ICONIC VILLAIN “MALEFICENT” GETS AN ALL-NEW BACK STORY

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Disney presents “Maleficent,” starring Academy Award®–winning actress Angelina Jolie in the title role. This year, 2014, marks the 55th Anniversary of the character who put a spell on young “Sleeping Beauty” in the animated feature released by Disney in 1959. Since her introduction, Maleficent has been Disney’s all-time most popular villain. Now she returns in this live-action version of the classic story—and there’s a lot about her we never knew.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

“I loved Maleficent when I was a little girl,” says Jolie. “She was my favorite Disney character. I was afraid of her and I loved her.”

This duality intrigued producer Joe Roth as well. “This movie is about a character we’ve only known as hard-hearted and our story answers the question ‘Why?’ I’d like audiences to feel like they’ve entered a world they’ve never seen before with ‘Maleficent’ and I hope they come away feeling like no one is beyond redemption.”

“Maleficent” explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.

“Maleficent” is directed by two-time Oscar®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland”), in his directorial debut,and produced by Joe Roth. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton (“The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and the film is executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw.

Co-starring in the film are Sharlto Copley (“District 9”), Elle Fanning (“Super 8”), Sam Riley (“On the Road”), Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”), Juno Temple (“Atonement”) and Lesley Manville (“Secrets & Lies”).

Producer Joe Roth made a bold choice by placing first-time-director Robert Stromberg at the helm of such a big movie. “Rob Stromberg had just finished working with me on ‘Oz The Great and Powerful,’” says Roth. “I knew his production design work from having won Oscars® for ‘Avatar’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland.’

“When Disney came to me with this project, I’d already done several big visual types of movies and I’d learned that audiences make decisions about going to movies long before they know what the movie’s about,” continues Roth. “They get a vibe off some visual presentation that happens earlier than anything else. So, I thought, Angelina’s an experienced actress, Robert is going to be a great director and if he can provide the distinct visual style he brought to ‘Avatar,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Oz The Great and Powerful,’ I think it’s a good marriage.”

Stromberg was undaunted by the challenges of a big name actress and a big budget in his directorial debut. “I started as an artist—from doing pencil drawings as a kid to doing matte paintings to art directing and production designing,” says the director. “I think as an artist you’re always looking for the biggest canvas you can find and this was yet another big canvas to conquer. I thought it was intriguingto take on something that was bigger than anything I had already done. And this came at the right time when I was looking for the next challenge in my career.”

Stromberg came to the production with a clear idea of how the film should be visually presented. “What I wanted on this film was not only to have an element of fantasy and a surreal quality but I wanted Maleficent to be a bit more grounded in reality,” relates Stromberg. “In some of my previous films, I’ve taken the surreal elements and made them the strongest points. In ‘Maleficent’ we’ve taken the opposite approach: we started with real and augmented after the fact. So I think it’s a new look.”

“Maleficient” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

How To Train Your Dragon sneak previews on June 9 and 10

Sneak preview release material

20^th Century Fox brings the high-flying adventure, “How To Train Your Dragon 2” ahead of its  regular release date in Philippine cinemas with its nationwide sneak previews on June 9 (Monday) and June 10 (Tuesday) starting at 5:00pm.   

Photo courtesy of Dreamworks

                From DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought the world blockbuster family animation such as “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “The Croods,” comes the highly anticipated sequel to the Academy Award®-nominated “How To Train Your Dragon,” based on the children’s book series by Cressida Cowell.

In the thrilling second chapter of the epic trilogy, five years have passed since the heroic young Viking Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) befriended an injured dragon and forever changed the way the residents of Berk interact with the fire-breathers. Now, Vikings and dragons live side-by-side in peace on the fantastical isle that has been transformed into a dragon’s paradise.

Available in 2D and 3D - “How To Train Your Dragon 2” opens in cinemas nationwide on June 11 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The Fault In Our Stars movie review

Story: A movie adaptation of a novel by John Green

Review: When I first received the PR material for the movie and saw the trailer, I thought it was just another emo-flick following suit from A Walk To Remember. It was only after watching it that I found out it was more than a teen novel-turned-chick flick.

The movie has smart one-liners that may be also quoted from the book. Each character especially Hazel, Gus and Hazel's mom Frannie contributed to the funny moments for the movie. What I find appealing in the movie is that Gus is also a geek. He likes video games and Star Wars and V for Vendetta because I saw the movie poster of the latter.

The story is much more realistic even though the genre was romance. But it does not focuses on the romance alone but the conflict itself. I am not new to support groups but I also got my time handling a cancer support group in a protestant church just like in Episcopalian based support group in the movie. I volunteered and interact with the parents whose children are cancer patients. Maybe I should encourage the support group to watch this.

The story has more punch lines and quotable quotes compared to the other movie I first mentioned. It was a smart story for everyone to watch. It is not just a movie for dates or BFFs, it can be used as a movie discussion for serious movie buffs like me.

The main actors,Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort  are not famous to me but they are an ideal choice to play the part of Gus and Hazel. They had this aura that makes them feel like they are the cutest couple and like they are acting naturally.

The Fault In Our Stars opens June 5 in Philippine cinemas. Released and distributed by Fox 2000 Pictures. For more movie reviews, follow this blog or like the L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

DELIVER US FROM EVIL” UNLEASHES POSTER ART, VIRAL VIDEO

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Columbia Pictures has just unleashed the new, domestic (U.S.) poster art for supernatural thriller “Deliver Us from Evil” starring Eric Bana and Edgar Ramirez, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

The studio has also brought online a viral video on the real-life NYPD sergeant, Ralph Sarchie, who inspired the film.

Directed by Scott Derrickson’s (“Sinister,” “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”), “Deliver Us from Evil” tells the story of New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Bana) who, struggling with his own personal issues, begins investigating a series of disturbing and inexplicable crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest (Ramirez), schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city.

Based upon the 2001 book titled “Beware the Night” which details Sarchie’s bone-chilling real-life cases, the film also stars Olivia Munn, Joel McHale and Sean Harris.

Opening across the Philippines on July 02 2014, “Deliver Us From Evil” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

FALL IN LOVE AND CHASE DREAMS IN “THE FAULT IN OUR STARS”

Movie trailer release

From its Facebook debut, “The Fault in Our Stars” trailer had been recently uploaded on YouTube and brought fans all over the globe in extreme exhilaration and tears.

                From the bestselling tearjerker tome by John Green of the same title, “The Fault in Our Stars” finds two beautiful teenagers falling in love as they race against time to live life at its fullest.   Starring this year’s CinemaCon’s Female Star of Tomorrow, Shailene Woodley, whose credits include “The Descendants,” “The Spectacular Now” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” takes on the role of Hazel Grace Lancaster diagnosed early with cancer opposite Ansel Elgort’s Augustus ‘Gus’Waters who has been in remission for quite some time since their first meeting in a local support group.

                Hazel and Gus, typical teens as they may seem to be – friends, overbearing parents, crushes and all are not, however your average normal teens, both face each day courageously as they fight against time battling cancer.  Hazel has been diagnosed since age 13 with stage IV thyroid cancer and Gus in remission from his bone cancer.  

                Falling in love has never been this high – this year’s most awaited love story “The Fault In Our Stars” will open very soon in cinemas from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

WARNER BROS. SWINGS INTO A NEW BIG SCREEN TARZAN ADVENTURE

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BURBANK, CA – February 11, 2014 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that the Studio has entered into pre-production on a new live-action 3D Tarzan action adventure, bringing Edgar Rice Burroughs’ legendary character back to the big screen. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, also announced that the film has been slated to open in the U.S. on July 1, 2016.

Alexander Skarsgård (HBO’s “True Blood”) has been set to star as the man who was orphaned as a baby and raised in the jungle, later to return to the urban jungle of London. The film also stars Oscar® nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction”); Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), as Jane Porter, who becomes the love of Tarzan’s life; and two-time Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Django Unchained”).

David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters, will direct the new feature from a screenplay based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Jerry Weintraub production, the film is being produced by Weintraub (“Behind the Candelabra,” the “Ocean’s” trilogy), together with David Barron and Alan Riche.

In making the announcement, Silverman said, “We have assembled a phenomenal international cast to tell this extraordinary story. Warner Bros. has also enjoyed long and successful collaborations with both David Yates and Jerry Weintraub, and we look forward to seeing what they and the entire team have in store for this timeless tale.”

Kroll added, “Tarzan has been an enduring and enigmatic figure in literature and cinema for more than a century. The adventures of a man who was torn between two worlds has entertained and intrigued people young and old, and we are excited to bring him to the screen for a new generation.”

Fellman stated, “This is a perfect entry for the summer movie season corridor, with a terrific combination of action, adventure, romance and suspense that is sure to appeal to a broad audience.”

Jerry Weintraub added, “I am so pleased to be reuniting with the team at Warner Bros. on this thrilling project. David Yates and I are going to be using the best of today’s technology in creating this new adventure, and we can’t wait to get started.”

NEW TRAILER GETS “BLENDED” FOR ROMANTIC COMEDY

Movie trailer release

“Blended” marks the third comedy collaboration between Sandler and Barrymore, following their successful onscreen pairings in the hit romantic comedies “50 First Dates” and “The Wedding Singer.”

In the film, after a disastrous blind date, single parents Lauren (Barrymore) and Jim (Sandler) agree on only one thing: they never want to see each other again. But when they each sign up separately for a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for a week.

“Blended” also stars Joel McHale (NBC’s “Community”) as Lauren’s ex-husband, Mark, and Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Bridesmaids”) as her best friend, Jen; Kevin Nealon (“Weeds”) and Jessica Lowe (funnyordie’s “RobotDown”) as an overly romantic couple also vacationing at the resort; and Terry Crews (“The Expendables 2”) as the resort’s singing host.

Opening across the Philippines on June 11, 2014, “Blended” is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation of a Gulfstream Pictures/Happy Madison Production and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.