HUGH LAURIE, FROM “HOUSE” TO “TOMORROWLAND”

Press release

Best known to audiences as the eccentric Dr. Gregory House from the hit TV series “House,” Hugh Laurie is back in the big screen as a brilliant, but pragmatic scientist, in Walt Disney Pictures' mystery adventure “Tomorrowland.”

Photo courtesy of Disney Pictures

Laurie plays David Nix who views life as an endless quest to accumulate and develop knowledge. Nix has no patience with dreamers, visionaries and optimists; preferring the concrete, indisputable answers that only pure science delivers.

The producers approached Laurie for what they called the actor’s “astonishing intelligence; a little bit of danger undercut by a lot of fun.” Laurie himself recalls being “completely struck by the first conversation I had with director Brad Bird and screenwriter Damon Lindelof about the morbid defeatism that has gripped the world. There are benefits beyond number to modern life, but they don’t seem to bring us a feeling of satisfaction, triumph or accomplishment. Brad and Damon laid out this extraordinary vision of a future that ran completely counter to all popular ideas about how the world is going, and I was completely taken with it.”

In the film, former boy-genius Frank (George Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.

Describing the difference between his character David Nix and Frank Walker, Laurie offers, “Frank’s idea was to create things that are fun, that make people’s lives better because they bring pleasure and joy, and express hope. Nix is only interested in the more utilitarian platform of research; life for him is an endless scientific quest because he believes that man was put on this Earth to accumulate and develop knowledge.”

Frank’s view of Nix is of a cold-hearted bureaucrat who merely looks for the most efficient way of doing something without ever taking account of the joy of discovery, adventure, and exploration. Yet the two men cannot help but begrudgingly admire each other, because “beneath all of that there’s a sneaking regard for each other because they are intellectual equals in a world that doesn’t necessarily understand or welcome visionaries. There is a kinship between the two,” informs Laurie.

“David Nix is not necessarily a malicious man,” adds Laurie, “It’s not to say that he has no sympathy for his fellow man, but his sympathy isn’t enough to override his pragmatism. It’s hard not to agree with him; he has a point about our human tendencies and weaknesses and appetites that can’t simply be wished away. He’s a practical, clear- thinking, brilliant scientist.”

The differences between the two men are indicative, says Brad Bird, of the reality that great minds do not always think alike, that our human imperfections can derail the best of intentions. “In fact, great minds would probably really annoy each other. Some of them would get along, but a lot of them wouldn’t,” concludes Bird.

"Tomorrowland” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

ROSE BYRNE IN “SPY”

Press release

Rose Byrne struts her way into a global chase against a group of undercover agents in “Spy” starring alongside Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham and Jude Law. 

                Byrne takes on the role of Rayna, a beautiful and privileged Oxford-educated daughter of a recently deceased arms dealer who becomes frenemies with Susan Cooper, a novice spy who gears up for action after Fine (Law) suddenly goes off the grid during a dangerous assignment. Agent Cooper leaves her dreary desk job behind, entering the world of international espionage in Europe.  Soon, Rayna and Susan butt heads when Rayna has come into possession of an unusual inheritance, a small tactical nuclear weapon enough to give the world a total meltdown. 

                Rose Byrne says her character is all about status. Rayna wears garish outfits for grand entrances into the finest hotels. Perpetually bored and unimpressed, she lacks a sense of humor and has a brutally direct manner of speaking.    “I liken her to royalty, or a member of a corrupt dynasty. She’s posh and talks as if she’s from another era, an effort to compensate for her poor Bulgarian roots.” Despite her coldness, Rayna feels slightly sympathetic and curious about Susan, who reminds her of a “sad Bulgarian clown.”

                Of Byrne, who also co-starred with her in “Bridesmaids,” McCarthy says, “I would work with Rose 300 million times. She manages to play a character that’s dastardly yet likeable, which is a tricky thing to pull off. You don’t see the work behind her performance. You just see a remarkable character who turns on a dime.”

                While filming and on the run, Rayna’s adventures transitions to a far more luxurious form of air transport, McCarthy and Rose Byrne shoot a flight sequence onboard Rayna’s private jet, which is replete with her unmistakable style – that is to say, gaudy leopard skin upholstery and Versace red and gold wallpaper. Having grown interminably bored in Rome, Rayna is whisking her newfound “sad Bulgarian clown” companion to Budapest for drinks. Chaos breaks out during the flight, and the plane’s occupants find themselves in a nosedive, experiencing the zero gravity effect of weightlessness.

                To overcome the challenges of filming this sequence, SFX supervisor Yves De Bono had the plane mounted on a 20-degree gimbal, allowing it to tilt and swivel in any direction. Movement was hydraulically controlled from the ground, and both cast and stunt team were harnessed to cables to simulate floating. Rose Byrne spent time in a swimming pool practicing controlling her physical motions to prepare for the sequence, which required a week to complete.

                Director Paul Feig says Byrne’s role as Rayna is his favourite, “Rose is one of the most talented comedic actresses out there and nobody knew for years that she was a comedic actress. She plays Rayna Boyanov, the daughter of a black market arms dealer, a spoiled rich girl who grew up in Bulgaria but went to school in London and has completely got rid of her accent. Now she's got a very posh English accent, composed and classy, but she is swearing all the time and she is so funny.”

                “Spy” opens this May 21 from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Winema is back in the newly opened SM Cinema San Mateo

On my first year of blogging professionally, I was one of the first who tried the first interactive movie experience in SM Cinema called Winema. It's a mash-up name from an gaming console and cinema. It was way back in 2010 in SM Megamall Cinema 1. Check out my blog dated April 23, 2010 at L.E.N.S. blogs.

On the newly opened SM Mall in San Mateo, I got to enter the mall before opening for public the next day. I was once again invited to experience Winema for the second time and watching Avengers: Age of Ultron again in a new cinema.

SM Cinema San Mateo has four cinemas only but it has the right maximum sitting capacity to appreciate a movie. In addition of Winema, the rules are still the same. Before the actual movie, the audience will play a game in their collective effort to control by waving their arms in the air left or right. The sensor located just below the screen will read their movements. If they break the record, the audience will get a reward/treat from SM Cinema.

For now, Winema is exclusive only to SM Cinema in San Mateo. Follow this blog for more movie-related news and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

HAILEE STEINFELD A NEW BELLA IN “PITCH PERFECT 2”

Press release

Universal Pictures' comedy “Pitch Perfect 2” welcomes two new Bellas into the musical mix, led by Academy Award® nominee Hailee Steinfeld, who blew audiences away when she held her own opposite Jeff Bridges in “True Grit.”

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

The young actress who plays freshman Emily Junk reflects: “Pitch Perfect 2 was unlike any other movie I had done before. The fact that I love music and grew up singing and dancing was a big reason why this opportunity was so intriguing to me. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario.”

Just as fastidious as the newest member becomes, director Elizabeth Banks mapped out the character’s arc on Post-it notes in her production office. The director explains why Emily is so important to the film: “One of the great things I like about this project is the notion of women mentoring other women. I love that Beca mentors Emily, and Emily seeks that out. That’s an important message to tell young girls: ‘You don’t get what you don’t ask for, so if you want someone to mentor you, go ask for it.’ It’s a great collaboration that the two of them have. They complete each other, musically.”

Co-star Ester Dean who plays Cynthia Rose speaks on behalf of her fellow cast when she says: “Emily, Miss Hailee, is the new Bella, and she’s just adorable. We waited so long to figure out who was going to be Emily. So when she came in, it was like she had already been there. We all just fell in love with her from the start, just like Chrissie. They came in with open hearts, ready to roll.”

The Chrissie to whom Dean refers is Chrissie Fit, who joined the team to portray Flo, a foreign-exchange student originally from Central America. The performer, who cut her teeth on ABC’s “General Hospital” and the Disney Channel’s “Teen Beach Movie,” reacted just as one might imagine when she found out she’d landed the gig. She laughs: “When I got the call, I was in the car with a friend and was trying my hardest not to get into an accident because I was freaking out and screaming. I love the fact that it’s a band of misfit girls who don’t fit in, but somehow get together and sing and harmonize…it all works.”

Providing some insight into her character, Fit offers: “Flo is a dose of reality for the Bellas, coming from a different country and having gone through extreme circumstances. So whenever the girls think that something is life-or-death, but it’s actually small, Flo injects reality into that situation by telling them something very serious that happened to her. I get to be both sarcastic as well as goofy with everyone else.” Fit was moved by the story and growing diversity of the Bellas. She says: “The most important thing for me was the fact that we’re seeing a Latina character just be funny and out there in this rock-star group.”

Co-star Rebel Wilson sums what her fellow returning cast found to be the case on set: “Our two new Bellas are really endearing and funny. Together, we are such a mixed bag all thrown into the one position of being in the Bellas. There is just something for everyone to relate to in our group.”

Now playing across the Philippines, “Pitch Perfect 2” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

“INSIDIOUS” CO-CREATOR NOW DIRECTS “CHAPTER 3”

Press release

After penning the scripts for “Insidious” and “Insidious: Chapter 2,” Leigh Whannell takes the reins on “Insidious: Chapter 3” by stepping in for co-creator James Wan and directing the new film.

Producer Oren Peli says, “Leigh understands the world of Insidious so well and also sees all sorts of possibilities for `The Further' and for the characters grappling with it, all of which made him the perfect choice to direct the new chapter.

Producer Jason Blum elaborates, “The people who created a movie make the best sequels – which I don’t talk about with them until after they’ve made the first movie, so that it isn’t compromised – and carry the storytelling forward. When Leigh said, ‘I have an idea for a new movie,’ that was ideal. We wanted to make it as comfortable as possible for Leigh to get to do what he wanted to do in taking the director’s chair, because we all felt he should be the next director for these stories.”

For his part, the new director, Leigh Whannell offers, “It’s a privilege to be part of telling these stories that connect with people all over the world. Here was this fantastic opportunity, to be able to direct a movie that is going to be released in theaters with people having the chance to see it in a communal way. I love watching the `Insidious' movies with audiences, especially when they jump out of their chairs.”

James Wan, who had directed the previous “Insidious” movies from longtime filmmaking partner Whannell’s screenplays, remarks, “I am amazed and proud to see what Leigh has done with `Insidious: Chapter 3.' Leigh understands the nuances that you need to create horror scenes, to create suspense and tension.

“There was no better person to take the reins of the Insidious franchise; I was honored to pass the torch on to my great bud! When I see him directing, even though this was his first feature, he looks like a natural. He’s so comfortable and he has fun doing it.”

“I’ve had a great education,” says Whannell. “This came from sitting behind James and watching him direct, and seeing what he does in the cutting room, with music, with all of it. He is the master of modern horror.

“We both have similar tastes: we like to shoot continuously and not rely on editing or CG effects, working with what’s practical within the camera and within the frame.”

Even so, the writer/director notes that “my style is a little different than James’s, which is important because while I am following the template of the first two movies and Insidious: Chapter 3 certainly exists in the same universe, I knew I wasn’t going to do a carbon copy of what James did. I wanted to continue to build up these stories’ world but not repeat what we’d done before.”

As it happened, production of “Insidious: Chapter 3” overlapped with the making of Wan’s newest movie as director, the big-budget “Fast & Furious 7.” Wan was still able to visit Whannell’s set multiple times – and can be glimpsed on-screen in a cameo role – but more frequently kept up with the project by way of modern communication. “I would text Leigh with scare tips,” remembers Wan. “He would text me back with how to blow up cars [for Furious 7]!

“We were doing what we always do in person anyway – bounce ideas off each other, and help each other out on projects.”

“Insidious: Chapter 3” has been given a Parental Guidance (PG) rating by the MTRCB. This movie contains scenes with several scary and horrifying images, blasting sounds, and themes (a child communicating with the dead, dealing with the supernatural, etc.) that may be disturbing for very young viewers. Parental guidance and discretion is strictly advised.

Opening across the Philippines on June 05, 2015, “Insidious: Chapter 3” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

“TERMINATOR GENISYS” CHARACTER POSTERS REVEALED

Press release

Paramount Pictures has launched five character one-sheets of “Terminator Genisys” featuring T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Sara Connor (Emilia Clarke), Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney), T-1000 (Byung-hun Lee) and T-300 aka John Connor (Jason Clarke).

The studio recently decided to reveal in trailers and teaser posters that John Connor is actually a Terminator, an unexpected plot twist that promises turn the reboot into an intriguing spectacle.

“Terminator Genisys” is directed by Alan Taylor (“Thor: The Dark World”) from a screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier.

When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger), dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission: To reset the future…

Opening across the Philippines on July 01, 2015, “Terminator Genisys” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

“AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON” SHATTERS RECORDS WITH P339.83-M IN 5 DAYS

Press release

MANILA, April 27, 2015 – Marvel's “Avengers: Age of Ultron” practically rewrote the record books as it bowed with a five-day opening weekend gross of a staggering P339.83-million nationwide – the biggest ever opening weekend in Philippine history. This was announced today by a spokesman of Walt Disney Studios Philippines which distributed the film.

Launching in highest-ever 607 screens nationwide, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” arrived in cinemas with an aggressive marketing push and wild fan anticipation, enabling it to singlehandedly dominate the market. Most exhibitors devoted all their their available screens to the film in order to accommodate the surge of movigeoers.

The film rolled out Wednesday, April 22 and immediately broke the records for Biggest Opening Day of All-Time (beating former record-holder “Man of Steel” which launched on a holiday) and Biggest Wednesday of All-Time (eclipsing “Iron Man 3”) with a massive P72.74-M.

Then the rest of the records fell one day after the other: Biggest Non-Holiday Thursday of All-Time at P50.09-M (surpassing “Iron Man 3”); Biggest Friday of All-Time at 51.77-M (overtaking “Iron Man 3”); Biggest Saturday of All-Time at P81.96-M (breaking “Transformers: Age of Extinction”) and Biggest Sunday (ahead of “Iron Man 3') and Single Day of All-Time (past “Transformers: Age of Extinction”) at P83.27-M.

The PH opening of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” mirrored the film's record-breaking launch internationally at $201.2-M across some 44 territories this April 22-26 weekend.

“Ultron” was the highest-grossing film in everywhere it opened, and has now rolled out in 55% of the international marketplace, including France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, Korea, Australia and the Philippines.

The hotly anticipated superhero sequel opens next week in the U.S., where it is expected to earn north of $200 million and could top the first “Avengers'” record-breaking $207.4 million bow.

Back in the Philippines, SM North EDSA posted the biggest share of receipts at P19.21-M, followed by SM Megamall with P17.90-M and SM Mall of Asia with P17.43-M.

The top ten-grossing cinemas include Trinoma (P10.54-M), SM Cebu (P9.89-M), Glorietta 4 (P8.41-M), SM Southmall (P6.93-M), Eastwood (P6.04-M), SM Aura (P5.80-M) and SM Clark (P5.72-M).

Rounding out the top twenty theaters are Ayala Cebu (P5.67-M), Power Plant (P5.53-M), Greenhills Promenade (P5.10-M), Greenbelt 3 (P5.06-M), Alabang Town Center (P4.76-M), Gateway (P4.75-M), Bonifacio High Street (P4.71-M), Shang Cineplex (P4.63-M), Market! Market! (P4.61-M) and Newport (P4.51-M).

Marvel Studios presents “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is now playing across the Philippines in IMAX 3D, 4DX, Digital 3D and 2D cinemas.