DuVernay on March 9th as the film opens in theaters nationwide.

The soundtrack was produced by DuVernay and features the end-credit song “I Believe” performed by Grammy® nominated and multi-platinum selling artists DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato.   The song was written by Khaled, Lovato, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews and Brittany “Chi” Coney and was produced by Khaled.  Both artists are embarking on a 20-date North American tour beginning February 26 in San Diego, CA.

The soundtrack also includes two versions of “Flower of the Universe” performed by Sade, one of which is a remix by No I.D.  The multi-Grammy winning and multi-platinum selling artist also co-wrote and co-produced the track with Ben Travers and Andrew Hale. This is Sade’s second original song contribution to a soundtrack following 1986’s “Absolute Beginners.”

Five-time Grammy nominee singer-songwriter Sia performs “Magic,” a song she also co-wrote with Grammy-nominated producer-songwriter Jesse Shatkin.  Shatkin also produced the track.

Grammy-nominated artist Kehlani performs “Let Me Live.”  Kehlani released her debut chart-topping album, SweetSexySavage last year and will also be touring North America with Lovato and Khaled.

Also included is “Warrior,” written and performed by sisters Chloe x Halle.  The duo made a cameo in Beyonce’s Lemonade visual album and were subsequently invited to join as the opening act on The Formation World Tour.  The sisters released their debut EP, Sugar Symphony, in 2016 and are currently series regulars on Freeform’s “Grown-ish.”

The “A Wrinkle in Time” score is composed, conducted and produced by Ramin Djawadi.  The German-born composer has scored over 100 projects including blockbuster films such as “Pacific Rim,” “Iron Man” and “Clash of the Titans” and celebrated television scores including “Game of Thrones,” “Westworld,” “Prison Break” and “The Strain.”

The Grammy and Emmy®-nominated composer recorded the score in Los Angeles with a 71-piece orchestra and a 29-person choir, as well as a 24-member children’s choir.

Speaking of the artists and composer, DuVernay said: “Each song on the ‘Wrinkle in Time’ soundtrack was crafted with great care in close collaboration with the artists. My creative partnership with Sade on ‘Flower of the Universe’ was so connected that I reverse engineered the usual process and used her lyrics as actual dialogue within the film. I truly loved working with DJ Khaled who jumped into this project with open arms and an open heart, along with the great Demi Lovato. Sia, Kehlani and Chloe x Halle beautifully embraced the visuals of the film to create distinct songs that expand and elevate Meg’s heroic journey. And working with Ramin Djawadi was a dream come true as I have been a long-time admirer of his stellar work. His musical compositions for the film are perfectly otherworldly.”

The track list for A Wrinkle in Time follows:

1    Flower of the Universe (No I.D. Remix) Performed by Sade

2    I Believe Performed by DJ Khaled Featuring Demi Lovato

3    Magic Performed by Sia

4    Let Me Live Performed by Kehlani

5    Warrior Performed by Chloe x Halle

6    Park Bench People Performed by Freestyle Fellowship

7    Flower of the Universe Performed by Sade

Score by Ramin Djawadi

  1. A Wrinkle in Time
  2. Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which
  3. Darkness Across the Universe
  4. Touch the Stars
  5. Happy Medium
  6. Camazotz
  7. Home
  8. Uriel
  9. Is This a Dream?
  10. Forgive Me
  11. Be a Warrior
  12. Tap Into Your Mind
  13. Tesseract
  14. Sorry I’m Late
  15. The Universe Is Within All of Us

The A Wrinkle in Time original motion picture soundtrack will be available at digital retail HERE 

and streaming services HERE on March 9th.

The physical version will be available following the film’s release on March 30 and can be pre-ordered HERE.

For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic 

or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic and Instagram.com/disneymusic. 

Interview with Anthony Gonzalez from the movie ‘Coco’

February 20, 2018 (updated February 22, 2018) Published by

My second interview of the year was with young actor and singer, Anthony Gonzalez, who was touring for the film he starred in which releases this month on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.  Anthony brought the wonderful character Miguel to life in the Disney•Pixar film, “Coco” which is Pixar Animation Studios’ 19th feature film.  In the movie, Miguel dreams of becoming a polished musician and for such a young man he’s, much like Anthony himself, well on the way.  Not only can Anthony act with the best of them but he has been singing almost his entire life, a talent he picked up from watching his older siblings.  It’s appropriate to proclaim he has a beautiful singing voice and he’ll go far with it.  He’s also passing the tradition of performing on to his younger brother.  Read on to learn more about this sweet person, Anthony Gonzalez, so you can prepare for when you hear much more about him.

Q: Tell me about ‘Coco’

AG: ‘Coco’ is about a boy named Miguel who loves music, that’s his passion, but he has to keep his passion for music a secret because his family has banned it because what has happened with his family in past generations.  He kinda struggles with that because he doesn’t have the support from his family. Because of that, he goes on a magical journey through the Land of the Dead and where he gets to meet his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Yeah, I really loved doing the movie and the two things I love to do and have been doing since I was four years old! I have never sang and acted in the same project so that was amazing, especially all the amazing songs that ‘Coco’ has!

Q: What was your favorite part of the film?

AG: I have a lot of favorite parts but one of them is when Miguel is getting ready to sing Poco Loco. I also love a lot of the scenes where Miguel is interacting with Mama Coco because I feel like that’s so sweet.

Q: Okay, now what was your favorite song from the movie?

AG: I really love Proud Corazón a lot because I love the message that it gives. It talks about the family and I love the melody, it’s so catchy. That’s the one I sing the most. I, obviously, love Poco Loco because that one is just so much fun! Remember Me or Poco Loco was the first ones I recorded and that was so much fun.

Remember Me… I love the song so much because of the message. When I was singing it, I got the emotion because I really connected a lot with Miguel singing this to Mama Coco and it really reminded me of my grandfather who passed away when I was six. He was very special for me because he was always there for me and he would support me. He inspired me. When my mom would take my brother to singing competitions, he would tell my mom, ‘Take Anthony, too, because he loves to sing and he’s good at it!’ So, I definitely thank him. It was really emotional for me to get to sing, Remember Me. It was a way for me to connect with my grandfather again and be with him again. It was an amazing experience to get to record it.

I also love The World Es Mi Familia because the message… the world is my family, music is my language… it really shows the love Miguel has for music.

Q: I was wondering what it was like being in the sound booth for you. Was it hard to do that and were you finding yourself really getting into it?

AG: At first, I was like a bit nervous because when I was ten I went to Pixar. It was my first time there and they were telling me about the movie and that was the first time I really knew it was a Disney•Pixar movie so I was, like, ‘Wow!’ I was a bit nervous the first time but then after I started to go a lot more often, I kinda got used to it.  I love this movie a lot because, umm… I really identified myself with Miguel a lot because we both have a passion for music and we both know the importance of family and, yeah, it was so much fun doing the role of Miguel; especially alongside the amazing director Lee Unkrich.  And the amazing producer Darla K. Anderson and co-director Adrian Molina were just an incredible help when I was recording.

Q: Generally, you work with other people when acting but what’s it like to work on building up that enthusiasm when you’re alone in the sound booth?

AG: At first, I was like a bit nervous because when I was ten I went to Pixar. It was my first time there and they were telling me about the movie and that was the first time I really knew it was a Disney•Pixar movie so I was, like, ‘Wow!’ I was a bit nervous the first time but then after I started to go a lot more often, I kinda got used to it.  I love this movie a lot because, umm… I really identified myself with Miguel a lot because we both have a passion for music and we both know the importance of family and, yeah, it was so much fun doing the role of Miguel; especially alongside the amazing director Lee Unkrich.  And the amazing producer Darla K. Anderson and co-director Adrian Molina were just an incredible help when I was recording.

Q: That’s obvious to me now. So, you won the Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature.

AG: Yes. That was amazing!

He uses the word amazing a lot, which so fits his personality. He also smiles a lot with a massive grin that brightens any room and is very animated as he speaks. He seems to constantly be in motion, unable to contain the energy coursing through him.

Q: What did that mean to you to win an award?

AG: That was just incredible because when they told me, ‘You’re nominated for an Annie Award,’ I was like, ‘Oh…uh…cool. I don’t know what that is.’ But then the director told me it was like the Oscars but in animation. I was like, ‘Wow!’ That’s a big deal for animation! And I was just so happy I was nominated. But something a director told me was, ‘Never expect anything.’ Because then, like, let’s say you’re so happy like, I’m gonna get the award but then you don’t… and you feel so bad. But like, if you don’t expect anything, it’s not as difficult.

Q: But you won. What was it like getting it?

AG: Yeah, so, when I went there, I was so nervous because I saw the other voice actors that were nominated. So many famous people were there, too, like I got to see Angelina Jolie and Kobe Bryant was there, which was amazing. I got to meet them both which was so much fun.  They were so good, I couldn’t believe it. When I got the award, I was just in shock because this will be, like, marked in history! I was just so happy that a lot of people appreciated the hard work that people put in the film, the heart they put in the film… all the work they put to make it. Just ‘Coco’ in general, all the awards they were nominated for! They even broke a world record! It just made me feel so happy to see that a lot of people were appreciating the movie. It made me feel so good about myself that I even got an award which was amazing and alongside so many people that were experts in animation, like, so many people that were there that have been doing this for so many years.

Q: Well, what was your first acting job?

AG: My first acting job? I’ve never had that question before!

How is it possible he has never been asked this question?! Oh, yeah… he’s thirteen! Anthony giggles for being asked the question, something he does throughout the entire interview. He’s quite amusing to watch. I can’t wait to see the films he does in the future and how he turns his flair for the dramatic and his strengths and gifts into Oscar gold someday. Back to the interview…

AG: Well, I remember my first acting job. I was very young. It was for an Oscar Meyer commercial. About two or three years ago, I filmed another Oscar Meyer commercial and what’s funny about that is that in the commercial, I was with Renee Victor, which plays Abuelita in the movie (Coco) and that was amazing because we didn’t even know her, and we were going to be in the same movie!

Q: What did you have to do to get the part in this film?

AG: So, I auditioned when I was nine years old and what I had to do to get the part? I really had to put a lot of emotion in the voice and I really pretended that I was in the situation, like, if my family didn’t support me… if I was going through this journey… if I was in Miguel’s shoes. That was something that really helped me. So, I just said it like if it was me… like, it was something I would say. It turned out great.

Q: I bet it was a lot of fun.

AG: It was just so much fun getting to explore a different universe and getting to explore different things I didn’t think I’d get to experience.

Q: I heard you got to sing in your audition.

AG: Yes! What’s also cool, and I read this in a magazine I think, it said I was auditioning just for a temporary voice and I was like, ‘Wait! I didn’t know that!’ (Laughs) I was like, ‘Woah! Really?!’ They told me, later on, that Miguel was just gonna sing Remember Me but because they saw that I was able to sing, they actually added Poco Loco, The World Es Mi Familia, Proud Corazón. That… that was just, like, amazing! I couldn’t believe that.

Since my first audition, when I went to Pixar, (I knew it was about music) I was like, ‘Wait, can I sing for you guys?!’ (Laughs, smiles) And so, I did sing. I sang a song in Spanish and they loved it so much and I was so happy to show them what I’ve been doing since I was four years old. I never knew that singing would come in handy for a role! (Laughs)

Q: I loved the emphasis on family in the movie. Would you say there was a representation that you identified with, like, in terms of your own family and upbringing? 

AG: Yeah, yeah! I knew coming into this film that family’s important cuz like, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my family. I started singing because of my brothers. They started singing and inspired me to sing. They grew up doing street performance and dancing in (inaudible) a very Mexican place. There’s a lot of restaurants there and music; that’s all you hear… it’s just amazing. My two sisters would dance and sing and my brothers would dance and sing. I would just look up to them and I would, like, see that a lot of people would enjoy their performances and would have a smile on their face and they would clap, then I see my brothers would feel happy. Well, because of them, I started singing. That’s why I feel that family is important. It also shows that message in ‘Coco’ which I really resonated with a lot. And also, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my parents, for the support they give me and for always being there every step of the way.

Unfortunately, Miguel doesn’t have that in the movie because his family has banned music for their whole life. Miguel could have shined shoes for the rest of his life but he decided to follow his heart and follow his passion and, umm, be a musician which is what he loved to do. And that’s one of the things that I… I really look up to Miguel because he can serve as a role model and a leader to many of the kids who have a passion and many other kids who want to sing and want to play the guitar, so I feel that he’s a leader. I’m happy to do the voice of Miguel.

Q: Is seeing your heritage in films like ‘Coco’ important to you?

AG: This movie was amazing because it was very unique to all the other Disney•Pixar movies. Obviously, they make you laugh, they make you cry but this one also touches on the Mexican tradition and this was very unique.  It touches on the wonderful celebration of the Day of the Dead. A lot of people didn’t even know the celebration even existed, or they thought it was just like Halloween but it’s actually totally different. It’s about remembering your ancestors and connecting with them again and to know they’re not gone. They’re still here with you, their spirits are still with you, and that’s one of the things I love most about the movie! It taught other people about the culture so, yeah… representation is important because a lot of people learned many things along the way.  It also touches on the importance of family and follow your dreams but besides that, there’s (sic) not many movies that show the celebration of the Day of the Dead. For Disney•Pixar to do a movie about it and represent many Latinos is just amazing and I feel so proud to be a part of that representation and to be doing the voice of Miguel.

Q: You’re from a big family, correct?

AG: We’re five. My little brother is nine, I’m thirteen and my older brother, who inspired me, is fifteen… and my two older sisters, who go to university now. We’ve all been into singing, we’ve all been into music. We all sing and we all act. See, my little brother just copied me every day. Every time he wins an audition he’s like, ‘I’m catching up to you!’ He takes it like a challenge and that’s what makes it fun. That’s why he loves doing it. In fact, I’m always there to help him in any audition. To support him and, yeah, it’s kind of like a competition but it’s also fun and we help each other out. That’s the good part of having people there that do the same thing to be there for you and help you… so that’s cool.

Q:  What’s your best advice for young people who want to get into film?

AG: To just do what you love! If you’re having fun doing it, then do it.  I really love singing and acting so I’m doing it! Thankfully, I have the support from my parents and my siblings so it’s easy for me to do it. And, just follow your heart, do what you love and never give up! Be really resilient… don’t do something you don’t love. You only live once! Miguel could have just done shoes, shined shoes for the rest of his life, but he decided to follow his heart and that’s good advice for other people… to just follow their heart. Do what you love and there’s always a happy ending! 

 

He smiles when we’re done.  This is a signal not only of how happy he was to have been the part of such an outstanding film but of the fun he had while being interviewed. Being interviewed is something he’ll master soon as it is this interviewer’s opinion that Anthony Gonzalez will be spoken to a lot through his many successful years in show business that is to come.  It was a true pleasure getting to know this young actor and be in the presence of such a phenomenal talent and bountiful spirit of intensity. Before long, he’ll get his sea legs and navigate his way through promotional tours with ease and I hope he never loses sight of the fact that the reason doing these events is not just for promoting a film, a DVD or himself but for his fans, soon to be in the millions, to get to know him better. I hope this Q&A helps you do just that but here’s some info on the home release of the film.

*Here is information on the release of the Blu-Ray

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