Paramount Pictures

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

Blu-Ray Review: Romantic Comedy Lives in ‘Ghost Town’

BrianTT — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:07:19 -0700

CHICAGO – With three of the most charming and enjoyable leads in any romantic comedy released in 2008, David Koepp’s “Ghost Town” should find a steady and satisfied audience on Blu-Ray this winter.

The ensemble may be better than the material they’ve been given but with the amount of awful entries in the genre this year, including horror shows like “What Happens in Vegas” and “Over Her Dead Body,” it is delightful to see the unique success that is both funny and romantic. The Blu-Ray from Paramount enhances the experience with a great commentary and a few featurettes.

Ricky Gervais stars in “Ghost Town” as Bertram Pincus D.D.S., a dentist who appears to have chosen the profession just because he likes to shut people up by stuffing his dental tools in their mouth. Bertram is what you would politely call a misanthrope. After a surgical procedure goes wrong and poor Bertram ends up dead for a few minutes, he comes back to life with the ability to see dead people, including a cad crushed by an air conditioner named Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear).

The undead of “Ghost Town” are relatively harmless beings, people who can’t move on because they need Bertram to do one last thing for them. It turns out that Frank’s last wish is that his widow, Gwen (Tea Leoni), not re-marry the too-good-to-be-true Richard (Billy Campbell). Frank needs Bertram, who gets along with no one, especially people of the opposite sex, to woo Gwen away from the new man. Of course, Bertram falls for Gwen and things get romantically complicated.

The screenplay for “Ghost Town” by David Koepp (the writer of “War of the Worlds,” “Spider-Man,” “Mission: Impossible” and many others) is reminiscent of ’40s and ’50s romantic comedies, but doesn’t really come together like I wished it would. The casting director for “Ghost Town” deserves a lot of credit for how well the film works in the end. They elevate a somewhat lackluster screenplay to one of the better romantic comedies of the year.

Gervais has pitch-perfect comic timing and Leoni hasn’t been this charming or enjoyable since “Flirting With Disaster”. It makes one wonder why she doesn’t play roles like this more often. Kinnear is typically strong and supporters like Campbell and the great Kristen Wiig work in their small roles. See “Ghost Town” not for the dead people on display but for the live ones chosen by the casting director.

“Ghost Town” disappointed at the box office, so it’s not surprising that Paramount doesn’t do much with the Blu-Ray release. The video in 1080p is never distracting or flat, but also not as vivid as it could have been. The audio is similarly right around par. The best thing about the Blu-Ray release for “Ghost Town” is the commentary by Gervais and Koepp and the very funny gag reel. The cast clearly had a blast and Gervais is one of the smartest comedians working today. Listening to him speak about what he does should be interesting for any fan of the art of comedy.

Finally, “Ghost Town” also includes a reasonably interesting “Making Ghost Town” featurette and a throwaway, two-minute piece on the special effects called “Ghostly Effects”. The brief extra is an interesting display of how green-screen works but it could easily have been incorporated into the longer “Making” featurette.

‘Ghost Town’ is released by Paramount Home Video and stars Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, Greg Kinnear, and Billy Campbell, and was written by David Koepp & John Kamps and directed by Koepp. It was released on December 28th, 2008.

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

‘Star Trek’ Trailer Launch is Imminent; Here’s What to Expect

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:22:16 -0700

CHICAGO – After our exclusive first report on Jan. 15, 2008 of the teaser trailer description for J.J. Abrams’ new “Star Trek” film in 2009, we now have for you confirmed information about what to expect over the next few days during the reveal of the official “Star Trek” trailer.

“Star Trek” in 2009 from director J.J. Abrams.
Image credit: IMDb

Online
The countdown to the “Star Trek” trailer launch has begun online on the film’s official site.

In Movie Theatres
Nov. 14, 2008: “Star Trek” trailer in theatres only with “Quantum of Solace”.

On Air
Nov. 17, 2008: “Star Trek” trailer on “Entertainment Tonight”.

Online
Nov. 17, 2008: “Star Trek” trailer goes up on Apple.com at 10 a.m. PST as an exclusive until Nov. 19, 2008.

“Star Trek,” which is slated to release on May 9, 2008, stars Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Eric Bana as Nero, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson, Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura, Karl Urban as Leonard “Bones” McCoy and John Cho as Hikaru Sulu.

“Star Trek” also stars Bruce Greenwood as Christopher Pike, Ben Cross as Sarek, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov, Leonard Nimoy as the old Spock, Greg Ellis as chief engineer Olsen and Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk.

11:44 p.m. update on Nov. 18, 2008: The new “Star Trek” trailer in HD is now online here.

1:58 a.m. update on Nov. 21, 2008: As first revealed in the new “Star Trek” trailer, we’ve published a new article discussing the decidedly new sex scenes in the film.

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

Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ‘Iron Man’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:40:08 -0600

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Monday released a flood of new production stills for the highly anticipated film “Iron Man” with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Samuel L. Jackson, Hilary Swank, Leslie Bibb and Stan Lee. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film opens on May 2, 2008.

While we have several of the new, high-quality production stills below, you can view our massive new photo gallery here in full. Click “Original” on each photo for high-quality versions. In our updated gallery, photos 19 through 40 are all new from Monday. We last published the release of new “Iron Man” production stills on Feb. 4, 2008.

View our massive, high-quality “Iron Man” photo gallery.

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

Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ‘The Ruins’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:41:46 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Thursday released a flood of new production stills for the new horror film “The Ruins,” which stars Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore, Laura Ramsey and Joe Anderson. Directed by relatively unknown director Carter Smith (“Bugcrush”) and based on the novel by Scott B. Smith, “The Ruins” opens on April 4, 2008.

While we feature a few of the new stills below, continue on to our huge “The Ruins” image gallery! Once you click on each photo there, click on the “original” link for high-quality versions.

Here’s the film’s plotline:

The leisurely Mexican holiday of a group of friends takes a turn for the worse when they and a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle where something evil lives among the ruins.

Click here to view our entire new “The Ruins” image gallery!

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

Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ‘Stop-Loss’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:45:29 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Monday released a flood of new production stills for the war film “Stop-Loss,” which stars Ryan Phillippe. Directed by relatively new director Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”), “Stop-Loss” opens on March 28, 2008. While we feature a few new production stills below, continue on to our huge “Stop-Loss” image gallery!

Here’s the film’s plotline:

Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his family and his best friend, Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum), who served with him in Iraq.

Along with their other war buddies, Brandon and Steve try to make peace with civilian life. Then, against Brandon’s will, the U.S. Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor.

Click here to view our entire new “Stop-Loss” image gallery!

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

Following Super Bowl Spot, 13 New ‘Iron Man’ Production Stills Surface

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:32:57 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Sunday decided not only to rain by advertising “Iron Man” at the pricey 2008 Super Bowl but then also pour by releasing a flood of new, high-quality production stills. We reveal to you several of the new images below and have all of them (13 in total!) at our “Iron Man” image gallery.

View the rest of the new photos at our “Iron Man” image gallery!

Discuss this on our discussion boards here!

Directed by Jon Favreau, “Iron Man” features Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges. It is slated to open on May 2, 2008. The new “Iron Man” Super Bowl spot is below. It can also be found at Paramount’s “Iron Man” site and in HD at Apple.com.

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

Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:32:37 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Wednesday released a flood of new production stills for the fantasy film “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” which stars Freddie Highmore, the voice of Seth Rogen, Mary-Louise Parker and the voice of Nick Nolte. The film opens on Feb. 14. While we feature a few below, continue on to our huge “The Spiderwick Chronicles” image gallery!

Here’s the film’s plotline:

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace along with their sister, Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures.

Click here to view our entire new “The Spiderwick Chronicles” gallery!

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

Exclusive: ‘Star Trek’ Teaser Trailer Description Surfaces Online

MagnoliaFan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:08:41 -0700

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com on Tuesday had a trusted source post on our message boards a description of the upcoming teaser trailer for J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek”.

Following this post, various other movie sites (see a list of independent validations here) have confirmed the accuracy of this information with multiple sources along with a source at Paramount Pictures. Here’s our exclusive teaser trailer description. Warning: This is full spoiler information about the teaser trailer.

Here’s the “Star Trek” trailer description. Hope you can use it.

Slow Paramount logo.

Bad Robot logo.

Black, suddenly some sparks (very saturated [with] Michael Bay-looking cinematography).

We hear an old NASA radio countdown: “30 seconds and counting.”

Close up of a timeless guy with goggles leaning down doing some wielding and sparks flying around.

He lifts his googles. Slightly futuristic head covering. It’s not a space suit, by the way.

The dude leans down and wields some more. He’s standing on big metal.

“From director J.J. Abrams” (blue font with a nice lens flare).

Some Kennedy speech about space flight: “The eyes of the world now look to space.”

People walking around the saucer section. The wielders are everywhere – showing size.

We hear: “The eagle has landed.”

Huge overhead shot pans across [and] suddenly [shows] what looks like miles of scaffolding underneath.

Title: “The future begins”.

Really impressive shot from … people all over the ship and you can see a huge industrialized city or shipyard in the background. It’s being built on Earth [rather than] in space.

Neil Armstrong: “One small step for man…”

Camera slowly cranes up over the whole saucer section.

Then we hear Leonard Nimoy’s line: “Space. The final frontier…” and the familiar “Star Trek” theme horns.

The shot continues [and reveals] the writing on the top of the saucer – “U.S.S. Enterprise” – and these huge aircraft-like warp engines in the background. Technically, the first reveal of what we’re seeing.

Just the Starfleet log (no title).

Title card: “Under construction”.

“Christmas 2008”

Overall, really great teaser (by the definition of the term). Very industrial. I’m most intrigued by the background Earth stuff.

The teaser should be attached to the Abrams-produced “Cloverfield,” which opens this Friday.

Head to our forum to discuss this development!

1:20 p.m. update on Jan. 17, 2008: The first photo of the U.S.S Enterprise from the new “Star Trek” turned up at Moviefone on Thursday. The photo can be seen below and a larger version can be found here. It appears to be taken from the teaser and be the reveal shot we first mentioned above. Here’s a link to Paramount’s official “Star Trek” Web site.

The first photo of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the new “Star Trek” film.
Photo credit: Moviefone

11:57 a.m. update on Jan. 18, 2008: IESB.net just posted the unofficial “Star Trek” teaser trailer!

1:16 p.m. update on Jan. 20, 2008: “Star Trek” producer Roberto Orci has gone public about the intentions by the filmmakers for the “moderately esoteric and largely eerie teaser”. Read all about it in our forums here!

1:15 p.m. update on Jan. 21, 2008: Yahoo! now has the “Star Trek” teaser trailer in HD!

3:09 p.m. update on Jan. 23, 2008: The first “Star Trek” viral marketing site has just gone live at NCC-1701.com. It was discovered by clicking a red dot near the “under construction” label on the official film site.

By SHANE HAZEN
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
shane@hollywoodchicago.com

Paramount Pictures Releases 25 New Production Stills For ‘Cloverfield’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:23:52 -0700

CHICAGO – “Cloverfield” continues on its tear not this time with more viral marketing but with a “monster” amount of new production stills. In fact, there are so many we had to create an image gallery just to hold them all. There are 25 new images in total. The J.J. Abrams-produced film opens on Jan. 18. While we feature a few below, all 25 are in our new “Cloverfield” image gallery.

If you’re interested in some spoilage, you can download the “Cloverfield” production notes here. Here’s the film’s plotline:

On the eve of his departure for Japan, Rob (Michael Stahl-David) sees his going-away party as an opportunity to confess unresolved feelings and tie up loose ends. His agenda takes an unexpected turn when a jolt shakes the revelers.

The crowd quiets down to watch news reports of an earthquake and then rushes to the roof to assess the damage. A fireball explodes on the distant horizon. A power failure follows. Confusion gives way to panic as the partygoers stumble through the blackout and into the streets.

Amid the human screams and one inhuman roar, Rob and his friends must traverse a landscape that has changed [and has been] overtaken by something otherworldly, terrifying, monstrous…

Click here to view the entire new “Cloverfield” gallery!

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