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First-look images: Stretch and Twitch of “Toy Story 3″ 0

Posted on March 11, 2010 by kankan
An octopus and a human-insect join the new cast of “Toy Story 3.” See them for the first time here!
STRETCH is a fun-loving under-the-sea octopus friend that shines in glittery purple. Kids can count her eight rubbery legs and dozens of sticky suckers that are sure to stand up to rough-and-tumble play and extreme stretching. Toss her high on the wall and watch her climb her way down! Clean in mild soap solution to remove dust and lint.
Meet TWITCH, the insectaloid warrior, where MAN + INSECT = AWESOME! This sturdy action figure stands over five inches tall, with more than 15 points of articulation, including ferocious chomping mandibles. Use his powerful wings and impenetrable exoskeleton to evade capture! Twitch is meticulously detailed and includes his signature magical battle staff and removable chest armor. For children ages 4 and up. Other insectaloid figures sold separately.
The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of our favorite gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. As Andy prepares to depart for college, Buzz, Woody and the rest of his loyal toys are troubled about their uncertain future.
Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo”), TOY STORY 3 is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ that lands the toys in a room full of untamed tots who can’t wait to get their sticky little fingers on these “new” toys.  It’s pandemonium as they try to stay together, ensuring “no toy gets left behind.”  Meanwhile, Barbie comes face to plastic face with Ken (yes, that Ken).
Pixar veteran Darla K. Anderson (”Cars,” “Monsters, Inc.”) produces, while Michael Arndt, Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities.
TOY STORY 3 opens across the Philippines on June 23 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and conventional format.

toystory_twitchAn octopus and a human-insect join the new cast of “Toy Story 3.” See them for the first time here!

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Digital (3D) cinema wonders at the Ayala Malls 0

Posted on March 11, 2010 by kankan
More and more wonders unfold with each visit to the Ayala Malls. Considered as the urban hub of A-list retail brands, the Ayala Malls never runs out of first-rate choices for the whole family.
In its quest to bring complete customer satisfaction, the Ayala Malls Cinemas redefines the movie experience as it brings to fore the latest buzz in filmmaking technology.  Digital and 3D can now be fully enjoyed at the Ayala Malls Cinemas, adding a new brand of excitement to discriminating Ayala patrons.  And as the Ayala Malls Cinemas open more digitally-equipped theaters, more moviegoers can now have a truly delightful day at the movies.
We are very proud to give our patrons a front row treat to the latest advancement in cinema exhibition industry,’ avers Ayala Malls Cinemas general manager Amir Precilla.  “It gives avid moviegoers tremendous pleasure in their viewing experience.  As our digital cinema tagline, “Blockbusterize Your Movie Experience” suggests, movie watching at the Ayala Malls Digital Cinemas makes a day at the movies a truly rewarding experience.  It also complements the fine offerings of Ayala Malls in terms of dining and retail shops.”
With the Dolby Digital Cinema technology in place, viewers get an improved theater experience with its high quality image and sound.  It delivers vivid colors and a sharper, clearer image from every seat in the house.  Excitement is heightened as pictures are enhanced.  And with the latest 3D technology, moviegoers get to see life-like amazing sense of depth, making viewers feel as if they are in the midst of the scenes happening on screen.  Complementing this highly advanced visual treat is the theater’s captivating sound system.  With all these state-of-the-art technology and the distinguished Ayala brand of customer service, moviegoers are in for a blockbuster experience.
It was in 2009 when Ayala Malls Cinemas unveiled its Digital Cinemas in TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta 4 (the latter two being THX-certified cinemas).  Since then, this technological breakthrough has served as the anchor of Ayala Mall’s entertainment component for the whole family.  Moviegoers were taken beyond the realms of imagination with spectacular visual innovations coupled with compelling stories.
As the wonderful world of cinema continues to entertain the whole family, the Ayala Malls Cinemas pulls all stops to bring more Filipinos closer to the latest in cinematic innovation – a fine complement to the luxurious lifestyle only the Ayala Malls can offer.

More and more wonders unfold with each visit to the Ayala Malls. Considered as the urban hub of A-list retail brands, the Ayala Malls never runs out of first-rate choices for the whole family.

In its quest to bring complete customer satisfaction, the Ayala Malls Cinemas redefines the movie experience as it brings to fore the latest buzz in filmmaking technology.  Digital and 3D can now be fully enjoyed at the Ayala Malls Cinemas, adding a new brand of excitement to discriminating Ayala patrons.  And as the Ayala Malls Cinemas open more digitally-equipped theaters, more moviegoers can now have a truly delightful day at the movies.

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A new hero rises in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” 0

Posted on March 10, 2010 by kankan
From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia .
In the film, a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal)) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) with a cast that includes Sir Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina, “Prince of Persia” is written by Boaz Yakin and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Jordan Mechner.
“It’s a classic tale of someone having their world turned upside down by extraordinary circumstances and having to use all their resources to come out the other side,” Mike Newell explains what drew him to the script.  “I also loved the idea of going to a place I had never been before. We had the freedom to create this whole amazing world because no one knows exactly what it looked like. The time period is also one when people took stories very seriously, and there wasn’t a division between what was a fable and what was real. To me the story of the film feels like one of the great myths: something that’s quite simple in a way, but bites very deep and you remember it life-long.
Was Jake Gyllenhaal his first choice to play the title character and what was it about him that got him the part?
“You had to have someone of a certain age,” answers Newell. “The prince had to have a command of the screen, which Jake obviously does and is partly what makes Jake a very interesting actor. I looked around and Jake was the first name that came into my head. And though I did meet lots and lots of other actors, I kept coming back to him.”
Opening soon across the Philippines , “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia .

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“Clash of the Titans” director talks about the epic fantasy 0

Posted on March 09, 2010 by kankan
From director Louis Leterrier (“Transporter 2,” “The Incredible Hulk”) comes Warner Bros.’ new fantasy adventure “Clash of the Titans” starring Sam Waorthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.
Shot in Leterrier’s kamikaze, high-octane style and set for release around the world in both 2D and 3D versions, “Clash of the Titans” is an action-packed epic that plunges into the world of mortals and gods, with spectacular settings and amazing creatures which have never before been portrayed on this scale.  Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus ( Worthington ) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld.  With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Neeson) and unleash hell on earth.
Director Louis Letterier discusses the highly awaited film in the following interview:
Question:  Can you talk about the scope and scale of “Clash of the Titans” and what drew you to the project?
Louis Leterrier:  It’s the biggest movie in terms of scope and scale that I have done. I believe it’s also the biggest done by a French director.  It is a huge film, and I wanted to use natural exteriors with real practical effects and not only visual effects. So, we had a crew of 800- 500 for the first unit and 300 for the second unit.  All of us traveled to Tenerife and Wales .  It was very interesting to travel with those people.
Q:  Can you talk about the tone of the film, and the kind of action we can expect?
Leterrier:  It is a family movie. I grew up in the ‘80s and what I liked were entertainment movies—watching the films of Spielberg, Joe Dante and Robert Zemeckis.  I always wanted to be able to do that kind of film, never thinking one day I would be lucky to be able to do so and that Warner Bros. would give me that chance and opportunity.
Q:  How did you go about bringing in such a diverse cast?
Leterrier:  I wanted an international cast, mainly a European cast because for me it is, of course, Greek mythology and I didn’t want to use recognizable American actors seen millions of times before. For the Gods, yes, but for the characters around Perseus, I wanted to use newer faces, for the American audiences anyway, since for the Europeans they are slightly more well-known.
Q:  Can you talk about casting Sam Worthington in the film?
Leterrier:  I did not know him at all. I only met him once, during the preparation at the casting stage. I had not seen “Avatar” or “Terminator Salvation” at the time, only an Australian film he had done, “Somersault.”  I instantly adored him at the casting.  He brings such humanity and also such a real physicality to the character.  He did all his own stunts and he is really someone who is very dynamic.
Q:  When making a movie like “Clash of the Titans,” was it important to you to push the envelope in terms of visual effects?
Leterrier:  In the original “Clash of the Titans,” the special effects were done by Ray Harryhausen, a master of the genre. I grew up watching his work, his films that I loved.  I wanted to bring something different. I did not want to use stop-motion or cell-by-cell animation.  I wanted to use 3D because it is simple and quick and more, because you can do something huge and very interactive with the actors. So, that’s why we started with that concept.  I also wanted to pay homage to Ray and therefore we used the best possible effects company in Europe to do the special effects.  What was really very interesting was the interactivity between the creatures, the sand and the water, which is extremely difficult to achieve with special effects.
(Opening soon across the Philippines , “Clash of the Titans” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.)

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From director Louis Leterrier (“Transporter 2,” “The Incredible Hulk”) comes Warner Bros.’ new fantasy adventure “Clash of the Titans” starring Sam Waorthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.

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“Alice in Wonderland” grosses P47.9-M in 4 days, opens at no. 1 in Phils. 0

Posted on March 09, 2010 by kankan
Philippine audiences headed down the rabbit hole this weekend, as Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” opened at No. 1 with a nationwide gross of an amazing P47.930-million in 144 screens for the March 4-7 frame.  This was announced March 8 by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios which locally distributed the film.
This figure marked the all-time third biggest opening weekend for Disney, after 2007’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (P71-million) and 2006’s “Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (P66-million).
It likewise became the second most successful March opening weekend in history, overtaking 2006’s “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown” (P41-million).
“Alice” also gave Tim Burton his biggest opening in the Philippines, with a jaw-dropping 105% improvement from 2001’s “Planet of the Apes” (P23.4-million) and already surpassing 2005’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s” lifetime gross of P41.1-million in only four days of release.
The top 20 cinemas that posted the best receipts are SM North EDSA (P4.10-M), Trinoma (P3.15-M), SM Mall of Asia (P2.95-M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.32-M), Power Plant (P2.08-M), Glorietta (P2.02-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.98-M), SM Megamall (P1.67-M), SM Cebu (P1.48-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.44-M).
Close to their heels are Gateway (P1.30-M), Eastwood (P1.25-M), Greenhills (P1.22-M), Robinsons Galleria (P979,784), Sta. Lucia East (P946,002), Market! Market! (P899,608), SM Ilo-ilo (P843,668), SM Clark (P815,772), Ayala Cebu (P789,548) and SM Marikina (P712,517).
In the U.S., “Alice in Wonderland” debuted to a gargantuan $116.3M, smashing box office records left and right. It was the biggest March opening ever soaring past the $70.9-million of “300” from 2007 and the best debut for a 3D film beating the $77-million of “Avatar” from last December.
An epic 3D fantasy adventure “Alice in Wonderland” provides a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends:  the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter.  Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.  The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover.
Still playing across the Philippines in regular format, Digital 3D and Digital IMAX, “Alice in Wonderland” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

alice_gross

Philippine audiences headed down the rabbit hole this weekend, as Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” opened at No. 1 with a nationwide gross of an amazing P47.930-million in 144 screens for the March 4-7 frame.  This was announced March 8 by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios which locally distributed the film.

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Diaz, Marsden face a moral dilemna in “The Box” 0

Posted on March 08, 2010 by kankan
James Marsden (“The X-Men” series) and Cameron Diaz (“The Holiday”) star as husband and wife who are faced with a moral dilemma, in Warner Bros.’ new mystery thriller “The Box.”  Directed by Richard Kelly (the cult classic “Donnie Darko”), “The Box” opens exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 & Trinoma) on March 10.
In the film, Norma Lewis (Diaz) is a teacher at a private high school and her husband, Arthur (Marsden), is an engineer working at NASA. They are, by all accounts, an average couple living a normal life in the suburbs with their young son…until a mysterious man (Frank Langella) with a horribly disfigured face appears on their doorstep and presents them with a life-altering proposition: the box – which contains a button that, if pushed, would bring the couple a million dollars…but simultaneously take the life of someone they don’t know.
With only 24 hours to make their choice, Norma and Arthur soon discover that the ramifications of this decision are beyond their control and extend far beyond their own fortune and fate.
The Lewis’ love story is an essential ingredient in “The Box,” and is severely tested. “You have to believe in their love and their marriage or everything else is ornamental,” states Marsden. “At the heart of the movie is the relationship between Norma and Arthur, and the roller coaster ride they go through together. Everything that happens to them, however difficult, brings them closer together.”
Speaking from Norma’s perspective, Cameron Diaz explains, “Pushing the button is not a decision she takes lightly but, at the moment it happens, after so much intense thought, it’s like something just comes over her. I think we’ve all been in situations where we know the consequences of an action but hope desperately that somehow it’s not going to happen – that we can ignore it or take it back if we have to, that we can say, ‘No, never mind, I was just kidding.’ It doesn’t necessarily have to be a life-or-death situation. There are so many examples in our daily lives when we take the easy way out if we think we can get away with it. It comes down to the difference between living consciously or not, and that, to me, is even more relevant than the big question about whether or not you would push the button. Look at all the little buttons you are offered every day.
“What I like about this story is that the consequences are immediate and in-your-face, as if to say, ‘You did this and now you must deal with the responsibility,’” Diaz continues. The bottom line, she cautions, is “Nothing is free.”
For Norma’s husband, the box is more of a practical puzzle. “Arthur has a scientific mind,” says Marsden. “He takes a logical, tangible approach, takes the box apart and discovers there’s nothing inside of it. He figures it’s a trick, some kind of elaborate sales pitch, and doesn’t really take it seriously. How would anyone even know if they pushed the button or not? That all changes, though, when the button is pushed, and he sees everything turned upside down in front of him.”

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James Marsden (“The X-Men” series) and Cameron Diaz (“The Holiday”) star as husband and wife who are faced with a moral dilemma, in Warner Bros.’ new mystery thriller “The Box.”  Directed by Richard Kelly (the cult classic “Donnie Darko”), “The Box” opens exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 & Trinoma) on March 10.

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“Tron: Legacy” teaser trailer premieres with “Alice In Wonderland” 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by kankan
The newest trailer of Disney’s eagerly awaited “Tron: Legacy” makes its Philippine theatrical premiere as an added attraction to “Alice in Wonderland” which is now showing across the country in regular format, Digital 3D and Digital IMAX.
“Tron: Legacy” is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. In the film, Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Qora (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
Here’s a blow-by-blow description of the trailer:
Opening with a surprisingly effective 3-D version of the green MPAA rating, the teaser follows with Disney’s 3-D Magic Castle logo which fades into a computerized counterpart.
We hear voiceover from Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley, explaining to Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) that, last night, he traced a call from Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) back to Flynn’s Arcade, closed for 20 years and Flynn missing as long. Sam is suspicious, telling Alan that it’s not as though he’s going to find his dad sitting there working.
We see the arcade as Sam enters, making his way to the TRON machine against the back wall. A familiar sight to those who attended the arcade viral event at Comic-Con, Sam kneels down and notices that the console is on an axis and, spinning it open, reveals a hidden passage behind the arcade wall.
In a back room, we’re shown an over-the-device shot of the digitizing laser pointed at Sam and suddenly we cut to the inside of the computer world and an extreme long shot of a Recognizer landing and exteriors of the computer city, far more detailed and “real world” than anything from the first film,; imagine Fritz Lang directing Blade Runner with an extra dose of colored neon.
There are a number of flashes of locations and people; Olivia Wilde’s Quorra lying in a lounge chair, her battling with Sam using neon blue discs (very different looking than the discs in the original), a White-haired most-likely villain (who may very well have been Michael Sheen; Kosinksi said that he was in the trailer and that his character is barely recognizable) and a shot of young Jeff Bridges.
We hear a brief bit of dialogue between father and son as Sam asks, “Dad?” and Flynn responds,”Son?”
“Long time,” says Sam.
“You have no idea,” says Flynn.
The logo comes up and is followed by a quick shot of two battling light cycles.
Opening across the Philippines later this year, “Tron: Legacy” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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The newest trailer of Disney’s eagerly awaited “Tron: Legacy” makes its Philippine theatrical premiere as an added attraction to “Alice in Wonderland” which is now showing across the country in regular format, Digital 3D and Digital IMAX.

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Josh Brolin: Nothing is ever enough in “Wall Street 2″ 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by kankan
Greed becomes legal in “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps,” the most anticipated drama-thriller this year directed by Oliver Stone with a plum cast starring Michael Douglas, Josh Brolin, Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon, Frank Langella, Carey Mulligan and Charlie Sheen.
Twenty-three years after the director’s masterpiece “Wall Street,” which became a cultural touchstone for the cutthroat and corrupt practices of the world of finance, this is an eye opener that reveals much of what went on before the financial catastrophe that led to the current global recession. Stone examines how avarice started at the top and trickled down to affect everyone – from shopkeepers to homeowners.
“Wall Street 2” is set right before the meltdown of the world’s financial markets.  While Douglas reprises his Oscar winning role as Gordon Gekko, Brolin plays Bretton James, a powerful billionaire and manipulative investment banker. Brolin, an experienced trader himself tells more of “Wall Street 2” and its implications in today’s financial setting.
Q: Is your character at all like Gordon Gekko?
A:  “I’m representing these guys now on Wall Street  who are very different. With Gekko, you’re talking about a guy who is worth a couple of hundred million dollars. Now with Bretton James and his generation, you’re talking about guys who are worth billions of dollars. It’s a different mentality. It’s a different world.”
Q: Apart from Oliver Stone, what was appealing about the story?
A: “I’ve had my own trading business and I’ve traded for the last four years.  I’ve done all the research that I needed to do in the Wall Street world.  So I was quite prepared.  I know because I’ve felt it on a much more amateur level when I was in front of my four screens so I know what that is like,  feeling the fear and the greed while you’re watching  the charts and the graphs. You are watching every movement and you say: ‘how can I make another buck or make another percent?’  The kids have not eaten and you’ve been up since 5:30 in the morning, and you say, ‘I just need another fifteen minutes, the kids can wait.’  I felt that greed when I was trading and that’s one of the reasons I stopped.    I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.”
Q: Can you describe your character? Is he a really unscrupulous guy?
A:  “Well, I always try to find the humanity in everybody.  Look, Bretton James got sucked into this universe he is in on Wall Street and he is swimming in the riches of his world. This is Wall Street’s Darth Vader.  He will do anything.  He’s willing to go to any length in order to survive.  His motivation in life is to acquire as much as possible in any way possible.”
Q: How has the financial world changed between the two movies?
A: “Oh my God, I mean, look at what   we are experiencing now. It is the consequence of that greed in the 80s.  We obviously didn’t learn anything from that time. It is monumental compared to what it was like then. In WALL STREET they didn’t talk about investment banks and leveraging or the fact that it started with credit cards and it didn’t stop and there were no regulations, or there weren’t enough regulations. The regulations that existed were circumvented. Look at what has happened. It is so sad.”
One of Hollywood’s most consummate actors, Josh Brolin’s first movie was “The Goonies,” his other early films were “Hollow Man” and “Flirting with Disaster.” His other film credits also include “Grindhouse,” “In the Valley of Elah,” “Mod Squad,” “Nightwatch,” “Best Laid Plans, “Mimic,” “Into the Blue,” “No Country for Old Men” and “American Gangster.”   Brolin was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Milk,” opposite Sean Penn.
“Wall Street 2” opens very soon in April from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

josh_brolin

Greed becomes legal in “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps,” the most anticipated drama-thriller this year directed by Oliver Stone with a plum cast starring Michael Douglas, Josh Brolin, Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon, Frank Langella, Carey Mulligan and Charlie Sheen.

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