Pixar

Blu-Ray Review: Pixar’s HD Collection Continues With ‘Monsters, Inc.’

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:49:17 -0700

CHICAGO – As Disney/Pixar continues to release new films on Blu-Ray, they often “piggy-back” one title with another from their catalog, choosing to release Pete Docter’s first directorial effort for the company, “Monsters, Inc.” in HD on the same day that they release his new film, “Up”. In a beautiful 4-disc combo pack that includes Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital copies of the film, “Monsters, Inc.” continues the Pixar Blu-Ray tradition.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

John Goodman and Billy Crystal star as the lovable-and-gigantic Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski, respectively. Sulley and Mike work for a scream-processing factory in Monstropolis known as “Monsters, Inc.” A little girl named Boo finds her way into the world, scaring the monsters in return, and it’s up to Sulley and Mike to restore order and get the wee one back home where she belongs.

Monsters, Inc. was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

Released in between two of my favorite animated films of all time, “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo,” I’ve always viewed “Monsters, Inc.” as a bit of a valley between giant peaks in the medium. Watching the film again on Blu-Ray, I realized that I may have been too harsh the first time and that even a Pixar valley is higher than most animated films. I still don’t think the film is the best of Pixar, but that wouldn’t stop me from including it in my Blu-Ray collection. Not everything can be “Nemo” or “WALL-E” and “Monsters, Inc.” is a fun, heartwarming family film that would make a nice addition to any Blu-Ray shelf this season.

Monsters, Inc. was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

“Monsters, Inc.” has been available on DVD before and the special features that were previously available have been imported to this edition along with a few new exclusive bonuses. True Pixar-holics are probably most interested in the HD transfer and what’s new, so that’s where we’ll start.

As for the picture, it’s typical-for-Disney-HD. In other words, it’s perfect. The audio in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is similarly perfect. Fans may want to upgrade “Monsters, Inc.” just for the new technical specs and the flexibility allowed by a combo pack that provides versions of the film for Blu-Ray, DVD, and your device of choice for digital copy.

The new special features run the gamut from filler to fascinating. There’s a new game for the little ones called “Roz’s 100-Door Challenge,” a look behind-the-scenes at a movie-themed attraction at Tokyo Disneyland called “Monsters, Inc. Hide and Go Seek: Building Monstropolis in Japan,” an audio commentary, and a filmmaker’s roundtable, in which many of the creators of the film reflect on its production. The filmmaker’s piece is a must-see for true Pixar nuts.

Imported original DVD bonus features include “For the Birds,” the 2001 Academy Award-winning short, and a 2002 nominee called “Mike’s New Car,” “Pixar Fun Factory Tour,” “Banished Concepts,” and much more.

With ten films released by Pixar, there are now six on Blu-Ray - “Monsters, Inc.,” “Up,” “WALL-E,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Ratatouille,” and “Cars”. I expect the “Toy Story” films to be released with the theatrical debut of “Toy Story 3” next year, leaving only “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles” waiting for their HD debut. I make no promises and have no inside information, but I would expect one or two with the BD release of “Toy Story 3” at the end of next year. That means that by this time next year, you could have a complete collection of arguably the most important studio output of films in the last twenty years. Don’t forget to include “Monsters, Inc.”.

‘Monsters, Inc.’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and stars the voice work of John Goodman and Billy Crystal. It was written by Andrew Stanton and directed by Pete Docter. It was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Pixar’s Beloved ‘Up’ Continues HD Dominance

BrianTT — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:21:30 -0700

CHICAGO – One of the most beloved films of the year and a likely contender for the Oscar for Best Picture now that the category has expanded to ten nominees, Pixar’s “Up” was recently released on Blu-Ray in yet another lovingly produced set from a company that has been a pioneer in the next-gen format. “Up” doesn’t exceed expectations but also doesn’t falter from the critically-acclaimed pattern.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Pixar has built a reputation by taking unexpected character models and turning them into movie magic. Whether it be toys that come to life, a refined rat, a family of superheroes, or a lovable robot, one never can judge a Pixar character by its cover. Such is the case with Carl Fredericksen (Ed Asner), the delightful hero of “Up” who just happens to be a crotchety old man.

Up was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

It’s hard to truly capture the magic of “Up” in a plot description, which is why the advertising has focused so heavily on the colorful balloons. There’s a lot more to Pete Docter’s film than a house that flies.

Up was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

The film opens with a young Carl fawning over the exploits of adventurer Charles Muntz. The silent-but-wide-eyed Carl finds himself entangled with another young dreamer named Ellie and the two form a bond that will last nearly a century. A spectacular, heart-breaking montage details the life of Carl and Ellie, ending with her passing, which leaves our hero grumpy, creaky, and alone. When the nursing home comes to take him away, he follows through on a promise he made to a young Ellie and uses helium balloons to fly away from this cruel world and find happiness somewhere else. Along for the ride are a junior explorer (Jordan Nagai), a talking dog, and a colorful bird.

There’s a lot to love about “Up” but an element that has been missed in much of the copious praise is that Docter’s film is simply hilarious. “WALL-E” was a sci-fi adventure, “The Incredibles” was an action movie, and “Ratatouille” was a film about culinary passion, but “Up” is primarily a comedy. There are dramatic themes but fans will revisit this movie and laugh out loud as they fall in love with the importance of never letting life get in the way of your spirit of adventure.

The first two acts of “Up” are as perfect as anything released this year but the film somewhat falters in the final one. Action has never been a strength of Pixar and the film gets a bit too goofy for its own good in the final act as dozens of talking dogs, a blimp, and the balloon-buoyed house are forced into a somewhat awkwardly-conceived action sequence. The ending also lacks a bit of the emotional undercurrent of not just the best of Pixar but the rest of the film.

Up was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

I may be harder on “Up” than I would be if it were a Sony or Fox film and there’s MORE than enough here to warrant a recommendation. The fact that “Up” is “merely” one of the most entertaining films of the year is only a viable criticism when one considers the bar set by what Pixar had produced before. (“WALL-E” was my number one film of 2008 and both “Toy Story”s, “Finding Nemo,” “Ratatouille,” and “The Incredibles” are among my favorite films of the last twenty years.)

Ultimately, what has allowed Pixar to shine is the fact that they recognize that animation is a medium, not a genre, You can make action films, dramas, sci-fi adventures, or whatever your imagination can dream up within that medium. With “Up,” Pixar produced a beautiful, heartwarming, comedy adventure that shouldn’t be missed.

Technically, the Blu-Ray release for “Up” is a beauty. Disney and Pixar films always look amazing in HD and this one’s perfect, as is the audio mix.

Special features for “Up” include a commentary by Docter and co-director Bob Peterson, the mildly-amusing “Dug’s Special Mission” short film, the great “Partly Cloudy” short film that played in theaters, “The Many Endings of Muntz” (which proves that perhaps there were a few problems with the development of the final act of the film), “Adventure is Out There,” the “Cine-Explore” feature, “Geriatric Hero,” “Canine Companions,” “Russell: Wilderness Explorer,” “Our Giant Flightless Friend, Kevin,” “Homemakers of Pixar,” “Balloons and Flight,” “Composing for Characters,” “Married Life,” and “The Global Guardian Badge Game”.

The combo pack release for “Up” also includes a DVD and digital copy of the film, continuing Pixar/Disney’s fantastic trend of providing their films in every format, recognizing that families need options when it comes to entertainment. Don’t miss the option to add “Up” to your collection.

‘Up’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and stars the voice work of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, and Delroy Lindo. It was written by Bob Peterson and directed by Pete Docter. It was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.

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

Video Game Review: Wii Version of ‘Up’ Delightful Companion to Beloved Film

BrianTT — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:33:56 -0600

CHICAGO – Pixar movie tie-ins can be hard to review simply due to the strength of their source material. Pete Docter’s “Up” is the most critically acclaimed and brilliantly written films of the year. How can a game possibly match “Up”?

The answer is, of course, that it can’t and it shouldn’t even try. No game, especially one using the graphics engine of the Wii, is going to look as good as a Pixar film and it would be the game of the year if it had the same witty dialogue and storytelling. Most movie tie-in games fail completely when compared to the actual film but it would be downright unfair to attempt that with a Pixar title.

Up
Photo credit: THQ

Once you let that expectation go and you view the video game version of “Up” as more of a companion piece than a direct tie-in to the film, the game by THQ and devloper Heavy Iron Studios works on its own terms, as a child-friendly diversion for little ones who just want to spend a little more time with Carl, Russell, Kevin, and Dug.

The game follows much of the action of the film but opens with one of the final scenes, an aerial “dog fight” as Dug tries to save Carl, Russell, and their house from attack.

After the prologue, the meat of the game kicks in. The elderly Carl and adventurous Russell must work together to navigate the treacherous terrain in the jungles of South America. The primary focus of “Up” is teamwork and the game is better enjoyed if two players take on the lead characters. If not, a single player can switch back and forth, but the drive of the game is how Carl and Russell must work together to combat enemies or even get from point A to point B.

For example, sometimes you’ll need to use Carl’s cane to lift him up to a higher point or perhaps switch to Russell to lower a rope down to the most charming elderly character of the year. Even Kevin and Dug will come into play with the puzzle-solving aspects of the game.

Up
Photo credit: THQ

“Up” is also a collection game. Cleverly playing off the movie version of Russell’s wilderness explorer background, players have to collect rare bugs and merit badges that will earn them “Quest Cards”. Artifacts and mementos are also cleverly hidden throughout the levels, adding to the replay value of the title.

As for Wii-mote control, “Up” is a mixed bag. The ways in which the Wii-mote comes into play get pretty repetitive quickly, but kids will enjoy swinging the controller to mimic cutting a rope with their knife or lowering one down to save their partner.

The levels of “Up” are almost entirely puzzle-solving based. Yes, the player will occasionally have to battle a talking dog or a man-eating plant but the majority of the gameplay is about how to get Carl and Russell from point A to point B, complete with voice work by the film’s actors and even a few clever quips. Unlike a lot of movie tie-ins, I actually laughed out loud a few times at the dialogue in “Up” and didn’t grow too weary of the repetitive dialogue that often hampers a title like this one.

What’s wrong with “Up”? Even for a Wii movie tie-in aimed at kids, it is disturbingly short. Even casual players will finish it in under 3 hours, which is unacceptable for a $40 game. The dog fights are bizarrely incomplete. The player stands and waits for a dog to attack, hits B a few times, fight ends. And the camera can be shockingly frustrating in its angle choices, which is not good for a game that requires the player to often jump precisely from rock formation to rock formation.

Up
Photo credit: THQ

Ultimately, perhaps I’m not as hard on “Up” as I was last year’s awful “WALL-E” tie-in or other movie tie-in games, because of increasingly lowered expectations with a title like this one. Could the game version of “Up” have been better? Certainly. There could have been more creativity with the controls and level design and it should be at least twice as long. But what “Up” does right - original actor voice work and even the score from the film stand out - makes for a pleasant diversion, a companion to the more complete experience in theaters.

The game version of a Pixar film is probably never going to be better than the theatrical experience. Yes, the developers of “Up” the game could have tried a bit harder to come closer, but judged as a diverting desert after the main meal of the actual film, a lot players will find this title a sweet treat.

‘Up’ was released by THQ and developed by Heavy Iron Studios. It is rated E (Everyone). The version reviewed was for the Nintendo Wii but the title is also available for the DS, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC and XBox 360. It was released on May 26th, 2009.

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

Slideshow: 10-Image Gallery For Pixar’s 3-D ‘Up’

BrianTT — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:35:45 -0600

CHICAGO – This 10-image slideshow contains the official press images for Pixar’s 3-D “Up” featuring voice work by Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, and Christopher Plummer. The film, written by Bob Peterson and directed by Pete Docter, opens on May 29th, 2009.

Synopsis:

“From Disney•Pixar comes “Up,” a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”), Disney•Pixar’s “Up” invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. “Up” will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D™ in select theaters.”

Up_01: (L-R) Russell and Carl Fredricksen.
Up_02: (L-R) Russell and Carl Fredricksen.
Up_03: (L-R) Russell and Carl Fredricksen.
Up_04: (L-R) Kevin, Russell, Dug, Carl Fredricksen.
Up_05: (L-R) Dug, Kevin, Russell, Carl Fredricksen.
Up_06: (L-R) Dug, Russell on the back of Kevin, Carl Fredricksen.
Up_07: Carl Fredericksen.
Up_08: (L- R) Dug, Russell, Carl Fredricksen.
Up_09: (L-R) Ellie, Carl.
Up_10: Russell (top), Carl Fredricksen (bottom).

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

Moving on ‘Up’: Disney, Pixar Score Another Masterpiece in 3-D

Ebeth — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:08:52 -0600

CHICAGO – There is an art to music. There is an art to writing a story and an art to telling that story. There is art in a great drawing, a great painting and a great photograph. There is an art to communication. And it may only be a matter of time before museums expand to include a whole new category of modern art: the animated film from Disney and Pixar.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

For what the studio duo accomplished in 2008 with its “WALL-E,” which is known for its groundbreaking achievements in many of the above-listed categories, their newest film, “Up,” has also managed to ace much of the same. Though two very different films both strong for different reasons, the two establish the Disney and Pixar revolution of the animated genre.

A symphonic balance of captivating silence and clever dialogue, belly-laugh humor and tear-in-the-eye despair, fast-paced action scenes and scenes slowed for their precious detail, “Up” orchestrates the talents of the directors (Pete Docter, who wrote “WALL-E,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story,” and Bob Peterson, who wrote “Up,” “Ratatouille” and “Finding Nemo”), the artists (Scott Clark, Dave Mullins, Shawn Krause, Mike Venturini, Thomas Jordan and a team of nearly 70 animators) and the composer (Michael Giacchino) into one truly unforgettable piece.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Up” in our reviews section.

The result: a simple smile as one strides from the theatre knowing this is life, there are versions of our dreams we can’t imagine and even the most unfortunate or insignificant interactions can lead to great things.

“Up” tells the story of Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner): a 78-year-old retired balloon salesman who – after the loss of his wife – is left agitated by the world around him and regretful of desires unfulfilled. An unfortunate altercation pushes Carl to escape society and finally chase after the couple’s lifelong dream.

Carl quickly realizes he’s not alone in this adventure as 8-year-old wilderness explorer Russell (voice of Jordan Nagai) has secretly stowed away for the ride.

“Up,” which comes from director Pete Docter and co-director and writer Bob Peterson, features the voices of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft, John Ratzenberger, David Kaye and Elie Docter. The film opened everywhere on May 29, 2009. “Up” is rated “PG” for some peril and action.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Up” in our reviews section.

Carl Fredricksen in “Up” is voiced by Edward Asner.
Image credit: Disney, Pixar

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Up” in our reviews section.

Blu-Ray Review: Pixar Continues HD Dominance With ‘A Bug’s Life’

BrianTT — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:33:28 -0600

CHICAGO – If you have yet to jump on the Blu-Ray bandwagon or are new to the HD revolution and have yet to see a Pixar film in 1080P, the new edition of “A Bug’s Life” would be a great place to start. With releases like the great one for “WALL-E” and now this gorgeous transfer for “A Bug’s Life,” Disney/Pixar produces HD video clarity that really must be seen to be believed.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

With this week’s release of the fantastic “Up,” Pixar is back in the cinematic conversation. With Pixar back in the spotlight, go back to one of their earliest films, the underrated “A Bug’s Life,” a film that has held up surprisingly well in the decade since its release.

A Bug’s Life was released on Blu-Ray on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: Disney

I’ll admit that I had kind of buried “A Bug’s Life” in my own movie world. I’ve seen “Finding Nemo,” both “Toy Story” films, “Ratatouille,” “WALL-E,” and “The Incredibles” multiple times but I hadn’t seen “Bug’s” since its theatrical release. Not only is the film better than I remembered but it looks great. The fact is that Pixar is so far ahead of their peers that their old films still look like they could come out today.

If you’re late to the Pixar wave and have never seen the “Bug’s Life,” the story is almost refreshingly simple. It’s the tale of the little ant that could. After grasshoppers threaten his home, an ant searches for fellow bug warriors and finds a hilarious group of circus bugs. “A Bug’s Life” is imaginative, delightful storytelling that hints at the matserpieces this studio would soon produce.

A Bug’s Life was released on Blu-Ray on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: Disney

The new Blu-Ray release for “A Bug’s Life” imports the production and design material from previous releases and includes two great new Blu-Ray features - “The First Draft” and “Filmmakers’ Round Table”.

“The First Draft” includes all-new, never-before-seen animated sequences from the original story treatment with an introduction by John Lasseter. It runs just under 11 minutes and offers a window into the writing process of a Pixar film.

Even cooler is the “Filmmakers’ Round Table”. For 21 minutes, John Lasseter (Co-Director), Andrew Stanton (Co-Director), Darla Anderson (Producer), and Kevin Reher (Producer) reflect on the creation of the film ten years ago, and share their most memorable anecdotes.

The old special features about the production are extensive and detailed. They include sections on “Pre-Production,” “Deisgn,” “Production,” and “Sound Design”. Outtakes and publicity stills are also included.

John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich provide a commentary track that has been imported for this release.

Finally, Disney includes two shorts. The first is the great “Geri’s Game,” the Academy Award-Winner for Best Animated Short Film that played before the theatrical release of “A Bug’s Life” and the second is a classic Silly Symphony from 1934 called “Grasshopper and the Ants”.

Short films, a commentary track, detailed production featurettes, new bonus features, and a perfect video and audio transfer. What more are you looking for from a Blu-Ray release? Pixar continues to guide the way in not just the quality of the films themselves but their HD releases as well.

Check out a clip from the Filmmakers’ Roundtable before you buy “A Bug’s Life” for yourself.

Featurette: Filmmakers roundtable

‘A Bug’s Life’ is released by Disney Home Video and features voice work by Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, Richard Kind, David Hyde Pierce, Denis Leary, Madeline Kahn, and Bonnie Hunt. It was written by Andrew Stanton & Don McEnery & Bob Shaw and directed by John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton. The Blu-Ray was released on May 19th, 2009. It is rated G.

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

Interview: Riding the Animated Wave ‘Up’ With Pixar Director Pete Docter

BrianTT — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:39:13 -0600

CHICAGO – Pixar’s “Up” recently became the first animated 3D film to open the Cannes Film Festival and the reviews were just as rapturous as those who had been tracking the latest Pixar offering expected them to be. Before he want to France, director Pete Docter sat down for an exclusive interview with HollywoodChicago.com.

Docter has been a part of the Pixar team since the beginning and remains one of the most prominent voices in the company along with John Lasseter (“Toy Story”), Brad Bird (“Ratatouille,” “The Incredibles”) and Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL-E”). Docter made a splash when he directed “Monsters Inc.” and will make waves with “Up”.

For someone who has made such vibrant, energetic, nearly-glowing films, Docter is a surprisingly humble and quiet man. It’s not an accident that he’s made a film about a man escaping the dangerous, depressing world on the ground by tying helium balloons to his house and fleeing for the jungle.

“UP” (L-R) Russell and Carl Fredricksen
Photo credit: ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“I’m just not an extroverted person,” says Docter. “I think a lot of us became animators because talking to people is kind of scary….especially girls. So it’s easier to draw. It’s easier to just communicate through drawing. It’s a way to communicate with people. It was really hard becoming a director on Monsters, Inc because up until then I had a chance to withdraw to my office and animate. As a director, you’re thrust out and you’re talking to people all day. And at the end of the day, I just want go hide under the bed or something and talk to nobody. This film was kind of born out of that.”

Pete Docter
Photo credit: ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“Up” features more human characters than most recent Pixar animation but the characters are highly stylized and more caricatured than any previous Pixar work. This was a challenge for Docter and his team. He told me, “We’ve always pushed caricature but in this one Carl is like three heads tall, which is quite stylized. Even his house - they seem like very realistic textures, but they’re basically like a dry-brush. Even the leaves in the jungle, it looks like someone went through and very theatrically painted. It was finding the balance between theatre and believability. We designed Carl’s house first. We built a miniature of the house interior and built all these little models and painted them. It really helped inform how we would build them in the computer. Then when you get to the wilderness, you can’t have that looking like a craft project. It has to be believable. You have to feel the wind in your face and smell the jungle. It was finding the balance between those two extremes.”

“Up” was partially born out of a surprising influence - Thomas McCarthy’s “The Station Agent,” another film about a man trying to escape the world and come out of his shell. Docter also cites “Casablanca,” “Lady and the Tramp,” and “101 Dalmatians” as influences. “Movies that had a beautiful simplicity to them and a focus on character.”

“Up” is the first Pixar film in 3D but the story had been developed and worked on for awhile before the new technology entered into it. An entirely different group was set up to study previous 3D films for their “pitfalls and successes”.

“UP” (L-R) Russell and Carl Fredricksen
Photo credit: ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“We tried to learn from all the films that had come before us and what makes it work. The things that were important to me as a director was not distract people with 3D. You don’t want to pop them out of the movie by going “ooga-booga”. We basically said, “Okay, the screen is like a window and you can see into it but let’s not bring too many things out.” That adds a certain sense of depth and I think, for a lot of people, they feel more transported into that world. Hopefully, it’s not distracting to the point of popping you out of the film and it’s a more immersive experience.”

The immediate question to this animation aficionado is if the entire form has been forever altered. Will we see 2D animated films any more?

“I don’t know,” says Docter. “It kind of depends on what the audience wants to see. If people really embrace it and feel it’s the way to go, then we’ll do them all that way. This one, you can see either way, which I think is nice. Some people find it really engaging and interesting but other people are kind of put off by the glasses and whatever. I don’t think you’re losing anything by seeing it in 2D, it’s just a different way to see it.”

“WALL-E” and “Ratatouille” were accused by some critics as being more for the parents than for their children. I think kids will fall in love with the sense of adventure and the young protagonist in “Up”. It’s more traditional fun than most recent Pixar. But it’s not a conscious goal. The creative voices at Pixar makes the movies they want to make.

Ed Asner and Pete Docter
Photo credit: Deborah Coleman

“It’s tricky,” says Docter. “We’re always directing the films at an audience. You want to make sure it communicates to people and has something to say. But, at the same time, it’s a real director-driven studio, so the films are kind of like where we are as people that end up in the movies. So, it was just kind of the expression of Bob and myself as we developed this one as it has a balance of comedy, action, adventure, and that emotion that hangs it together and supports the other.”

What separates Pixar? Docter admits to keeping an eye on other animation and expresses admiration for Henry Selick’s “Coraline,” but almost shies away from the suggestion that there’s something special going on at Pixar. He does admit that the system at Pixar is a little unique.

“We have a system where people are selfless about giving up their own time, their own energy, their own comments,” says Docter. “Brad [Bird] will be off in the middle of directing something and we’ll drag him in to watch this movie and he’ll spew out all these great ideas that I get to use and then I’ll do the same with whoever comes along next. Between that and the philosophy of “If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not taking enough risk.” We’re sort of expected to fail along the way. It’s expected that we’re going to falter and pull the emergency cord and get everybody on board to make this good.”

Docter ends by refusing to confirm or deny the rumors about a planned “Monsters Inc. 2” but expresses excitement for what’s to come from Pixar.

“Now more than ever there are more varied and diverse films in the pipeline than we’ve ever had. It seems like there’s just a great variety and diversity of things that you’re going to see stretching out into the future.”

Up opens on May 29th, 2009.

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

Pixar’s ‘Up’ to Open Cannes Film Festival in May 2009

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:01:47 -0600

CHICAGO – Pixar continues their plan for world dominance with their 2009 film “Up” being announced today as the opening film for the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May. Produced under John Lasseter’s supervision, the film that follows “WALL-E,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Finding Nemo,” “Toy Story,” and more under the prestigious Pixar banner will be the Opening Ceremony film in Disney Digital 3-D on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009.

Pixar also sent over a new still for director Pete Docter’s (“Monsters, Inc.”) adventure about a 78-year-old who fulfills his dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America, only to discover that he has brought with him his biggest nightmare, a 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer stowaway.

Up will be released in theaters on May 29th, 2009.
Photo credit: Pixar

“Up,” which opens in the United States on May 29th, 2009 and in France on July 29th, 2009 will be the first animated film to open the Festival de Cannes. Other animated films that have played there in Official Selection include “Dumbo,” “The Fantastic Planet,” “Fritz the Cat,” “Shrek,” “The Triplets of Belleville,” “Shrek 2,” “Over the Hedge,” “Kung-Fu Panda,” and “Waltz With Bashir”. The fest runs from May 13th to May 24th.

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

2009 Walt Disney Pictures Preview: ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic,’ ‘Up,’ ‘The Proposal,’ ‘Surrogates,’ ‘Old Dogs,’ More

BrianTT — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:31:17 -0700

CHICAGO – This 11-image slideshow contains official press images and schedule information for the recently announced slate of films to be released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2009 including new films starring Isla Fisher, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Ryan Reynolds, Josh Duhamel, and the newest Pixar film.

These 2009 Walt Disney Pictures include “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Hannah Montana The Movie,” “earth,” “Up,” “The Proposal,” “G-Force,” “When in Rome,” “Surrogates,” “Toy Story in Disney Digital 3-D,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” “Old Dogs,” and “The Princess and the Frog”. Not all films have images released, but release details and dates were announced for the entire 2009 slate.

The release dates, cast lists, and filmmaker information for these Walt Disney Pictures films can be found below in chronological order, followed by a slideshow of available images.

“Confessions of a Shopaholic”
Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb, Fred Armisen, Julie Hagerty, Krysten Ritter, Robert Stanton, Christine Ebersole, Clea Lewis, Wendie Malick, Stephanie March
Director: P.J. Hogan
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Executive Producers: Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Ronald Bozman
Screenplay By: Tracey Jackson And Tim Firth And Kayla Alpert, Based On The Books “Confessions Of A Shopaholic” And “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan” By Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: February 13, 2009

“Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift
Director: Bruce Hendricks
Producers: Art Repola, Johnny Wright, Philip Mcintyre, Kevin Jonas Sr., Alan Sacks
Genre: Rockumentary
Rating: G
Release Date: February 27, 2009

“Race to Witch Mountain”
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Annasophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Ludwig, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall
Director: Andy Fickman
Executive Producers: Mario Iscovich, Ann Marie Sanderlin
Producer: Andrew Gunn
Written By: Matt Lopez And Mark Bomback And Andy Fickman
Based On Characters Created By: Alexander Key
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: March 13, 2009

“Hannah Montana The Movie”
Cast: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Margo Martindale, Jason Earles, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin, Mitchel Musso, Lucas Till, Barry Bostwick, Moises Arias, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, With Vanessa Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus
Director: Peter Chelsom
Executive Producers: Michael Poryes And Steve Peterman, David Blocker
Producers: Alfred Gough And Miles Millar
Written By: Dan Berendsen
Based On Characters Created By: Michael Poryes And Rich Correll & Barry O’brien
Genre: Family/Comedy
Rating: G
Release Date: April 10, 2009

“earth”
Narrator: James Earl Jones
Directors: Alastair Fothergill And Mark Linfield
Produced By: BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media
Genre: True Life Adventure
Rating: G
Release Date: April 22, 2009

“Up” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo, Jordan Nagai
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Genre: Animation/Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: May 29, 2009

“The Proposal”
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O’Hare and Betty White
Director: Anne Fletcher
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman
Executive Producers: Alex Kurtzman And Roberto Orci, Mary Mclaglen, Sandra Bullock
Written By: Peter Chiarelli
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TBD
Release Date: June 12, 2009

“G-Force” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, With The Voices Of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan
Director: Hoyt Yeatman
Screenplay By: The Wibberleys And Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio And Tim Firth, Based On A Story By Hoyt Yeatman (Credits Not Final)
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Genre: Comedy-Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: July 24, 2009

“When in Rome”
Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett, Alexis Dziena, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Kate Micucci, Bobby Moynihan, with Danny Devito and Anjelica Huston
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Executive Producers: Mindy Farrell And Steven Roffer, Ezra Swerdlow
Producers: Gary Foster, Mark Steven Johnson, Andrew Panay
Co-Producer: Rikki Lea Bestall
Written By: David Diamond & David Weissman
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TBD
Release Date: Summer 2009

“Surrogates”
Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, James Francis Ginty, Boris Kodjoe and Ving Rhames
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Max Handelman
Executive Producers: Elizabeth Banks, David Nicksay
Screenplay By: Michael Ferris & John Brancato
Based On The Graphic Novel By: Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Rating: TBD
Release Date: September 25, 2009

“Toy Story” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik Von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Executive Producers: Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs
Original Story By: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton And Joe Ranft
Screenplay By: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen And Alan Sokolow
Genre: Animation-Comedy/Adventure
Rating: G
Release Date: October 2, 2009

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, Fionnula Flanagan
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producers: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
Screenplay By: Robert Zemeckis
Based On The Classic Novella By: Charles Dickens
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: November 6, 2009

“Old Dogs”
Cast: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon
Director: Walt Becker
Producers: Andrew Panay, Robert Levy & Peter Abrams
Executive Producer: Garrett Grant
Written By: David Diamond & David Weissman
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: November 25, 2009

“The Princess and the Frog”
Voice Cast: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Produced By: Peter Del Vecho
Genre: Animated Comedy Adventure/Musical
Rating: TBD
Release Date: Christmas 2009

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 ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Specific photographer credits where noted.

Confessions: Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman
Confessions2: Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman
OldDogs: John Travolta, Robin Williams. Photo Credit: Ron Phillips
PrincessandtheFrog: Princess Tiana
Surrogates: Bruce Willis. Photo Credit: Stephen Vaughan
TheProposal: Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock. Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes
Up: Teaser One-Sheet.
WheninRome1: Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell. Photo Credit: Myles Aronowitz
WheninRome2: Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell. Photo Credit: Philippe Antonello

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

In the Forums: ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ ‘The Dark Knight,’ ‘10,000 B.C.,’ ‘Drag Me to Hell,’ Pixar’s ‘Up’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:23:15 -0600

CHICAGO – While our discussion forums are an unfettered venting ground for all of our readers, we also originate a wide array of must-read news there from other trusted, high-quality entertainment publications.

For those of you who don’t frequent our forums and for those of you who typically read us via RSS or our daily mailing, the purpose of this In the Forums package is to bring the news we’re publishing in our forums front and center into our news section, RSS feed and daily mailing.

As you can see from our first In the Forums below, the package consists of a compilation of links to the most interesting and important local and national news items originating from our forums.

A preview of “The Incredible Hulk” trailer is now online.
Watch it now here!

The New York Times has visited the set of “The Dark Knight” and has released new production stills.
See them now here!

Despite atrocious reviews from critics everywhere, “10,000 B.C.” has brought in $35.7 million in first weekend.
Read more here!

Justin Long will now star in Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell”.
Read more here!

Filming on Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” is back under way in Vancouver.
Read more here!

Disney says Pixar’s 2009 film “Up” will be released in digital Disney 3D.
Read more here!

The Neo-Futurists conclude their last Chicago theater series with “Picked Up,” which is a series of six never-before-seen television pilots performed live on stage.
Read more here!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com