A Christmas Carol Medley: The Many Ways You Can Enjoy Dickens
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Adaptation, Animation, Short Films, Drama, Family, Musicals, Period, Comedy,
It’s that time of year when it’s unsafe to enter a department store, when televised specials are vying to offer you the biggest stars and most touching moments. When ancient movies get dredged up for our entertainment. There is one holiday-themed tale which is so predominant, no winter season would be complete without it. This only begs one question: which version will you watch?
A Christmas Carol is one of the most re-made movies in cinematic history - even Disney is in on the action. But the story itself is even older than Hollywood. A Christmas Carol was originally written by Charles Dickens, and first hit the scene way back in 1843. More than one hundred years later, it’s still one of the most widely-recognized holiday stories in history.
And if you want to enjoy this time-honored tale of redemption, you’ll have more than your fair share of opportunity. How many ways can you enjoy Dickens this year?
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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.
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| Variety
Anne Hathaway Added to Alice in Wonderland Cast
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Adaptation, Family, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,
Who knew a horrible breakup could kick off the best part of one’s career?
In the last few weeks, Anne Hathaway has done a superb job moving past the issues in her personal life. She’s braved uncomfortable interviews, earned Oscar buzz for Rachel Getting Married and made people laugh on Saturday Night Live. (You can see one of her SNL sketches after the jump.) Now Anne’s adding a high-profile project to her resume.
It’s just been announced that Hathaway will be the latest star to join Alice in Wonderland. The Tim Burton film - which already boasts Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter - also features Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Hathaway is scheduled to play the White Queen.
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The Hollywood Reporter
High School Musical 3 Sets UK Presale Record
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Musicals, Sequels, Box Office,
Who knew Troy Bolton was bigger than Harry Potter?
In light of UK’s early response to High School Musical 3, don’t be surprised to see another HSM installment in the theaters soon. Even though the movie won’t open for another 3 weeks, the musical has already set overseas presale records.
As of October 1, Odeon Cinemas - UK’s biggest theater chain - has already made £245,205 ($432,504) in advance ticket sales. That figure surpasses the record set by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The fourth wizard film raised £227,000 ($400,393) back in 2005.
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BBC News
Johnny Depp Attached to More Disney Projects
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,
Johnny Depp has just now officially sold his soul to the Mouse.
After starring in several blockbusters for Disney, the Oscar-nominated actor is ready to go back for more. The studio has just announced that the money maker will be starring in not one…not two…but three more projects for them.
In addition to reprising his role as Captain Jack Sparrow (yes, there will be a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean installment), Depp will be taking on the character of Tonto in an adaptation of The Lone Ranger.
Johnny will also - surprise! - appear in yet another Tim Burton film. Although it was already suspected that he would participate in Alice in Wonderland, his signature was only recently placed on the dotted line. Depp will now be joining Mia Wasikowska as the Mad Hatter.
Alice - which will use the same technology implemented in Beowulf - is slated to hit theaters in 2010.
Variety
Miley Cyrus Gets Custom-Made Nicholas Sparks Film
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Drama, Romance, Celeb News, Scripts,
It looks as if Miley Cyrus is one step closer to finally leaving her Hannah Montana alter ego behind her.
Recently, the pop star hinted that her Disney show could soon be nearing an end. This is probably why the studio has moved on to Phase 2 of their commodity’s career: Put Miley In More Adult Fare.
After hearing that Cyrus was interested in appearing in film’s like A Walk to Remember (starring former bubble gum princess Mandy Moore), execs contacted the story’s creator. Realizing a golden opportunity when he saw one, author Nicholas Sparks not only agreed to work with Miley, he decided to write a screenplay specifically for her.
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Variety
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.
Hollywood Reporter
Nightmare Before Christmas Director Provides Sneak Peek Into Coraline
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Universal, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Family, Science Fiction, Casting, Distribution, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases,
Fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Sandman graphic novel will have much to celebrate for come this December with Coraline.
The director of the Disney classic, Henry Selick, as well as Beowulf writer Neil Gaiman have teamed up for the upcoming stop-motion film, which follows a young girl named Coraline who walks through a door that ultimately takes her to an alternate version of her life.
Judging by the behind-the-scenes clip (seen after the jump), the look and feel of the movie are sure to please fans of both collaborators. Watching the painstaking task of stop-motion animation, I now have a newfound appreciation for the art.
The film stars Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, and Jennifer Saunders (Shrek 2).
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Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Batman Smokes Pineapple Express
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Musicals, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers,
Pineapple Express’ strong open last week made number crunchers wonder: Would this be the week Batman was finally taken down? Unfortunately, breaking the record for ‘Any Wednesday in August’ doesn’t necessarily mean a movie will succeed on Friday or Saturday or Sunday. And despite Pineapple‘s promising start (the movie grossed $12.1 million on its first day), the comedy found itself smoked by the Caped Crusader.
The Dark Knight‘s recent $26 million take has now pushed the film past $441 million. When the sequel passes Star Wars’ $461 million (which should happen shortly), it will become the #2 film of all time. By staying on top for the fourth weekend in a row, Knight has also accomplished something that hasn’t been done since 2003’s Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
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Yahoo! Movies
Tim Burton’s Alice Is Off to England
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Disney, Adventure, Animation, Classics, Family, Mystery, Books, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
Disney’s favorite eccentric director Tim Burton is at it again, and this time he’s digging a bit older and traveling a bit further for his latest classic remake: Alice in Wonderland.
Burton is taking the cast and crew across the pond to Plymouth, where they will be holding auditions this week for the film’s extras. Casting director Ilenka Jelowicki explains why the locale is perfect for production:
“It’s a period movie, set in Victorian England, so we’re very specific about the look we need. In an ideal world, out of the 125 women we need, they would all have long, naturally coloured hair. We’d love men with beards or facial hair – lamb chops or big sideburns, that sort of thing.”
The only confirmed cast member is HBO‘s Australian actress Mia Wasikowska (In Treatment), who is set to play Alice. Take a wild guess who might be casted as one of the crazy Wonderland characters—I dare you!
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The Independent
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