Ferris Bueller Is Back! :)

Ferris Bueller Is Mysteriously Back for Superbowl Sunday Ad – This short clip features Matthew Broderick stepping back into the role of Ferris Bueller. The iconic music at the end of the clip, as well as the line at the beginning sure are promising for Bueller fans. Granted, this clip is a ten second teaser for either a future commercial or just the Superbowl in general, but even if it’s a commercial for another commercial, it’s Ferris Bueller. People will be happy about that.

AVATAR Land @ WDW AK

Description

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks.  Announced on September 20 2011, the project will see an AVATAR-themed land begin construction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2013, with opening expected in 2016.  The budget is speculated to be in the region of $500 million.

Details

AVATAR at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Announcement Press Release

BURBANK (September 20, 2011) – Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron. ”I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life. Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.

“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”

“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”

In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.

This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.

Disney Parks Blog Question and answers with Tom Staggs Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

The official Disney Parks Blog hosted a question and answer session with Tom Staggs.  His responses to some of the questions are shown below.
Original article

1) TIMING 

We got quite a few questions about the timing of our first AVATAR experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including this one from Adam, “Any idea when the experience will be open to guests?”

We’ve just begun the design phase on our Animal Kingdom project and we expect to begin construction in 2013. From start to finish, a project of this size and scope takes about 5 years to design and build. We can’t give you an exact date but we know that when it’s complete, it’s going to be a truly unforgettable experience.

2) IS THIS A PARK EXPANSION OR WILL “LAND” REPLACE SOMETHING? 

Several of you asked a similar question, including Doug from Utah – “Will it replace any existing attractions in Animal Kingdom, or will it be built in a new parcel of land within the park’s boundaries?”

Well, Doug, we’re just beginning the Blue Sky process so I don’t have much to share about how we are going to execute our vision for our first AVATAR land but we’re focused on this being an important addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I look forward to sharing more details as our plans progress.

3) SPECIFIC ATTRACTIONS 

Jenna from Winnetka, Ill., asks, “What types of attractions will be in AVATAR land?”

This was hands-down one of the most popular questions we got and understandably so. While we’re still in the very early stages of design and planning, we expect this land to be anchored by multiple attractions, entertainment, merchandise locations, restaurants and other immersive elements. Our AVATAR lands will give guests the chance to see, hear and touch the world of Pandora and we can’t wait to dive in with James Cameron and his team as we create new experiences that will delight and thrill our guests.

4) FILM IS PG-13, HOW DOES THIS MATCH W/FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARK?

Some of you, including Logan in Carnesville, Ga., asked about whether AVATAR was a good fit for a family-friendly brand like Disney.

Thanks, Logan, I appreciate your candor in asking this question. At its core, AVATAR is a film that embraces strong, positive themes of family, loyalty, living in harmony with nature and belief in oneself – all values that we share at The Walt Disney Company. You can be sure that these are the same themes that we will explore throughout our AVATAR lands. They will be places where friends and families can spend time together getting lost in a fantasy world, one of the true hallmarks of any Disney theme park experience. And with two sequels in the works, we feel this is a creative property whose potential is limitless.

5) AVATAR AT OTHER DISNEY PARKS? 

We got several questions about whether there will be AVATAR experiences in parks/sites other than Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Kyle from Ontario asks, “Are there plans to add Avatar attractions at any other Disney parks?”

Well, Kyle, the only land we are announcing today is at Walt Disney World Resort but AVATAR is a possibility at any of our other locations. The first film AVATAR is a franchise with massive global appeal and its success at the box office both inside and outside of the U.S. – I should also note that as we determine our future locations, we look forward to working with our international theme park partners as our plans evolve.

6) ATTRACTION THEMING

Many of you, including Justin from Orlando, want to know, “How does AVATAR fit in with the Disney theme?” and more specifically, how does it fit in with the Animal Kingdom?

As I mentioned in a previous answer, AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. With its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures and strong themes of family and loyalty, it’s a great fit for the Disney brand and our parks.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the perfect place for our first AVATAR land because at its core, the park gives guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in whole new ways. With AVATAR, we’ve found the perfect opportunity to let our guests explore one of the most compelling mythical worlds ever conceived. Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.

7) WHY BUY SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA INSTEAD OF LETTING WDI COME UP WITH SOMETHING? 

Some of you asked why we would choose to collaborate with an outside partner rather than use our own Disney characters and stories to expand the parks. We are as committed as ever to creating attractions and entertainment around favorite Disney characters and stories – with Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park and our expansion of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park being two great examples. At the same time, we like to look beyond our own walls at non-Disney properties, like STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES, creating some of our most popular attractions. At the end of the day, we are focused on creating a great experience for our guests and I truly believe that this unique partnership with James Cameron and AVATAR gives us an entire world of imaginative creatures, fascinating locations and intriguing characters with which to do that.

What is AVATAR?

View the Internet Movie Database description, and see the “Pandora Discovered” video below for a look at the environement.

Where in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will AVATAR land be built?

Since opening day, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had two main areas reserved for future expansion.

Firstly, the area to the west of the park, and currently occupied by Camp Minnie-Mickey, is a strong contender. Originally planned for Beastly Kingdom, this area was largely put together as the park neared opening as a somewhat temporary “stop gap” until the next wave of construction could begin.

The second likely area that has been cleared and prepared for expansion is the area to the north of the park, just beyond Asia. This plot of land was prepped around the time of Kali Rapids for future expansion.

View a satellite image of the two expansion areas.

Budget and Timescales

The rumored budget for the development at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is in the region of $500 million.

Construction is expected to begin in 2013, with opening in 2016.

Media coverage of the AVATAR announcement

Orlando Sentinel
Wall Street Journal

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions/avatar.htm

Star Wars On Blu-ray – Review

STAR WARS – BLU-RAY – FRIDAY! – GREAT REVIEW

Star Wars Blu-ray The Complete Saga Review
20th Century Fox | 1977-2005 | 6 Movies | 805 min | Rated PG-13 | Sep 16, 2011 1

Bottom Line :

No, the “untouched” original trilogy is not included. Yes, there are some goofy new additions, like Darth Vader yelling “NOOOOO” as he throws Emperor Palpatine over the railing. I don’t think anyone expected this release of The Complete Saga to be free of controversy. But come on. It’s Star Wars. On Blu-ray. This is a once-in-a-technological-generation event, and if your hatred of George Lucas’ revisionist tinkerings keeps you from enjoying some of your favorite films in high definition, you’re missing out. Believe me, I share your pain. Whenever I hear that stupid funk song inside Jabba’s palace, I cringe like a man being forced to bite down on tin foil or chew sand. It’s almost physically painful. But I’m done being bitter. I’m playing the long game. One of these days, Lucas will wise up and realize that the original trilogy—in its original form—is a culturally and historically important piece of pop art that belongs to its fans. But until that day, I’m going to enjoy this Blu-ray box set. The films have never looked or sounded better— Episodes III-VI are particularly impressive—and they come with a fantastic collection of special features. Highly Recommended!

via Star Wars Blu-ray.

‘Half-Blood Prince’.. one of the best

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is spellbinding, even though it is more grounded in reality and less fanciful than previous installments.

David Yates has grown more assured in his direction since his last film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In this sixth film in the series, the cinematography is stunning, and the story unfolds in a stately and unhurried fashion.

Captivating from the first frame, this Potter feels more epic than previous films, which had a less mature, more madcap quality. Yates finds an artful way to meld the teenage romance and inherent humor with a sense of impending doom.

Half-Blood Prince conveys some of the rich texture and depth of J.K. Rowling’s book, but it takes a lackluster turn at the end. In a key scene, Harry is rendered more ineffectual than his literary counterpart as a result of plot revisions.

Presumably Yates decided on a less-is-more finale by underplaying the book’s climactic tragedy, perhaps because readers already had been rocked by the event. Though this makes sense, it leaves the die-hard fan with a sense of anticlimax.

Yates clearly has a vision for the films, and he has sharpened it with this incarnation. The somber mood suits the story’s dark tone. We see less random magic and more mature reflection, which is rare for a fantasy. The entire film is shot through with a sense of gravity and portent.

The wizards are now 16, in their penultimate year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Though he is seen only through others’ memories, Lord Voldemort’s ominous presence is distinctly felt. He has assembled a cadre of malevolent henchmen, who menace the wizarding and Muggle (non-magical) worlds.

Hogwarts is no longer the refuge it had been for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his pals, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). Meanwhile, the surly Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is skulking off in the school’s cavernous corridors, struggling with a terrible mission.

Harry works with Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) to thwart Voldemort and the encroachment of his evil dominion. Dumbledore assigns his protégé to cozy up to Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) and access a key memory to aid in his fight.

Though Half-Blood Prince is one of the series’s best, with spectacular effects, nuanced performances and witty dialogue, its dialed-down adaptation of Rowling’s conclusion ends what might have been a masterful work with a measure of disappointment.

Disney to release all future Pixar movies in 3-D

Disney to release all future Pixar movies in 3-D
Lineup includes ‘Rapunzel,’ ‘Up’ and ‘King of the Elves’

 

updated 5:14 p.m. ET, Tues., April. 8, 2008
NEW YORK – The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday its Pixar animation studio is committing to 3-D and will release all of its movies in the format beginning with “Up” next year.

Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter made the announcement in New York at a presentation of Disney’s upcoming lineup of animated movies through 2012.

He said Walt Disney Animation Studios will offer “The Princess and the Frog,” a musical set in New Orleans, in the traditional hand-drawn format for release for Christmas 2009.

Meanwhile, Pixar movies will be released in 3-D and the traditional two-dimensional format, beginning in May 2009 with “Up,” about an elderly widower who embarks on a South American adventure.

Lasseter said he has been inspired by three-dimensional photography for decades.

“I love 3-D. I made a 3-D computer-animated short in 1989 called ’Nickname,’ and in fact my wedding pictures with my beautiful wife Nancy were made in 3-D,” he said.

The lineup from Walt Disney Animation Studios also includes the November release of “Bolt,” the story of an actor dog who believes he has super powers; “Rapunzel,” a retelling of the fairy tale set for release for Christmas 2010; and the modern-day fantasy “King of the Elves,” set for release for Christmas 2012. Those films will be released in both 3-D and two-dimensional formats.

Pixar’s upcoming releases include “Toy Story 3” in June 2010; “newt,” a love story involving the last two blue-footed newts alive, set for the summer 2011; the Scottish fantasy “The Bear and the Bow” for Christmas 2011; and “Cars 2” in the summer of 2012.

Pixar also plans to rerelease the original “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” in the 3-D format.

During its lengthy presentation, Disney also showed a 30-minute clip of “Wall-E,” set for release June 27. It tells a love story between the title character, a robot left alone on Earth for 700 years, and another robot named Eve sent to look for life.

“The population had to abandon Earth for a while, and they left little Wall-E there to clean it up,” said Richard Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

The only clue creators gave for the upcoming “Toy Story 3” tale was that Andy, the boy who owned the toys, has grown up and is about to head off to college.

“Wall-E” is the first Pixar release since last summer’s “Ratatouille,” which grossed more than $620 million at the worldwide box office.

“Ratatouille” was the last publicly disclosed Pixar picture in development before Disney’s acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios in May 2006 for $7.5 billion in stock.

The acquisition put Lasseter as the creative head at both Disney and Pixar studios and revamped the way Disney made animated films.

Lasseter was the director of the first two “Toy Story” hits and a former Disney animator.

In “Up,” 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) puts balloons on his house to fly to South America to fulfill a promise to his late wife to live in paradise.

“We start with unusual premises,” said Ed Catmull, Pixar co-founder and president of Pixar and Disney’s animated studios. “We go down a path where we’re initially always a little scared because we’re doing something brand new. It’s challenging, but out of that challenge comes the new and the interesting.”

Disney’s commitment to 3-D also reflects a move away from Disney’s traditional strength in hand-drawn films, but Catmull said some 600 hand animators remained at the studios.

Disney also planned to release four computer-animated “Tinker Bell” movies straight to DVD and Blu-ray discs every year starting in October.

In a deal announced last month, four studios — Disney, News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox, Viacom Inc.’s Paramount, and Universal Pictures, which is owned by General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal — agreed to help finance and equip 10,000 screens in the U.S. and Canada to accommodate 3-D movies.

The conversion will cost as much as $700 million and take three years.

Box office figures have shown that the enveloping feel of 3-D can attract two to three times more moviegoers who are willing to pay as much as $3 more per ticket, analysts said.

Theater owners and studios hope the offerings will help bring people back to multiplexes for an experience that cannot be matched by increasingly sophisticated home theater systems.

The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Shia LaBeouf, one of the franchise’s new castmembers, announced the title of the much-hyped, long-awaited flick in dramatic fashion at MTV’s Video Music Awards (see “Britney Spears Kicks Off VMAs With James Bond-Meets-S&M; Opening Number”). For months, if not years, the name of this latest Indy adventure has been debated. Last month, it seemed that the field of contenders had been narrowed when it was discovered that Lucasfilm had registered six names with the Motion Picture Association of America. In addition to the winning name, there was “Indiana Jones and the City of Gods,” “Indiana Jones and the Destroyer of Worlds,” “Indiana Jones and the Fourth Corner of the Earth,” “Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Gold,” and “Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Covenant.”

Ever since the last Indiana Jones adventure, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” was released in 1989, rumors of a fourth film have run wild. Several high-profile Hollywood writers, including Frank Darabont (“The Shawshank Redemption”) (see “After ‘Waste Of A Year’ On ‘Indy 4,’ Director Rebounds With Stephen King’s ‘Mist’ “) and M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”) were signed on to pen the sequel in the last few years. In the end, it was a polished script by David Koepp (“War of the Worlds”) that convinced Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford to break out the famed fedora one more time. The film has been shooting since June in locations ranging from Connecticut to Hawaii.

The story line is being kept under wraps for now. But we do know that several new castmembers are part of the adventure. The aforementioned LaBeouf has been rumored to be playing Jones’ long-lost son. And his mother could be none other than Marion Ravenwood from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Spielberg announced that Karen Allen would reprise her role as Ravenwood during a dramatic Comic-Con presentation in July.

Ford introduced actor Ray Winstone (“Beowulf”) in that same presentation, describing him as his “sidekick.” Also in the cast are Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and John Hurt. The most pervasive rumors have them pegged as a villain and the long-lost Abner Ravenwood (Marion’s father) respectively. Sean Connery will not reprise his role as Indiana Jones’ father, saying he finds retirement “too damned much fun” (see ” ‘Indiana Jones 4’ Loses Sean Connery As Indy’s Dad, Picks Up John Hurt”).

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is set for release May 22.


I can’t WAIT till the Lego video Game 🙂

Spiderman 3

Like it needs any more advertisement! 🙂 It’s OUT! And I can’t wait to see it! I have been watching the other twoi movies! I think we are going to see it next weekend at an IMAX theater! Can’t WAIT!

THE NOMINATIONS ARE HERE!

NOMINATIONS BY CATEGORY – 79TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio – BLOOD DIAMOND
Ryan Gosling – HALF NELSON
Peter O’Toole – VENUS
Will Smith – THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Forest Whitaker – THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin – LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jackie Earle Haley – LITTLE CHILDREN
Djimon Hounsou – BLOOD DIAMOND
Eddie Murphy – DREAMGIRLS
Mark Wahlberg – THE DEPARTED

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz – VOLVER
Judi Dench – NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Helen Mirren – THE QUEEN
Meryl Streep – THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Kate Winslet – LITTLE CHILDREN

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza – BABEL
Cate Blanchett – NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Abigail Breslin – LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jennifer Hudson – DREAMGIRLS
Rinko Kikuchi – BABEL

Best animated feature film of the year
CARS
HAPPY FEET
MONSTER HOUSE

Achievement in art direction
DREAMGIRLS
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
PAN’S LABYRINTH
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST
THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in cinematography
THE BLACK DAHLIA
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE ILLUSIONIST
PAN’S LABYRINTH
THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in costume design
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
DREAMGIRLS
MARIE ANTOINETTE
THE QUEEN

Achievement in directing
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
THE QUEEN
UNITED 93

Best documentary feature
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
JESUS CAMP
MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY

Best documentary short subject
THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT
RECYCLED LIFE
REHEARSING A DREAM
TWO HANDS

Achievement in film editing
BABEL
BLOOD DIAMOND
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
UNITED 93

Best foreign language film of the year
AFTER THE WEDDING
DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS
PAN’S LABYRINTH
WATER

Achievement in makeup
APOCALYPTO
CLICK
PAN’S LABYRINTH

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
BABEL
THE GOOD GERMAN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
PAN’S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“I Need to Wake Up” – AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
“Listen” – DREAMGIRLS
“Love You I Do” – DREAMGIRLS
“Our Town” – CARS
“Patience” – DREAMGIRLS

Best motion picture of the year
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN

Best animated short film
THE DANISH POET
LIFTED
THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL
MAESTRO
NO TIME FOR NUTS

Best live action short film
BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA (BINTA Y LA GRAN IDEA)
ÉRAMOS POCOS (ONE TOO MANY)
HELMER & SON
THE SAVIOUR
WEST BANK STORY

Achievement in sound editing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST

Achievement in sound mixing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
DREAMGIRLS
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST

Achievement in visual effects
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST
POSEIDON
SUPERMAN RETURNS

Adapted screenplay
BORAT CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
LITTLE CHILDREN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Original screenplay
BABEL
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
PAN’S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

Next – Pixar – Ratatouille


(ra-ta-tou-ye)

This should be interesting! Very curious to see what direction this is going to go in 🙂 Brad Bird is amazing! The title does not seem very Pixar! We will see!

RATATOUILLE is currently slated for a June 29, 2007 release. It’s co-directed by Brad Bird (you know, he directed IRON GIANT and THE INCREDIBLES and Bob Peterson – whose involvement with past Pixar projects ranges rom art/animation to voice work.

Ratatouille is a rat who lives in the sewers near a fancy uptown and upscale restaurant run by a famous but eccentric French chef, Chaz Morinto. This rat fancies himself a gourmand, but his father tells him he should grow up and learn to eat garbage like other rats. When Ratatouille is caught in the restaurant one night, he endangers every rat in the sewer when The Exterminator is called.

Cast:
Brad Garrett as Chef Chazz
Johnny Depp as Ratatouille
Russell Allman as Snive
Christopher Lee as Pat
Keanu Reeves as Garr
Christopher Walken as Winston
Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Exterminator

The trailer for Diseney/Pixar’s RATATOUILLE is now on-line. This trailer is in French…appropriately enough…and is (presumably) the same material we’ll get in English when it’s attached to CARS (which will be released June 9).

AIC News: ShoWest: Quint has seen Pixar’s RATATOUILLE trailer!!!

You can access the RATATOUILLE trailer Here

Here is the French-to-English translation!

[Beginning]
And tonight before dessert, for your enjoyment, we introduce the cheese plate. We have this delicious goat cheese bell, real lite, real sweet. Then, an ewe that will satisfy you with its generous perfume. But, last but not least, a real old and real special…

It’s a rat!

[freeze]
– And there I am. I think I have to reconsider my life. There’s nothing I can do, it’s over my strength, I love good food, ok? And good food is very hard to find for a rat.

– You would find I you weren’t so requiring.
– I don’t want to eat in dustbins, dad… What’s that?
– I have no idea.
– You have no idea, but you eat it anyway, don’t you?
– You know, if you can close the exit after you throw up, you have a whole lot of possibilities for food.
– Voilà! That’s exactly what I meant.

(Over the movie title) Nothing of this would have happened I we did not live in Paris! And it’s sooo easy to find good food in Paris! But… it’s dangerous. [un-freeze].

– You have to reconsider you life!

– You know, he is right!

– Dad, it’s enough!

[End]

The title says : Diner will be served… summer 2007.

www.Ratatouille.com

IMDB : Ratatouille (2007)

New Sony Digital Projectors coming to a Movie Theater near you!

LOS ANGELES – After more than a decade of talking about it, movie theaters and studios are finally rolling out digital projectors that show sharper, brighter images without cracks, pops or hisses. rnrnThis weekend, Sony Electronics will enter the field with a projector that displays the sharpest resolution envisioned under a set of standards issued for digital cinema. rnrnMovie studios last year agreed on such technology standards, which will allow components made by different manufacturers to be interoperable. Those components include the projector itself, the computer that stores the movie and sound, software that compresses the huge digital files and security systems that prevent piracy. rnrnAnd, after years of debate about who would pay for the systems, studios and companies that sell digital cinema systems agreed to share the cost.rnrn- OK Where is the IMAX Theaters 🙂 Looks Killer

read more | digg story

Cars from Pixar, Second trailer


The second trailer of Cars froml Pixar is available. Chris was telling me about it the other day and I just got sround to checking it out! Pixar tends to kind of piss me off most of the times. You never really have a clue about any of thier movies until a month before they come out! I guess it is the case with any movie, but damn it! I WANT TO KNOW ! hehe Anyway the movie does look KILLER! and I really can’t wait for another Pixar classic! Chris was also telling me about the website! Check it out!

Disney Presents a Pixar film ‘Cars’ :: The Official Movie Site

Pixar – Cars

Pixar’s Magic Man – John Lasseter

John Lasseter and his merry band of animators have a way with blockbusters. The master storyteller explains how he does it – and how he plans to sprinkle some of that Pixar dust at Disney.

NEW YORK (FORTUNE) – Here’s the scene: It’s 3 P.M., Wednesday, Jan. 25, in Sound Stage 7 on the studio lot of Walt Disney Co. in Burbank. Five hundred cartoon people – artists, producers, voice artists, etc. – are jammed into the warehouse-like building, murmuring and fidgeting in anticipation.

Just yesterday, Disney (Research) CEO Bob Iger and Pixar chairman Steve Jobs announced a surprise $7.4 billion deal in which Pixar Animation Studios, which brought the world the Toy Story movies, “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles,” would become a wholly-owned part of Disney.

The deal is surprising because Pixar’s longtime distribution pact with Disney fell apart in acrimony and is due to expire after the release in June of “Cars,” a kaleidoscopic celebration of racing, Route 66, and life in the slow lane. But in an amazing plot twist, not only is Pixar becoming part of Disney, but the upstart studio is also taking over the creative direction of Disney’s own flailing animation operations – the people in this very room! For Iger, the deal is a bet-the-house gamble to save Disney animation from creative oblivion. It’s as if Nemo swallowed the whale.

When Dick Cook, the chairman of Walt Disney Studios, introduces Pixar’s John Lasseter, the man who will soon be their boss, the crowd bursts into cheers and applause that goes on and on. The 49-year-old Lasseter is dressed in his trademark blue jeans, sneakers, and cacophonous Hawaiian-print shirt, and all he can do is blush and beam. “It was almost like a homecoming,” recalls Cook, who first met Lasseter when the two had summer jobs as ride operators at Disneyland in the late 1970s.

For Lasseter, who once got fired by Disney, it was sweet vindication. And it marked another amazing chapter in his storybook life, which resembles nothing so much as a Pixar plot line: Protagonist follows his heart, perseveres, gets the happy ending. His peers will tell you Lasseter’s an animation genius up there with Walt Disney himself. Here, the master storyteller tells his own tale.

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Pixar @ MOMA / 35th Birthday

Pixar Animation Studios

MoMA.org | Exhibitions | 2005 | Pixar

This year for my birthday, I decided to venture into the city with Jos and lil Nicky to the Museum Of Modern Art! They had an exhibit on the 20th Anniversary of Pixar, showcasing the art and animation of my favorite movie company! It was really good! They had a 10 minute wide screen projection video showing all of the movies environments on a cork board. The movie then zoomed in and all of the worlds that the characters in the various movies lived. there were no spoken words, just music and it was real effective. I took a few shots, but was told I couldn’t take any photos 🙁 Go on the museums web site and take the audio tour, its really cool! I bought a cool book showing all the art a cool postcard set and a cool Incredibles poster for my new New York office 🙂 The best part of the exhibit was seeing all the new cars and sets for their new movie Cars. The rest of the museum was cool as well. I actually recognized many pieces and will go back again someday 🙂

Disney Buys Pixar For a Cool 7.4 Billion

Man, I read the news yesterday and I think I am still shocked! I guess it is pretty cool. I instantly saw people shouting out that Pixar movies are gonna now suck! Only time will tell! Here is the news:

Disney eats Pixar – BREAKING NEWS – Cinematical: “Disney eats Pixar – BREAKING NEWS
Posted Jan 24th 2006 7:15PM by Karina Longworth
Filed under: Animation, Deals, Disney

Various outlets are reporting that Disney has confirmed that it will buy Pixar. As part of the deal, Disney will shell out the nice round number of $9.85 billion to hand over control of their existing animation division to Pixar’s Ed Catmull and John Lasseter. In addition to taking over Disney Animation, Lasseter will also become the principal creative director of the Imagineering group ? which presumably means we can look forward to The Incredibles House at Disneyland sometime in 2012. Apple/Pixar mastermind Steve Jobs, who owns 50 percent of Pixar shares, will take a stake in Disney worth about $3.7 billion. He’ll also join the Disney board.

Though the deal is not exactly a surprise, it still qualifies as another bold move from new Disney chairman Robert Iger, who will seemingly stop at nothing to distance himself from his ousted predecessor, new CNBC personality Michael Eisner. Disney stock rose a whopping 1 cent this afternoon after the announcement.”

Disney pulls in Pixar

7.4B deal makes Steve Jobs top shareholder

BY PHYLLIS FURMAN – DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER

Disney is looking to turn its takeover of animation film studio Pixar, whose big hits include ‘Toy Story,’ into a box office bonanza while looking to Steve Jobs for boost in digital dealings.

Disney’s pulled off an “Incredible” deal.
“The Lion King” and “Nemo” will be under one roof now following Disney’s $7.4 billion all-stock deal to acquire animation powerhouse Pixar.

Pixar chief Steve Jobs, will become Disney’s biggest individual shareholder and will get a seat on the company’s board. The Apple Computer chief who sparked a revolution in media and entertainment with the iPod, is expected to use his muscle to pump up Disney as it continues to explore digital deals.

John Lasseter, the creative force behind Pixar’s hit-making machine, has been named chief creative officer of the Disney Pixar animation studios. Pixar’s president, Ed Catmull, was named president of the cartoon-making studio.

By acquiring Pixar, Disney chief Bob Iger is looking to vault Disney from animation laggard to box office champ. While Disney long ago forfeited its animation crown thanks to bombs like “Treasure Planet,” Pixar has ruled for more than a decade with computer animated megahits like “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles,” and “Finding Nemo.”

A current co-production and distribution deal between the two was set to expire this summer after the release of “Cars,” and Jobs was threatening to walk.

“Nothing has created as much value (for Disney) as great animation,” Iger told analysts in conference call yesterday. “Pixar has created some of the most memorable, high-quality films of this genre.”

Jobs praised Disney’s distribution assets, including its theme parks. “This looked to be the most exciting path to Pixar’s future,” he said on the call.

Disney will issue 2.3 Disney shares for each Pixar share. Disney closed yesterday at $25.99, up 47 cents. Pixar closed Tuesday at $57.57, down 70 cents. The $7.4 billion Disney is paying includes about $1 billion of Pixar cash.

The price was somewhat higher than Wall Street had expected. “It’s a full price,” said Peter Goldman, portfolio manager at Chicago Asset Management, which owns Disney shares.

Goldman and others questioned whether Disney was buying at a time when computer animation might be peaking. But he added, “I’m more enthusiastic about Disney with Pixar than I was without it.”

Others wondered how Pixar’s independent culture would fit with Disney’s buttoned-up approach. Pixar will remain at its Emeryville, Calif.-based headquarters.

“Disney is bureaucratic. People roller-blade down the halls of Pixar,” said Marla Backer, an analyst at Research Associates. “I don’t think Pixar needs Disney looking over its shoulders.”

Pixar Animation Studios

New Disney-Pixar Deal Likely

IGN: New Disney-Pixar Deal Likely: “New Disney-Pixar Deal Likely
Jobs wants to stay at the House of Mouse.
by IGN FilmForce

November 9, 2005 – Nearly two years after Pixar topper Steve Jobs first announced that the CG animation studio was parting ways with Walt Disney Pictures, the entities appear poised to kiss and make up. During a recent third-quarter earnings conference call, Jobs was hopeful about renewing relations with the House of Mouse.
‘We are in deep discussions with Disney,’ he said, noting that that they’d like to have a new distribution deal in place as soon as possible. ‘It’s worth the few extra months of effort if there is a chance of continuing our relationship with Disney and our discussions right now are very productive,’ said Jobs.

That’s a completely different tune than the Pixar CEO was singing back in early 2004 when then-Disney honcho Michael Eisner refused to meet the terms demanded by Jobs for a new Pixar distribution agreement. Pixar reportedly wanted 100% of the box office take on future films, a modest distribution fee and the lion’s share of ancillary revenue. Eisner balked.
Things have warmed between the companies since Eisner’s departure and serious talks restarted after his successor Robert Iger was put in place.

The box office success of Chicken Little may give Disney a little better footing, proving that they’re not completely hosed without Pixar’s brand of computer-animated movie magic. But Pixar isn’t in a bad way either, the studio’s earnings rose 22 percent last quarter on robust home video sales of prior releases like Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.”

THANK GOD hehe

History
Pixar is led by Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Computer) as its chairman and CEO. The company started as a division of Lucasfilm. It was purchased by Jobs for US$10 million in 1986, establishing itself as an independent company. Given the company’s later successes, Lucasfilm’s sale was described by the magazine Total Film in 2004 as the 6th “dumbest decision in movie history”.
Jobs co-founded the newly independent company with Dr. Edwin E. Catmull, who still remains a member of the executive team. John Lasseter —a two-time Academy Award-winning director and animator— oversees all of the company’s projects as Executive Vice President of the Creative Department. Other notable members of the executive team are Sarah McArthur (Executive Vice President of Production), Simon Bax (Executive Vice President and chief financial officer), and Lois Scali (Executive Vice President and General Counsel).

Pixar’s initial focus was as a high-end hardware company- They produced a visual processing computer, which primarily sold to government agencies and the medical community. The machine required a computer built by Sun Microsystems to operate. While the machine never sold well, John Lasseter began creating short animations to show at SIGGRAPH to demonstrate the power of the system. These animations, such as Luxo Jr. impressed audiences at the show because they demonstrated not simply a raw rendering, but personality.

As poor sales of Pixar’s computers threatened to put the company out of business, Lasseter’s animation department began selling commercials to outside companies. After substantial cuts to most of the computer department, Pixar began it’s current life by making a $26,000,000 deal with Disney, to produce Toy Story.

Disney & Pixar
All of Pixar’s major features thus far have been made in collaboration with Walt Disney Pictures; Pixar handles all of the production aspects whereas Disney handles all distribution aspects. In 1997, after the release of their initial film, Toy Story, both companies signed a 10-year, 5-picture deal, in which the two companies split production costs and profits — with Disney receiving 12.5% of the revenues and the rights to the films. The arrangement has been very profitable for both companies, as Pixar films have been far more successful than Disney’s own animated films. Pixar’s five feature films have grossed more than $2.5 billion, making it, picture for picture, the most successful movie house of all time. However, Disney’s CEO, Michael Eisner, and Jobs did not get along. Because of personal and business disagreements, the relationship will end in 2006 with the movie Cars being the last joint venture between the two companies.

The two companies attempted to reach a new agreement in early 2004. For the new deal, Pixar only wanted to pay Disney a distribution fee with no other profit sharing or rights to the properties. This was unacceptable to Disney, but Pixar refused any concessions. Pixar is currently looking for a new company to distribute its films, and many other firms are eager suitors. Disney retains the rights to the earlier films and can make sequels to them. It has begun production of Toy Story 3, without Pixar’s involvement.

Feature films
Toy Story (1995)
A Bug’s Life (1998)
Toy Story 2 (1999) (Originally slated as a direct-to-video film, Disney concluded this film did not count towards the ‘5 picture’ contract when it was released in theatres)
Monsters Inc. (2001)
Finding Nemo (2003, Academy Award winner 2004)
The Incredibles (2004)
Cars (scheduled for release in 2006)
Ratatouille (scheduled for release in 2006)
Ray Gun (rumored) (possible release in 2007)

Short films (“Shorts”)
The Adventures of André and Wally B. (1984, Lucasfilm, prior to creation of Pixar)
Luxo Jr. (1986, became the source of today’s Pixar logo)
Red’s Dream (1987)
Tin Toy (1988, Academy Award winner 1988))
Knick knack (1989)
Geri’s Game (1997, Academy Award winner 1997))
For the Birds (2000, Academy Award winner 2001)
Mike’s New Car, (2002, based on characters in Monsters, Inc.)
Boundin’ (2004)

Meet the Robinsons

Why do I torture myself? Just when one wait is over, I discover another new one 🙂 I just stumbled apon Disney’s next new movie, Meet The Robinsons! Looks Killer!

– Disney has given the world its first look at their new animated feature Meet the Robinsons. The picture above shows the animated cast of the film, based on William Joyce’s beloved 1990 book A Day with Wilbur Robinson. In the tale, Wilbur is a boy genius who creates a fantastic Jack Kirby-esque machine which ends up unlocking time, allowing Wilbur to visit with a future whose survival depends on him.

Meet the Robinsons (2006)

Cinematical: “Meet the Robinsons”

The Sky Is Falling, The Sky Is Falling!

… and its about time! I have waited for the latest Disney movie for what seems like 2 years! They had bumped this movie back and delayed it so many times I am glad to finally see it hear! I hope to see it over the weekend. It go some so so reviews, so we will see how it does. This is Disney’s first REAL computer animated movie without Pixar, so the pressure is on! I believe Dinosaur was also computer animated, but it didn’t do so hot 🙂

Variety.com – Reviews – Chicken Little

Is sky really falling for Disney animation?

Chicken Little — The Official Movie Website