The Colorful Characters from Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Technology, Upcoming Releases

No matter how you feel about Tim Burton‘s uneven work (Mars Attacks? Planet of the Apes?), there’s one thing that cannot be denied: His films are a visual treat.

Next year, the director will introduce Alice in Wonderland, an adaptation of the Lewis Carroll story. The movie, which uses live action and performance-capture technology, will be offered in 3-D.

Click to continue reading The Colorful Characters from Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

Read More | ScreenCrave

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IMAX Delay for Half-Blood Prince

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Adaptation, Adventure, Science Fiction, Technology, Upcoming Releases

Warner Bros. may be sticking firm to its third Half-Blood Prince release date, but that won’t prevent delays for the film.

Due to a conflict with a previously scheduled blockbuster, most IMAX theaters (aside from one in New York in one in LA) will not be able to show Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until July 29. That equates to a two-week delay from the July 15 premiere.

What will be occupying those theaters up until that point? Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The Paramount feature has a month-long commitment starting with its June 26 debut.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Schwarzenegger Makes Digital Cameo in Terminator Salvation

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Technology, Upcoming Releases

Although Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed unsure about the future of the Terminator franchise, California’s govenor knows one thing for sure: a paycheck is a paycheck.

After months of speculation, it turns out the former action star will be included in the upcoming sequel after all. But unlike his recent work for The Expendables, this gig will not require any time away from his day job. According to Variety, all that he needed to do was put a thumb up. Director McG has incorporated Schwarzenegger’s image using a body mold that was cast in a previous installment. The final digital result will appear as a live actor.

Arnold won’t be the only veteran included in next month’s blockbuster. It was previously announced that Linda Hamilton will provide a short voice over as well.

Terminator Salvation premieres on May 21.

Read More | Variety

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Beauty and the Beast to Go 3-D

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Animation, Classics, Family, Musicals, Technology

As hard as it is to believe, it’s already been 17 years since Beauty and the Beast first premiered. And though it’s still nice to still along with Gaston and Lumiere via the DVD, we will soon have a new way to experience the movie all over again.

Come 2010, Disney will rerelease the Oscar-nominated film - it was the first full-length animated movie to be up for Best Picture - as a new 3-D theatrical feature. This update is just one of several reissues the studio has in store. Plans for a revamped Toy Story and Toy Story 2 have already been in the works.

In addition to this weekend’s release of Bolt, upcoming 3-D titles for Disney include the Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie, Toy Story 3, Up, G-Force, Alice in Wonderland and Rapunzel.

Read More | Variety

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Disney Titles Coming to Blu-ray

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Animation, Classics, Family, Home Entertainment, Technology

This fall, Disney will be releasing its first Platinum Collection title on Blu-ray. Now we’re being told of five other films that will eventually get the same treatment.

• Pinocchio - available Spring 2009
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - available 2009
• Fantasia - available 2010
• Fantasia 2000 - available 2010
• Beauty and the Beast - available Fall 2010

The animated classics - with all their extra bells and whistles - will be available for a limited time only. (As if Disney would have it any other way.)

Sleeping Beauty hits the shelves on October 7.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Paramount Titles Going Blu-ray

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Science Fiction, Comedy, Technology

After declaring loyalty to HD DVD last year, Paramount has unfortunately been forced to switch gears thanks to the format’s demise.  Here are a few Blu-ray titles the studio now plans to release in the upcoming months:

May 20

• Bee Movie, Face/Off, Next

June 3

• Cloverfield, There Will Be Blood

June 24

• The Spiderwick Chronicles

Read More | Reuters

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Juno Movie Available Via iTunes

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Comedy, Home Entertainment, New Releases, Technology

While iTunes users have become used to seeing selections from Disney, DVD offerings from other studios have not come as quickly as some might have liked.  But it looks like things may soon change.

Just today, Fox made Juno available for download via the popular site.  This is the same day the Oscar-nominated film was placed on store and rental shelves.  It’s likely the studio will allow more current titles to be sold in the future, but no immediate plans have been announced.

Meanwhile, Paramount has also started to dabble in Apple‘s waters as well.  The company recently offered up Beowulf for purchase shortly after it debuted on DVD in February.

At last check, Juno (on sale for $14.99) was iTunes’ top seller.

Read More | Variety

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Disney Needs to Say No to Step Up Sequels

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Disney, Drama, Sequels, Technology, Upcoming Releases

While this came as quite a shock to me, Disney is in serious talks with Step Up/Hairspray producer duo, Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman, to work on a third installment of the series.  This news comes after Step Up 2 the Streets surprisingly raked in $29 million over the President’s Day weekend.

The triquel is tentatively titled Step Up 3D, as I’m sure Disney believes that format is the new way to go.  The recently successful Hannah Montana film was also released in 3D.

Someone needs to tell them to stop making so many bad movies. Seriously.

Read More | Variety

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Toshiba Stops HD DVD Production

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, Universal, Corporate Shakeups, Home Entertainment, Technology

It’s official.  HD DVD is DOA.

Toshiba finally announced Tuesday what had been rumored for days—it is pulling out of the high-definition market.  Although the HD DVD system preceded Sony’s product, Blu-ray sales have steadily outpaced its competitor.

In the past few months, major studios have aligned themselves with the Sony brand.  Even though Paramount and Universal continued to offer their titles on HD DVD, it was clear the Toshiba format was being crippled.

Recent decisions made by Wal-Mart and Netflix helped drive a nail into the HD DVD coffin.  The companies announced they would no longer be making the high-def option available to its customers.

Shipments of the Toshiba systems will wrap up by March.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Unboxing: The Official ‘Juno’ Hamburger Phone

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: 20th Century Fox, Drama, Independent, Comedy, Awards, New Releases, Technology

It isn’t too often we here at FilmCrunch get to do an official unboxing like our sister site, Unboxing.com. But I kind of think this actually one-ups their normal gadgetry, allowing you to get your vicarious thrills doubly—it’s cool and it’s related to one of this year’s best films, Juno. Case in point, I give you the Official Juno Hamburger Phone. Yes, that so-ugly-and-weird-that-it’s-cute-and-I-actually-really-want-one phone was handed to me as part of the film’s promotion, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

I haven’t had the chance to use it yet—I don’t have a landline—but I hear it works about as well as the one from the movie. Remind me not to use it the next time I call my local abortion clinic.

Check the rest of the meaty, telephony photos after the jump.

Click to continue reading Unboxing: The Official ‘Juno’ Hamburger Phone

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