Monsters vs. Aliens

Video Game Review: ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ Will Entertain Fans of Film

BrianTT — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:07:12 -0600

Video Game Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Even part-time game players have a movie tie-in horror story to share. Show me one blockbuster that produced a quality video game companion and I’ll show you ten that failed to do so. So no one’s more surprised than this writer at how enjoyable Activision’s “Monsters vs. Aliens” is from start and nearly to finish.

It’s not a perfect game, but judged on the scale of movie tie-in releases, “Monsters vs. Aliens” is a very pleasant surprise. To be blunt, I enjoyed my experience with the game more than the film itself, something incredibly rare in the world of movie tie-ins.

Monsters vs. Aliens
Photo credit: Activision

“Monsters vs. Aliens” features 25 stages over four levels of the game. No, it’s not very long. Even an average player shouldn’t take more than five hours although there are also mini-game challenges and a point structure that makes the replay value of the actual levels a bit higher. But it should be clear that, like the movie, this is a game primarily for children or young adults. Don’t expect nail-biting action.

Monsters vs. Aliens
Photo credit: Activision

Each level alternates between one of the three primary characters from the movie - Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon in the film), The Missing Link (Will Arnett), and B.O.B.(Seth Rogen). Each character has a different skill set and each level is designed a little differently.

For example, all of the Ginormica levels play off the scene in the film in which she uses cars as roller skates. They are all race levels and all require a combination of jumping and dodging attacks as the players speeds from point A to point B. The Missing Link’s levels are a little more action-based as the player punches, spins, and leaps his way to safety. Finally, B.O.B.’s levels are more strategy, as the amorphous blob has to swallow boxes and enemies to avoid slipping through grates. The final B.O.B. levels are literally mazes.

The alternating strategies of each level - the speed of Ginormica, action of Link, and strategy of B.O.B.- make for an experience that rarely feels stale. By the final levels, “MvA” does get a bit too repetitive for its own good, but most movie tie-in games are repetitive before the first hour is over, so a little boredom by hour five can be forgiven.

The graphics on “Monsters vs. Aliens” are a mixed bag. The film itself looks so amazing that some people might be turned off by some of the graphic problems in the tie-in but the gameplay is remarkably smooth. There are no glitches to be found and while the 2-D style may be a turn-off at first for fans of the 3-D movie, one quickly gets accustomed to the look of the game.

Monsters vs. Aliens
Photo credit: Activision

What’s wrong with “Monsters vs. Aliens”? The multi-player, which allows a second player to join in as Dr. Cockroach and help out player one with a targeted shooting system is a little weird. It feels like an afterthought. I can’t imagine anyone would enjoy playing the Cockroach role for too long. It seems like a way to crowbar the character into the game.

It also feels like “MvA” could have had a lower price point than $49.99 for the PS3 version. $10 an hour with no online multiplayer capability is a stretch. Especially when hours 3-5 feature as much repetition as this title. Activision should have either cut the price in half or double the game length.

Your enjoyment of “Monsters vs. Aliens” will come down to your tolerance for repetition - using the same gameplay devices in increasingly difficult situations - and your acceptance of the brevity of the title going in. This gamer, one who grew up in an era when Mario could really just jump and occasionally shoot fireballs, is more tolerant of repetition than a lot of other critics, especially when what’s being repeated is as enjoyable as the action in “Monsters vs. Aliens”.

The fact is that kids, the main target audience for a game named “Monsters vs. Aliens,” don’t care about repetition. They’ll watch the same movie and show over and over again and listen to the same “High School Musical” and “Miley Cyrus” records until their parents’ heads explode. The fact that “Monsters vs. Aliens” is only moderately repetitive for this older critic means it will likely be even less of a problem for younger gamers. “MvA” could have been better, but I’ll admit that I expected it to be much, much worse.

‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ was released and developed by Activision. It is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older). The version reviewed was for the PS3, but the title is also available for the Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2 and PC. It was released on March 24th, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DreamWorks’ ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ Has Great 3D Concept, But Falls Flat

BrianTT — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:12:17 -0600

Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Hasn’t Pixar proven that animation can be more than just concept and celebrity voice work? The problem with “Monsters vs. Aliens” is that the team behind it clearly prioritized nearly every element of the film over actual storytelling. It looks good, has some talented people behind the mic, and is visually engaging, but there’s nothing memorable about the script at all. The 3D may pop, but the story is flat.

Rob Letterman (writer/director of “Shark Tale”) and Conrad Vernon (director of “Shrek 2”) direct a script that took five writers to bring to the big screen and feels like it was haphazardly constructed like kids playing the story game on a playground. One kid starts the story and then another picks it up and so on and so on.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Monsters vs. Aliens” in our reviews section.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” pushes its 3D gimmick from the very beginning, opening with an asteroid belt designed to provoke oohs and aahs and moving into a sky watcher bouncing a rubber ball into the audience. Kids will be impressed. Adults will remember that 3D is just a trick, not an actualy storytelling device.

Through that asteroid belt, a giant space rock hurtles toward the Earth. The debris is headed right for the wedding of Susan (Reese Witherspoon) and Derek (Paul Rudd) and the poor bride gets slammed to the ground, slowly turning into Ginormica, the film’s variatoin on the 50-Foot Woman.

‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ stars the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland, and Paul Rudd. It was written by Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky, Rob Letterman, Jonathan Aibel, and Glenn Berger and directed by Conrad Vernon & Rob Letterman. It opens on March 27th, 2009. It is rated PG.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Monsters vs. Aliens” review.

B.O.B.(Seth Rogen), The Missing Link (Will Arnett) and Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie) introduce themselves to their new monster roommate.
Photo credit: Monsters vs. Aliens & © 2009 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Slideshow: 26-Image Gallery From ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ With Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen

BrianTT — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:29:40 -0600

CHICAGO – This 26-image slideshow contains the press images for Dreamworks’ “Monsters vs. Aliens,” starring Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland and Paul Rudd. Directed by Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon, the film opens on Friday, March 27th, 2009.

Synopsis: “When California girl Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. The military jumps into action and Susan is captured and secreted away to a covert government compound. There, she is renamed Ginormica and placed in confinement with a ragtag group of Monsters: the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. In a moment of desperation, the President is persuaded to enlist the motley crew of Monsters to combat the Alien Robot and save the world from imminent destruction.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Monsters vs. Aliens & © 2009 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.

MVA004: An invading alien robot pursues Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon)—a.k.a. Ginormica, having been clobbered with a meteor full of outer space gunk and growing to 49-feet-11-inches tall.
MVA009: Groom-to-be Derek Dietl (Paul Rudd) and fiancee Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) share a pre-nuptial moment.
MVA011: General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland) convinces The President (Stephen Colbert) that his monster attack plan is more workable than launching nuclear weapons.
MVA015: Having been clobbered with a meteor full of outer space gunk and growing to 49-feet-11-inches tall, bride-to-be Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon), finds her guests fleeing in terror from her wedding.
MVA018: Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) is introduced to The Missing Link (Will Arnett).
MVA019: B.O.B.(Seth Rogen), The Missing Link (Will Arnett) and Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie) introduce themselves to their new monster roommate.
MVA022: The mysterious alien robot turns out to be very hostile indeed.
MVA029: Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) evades the alien robot by donning taxicab skates.
MVA040: General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland) advises Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) on the way to battle the invading alien robot.
MVA043: The Missing Link (Will Arnett) and Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon, right) en route to alien ground zero.
MVA045: The Missing Link (Will Arnett) and Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) chat before she is reunited with her family.
MVA051: The Missing Link (Will Arnett), Dr. Cockroach, Ph. D. (Hugh Laurie) and B.O.B.(Seth Rogen) are on their best behavior while meeting their fellow monster Susan/Ginormica’s parents.
MVA052: These Monsters—The Missing Link (Will Arnett), Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon), B.O.B.(Seth Rogen), Insectosaurus and Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie)—are defenders of the planet.
MVA064: Invading alien Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) during a rare moment of self-doubt.
MVA065: Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) powers through the atmosphere.
MVA088: B.O.B.(Seth Rogen), The Missing Link (Will Arnett), Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie), and Ginormica (Reese
Witherspoon) head to a reunion with Susan/Ginormica’s family.
MVA090: Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are introduced to The Missing Link (Will Arnett), Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie) and B.O.B.(Seth Rogen) by their daughter, Susan (Reese Witherspoon), now known as Girnormica.
MVA091: B.O.B.(Seth Rogen) meets a hot little number in green at the Murphy family reunion.
MVA095: Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) is treated to an alien diatribe courtesy of invading alien Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson).
MVA099: General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland) shares his idea about how to defeat the alien force with the President (Stephen Colbert).
MVA106: Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie), chats with B.O.B.(Seth Rogen) en route to do battle with the alien robot.
MVA107: Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) battles the alien robot on the Golden Gate Bridge.
MVA109: General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland) receives a salute from conscripted Monster Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon) before the big battle.
MVA115: The Missing Link (Will Arnett), Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon), B.O.B.(Seth Rogen) and Dr. Cockroach, Ph. D. (Hugh Laurie) board the alien ship to battle the outer space threat.
KEYART1: Key Art 1.
MvA-1-Sht IMAX 3D: IMax Poster.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 18-Image Gallery For UK Premiere of ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ With Reese Witherspoon

BrianTT — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:00:06 -0600

CHICAGO – This 18-image slideshow contains the red carpet images from the arrival at the UK premiere of Dreamworks’ “Monsters vs. Aliens”. Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, directors Conrad Vernon & Rob Letterman, producer Lisa Stewart & DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg were in attendance. The film, which also features voice work by Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, and Stephen Colbert opens on March 27th, 2009.

MvA_premiere_01: Kiefer Sutherland attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_02: Actress Lisa Maxwell attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_03: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_04: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_05: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_06: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_07: Kiefer Sutherland attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_08: Kiefer Sutherland attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_09: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_10: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_11: Movie character Ginormica during the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_12: Directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon attend the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_13: Actress and Model Camilla Rutherford attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_14: Actress and Model Camilla Rutherford attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_15: Kiefer Sutherland attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_16: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_17: Reese Witherspoon attends the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.
MvA_premiere_18: Kiefer Sutherland and Reese Witherspoon attend the Monsters v. Aliens UK premiere at the Vue West End on March 11, 2009 in London, England.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

The Best, Worst 2009 Super Bowl Movie Commercials

BrianTT — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:36:42 -0700

CHICAGO – While Al Michaels and John Madden may have been talking about the incredible play of Santonio Holmes and Larry Fitzgerald in the 2009 Super Bowl, audiences around the world were bombarded with previews for big movies for the summer of 2009 by studios hoping that their films would be the real subject of post-game conversation.

A total of 11 major spots aired during the annual festivities including “Land of the Lost,” “G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra,” “Angels & Demons,” “Fast & Furious,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Up,” “Year One,” “Star Trek,” “Duplicity,” “Race to Witch Mountain".

What did we learn from the movie commercials during last night's game? Besides the fact that nothing from your childhood is safe any more? (From "Land of the Lost" to "G.I. Joe," it's only a matter of time before the Hollywood machine works its way through every toy and TV show of your youth.) Which previews were the best and which were the worst? Let us offer our opinion. Watch the previews yourself and leave your own.

THE BEST

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Here’s the sign of a sequel preview that works - it gets even the people who didn’t like the first movie talking about it. Selling a sequel to a fans of the original is like shooting fish in a barrel, but the spot for the second “Transformers” movie created the biggest “whoa” ripple of any of Sunday night’s ads among viewers. With almost no dialogue, massive explosions, and effects that look more impressive than the first, “Revenge of the Fallen” scored a touchdown. There’s no doubt that what will probably be at least the loudest if not the biggest movie of the summer was a perfect fit for the most over-the-top TV event of the year.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” was directed by Michael Bay and stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Rainn Wilson, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, Isabel Lucas, and Tyrese Gibson. It opens on June 26th, 2009.

“Land of the Lost”

It’s hard to tell with just 45 seconds, but the spot for “Land of the Lost” popped up, got people talking, and got out. The jury may still be deliberating if the movie will be any good but the blend of comedy and action has summer family hit written all over it. In a summer overrun with high-profile sequels, the spot for “Land of the Lost” did exactly what it needed to in under a minute - start building buzz.

“Land of the Lost” was directed by Brad Silberling and stars Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, and Jorma Taccone. It opens on June 5th, 2009.

“Duplicity”

Clive Owen and Julia Roberts in a spy/romantic comedy with tones of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”? Where do I sign up? Written and directed by the man behind “Michael Clayton,” the spot for “Duplicity” doesn’t give away too of the actual film but offers just enough of a taste to get audiences intrigued. This spot ran early in the game when a lot of people were still arriving at parties and filling out their squares, so it doesn’t have quite the same buzz the morning after, but it was still one of the best.

“Duplicity” was directed by Tony Gilroy and stars Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, and Paul Giamatti. It opens on March 20th, 2009.

“Year One”

I might be a little blinded by this one. The actual spot is just so-so, but the idea of Michael Cera, Paul Rudd, David Cross, and Jack Black sharing screen time has me as excited as any summer comedy. Considering Sunday night was packed with high-budget action movie commercials, it was refreshing to see something funny and low-key, changing speed from the predictable blockbuster ads that we were all expecting to see.

“Year One” was directed by Harold Ramis and stars Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde, David Cross, Paul Rudd, Oliver Platt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Hank Azaria. It opens on June 19th, 2009.

“Up”

I agree that this one doesn’t work as well as the early ads for “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” or “WALL-E,” but Pixar has built up so much goodwill with their amazing streak of brilliance that a lot can be foprgiven. In fact, it’s clear that they’re aware of that, using clips from their last few movies to get audiences prepared for “Up.” I was hoping for more footage and something, a visual image or great line, to get people buzzing this morning. The spot is oddly forgettable. But I’m also pretty confident that this is just the beginning and we’ll see some great stuff soon. This was just a taste.

“Up” was directed by Pete Docter & Bob Peterson and features voice work from Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Ed Asner, and Delroy Lindo. It opens on May 29th, 2009.

The 10 Most Anticipated Movies of Early 2009

BrianTT — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:58:10 -0700

CHICAGO – Believe it or not, there are movies worth marking your calendar for between Oscar season and the big summer blockbusters of 2009.

Over the next few months, the buzz for films like “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Star Trek,” “Angels & Demons,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “Night at the Museum 2,” “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Public Enemies,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “New Moon,” and Pixar’s “Up” is going to become absolutely deafening, but there are well over a hundred flicks hitting the multiplex before those box office juggernauts take center stage and, believe it or not, a handful are actually worth your time.

The first third of 2008 produced quality films in “Cloverfield,” “In Bruges,” “The Visitor,” “George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead,” “Snow Angels,” “Redbelt,” and “Paranoid Park”. Which, granted, was not an overwhelming display of memorable filmmaking, but the point is that even in a weak season like the one we were about to start at this point last year, there were still a few gems. So, the question is - what will the early season gems be in 2009?

Looking into our movie-loving crystal ball, we’ve tried to target the ten films from January to April 2009 that we might conceivably still be talking about twelve months from now. While we recognize that there are audiences out there with countdown clocks for the release of “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience” and “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” we are not members of that audience. And movies like “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “The Pink Panther 2,” and “The Fast and Furious” clearly have loyal fan followings but, if those sequels are even halfway decent, we’ll be surprised and satisfied. No, the idea was to try and find the 5-star films based on pedigree, plot, previews, potential, and assuming that a certain legal battle surrounding “Watchmen” goes the way that we think it will. So, without further ado…

The Soloist, from Paramount Pictures, opens on April 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

10. “The Soloist”
Release Date: April 24th
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener, Stephen Root, and Tom Hollander
Writer: Susannah Grant
Director: Joe Wright

Plot: The comeback kid of 2008, Robert Downey Jr., plays Steve Lopez, an LA Times journalist who discovers a former classical music prodigy living on the streets. Based on the true story, “The Soloist” details Lopez’s attempts at bringing the talented musician, played by Jamie Foxx, back to his feet.

Reason To Get Excited: Hanging onto the top ten by its dirty fingernails, “The Soloist” would have ranked a lot higher on this list if it hadn’t been bumped from the 2008 Oscar season for undisclosed reasons. That’s usually a bad sign. In fact, nearly everyone involved with making this drama seems to be distancing themselves from it, with Downey getting more press for his work on “Sherlock Holmes” and barely anyone talking about “The Soloist”. But there’s too much potential in that cast, the Oscar-nominated writer of “Erin Brokovich,” and the talented director of “Pride and Prejudice” and “Atonement” to completely dismiss this project sight unseen. Even the gorgeous score on the official site hints at a project that definitely should work. Yes, this could be the misstep in the Downey comeback and Foxx hasn’t really been stellar since he won his Oscar, but we’re not ready to give up on “The Soloist” yet.

The International, from Sony Pictures, opens on February 13th, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures

9. “The International”
Release Date: February 13th
Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomasen, Jack McGee, and Brian F. O’Byrne
Writer: Eric Singer
Director: Tom Tykwer

Plot: Clive Owen plays an Interpol agent working with a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney (Naomi Watts) in an effort to bring down one of the world’s most powerful banks. International espionage, worldwide cover-ups, and war-profiteering serve as the backdrop for what could be the action thriller of the winter.

Reason To Get Excited: Three words - Tykwer, Watts, Owen. The director of “Run Lola Run” and the stars of “Children of Men” and “Eastern Promises”. These names should give everyone reason to get excited. Why not higher on the list? Well, the preview looks a little goofy and early February is not often known for stellar action. Case in point - this weekend last year saw the release of the horrible “Jumper”. It seems unlikely that Owen, Watts, and Tykwer would make something that disposable with “The International,” but we’ll keep our fingers crossed that this will be the perfect Valentine’s Day alternative to “He’s Just Not That Into You” that we think it will be.

Adventureland, from Miramax Films, opens on March 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: Miramax Films

8. “Adventureland”
Release Date: March 27th
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, and Ryan Reynolds
Writer/Director: Greg Mottola

Plot: In the summer of 1987, a recent college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) takes a useless job at a local amusement park as he prepares for the real world.

Reason To Get Excited: Most people still think that Judd Apatow directed “Superbad,” but it was actually the talented Greg Mottola who helmed that hilarious flick and his comic follow-up looks like it has a similar charm. Eisenberg was great in “The Squid and the Whale,” Kristen Stewart has always hinted at potential better than the movies she chooses, and Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are currently the most talented male and female comedian on “Saturday Night Live”. There are several promising comedies in early 2009, but “Adventureland” is one of the most appealing.

Anna Faris as Brandi and Seth Rogen as Ronnie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ comedy “Observe and Report,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Photo credit: Peter Sorel

7. “Observe and Report”
Release Date: April 10th
Cast: Anna Faris, Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Patton Oswalt, and Michael Pena
Writer/Director: Jody Hill

Plot: Rogen plays the bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt, who’s called in to stop a flasher from destroying his mall, but he needs the help of a surly detective, played by the often-funny and usually surly Ray Liotta. Also, the great Patton Oswalt plays a character named “Cinnabon Man”. ‘Nuff said.

Reason To Get Excited: Seth Rogen and Anna Faris are two of the most reliably effective comedians working today. Don’t get me wrong. Faris has made some BAD career choices. But the same can’t be said for Rogen, who gave two of the best performances of his career last year in “Pineapple Express” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. And the great concept sounds like “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” but, you know, funny. We’re choosing to ignore that writer/director Jody Hill made the buzzed-about, though ultimately disappointing “The Foot Fist Way”. Everyone needs to start somewhere.

2009 Paramount Pictures Preview: ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Defiance,’ ‘The Uninvited,’ ‘Monsters vs. Aliens,’ More

BrianTT — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:04:19 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures has released official images, cast rosters, and synopsis information for the first half of their impressive 2009 slate of feature releases.

The 2009 Paramount films with available production stills include “Hotel For Dogs,” “Defiance,” “The Uninvited,” “I Love You, Man,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” “The Soloist,” “The Goods: The Don Ready Story,” “Star Trek,” “Imagine That,” and “Dance Flick”.

“Hotel For Dogs”
Release date: January 16th, 2009
Cast: Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt with Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle
Directed by: Thor Freudenthal
Written by: Jeff Lowell and Bob Schooley & Mark McCorkle
Synopsis:”Hotel for Dogs” stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle in a smart, funny comedy adventure that shows how far love and imagination can take you. When their new guardians forbid 16-year-old Andi (Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Austin) to have a pet, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and using Bruce’s talents as a mechanical genius, transform it into a magical dog-paradise for Friday - and eventually for all Friday’s friends. When barking dogs make the neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering “who let the dogs in.”

“Defiance”
Release date: January 16th, 2009
Cast: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner and Mark Feuerstein
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Written by: Clayton Frohman & Edward Zwick
Synopsis: Based on an extraordinary true story, “Defiance” is an epic tale of family, honor, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death, three brothers take refuge in the dense surrounding woods they have known since childhood. There they begin their desperate battle against the Nazis. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as brothers who turn a primitive struggle to survive into something far more consequential - a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones by saving thousands of others. At first it is all they can do to stay alive. But gradually, as whispers of their daring spreads, they begin to attract others - men and women, young and old - willing to risk everything for the sake of even a moment’s freedom. Tuvia (Craig) is a reluctant leader and his decisions are challenged by his brother, Zus (Schreiber) who worries that Tuvia’s idealistic plans will doom them all. Asael (Bell) is the youngest, caught between his brothers’ fierce rivalry. As a brutal winter descends, they work to create a community, and to keep faith alive when all humanity appears to be lost.

“The Uninvited”
Release date: January 30th, 2009
Cast: Emily Browning, Elizabeth Banks, Arielle Kebbel and David Strathairn
Directed by: The Guard Brothers
Written by: Craig Rosenberg and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard
Synopsis: In the suspense thriller “The Uninvited,” based on the 2003 Korean motion picture “Changhwa, Hongryon” written and directed by Kim Jee-woon, Anna (Emily Browning) returns home after spending time in a psychiatric facility following her mother’s tragic death and discovers that her mother’s former nurse, Rachel (Elizabeth Banks), has moved into their house and become engaged to her father, Steven (David Strathairn). Soon after she learns this shocking news, Anna is visited by her mother’s ghost, who warns her that Rachel has evil intentions. Together, Anna and her sister (Arielle Kebbel) must convince their father that his new fiancee is not who she pretends to be, and what should have been a happy family reunion becomes a lethal battle of wills between stepdaughters and stepmother.

“I Love You, Man”
Release date: March 20th, 2009
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly
Written and Directed by: John Hamburg
Synopsis: In “I Love You, Man,” a comedy from John Hamburg (“Along Came Polly,” co-writer of “Meet the Parents,” “Meet the Fockers,” “Zoolander”), Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, “Knocked Up” “The 40 Year Old Virgin”) is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (“The Office’s” Rashida Jones), discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward “man-dates,” before meeting Sydney Fife (Jason Segel, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), a charming, opinionated man with whom he instantly bonds. But the closer the two men get, the more Peter’s relationship with Zooey suffers, ultimately forcing him to choose between his fiancee and his new found “bro,” in a story that comically explores what it truly means to be a “friend.”

“Monsters vs. Aliens”
Release date: March 27th, 2009
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland and Paul Rudd
Directed by: Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon
Synopsis: When California girl Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. The military jumps into action and Susan is captured and secreted away to a covert government compound. There, she is renamed Ginormica and placed in confinement with a ragtag group of Monsters: the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. In a moment of desperation, the President is persuaded to enlist the motley crew of Monsters to combat the Alien Robot and save the world from imminent destruction.

“The Soloist”
Release date: April 24th, 2009
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander and LisaGay Hamilton
Directed by: Joe Wright
Written by: Susannah Grant
Synopsis: In “The Soloist,” an emotionally soaring drama about the redemptive power of music, journalist Steve Lopez (Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr.) discovers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Oscar® winner Jamie Foxx), a former classical music prodigy, playing his violin on the streets of L.A. As Lopez endeavors to help the homeless man find his way back, a unique friendship is formed, one that transforms both their lives. “The Soloist” is directed by Joe Wright (Golden Globe winner for Best Drama and Oscar® nominee for Best Picture “Atonement”).

“The Goods: The Don Ready Story”
Release date: August 21st, 2009
Cast: Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, James Brolin, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn and Jordana Spiro
Directed by: Neal Brennan
Written by: Adam Stock & Rick Stempson
Synopsis: Who is Don Ready? Salesman? Lover? Song Stylist? Semi-professional dolphin trainer? Ready is all of the above - except for a dolphin trainer. When he’s asked to help save an ailing local car dealership from bankruptcy, Ready and his ragtag crew descend on the town of Temecula like a pack of coyotes on a basket full of burgers. Selling, drinking, selling and going to strip clubs is their stock and trade. And they do it well. What Don doesn’t expect is to fall in love and find his soul (cue heartfelt piano). “The Goods: The Don Ready Story” stars Emmy award-winning actor Jeremy Piven (“The Kingdom,” “Entourage”) and Ving Rhames (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” “Mission: Impossible III”). The film, from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions, is directed by Neal Brennan, creator of the hugely successful Comedy Central hit “Chappelle’s Show.”

“Star Trek”
Release date: May 8th, 2009
Cast: John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban,
Anton Yelchin, with Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Written by: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Synopsis: From director J.J. Abrams (“Mission: Impossible III,” “Lost” and “Alias”), producers Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk and screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (“TRANSFORMERS,” “MI: III”) comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, “Star Trek,” featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no one has gone before.

“Imagine That”
Release date: June 12th, 2009
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker, Ronny Cox and Martin Sheen
Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick
Written by: Ed Solomon & Chris Matheson
Synopsis: In Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ family comedy “Imagine That,” Eddie Murphy stars as a successful financial executive who has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter (Yara Shahidi). When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter’s imaginary world.

“Dance Flick”
Release date: August 14th, 2009
Cast: Damon Wayans Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshana Bush, Essence Atkins and Affion Crockett
Directed by: Damien Dante Wayans
Written by: Keenen Ivory Wayans & Shawn Wayans & Marlon Wayans &
Craig Wayans & Damien Dante Wayans
Synopsis: “Dance Flick” is a hilarious new comedy that brings together the talents of two generations of the Wayans family, the explosively funny clan who brought us the “Scary Movie” franchise and “White Chicks,” as well as the groundbreaking TV series “In Living Color.” In “Dance Flick,” a young street dancer, Thomas Uncles (Damon Wayans, Jr.), from the wrong side of the tracks and a beautiful young woman, Megan White (Shoshana Bush), are brought together by their passion for dancing and put to the test in the mother of all dance battles. “Dance Flick” sends up the dance movie genre, including such recent hits as “Step Up” and “You Got Served,” as well as the classic “Flashdance.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Paramount Pictures.

DanceFlick: Charity (Essence Atkins, left) and her Baby Daddy (Shawn Wayans, right) have all the right moves on the dance floor in the comic spoof Dance Flick. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson
Defiance1: Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski and Liev Schreiber as Zus Bielski star in Defiance, a Paramount Vantage release. Photo Credit: Karen Ballard
Defiance2: Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski and Alexa Davalos as Lilka star in Defiance, a Paramount Vantage release. Photo Credit: Karen Ballard
Defiance3: Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski stars in Defiance, a Paramount Vantage release. Photo Credit: Karen Ballard
Goods: David Koechner as Brent Gage, Kathryn Hahn as Babs Marrett, Jeremy Piven as Don Ready, and Ving Rhames as Jibby Newsome star in The Goods: The Don Ready Story, a Paramount Vantage release. Photo Credit: Sam Emerson
HotelForDogs1: After finding a place to hide their dog, Friday, Bruce (Jake T. Austin, left) and his sister Andi (Emma Roberts, right) eventually wind up giving shelter to most of the strays in town in the comedy/adventure Hotel for Dogs. Photo Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
HotelForDogs2: After finding a place to hide their dog, Friday, Andi (Emma Roberts, left) and her brother Bruce (Jake T. Austin, right) eventually wind up giving shelter to most of the strays in town in the comedy/adventure Hotel for Dogs. Photo Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
ILoveYouMan1: Denise (Jaime Pressly), Zooey (Rashida Jones) and Hailey (Sarah Burns) are members of a wedding party that’s still missing a best man in the comedy I Love You, Man. Photo Credit: Scott Garfield
ILoveYouMan2: Sydney Fife (Jason Segel, center left) bonds with Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, center right) who has befriended him in his search for a best man for his upcoming wedding to Zooey (Rashida Jones, lower right) in the comedy I Love You, Man. Photo Credit: Scott Garfield
ILoveYouMan3: Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, left) befriends Sydney Fife (Jason Segel, right) in his search for a best man for his upcoming wedding in the comedy I Love You, Man. Photo Credit: Scott Garfield
MonstersVsAliens: An invading alien pursues Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon)—a.k.a. Ginormica, having been clobbered with a meteor full of outer space gunk and growing to 49-feet-11-inches tall—in DreamWorks Animation’s “Monsters vs. Aliens,” which reinvents the classic ‘50s monster movie into an irreverent modern day action comedy. Photo Credit: DreamWorks Animation
Soloist01: Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx, left), a former musical prodigy turned homeless man, is discovered on the streets of downtown Los Angeles by newspaper columnist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr., right) in the drama The Soloist. Photo Credit: Francois Duhamel
Soloist02: Newspaper columnist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr., left) discovers former musical prodigy turned homeless man, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx, right) on the streets of downtown Los Angeles in the drama The Soloist. Photo Credit: Francois Duhamel
StarTrek1: Chris Pine (center) stars as James T. Kirk and John Cho (right) stars as Sulu in Star Trek. Photo Credit: Industrial Light & Magic
StarTrek2: The crew members of the Starship Enterprise include James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), McCoy (Karl Urban), an unidentified crew member, Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Sulu (John Cho) in Star Trek. Photo Credit: Industrial Light & Magic
StarTrek3: Zachary Quinto stars as Spock in Star Trek. Photo Credit: Industrial Light & Magic
StarTrek4: The Starship Enterprise in Star Trek. Photo Credit: Industrial Light & Magic
TheUninvited1: Their father’s new fiancée, Rachel (Elizabeth Banks), arouses the suspicions of his daughters Alex (Arielle Kebbel) and Anna (Emily Browning) in The Uninvited. Photo Credit: Kimberley French
TheUninvited2: Rachel (Elizabeth Banks) has just become engaged to a man whose first wife died under mysterious circumstances in The Uninvited. Photo Credit: Kimberley French
TheUninvited3: Anna (Emily Browning, left) and Alex (Arielle Kebbel, right) are suspicious of their father’s new fiancée in The Uninvited. Photo Credit: Kimberley French
ImagineThat1: Eddie Murphy (left) stars as Evan Danielson and Yara Shahidi (right) stars as his daughter, Olivia Danielson, in the family comedy Imagine That. Photo Credit: Bruce McBroom
ImagineThat2: Yara Shahidi (left) stars Olivia Danielson and Eddie Murphy (right) stars as her father, Evan Danielson, in the family comedy Imagine That. Photo Credit: Bruce McBroom
ImagineThat3: Yara Shahidi (left) stars Olivia Danielson and Eddie Murphy (right) stars as her father, Evan Danielson, in the family comedy Imagine That. Photo Credit: Bruce McBroom

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Exclusive: Producer Jeffrey Katzenberg Offers Sneak Peek of ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ in Chicago

BrianTT — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:07:21 -0700

CHICAGO – Jeffrey Katzenberg stopped off in Chicago on the morning of Monday, December 8th, to preview DreamWorks Animation’s “Monsters vs. Aliens” and show off the brand-spanking-new 3D technology that will be used for all upcoming animated films produced by the studio.

After an introduction by Katzenberg, critics, journalists, distributors, publicists, and others were treated to roughly half an hour of footage, spread over three distinctly different scenes.

Before the audience donned their 3D glasses (but after the coffee and Danish), Mr. Katzenberg spoke for about fifteen minutes about what he considers as important a technological advancement as sound and color to the history of film. Instead of taking projects that were conceived in 2D and converting them to 3D, Katzenberg has dictated that all of the filmmakers under the DreamWorks banner conceive and author their works with 3D in mind. It was a creative development that would fuel an interesting discussion and debate after the footage was shown, but it was met with all positivity beforehand.

Monsters vs. Aliens opens on March 27th, 2009 from DreamWorks Animation.
Photo credit: DreamWorks Animation

Highlights from Mr. Katzenberg’s introduction:

“To me, when I look at the history of the film, there have been, to date, two great revolutionary changes. The first is in the 1920s when movies went from silent film to talkies and the second great revolution is the arrival of color in the 1930s. Now, seven decades later, I believe that we are looking at what may be the next great change with the arrival of 3D. The first two were actually about bringing a better experience to the audience. This one is about bringing the audience into the movie experience itself.”

“It was an exploitation gimmick. It was a trick. For the most part, it was put on usually B-movies, many ’50s and ’60s, sci-fi monster movies. It was more for marketing than the experience. It was about reaching out and making you self-conscious of the process of 3D. In the last few years, all of this has changed.”

“All of the things that have changed come down to one word - digital. In the same way that digital technology has radically altered special effects to the extent that we can feel like we’re actually riding on the Titanic or traveling across buildings with Spider-Man or coming face-to-face with King Kong, it’s completely transformed 3D into a medium that can actually replicate the most remarkable human sense of all - the sense of sight.”

Something that Mr. Katzenberg got into in more depth in the Q&A section following the film was the interesting suggestion that developments in technology NOT related to the actual filmmaking process have had a huge impact on this development - home theaters and piracy. Of course, for the latter, it’s impossible to pirate a movie in 3D because the standard camera will pick up a blurry image and, for the former…

“If you think about what’s happened in the home in the last decade, the rate of innovation is breathtaking. You now have huge, flat-screen TVs, High-Def, Blu-Ray, stereo sound. It’s an amazing thing that has happened. As that has occurred, the theater experience has remained constant. This is an opportunity to reclaim a unique experience that can only be recreated in a theater. At DreamWorks, we believe so much in this that all of our films and our whole studio have been retooled for the medium. Beginning next year with the release of Monsters vs. Aliens, all of our productions moving forward, from the very first storyboard right to the final release print, are being authored in 3D.”

Monsters vs. Aliens opens on March 27th, 2009 from DreamWorks Animation.
Photo credit: DreamWorks Animation

So, what’s the story being authored in “Monsters vs. Aliens”, opening on March 27th, 2009?

“As the film begins, the planet Earth has been attacked by outer space by an alien who definitely isn’t coming in peace. Our weapons are completely ineffective against it. And so, the U.S. Government has no choice but to tap into the most highly, super, extra top-secret program in its arsenal. Unbeknownst to all of us, the government has been rounding up monsters and locking them away in a super, maximum security prison. These monsters now represent Earth’s only chance for survival.”

“The smartest of the bunch is the brilliant scientist, Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. Using the voice of Hugh Laurie.”

“Next is B.O.B., voiced by Seth Rogen. He’s an indestructible, gelatinous blob that will eat anything and everything.”

“Insectosaurus is a giant tower of power who speaks in an unintelligible roar that can only be understood by his best friend, Missing Link.”

“It’s hard to classify this fellow as his name says he is the Missing Link between prehistoric man and our undersea ancestors.” (Voiced by Will Arnett)

“The newest addition is Susan Murphy, voiced by Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon. Susan was actually about to have the happiest day of her life, her wedding. Just before the ceremony was to begin, she was hit by a meteor, which covered her in some mysterious space goop which caused her to grow to fifty feet tall.”

“Over the years, there has been only one man tough enough to track down this team of misfit monsters and lock them away and that would be General W.R. Monger, voiced by 24 star Kiefer Sutherland. He reports directly to the President of the United States, played, appropriately, by Stephen Colbert.”

Monsters vs. Aliens opens on March 27th, 2009 from DreamWorks Animation.
Photo credit: DreamWorks Animation

Recaps of the Footage

1. The longest scene shown to audiences was clearly meant to truly show off the depth of the 3D technology. The filmmakers are striving to almost “reverse” the expectations of 3D. Audiences won’t have things thrown at them like in “Friday the 13th 3D” or “Captain EO”. Instead, the technology is striving for depth “into the screen”.

The first scene shown tried to illustrate this with fields of tanks and soldiers trying to take down the alien probe. Flanked by security, the President arrives at the crash location and climbs an enormous staircase (another good way to show depth in 3D) to greet the new visitor. At the top, he plays a couple of synthesizer songs that will be familiar to movie fans, but the probe only ends up aggravated and on the move.

After the assembled Army unleashes hell on the metallic monster with no effect at all, the scene switches to the President’s war room, where the audience is introduced to General Monger and his plan to let the monsters save the day. It was a great scene to show the audience assembled with about 10-12 minutes of footage that includes all of the character introductions and a heavy dose of what the 3D technology can do.

2. If the first scene was about introductions, the second was about the protagonists that Katzenberg and DreamWorks hope we will all learn to love. The scene opens with Susan waking up in a cell, unaware even that she’s grown in height. She meets the other monsters - Dr. Cockroach, B.O.B., Missing Link, and Insectosaurus - before General Monger comes and ushers everyone into their cells. 3D isn’t the focus of this scene but it does make clear that the character design and voice work in “Monsters vs. Aliens” might be just as remarkable as the technological advancement. Seth Rogen, in particular, looks to be a scene-stealer yet again.

3. The final scene was the action sequence involving a heck of a battle between the monsters and the alien probe. Susan uses cars in the San Francisco streets as roller skates to cruise to the action on the Golden Gate Bridge and try to save the innocent humans from alien attack. It’s an impressive sequence, both on a visual level and the way all of the monsters are used to save the day. Katzenberg made clear that this was not the finale of the movie although it easily could have been, which gives us a good indication that action will be a priority in “Monsters vs. Aliens”.

The Q&A that followed the presentation started off a little heated as two critics questioned the idea that 3D technology is anything more than a gimmick. Katzenberg reassured the audience that it’s not a focus group thing or a gimmick but that filmmakers are dying to use this technology to tell deeper stories. He even claimed that he expects all films to be in 3D in five or six years and that the dawning moment for him was when he saw Polar Express in 3D. He says he immediately got on the phone and the 2D to 3D transition at DreamWorks was initiated. See if it paid off when “Monsters vs. Aliens” opens on March 27th, 2009 from DreamWorks Entertainment.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DreamWorks Sets Milestone, Inks Four-Picture Deal With IMAX 3D

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:39:35 -0700

The man means business. On July 12, 2007, I published an interview with IMAX Filmed President Greg Foster in Time Out Chicago where he promised “the vast majority will be in 3D” down the road.

I just received word that IMAX announced its first multiple 3D picture deal with a Hollywood studio. DreamWorks is blazing a path as the innovator on the heels of Friday’s high-profile release of “Beowulf” in IMAX 3D.

The IMAX 3D releases will include “Monsters vs. Aliens” in March 2009, “How to Train Your Dragon” in Nov. 2009 and “Shrek Goes Forth” in May 2010. “Kung Fu Panda” will be released in IMAX 2D in June 2008.

“DreamWorks Animation envisions 3D as the future of CGI animation,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler in a statement.

The IMAX 3D titles are slated to be among the first shown with IMAX’s digital 3D projection system, which is scheduled to appear in June 2008. Paramount will be the exclusive distributor of the pictures.

“DreamWorks Animation’s creative spirit is well suited for IMAX 3D,” Foster said on the announcement.