DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox have released a new trailer for KUNG FU PANDA 3.
Check out the trailer below and get ready for the return of Jack Black as Po and his fun-loving band of friends, voiced by Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, J.K. Simmons, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Kate Hudson and more.
In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, KUNG FU PANDA 3.
When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible – learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas.
The movie is directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni and produced by Melissa Cobb.
KUNG FU PANDA 3 hits theaters everywhere on January 29, 2016.
GOOSEBUMPS is a sweet witch’s brew with dashes of FRIGHT NIGHT (1985), JUMANJI, and R.L. Stine’s original stories all mixed together. Once our young hero Zach (Dylan Minnette) suspects something awry is going on with the crabby neighbor next door, some troublesome snooping transpires and reveals that the neighbor is actually famous horror writer R.L. Stine (Jack Black). But that still doesn’t explain why he locks up his daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush) at night, and why all of his manuscripts are sitting locked on a shelf. The setup is similar to many of R.L. Stine’s stories, complete with the dorky, enthusiastic sidekick (played to a T by Ryan Lee). And if you know the author’s stories, then you know he has a knack for writing creepy characters. Unfortunately, Stine, the trio of kids, and the entire town, are going to come face-to-face with these famous monsters.
I try to avoid getting into too many personal stories in my reviews. Of course when you read any film critic, you are inviting yourself to peer inside the mind of the writer. Every review, opinion piece, or article is influenced by the writer’s previous experiences. That being said, R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series is one of the reasons why I’m the horror fan I am today. There are other films, books, and tv shows that formed the macabre mind I have today, but Goosebumps was one of the first. I read a lot as a kid. Many of the books that grabbed my attention were because of striking cover art – something that no doubt was a trigger for many kids. However, R.L. Stine’s books had more than just hair-raising covers that grabbed your attention. The pages inside breathed life into the colorful images. And I know I’m not the only kid that believed this. The Goosebumps series continues to grow in popularity over 20 years since its conception. I was 7 when the first book Welcome to Dead House was released, and watching the film GOOSEBUMPS on the big-screen gave me the same sense of wonder and excitement that I felt all those years ago.
GOOSEBUMPS perfectly captures the tone of R.L. Stine’s popular children’s stories, while incorporating a clever conceit so that all of the writer’s creations can emerge on-screen. The monsters and scares are handled in a way that is very similar to how Stein depicts them in the books. The shocks are mild enough without scaring the pants off kids. At times, director Rob Letterman has fun with this. One scene where ceramic gnomes begin popping up in random places around a kitchen is just the right amount of fun and frightful.
Jack Black is refreshingly restrained compared to his usual self. His usual shenanigans are downplayed, forcing him from being the center of attention like his personality customarily demands. How the film uses Black’s tendency towards over-the-top showmanship is through the main villain Slappy – a ventriloquist dummy also voiced by Black. His punny and comedic one-liners inject some dark humor into the film; especially since the other monsters don’t speak. Having Jack Black bring to life the author’s “alter-ego” is just another example of how director Rob Letterman understands and shows love for the source material.
All three of the kids play well off of one another. There’s a natural and carefree charm to their interactions, revealing kids that feel like kids. What many will find the most surprising about the film is its sense of humor. Much of this has to do with the comedic timing and delivery from these three leads. Of course, the monsters like the “Abominable Snowman of Pasadena” deliver some childish gags, but Darren Lemke’s screenplay plays perfectly to the talent of the young leads.
GOOSEBUMPS is nothing but fun. It’s filled with the perfect amount of chills and laughs that will appeal to families looking to get in the haunting holiday mood. Older horror fans should be aware that film is rated PG, and so the level of scares aren’t up to the level of some more extreme films. Some of the CGI monsters like the “Werewolf of Fever Swamp” aren’t as realistically rendered as I would have liked – thankfully, Slappy the dummy is brought to life through the use of a puppet – but that’s a minor complaint when you are having this much fun in a theater. GOOSEBUMPS is an entertaining romp that seems inspired by the work of Chris Columbus and Joe Dante. Ghouls, ghosts, and goblins of all sorts fill the screen, leaving fans of R.L. Stine (like this one) smiling.
Overall rating: 4 out of 5
GOOSEBUMPS opens in theaters everywhere October 16.
Ready for a scary good time? WAMG has got your passes the upcoming movie, GOOSEBUMPS.
Teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette), upset about moving from a big city to a small town, finds a silver lining when he meets the beautiful girl, Hannah (Odeya Rush), living right next door, and makes a quick friend in Champ (Ryan Lee). But every silver lining has a cloud, and Zach’s comes when he learns that Hannah’s mysterious dad is in fact R.L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling Goosebumps series. As Zach starts learning about the strange family next door, he soon discovers that Stine holds a dangerous secret: the creatures that his stories made famous are real, and Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books.
When Stine’s creations are unintentionally released from their manuscripts, Zach’s life takes a turn for the weird. In a crazy night of adventure, it’s up to Zach, Hannah, Champ, and Stine to team up and get all of these figments of Stine’s imagination – including Slappy the Dummy, the girl with the haunted mask, the gnomes and many more – back in the books where they belong to save the town.
The literary phenomenon is coming to the big screen on October 16, 2015.
WAMG invites you take the whole family to the advance screening of GOOSEBUMPS on Monday, October 12 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
Answer the following:
Leading the way in GOOSEBUMPS as the chief villain is Stine’s most lasting creation: Slappy the Dummy. Joining Slappy in the film are many of Stine’s other creations.
Which one of the titles listed below is NOT an R.L. Stine creation?
Vampire Poodle from Please Don’t Feed the Vampire!
The Praying Mantis from A Shocker on Shock Street
The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena
The Werewolf from Werewolf of Fever Swamp
The Ants from Sugar Hill Chiller
The Gnomes from Revenge of the Gnomes
The Blob from The Blob That Ate Everyone
The Walking Undead from the Three Tree Cemetery
The Witch Doctor from Deep in the Jungle of Doom
Madam Doom from Help! We Have Strange Powers!
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWERS AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
The film has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humor.
In celebration of the worldwide release of GOOSEBUMPS, in theaters October 16, 2015, moviegoers can put themselves inside an action-packed scene from the movie in a virtual reality adventure with immersive motion by D-BOX with the Goosebumps Virtual Reality Adventure.
In eleven cities over four weekends, Goosebumps fans can buckle up for adventure as Jack Black, playing famed Goosebumps author R.L. Stine, takes them on an unforgettable journey through town, just after his creatures have escaped from their manuscripts.
In the one-of-a-kind promotional event, moviegoers will put on virtual reality goggles and climb into a D-BOX immersive motion-activated chair to experience being inside a scene from the movie. In the experience, which is inspired by a scene in the film itself,Jack Black, playing Stine, drives through town, trying to escape one of his creations, the Praying Mantis. With the motion of the D-BOX chair precisely synced to action, Black directs viewers to look around and experience the world of Goosebumps, as if they were inside the film itself. The experience was directed by Rob Letterman, the director of Goosebumps.
The Goosebumps Virtual Reality Adventure will be available for four weekends, Saturdays and Sundays between September 26 and October 18, in the following markets:
New York Los Angeles Dallas Chicago Miami San Jose Cleveland Washington Albuquerque Toronto Salt Lake City
Moviegoers can visit www.Goosebumps-Movie.com for local theater location information. The experience will be available in select international cities at future dates, tied to the film’s release.
Sony partnered with the globally renowned creative studio and VFX powerhouse MPC to shoot and produce the VR content.
Commenting on the announcement, Elias Plishner, executive vice president, Digital Marketing for Sony Pictures said, “Goosebumps is a fun, immersive movie, and this promotional experience is going to put moviegoers inside the film itself. We’re always looking for ways to create engagement, and it was great to see Rob and Jack take the existing scene and re-shoot it for virtual reality. They were completely game.”
Jake Zim, senior vice president, Digital Marketing, added, “The world of Goosebumps lends itself perfectly to VR, and merging the D-BOX motion chair with virtual reality takes this experience to the next level. You’re going to feel immersed in the movie – it’s a virtual reality adventure ride right there in the theater lobby.”
Michel Paquette, VP Marketing, D-BOX added, “As the world leader and inventor of immersive motion for cinematic art, we are very pleased to see that the credibility in creating subtle and intelligent motion is adding embodied spectator participation to the storytelling. We’re always looking for ways to expand the moviegoing experience, which is why we jumped at the chance to team up with the studio for this unique event. We truly feel that the Goosebumps Virtual Reality Adventure elevates the viewer’s movie experience by combining VR with credible physical reality only available through the D-BOX chair. With the immersive motion of that chair specifically programmed and synced to the VR images playing in the goggles, you’re going to feel like you’re right there in the car with Jack Black, trying to escape the Praying Mantis.”
In addition to and separate from the Goosebumps Virtual Reality Adventure, moviegoers will be invited to experience the theatrical film Goosebumps in one of the thousands of D-BOX seats installed in theaters upon the film’s release.
Scholastic has over 400 million Goosebumps books worldwide in 32 languages in print since the series introduction in 1992, earning critical acclaim and dominating global best seller lists. R.L. Stine has been recognized as one of the bestselling children’s authors in history. Now, the literary phenomenon is coming to the big screen.
In GOSSEBUMPS, teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette), upset about moving from a big city to a small town, finds a silver lining when he meets the beautiful girl, Hannah (Odeya Rush), living right next door, and makes a quick friend in Champ (Ryan Lee). But every silver lining has a cloud, and Zach’s comes when he learns that Hannah’s mysterious dad is in fact R.L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling Goosebumps series.
As Zach starts learning about the strange family next door, he soon discovers that Stine holds a dangerous secret: the creatures that his stories made famous are real, and Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Stine’s creations are unintentionally released from their manuscripts, Zach’s life takes a turn for the weird. In a crazy night of adventure, it’s up to Zach, Hannah, Champ, and Stine to team up and get all of these figments of Stine’s imagination – including Slappy the Dummy, the girl with the haunted mask, the gnomes and many more – back in the books where they belong to save the town.
Directed by Rob Letterman, the screenplay is by Darren Lemke with a story by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, based on the Goosebumps book series published by Scholastic and written by R.L. Stine. The film is produced by Deborah Forte and Neal H. Moritz.
Catch the new trailer for director Rob Letterman’s GOOSEBUMPS
Upset about moving from a big city to a small town, teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) finds a silver lining when he meets the beautiful girl, Hannah (Odeya Rush), living right next door, and makes a quick friend in Champ (Ryan Lee). But every silver lining has a cloud, and Zach’s comes when he learns that Hannah’s mysterious dad is in fact R.L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling Goosebumps series.
As Zach starts learning about the strange family next door, he soon discovers that Stine holds a dangerous secret: the creatures that his stories made famous are real, and Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Stine’s creations are unintentionally released from their manuscripts, Zach’s life takes a turn for the weird.
In a crazy night of adventure, it’s up to Zach, Hannah, Champ, and Stine to team up and get all of these figments of Stine’s imagination – including Slappy the Dummy, the girl with the haunted mask, the gnomes and many more – back in the books where they belong to save the town.
Some fun facts about the books. Scholastic has over 400 million Goosebumps books worldwide in 32 languages in print since the series introduction in 1992, earning critical acclaim and dominating global best seller lists. R.L. Stine has been recognized as one of the bestselling children’s authors in history.
GOOSEBUMPS will be released in theaters nationwide on October 2015.
In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, KUNG FU PANDA 3.
When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible – learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas.
DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox have just released the brand new trailer for the highly anticipated film. Check it out.
The star-studded cast returns to this franchise with Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and David Cross; joined by newcomers Bryan Cranston, Rebel Wilson, and J.K. Simmons.
The film is directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni and produced by Melissa Cobb. Watch our interview with Nelson and Cobb when they were nominated in the Animated Feature Film category at the 2011 Oscars.
KUNG FU PANDA 3 hits theaters everywhere on January 29, 2016.
(L-R) Po (voiced by Jack Black) and his long-lost panda father Li (voiced by Bryan Cranston) pose for a portrait in DreamWorks Animation’s KUNG FU PANDA 3.Mei Mei (voiced by Rebel Wilson) performing a ribbon dance in DreamWorks Animation’s KUNG FU PANDA 3.Po (voiced by Jack Black) frolicking in the panda village’s hot spring in DreamWorks Animation’s KUNG FU PANDA 3.(L-R) Po (voiced by Jack Black) meets his long-lost panda father Li (voiced by Bryan Cranston) for the first time in DreamWorks Animation’s KUNG FU PANDA 3.
It’s hard not to like THE D TRAIN, a witty, well-made celebration of friendship in which two very different guys come to know and appreciate each other – if maybe a bit too much. Jack Black stars as Dan Landsman, a schlubby married Pittsburgh dad enthusiastically heading up his 20th high school reunion committee even though he’s so unpopular the rest of the group heads out for beers after their meetings without inviting him along. The board members have been unable to muster much support for the reunion, but things change when Dan spots a TV commercial starring former classmate and school stud Oliver Lawless (James Marsden), now the face of ‘Banana Boat’ sunblock ad campaign. If Dan can get Oliver to attend the reunion, he figures others will follow suit just to rub elbows with a TV star, making him a hero. Dan works for a consulting firm headed by a technology-challenged boss (Jeffrey Tambor), to whom he concocts a series of lies to justify a trip to L.A. to pursue a potential, non-existent client. Once in L.A., a starstruck Dan quickly hooks up with Oliver, who turns out to be a hard-drinking, cocaine-snorting party boy who’s not nearly as successful an actor as Dan has been lead to believe. They enjoy a wasted night on the town and even run into Oliver’s “pal” Dermot Mulroney (playing himself). When the two stumble back to Oliver’s one-room apartment, they continue to enjoy each other’s company in a Brokeback Mountain kind of way in a scene that is going to make a lot of guys in the audience squirm, but only those who are uncomfortable with their own masculinity (…….just kidding! – all guys will squirm and that one-second shot of Jack Black on the receiving end of some man-love will live in cinema infamy). After this surprising turn, the action moves back to Pittsburgh, where Dan returns to his wife Stacey (Katheryn Hahn) a changed, if confused man. Oliver agrees to attend the reunion, which sets things up for an uncomfortable climactic confrontation.
At the end of the day THE D TRAIN is a pretty formulaic bromantic comedy, and that unexpected twist it has can’t hide that fact, but it’s done well, which counts for a lot, and the chemistry between leading men Jack Black and James Marsden is fantastic. What’s impressive about co-directors Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul’s screenplay is the way it explores the complexities of modern, grown-up friendships, and the awkwardness of renewing old acquaintances in middle age, while retaining a bracing sense of adolescent humor. The funniest bits involve Dan covering his lies and Jeffrey Tambor discovering them by learning to use the internet. Too often in these guy-centric comedies, women are little more than ornaments or plot obstacles. Mogel and Paul have balanced their film extremely well, with equal time given to Dan and his wife as much as Dan and Oliver, so that their relationship actually does feel real and not just a convenient plot contrivance. The talented Kathryn Hahn’s Stacey is a supportive figure for Dan and her fine work here ought to add to the fan following she has built in other big-screen comedies as well as on Parks and Recreation. It is the performances that make THE D TRAIN work. Everyone is, for the most part, subdued rather than over-the-top including Jack Black in his first lead since BERNIE four years ago, and it finds him more restrained than we remember him. He’s still adept as ever at reactions and the physical fat-guy stuff, and his clumsily injecting street slang to impress Oliver (hence the title) is a funny gag. Dead-pan Tambor is hysterical and oddball Mike White shines in a couple of scenes as Dan’s fellow reunion committee member. But it’s James Marsden who hijacks THE D TRAIN and runs away with it. The actor has played these impossibly-handsome-guy roles for almost two decades now. Ever since he was John Wilkes Booth, the ‘first male model’ in ZOOLANDER, Marsden has shown a great knack for comedy but his Oliver Lawless – complex and haunted, is his best work. The sad scene where he pretends to know Dermot Mulroney is awkward and note-perfect as is the hilarious one where he gives Dan’s 14-year old son (Russell Posner) advice on his first sexual three-way. Marsden’s performance here is loose and confident and attractive. He makes THE D TRAIN one to catch.
4 of 5 Stars
THE D TRAIN opens in St. Louis May 8th at, among other places, Landmark’s The Tivoli Theater
Would you like to attend the premiere of THE D TRAIN starring Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambor?
Well, you’re in luck! WAMG is giving away a pair of tickets to the upcoming LOS ANGELES screening and we’d love for you to go!
DATE: APRIL 27TH
Be the first to see IFC Films’ latest movie before it hits theaters on May 8th.
Plus we also have for the winner a special gift from Banana Boat.
All his life, Dan Landsman (Jack Black) has never been the cool guy. That’s about to change – if he can convince Oliver Lawless (Marsden), the most popular guy from his high school who’s now the face of a national Banana Boat ad campaign, to show up with him to their class reunion.
A man on a mission, Dan travels from Pittsburgh to LA and spins a web of lies to recruit Lawless. But he gets more than he bargains for as the unpredictable Lawless proceeds to take over his home, career, and entire life. THE D TRAIN showcases Jack Black and James Marsden’s most intoxicating performances to date.
The film is rated R.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: How far would you go to be popular?
OFFICIAL RULES: 1. YOU MUST BE IN THE LA AREA THE DAY OF THE EVENT 2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. 3. TRANSPORTATION NOT PROVIDED. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.
The first trailer for the Sundance hit THE D TRAIN is here. The comedy stars Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambor.
All his life, Dan Landsman (Jack Black) has never been the cool guy. That’s about to change – if he can convince Oliver Lawless (Marsden), the most popular guy from his high school who’s now the face of a national Banana Boat ad campaign, to show up with him to their class reunion.
A man on a mission, Dan travels from Pittsburgh to LA and spins a web of lies to recruit Lawless. But he gets more than he bargains for as the unpredictable Lawless proceeds to take over his home, career, and entire life.
Showcasing Jack Black and James Marsden’s most intoxicating performances to date, THE D TRAIN serves up the question: how far would you go to be popular?
Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel (Writing/Producing/Directing Team) are making their directorial debut with THE D TRAIN. Currently, they are developing their blacklisted script HIMELFARB for Warner Brothers. Previous projects from the duo include co-writing 2008’s YES MAN (Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel) for Warner Bros. Pictures.
On casting Black and Marsden, the directors said, “It was less about a casting process and more us just begging these guys to do our movie. We thought they were each so perfect and after seeing a moving “Touched by an Angel” episode that they co-starred in together 15 years ago, we knew they had great onscreen chemistry.”
Comedian Jack Black will make a special appearance at the 87th Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, February 22, live on ABC.
“Jack Black is a complete original comic voice and we’re beyond thrilled that he has agreed to join the Oscars show in a very special sequence” says Zadan and Meron.
Black has starred in such films as “High Fidelity,” “Shallow Hal,” “School of Rock,” “King Kong,” and “Tropic Thunder,” and is voicing the title character in “Kung Fu Panda 3,” his third turn in the animated feature series. He also is the lead singer and guitarist of the comedy rock duo Tenacious D, which he formed in 1994 with Kyle Gass.
Black has made three previous appearances on the Oscars, most recently as a presenter at the 81st Academy Awards.
The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
