I’m expecting a roller coaster of excitement from Director Lee Unkrich, who has branched out on his own for this one, after co-directing Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. Now I’m going to make you all watch this clip so we can suffer until June together, haHA!

Clip description: Toy Story 3 Director Lee Unkrich introduces this clip, which will leave you wanting more!

Be sure to check out the trailer as well…

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of their toy-box friends find themselves dumped in a day-care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college.

Visit the oh-so-cute official Toy Story 3 site if you need more of a fix, you know I have.

Return of the Astro-nut

Check out the new trailer for the highly anticipated Toy Story 3! The movie and company that changed animated pictures forever with the release of Toy Story 1 is bringing back the franchise for one last hurrah. All the toys from the first two movies are back, even the little martian dudes ( The Claaaawwww) and this time they find themselves trapped in a kindergarten class after their original owner Andy goes off to college.

Enjoy!

Woody and Buzz had accepted that their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens when that day arrives? In the third installment, Andy is preparing to depart for college, leaving his loyal toys troubled about their uncertain future. – In Theaters June 18th, 2010.

‘Toy Story 3′ News

• ‘Toy Story 3′ Continues Character Continuity
• Tim Allen Welcomes Space Ranger Home from Infinity and Beyond
• New ‘Toy Story 3′ character cameo in ‘Up’

To Infinity….

Seeing films on the big screen is always a special event. Popcorn, a dark theater, and surround sound make the experience something not easily replicated. That’s why when Disney announced a rerelease of “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” as a double feature, I was ready to buy my ticket. The films are part of the nostalgia of my childhood and enjoying seeing these great films with my whole family. That magic doesn’t exist by sitting on the couch watching the DVDs of these; it is about a full visceral experience. The opportunity to return to that memory and feeling is one in a million.

Buzz Lightyear and Woody are back for a 3rd adventure

What Disney did for this re-release is a step into the past of cinema, while opening the gate for revisiting old films. Before home video and on demand television, cinemas would replay old movies as rereleases but the VHS killed that tradition. By bringing these films back to the screen, Disney can captivate a new generation of viewers, while giving the old faithfuls a nostalgic revisiting.

There is a great new twist on the films as well. Pixar upconverted the films to 3D, giving the added dimension to these groundbreaking features. Now Woody, Buzz, Rex and all your favorites have the added depth that they were designed to have. Pixar created this world in a virtual 3D space, so presenting it in that aspect is logical and eye popping. The only drawback is the glasses needed to see the film. The 3D glasses cut down on the vivid colors of these plastic toys, with dimmer and less vibrant environments. I flipped the glasses on and off at times to see what I was missing. Now if you’re a cinephile, does the 3D outweigh the color loss? I can’t answer that because I wish I could have both due to the crispness and atmosphere of an added dimension.

So are Mr and Mrs Potato Head

This is the same beloved story, with all of the heart and soul that were there years ago. I’m glad that neither Pixar nor Disney decided to recut either of the films because they are perfect unto themselves. They remain stunning by today’s standards and absolutely charming. Is it really considered nostalgia if revisiting something is as good, if not better, than it was when you first experienced it?

This was only going to be a two-week engagement, which would have been absolutely disheartening for anyone who couldn’t make it. Disney announced on Monday though that it’s running will be extended at least another week, so thus this review will not be too late. The double feature also has grossed more than $20 million in the two weeks it’s been playing. Not bad for films from last decade. They even have been in the top five in the weekend box office both weekends.

The best perk to seeing the double feature is viewing the “Toy Story 3” trailer in 3D as well. The trailer was finally released online on Monday, but it premiered on the big screen. Man, does this look like a great flick. The premise for it is that Andy is going off to college, so the whole gang of toys gets sent to a daycare. While it could be the most depressing animated feature ever and a simple extension of the montage in Toy Story 2, the trailer packs jokes and a plotline that looks pretty darn funny. The depressing part is that I have to wait all the way till next summer to return to my favorite toys.

ooOOOoo.. shiny..

If you never have experience the magic of “Toy Story” and the sequel, collect about $15 go to the theater the first chance you get, and witness the films that are so heartwarming. The 3D experience is brilliant due to the extension of the environments rather than cheap gimmicks. The extra dimension truly adds to the film. Many other films are using this technique for 3D now, which is how the studios should approach 3D. I can admit that one montage in “Toy Story 2” still packs a punch to make me a little dusty. The themes ring true to this day and into the future.

Grade: A+

Check out the Teaser Trailer for Toy Story 3!

More Toy Story News

• Tim Allen Welcomes Space Ranger Home from Infinity and Beyond
• New ‘Toy Story 3′ character cameo in ‘Up’

…And Beyond!

The first Toy Story was first major success for Pixar and the movie that really propelled them to the level that they have reached today.  It was a revolutionary, first of its kind movie and it inspired a whole plethora of 3D animated movies, creating a new genre for movie makers to explore.  So, after a successful sequel and a long long layoff (Toy Story came out in 1995) Pixar is bringing back the goofy coyboy and macho space man for one last ride!  Enjoy the Trailer!

Don’t forget to check out more video, news and stills from the movie at our Toy Story 3 Sitelet.

Shaun and Eric, hosts of the Behind the Scenes show, ask, “What did you like at Cannes?” Let us know and we’ll send you a official gift from the festival – just add a link to the Cannes 2009 sitelet.

To get your hands on our Cannes souvenirs, simply let us know what Cannes movies and coverage you enjoyed with a link to the Cannes 2009 sitelet in a blog post, Twitter update, Facebook mention, MySpace blurb, comment, whatever … Just make sure you point back to the Cannes 2009 sitelet so we can say thank you with an official Cannes poster, Cannes watch, Cannes backpack or Cannes film slate photo frame to remember the 62nd edition of this classic festival.

Some of the Cannes Movies we covered:

• Drag Me to Hell
• Hump Day
• Taking Woodstock,
• A Christmas Carol
• Agora
• I Love You Philip Morris
• Inglourious Basterds
• UP
• Bright Star

The MovieSet Cannes team is back and brought a suitcase of souvenirs for fans of the film festival and we wanna share the stash with you! Indeed, We Like to Be Seen so are asking you, “What did you like at Cannes?”

To get your hands on our Cannes souvenirs, simply let us know what Cannes movies and coverage you enjoyed with a link to the Cannes 2009 sitelet in a blog post, Twitter update, Facebook mention, MySpace blurb, comment, whatever … Just make sure you point back to the Cannes 2009 sitelet so we can say thank you with an official Cannes poster, Cannes watch, Cannes backpack or Cannes film slate photo frame to remember the 62nd edition of this classic festival.

Write about any movie we covered, a Behind the Scenes episode or share a photo – whatever you liked best.

Here’s a recap of Cannes Highlights and Films to get you started:

Cannes Round-ups

MovieSet’s Ultimate Cannes Round-Up!

And the winners are at the Cannes Film Festival…

Top Directors at Cannes

Starlets out and about in Cannes

On the Red Carpet at Cannes (preview)

Cannes Movies

Drag Me to Hell

Hump Day

Taking Woodstock,

A Christmas Carol

Agora

I Love You Philip Morris

Inglourious Basterds

UP

Bright Star

Collections

Stills

News

As we come to the end of the Cannes Film Festival, we are gonna do a quick re-cap on the top stories we covered at the Festival.

For those that missed the great coverage, check out this post to see the progress of the festival, as well as the awards and winners.

Our team at Cannes is very proud to captured some amazing footage of one of the best film festivals in the world!

The full list of winners follows. You can log on to Official Cannes Festival site to watch the press conference and photo call following the closing ceremony festivities in Cannes.

To check out exactly what each prize means, and more info about the festival itself, check out The Substream Filmlabs’ Cannes Video.

• Palme d’Or (Golden Palm): “The White Ribbon,” by Michael Haneke (Austria)
• Grand Prize: “A Prophet,” by Jacques Audiard (France)
• Jury Prize: “Fish Tank,” by Andrea Arnold (Britain) and “Thirst,” By Park Chan-wook (South Korea).
• Special Prize: Alain Resnais
• Best Director: Brillante Mendoza, “Kinatay” (The Philippines)
• Best Actor: Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds” (United States)
• Best Actress: Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Antichrist” (Denmark)
• Best Screenplay: Feng Mei, “Spring Fever” (China)
• Camera d’Or (first-time director): “Samson and Delilah,” by Warwick Thornton (Australia)
• Best short film: “Arena,” by Joao Salaviza (Portugal)

Here’s an introduction to the films we had an opportunity to cover, including press conferences and interviews with filmmakers and actors.

1) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The ‘Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus‘ is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. Dr. Parnassus with his extraordinary traveling show “The Imaginarium” offers to members of the audience an irresistible opportunity to enter their universe of imaginations and wonders, by passing through a magical mirror. But Dr. Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. An inveterate gambler, thousands of years ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr. Nick, in which he won immortality.

Centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr. Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his daughter reached her 16th birthday, she would become the property of Mr. Nick. Now it is time to pay the price…

Watch the Press Conference with Terry Gilliam and Actors.

2) I Love you Phillip Morris

The true story of an ex-cop, ex-husband, ex-insurance swindler, ex-model prisoner and eternal lover of cellmate Philip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) will do anything to avoid being separated from the man of his dreams. Which means not rotting away in prison.

How far can one go for love? Quite far if you believe the incredible story of Steven Russell, an escape artist whose romanticism gets the better of him. Based on the book by Steven McVicker, this jail-house, dark romantic comedy.

Read the Ultimate Review by Phillip Nakov

3) Agora

As the Roman Empire declines, philosopher and astromomer Hypatia struggles to preserve scientific knowledge amid the clash of zealots in Alexandria, whose rising Christian population grows increasingly militant toward Jews and worshipers of the Egyptian gods.

Check out the Press Conference with Rachel Weisz and Director Alejandro Amenabar

4) Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of an old miser who must face Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come, as they help to bring kindness to his otherwise cold heart. The Ghosts remind him of the man he used to be, the hard truth of what the world is today, and what will happen if he does not strive to be a better man.

Jim Carrey plays four separate roles in this updated version of A Christmas Carol. Carrey portrays Scrooge, as well as the three ghosts (Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come). His dynamic character roles keep the four characters as diverse as being played by four actors. Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future trilogy) has his chance to dabble in telling a story through the windows of time, as he directs the long-awaited remake. In theaters Nov. 6, 2009.

Check out this sneak peak teaser footage of the movie, showing off some of the CGI and the Press Conference with Jim Carrey and Robert Zemeckis and some Stills of the Premiere.

5) Bright Star

“Bright Star”. The movie stars Australian Actress Abbie Cornish, Thomas Sangster and Paul Schneider. Not much is know about the movie yet, but you can check out some stuff at the Official Page.

London 1818 is the year, a secret love affair begins between 23 year old English poet, John Keats, and the girl next door, Fanny Brawne, an outspoken student of fashion. This unlikely pair started at odds; he thinking her a stylish minx, she unimpressed by literature in general. It was the illness of Keats’s younger brother that drew them together. Keats was touched by Fanny’s efforts to help and agreed to teach her poetry. By the time Fanny’s alarmed mother and Keats’s best friend Brown realised their attachment, the relationship had an unstoppable momentum. Intensely and helplessly absorbed in each other, the young lovers were swept into powerful new sensations, “I have the feeling as if I were dissolving”, Keats wrote to her. Together they rode a wave of romantic obsession that deepened as their troubles mounted. Only Keats’s illness proved insurmountable.

Take a look at this clip from the Press Conference in Cannes.

For everything Cannes Remember to check out the Cannes 2009 Sitelet!

Au revoir !

From Phillip, our man on the Crossiette ….

And that wraps it up for us and the whole MovieSet.com crew from here in the south of France. It has been a terrific, fast-paced and exciting two weeks. We’ve seen so many great movies, some not so great and some that we just wondered how they ever got made. There is no other festival like it in the world.

We thank the Festival de Cannes press accreditation committee for welcoming MovieSet.com so graciously at this year’s festival. We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the 62^nd Annual Festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival) as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.  The response has been tremendous from around the world and so till next year.

MovieSet correspondent Phillipe (feeel-eep) Nakov was AT the premiere in Cannes and got a chance to talk to the films director Pete Docter and the executive producer  of ‘Up‘, chief creative officer of Pixar himself – John Lassester.

Enjoy this video of the interview and be sure to visit the Cannes 2009 Sitelet for more.

The gist of the movie is … By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Don’t forget to check out our continuous 24/7 Cannes Coverage at the sitelet, with tons of new content being updated as-it-happens throughout the festival.

The Starlets! The Stories! The Champagne! And the Cinema!

Is Cannes the best film festival in the world?

Mais bien sur!

Bonjour MovieSetters! MovieSet is going ALL OUT at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival from May 13 to the 24th in the south of France.

Follow us in this extraordinary eco-system, an intense dreamscape populated by a medley of money-men, hustlers, hacks and extra-terrestrial stars.

Our festival team will be producing exclusive still photos, videos, interviews, and blog content daily and on the MovieSet Cannes 2009 Sitelet

We’ll be keeping an eye on these films – Any others we gotta catch? Leave us a Comment

- Inglourious Basterds
- Taking Woodstock
- Up!
- AntiChrist (Lars Von Trier)
- Drag Me to Hell
- Imaginarium of Dr. Panassus

Behind the Scenes at Cannes

The Festival de Cannes has always been the reflection of its era: a centre for all cultures and hopes, a spring of effervescence and, above all, transmission. Join Shaun and Eric as they lead you behind-the-scenes on the latest at Cannes with a kick off episode of the vidcast featuring UP!, Taking Woodstock and Dr. Parnassus.

Like this episode? Check out More of Eric and Shaun on their BTS Sitelet

Canne’s do!

Looking for some more Info about the Festival?

Give the Official Cannes Film Festival Site a whirl, they have a great selection of information and history about the Festival, including:

- The Official Selection (full list of movies in screening in Cannes)

- The Juries (Judging the Festival, Who?)

Follow along on Twitter!

- Festival Cannes on Twitter

- 2009 Cannes Festival on Twitter

- Tagged posts: #Cannes09 Or #Cannes

- And of course MovieSet on Twitter

Come say hello to the MovieSet crew on the Palais

Meet Ryan, Phillipe, Massoud and the rest of the MovieSet team on the Palais throughout the festival at Stand # 26.03. They are assisting producers to set up promotional Sitelets and giving away MovieSet branded 1GB Flashdrives.

MovieSet is an official sponsor of the PRODUCER NETWORK and will be hosting the HAPPY HOUR on Sunday May 17th from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Producers Club (Village International – Pantiero, pavilion 210).

Au-revoir!

First off are photos from the premiere of Disney/Pixar’s animated movie UP! which flies into theaters on May 29th.

The Carlton Pier has a special visitor as the house from UP! settles down for a short visit. UP opened the 62nd Annual Cannes Film festival marking the first time an animated feature opened this prestigious international event.

Among the honored attendees of the UP! premiere was Charles Aznavour who caused a media frenzy as he walks the pier at the Carlton in Cannes. This was the beginning of a staged photo opportunity for the Disney-Pixar animated comedy adventure for which M. Aznavour provided voice-over talents for the Franco-version.

Every film tries to grab some of the attention at Cannes with huge and creative advertising campaigns – Sacha Baron Cohen’s newest film Bruno is a great example of the huge artwork created to garner eyeball time. No doubt Mr. S.B.C. has little trouble gaining attention since the Borat juggernaut gathered so much buzz (and money!).

The MovieSet away-team will be sending video and stills to share with movie fans throughout the festival. Check out the Behind the Scenes show for the Cannes kick off episode with Inglourious Basterds and Taking Woodstock along with UP!.

Meanwhile in Cannes … Phillipe stands his ground as the MovieSet team chase down the latest news and photos from the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival.

Anything you need Phillipe to chase down for you? Any films you are eager to learn more about? Ask in the comments and he’ll do your bidding.

Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson and produced by John Lasseter. By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

The festival has seen its fair share of animation titles in the past, with titles like Dumbo and Shrek making it to Official Selection.

French actress Isabelle Huppert has been named president of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. Huppert is only the fourth women to head a Cannes Film Festival jury, following Liv Ullmann, Jeanne Moreau and Francoise Sagan.

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival will run from May 13 to 24, 2009 and “Up” will be released in US theaters on May 29, 2009.

Check out the Official Theatrical Trailer!

The summer movie season is kicking into full gear today with the release of Wolverine. There’s also the alternate choice Ghosts of Girlfriends past, for those ladies who prefer to let their men exercise their testosterone with buddies instead.

Today we’ve got a look at the big releases for May and we’ll be following up with a daily look at June, July and August starting next week.

We’d love to hear what you’re excited to see this summer, so post a comment below and tell us what summer movies you’re looking forward to and why!

May 1st

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

What is it? Wolverine gets his very own movie in this spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise.

Who’s in it? Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston and Ryan Reynolds

Why it just might be the best movie ever: Wolverine was the best part of the previous X-Men movies. Fans have been waiting a long time for this Marvel character to go solo.

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: For a movie about Wolverine, this one sure has a big cast. And Will.i.am? Why couldn’t he just do a track for the soundtrack? Also, Gavin Hood has chops, but Rendition was pretty forgettable.

The reality: Should be a fun start to the summer with plenty of action, but whether this one rises above the hallowed X2 remains to be seen.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

What is it? Alternate chick flick fare about an eternal bachelor haunted by the girlfriends from his past.

Who’s in it? Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Douglas

Why it just might be the best movie ever: Its directed by the guy who did Mean Girls plus McConaughey and Garner are nice to look at.

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: Hmmm, so many reasons. But the short list? McConaughey has played this part about a dozen times and its getting old, Michael Douglas is kinda creepy and the director’s last rom-com was the dreadful Just Like Heaven.

The reality: A breezy and brainless romance with two likable enough leads. It will deliver a few mild laughs and be forgotten by the post-show cosmopolitans.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

May 8th

Star Trek

What is it? If you have to ask, this isn’t for you.

Who’s in it? Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Anton Yelchin, Winona Ryder, Simon Pegg, Eric Bana

Why it might just be the best movie ever? Finally, a Star Trek movie with a cast chosen because of talent and a passionate director. It’s about time!

Why it might just be the worst movie ever: J.J. Abrams often seems to have the attention span of a knat when it comes to seeing his creations through to the end. Ahem, Mission Impossible III, anyone?

The reality: Star Trek probably won’t change the world the way some Trekkies might hope, but it’s almost guaranteed to be the best film since part IV.

May 15th

Angels and Demons

What is it? The second adaptation of the popular Dan Harris series starring Tom Hanks as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. This time Langdon is out to thwart a terrorist attack on the Vatican.

Who’s in it? Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard

Why it just might be the best movie ever: After the imperfect Da Vinci Code, director Ron Howard and star Hanks should be able to find their groove for the sophomore effort. Also some fans of the series claim this story is even better than the hallowed Da Vinci Code.

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: The first movie was no peach and Hanks still has the stupid hair. Its a sequel instead of prequel, as it was intended in the series.

The reality: Howard is a strong director, so this one should be at least on par with, if not a little better than, the first film.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

May 22nd

Terminator Salvation

What is it? A reboot of the Terminator franchise set after the robots have destroyed most of the planet. John Connor leads a small resistance of survivors to overthrow the robot leaders and reclaim Earth.

Who’s in it? Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Helena Bonham Carter

Why it just might be the best movie ever: The events after Judgement Day have been talked about for three movies and a TV show. Now we finally get to see it and we get quite arguably the best actor on the planet as John Connor.

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: Hopefully Bale’s highly publicized tirade on set was just a bad day, because if it was a regular occurrence that’s not a good sign. McG remains a highly questionable choice as director.

The reality: Should be better than three but reaching the heights of Cameron-directed first two is a long shot.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

What is it? Ben Stiller returns as Smithsonian security guard Larry Daley in this sequel to the family comedy about a museum where the statues come to life at night.

Who’s in it? Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Amy Adams, Jonah Hill, Ricky Gervais, Bill Hader, Christopher Guest, Steve Coogan

Why it just might be the best movie ever: It won’t be, trust me.

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: How many more times can we take Ben Stiller in this part? No seriously, I’m asking, because the number has to be approaching. Also, Williams as Roosevelt is funny once, but was anyone crying out for more?

The reality: If you liked the first one, you’ll probably like this one.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

Dance Flick

What is it? A parody of dance movies from the hilarious team behind such gems as White Chicks and Little Man.

Who’s in it? 45 members of the Wayan family plus Chris Elliot and David Allen Grier.

Why it just might be the best movie ever: Maybe you just had a frontal lebotomy or drank your weight in Jack Daniels beforehand…

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: Well, with the pedigree attached, its hard to imagine, right? Has to be better than Date Movie and Epic Movie though, right? Well, one can dream.

The reality: Yet another brainless parody movie in which the best moments can all be viewed in a two-minute trailer without blowing 90 minutes and $10 bucks.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

May 29th

Up

What is it? Pixar’s latest about an old man who ties a bunch of balloons to his house in order to float away to South Africa, but finds he has a young stowaway along for the adventure.

Who’s in it? The voices of Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, Delroy Lindo, John Ratzenburger

Why it just might be the best movie ever: Even though the plot on this one sounds a bit suspect, its hard to doubt Pixar at this point. Plus, Ed Asner!

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: Co-director Pete Doctor directed Pixar’s weakest entry Cars. That’s all I’ve got. Let’s be real, no way any Pixar movie is going to be the worst movie ever.

The reality: Another Pixar smash both the kiddies and parents will love. Expect to see this one in traffic through the window of the minivan in front of you by Christmas.

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

Drag Me to Hell

What is it? Sam Raimi’s much-ballyhooed return to horror tells the tale of a young loan officer (Lohman) who finds herself cursed and pursued by an evil demon hoping to pull her into the depths of hell.

Who’s in it? Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, David Paymer, Dileep Rao

Why it just might be the best movie ever: The Evil Dead movies were an absolute blast and fans have been waiting a long time for Raimi to get back to his roots. In an age of torture porn and slashers, this is a fun-spirited old fashioned ghost story!

Why it just might be the worst movie ever: Spider-Man 3 sucked, but even Raimi admits that. So long as being a Hollywood big shot hasn’t spoiled Raimi, we should be okay.

The reality: Crazy characters, big jumps and prosthetic monsters jumping out from every direction. A perfect summer popcorn thriller!

Agree? Disagree? Just want to call me an idiot? Post a Comment Below!

It’s 9:30 pm and I am finally in my room, sitting down writing. Today’s activity is already beginning to blur. So quick, before I forget, here’s the update.

Disney Goes UP in 3D

Disney kicked off the morning with an amazing preview of their upcoming 3D Digital movies. They rolled out a spectacular presentation featuring glimpses of some of their library titles which will be getting new life with new 3D releases, as well as new movies to be released in both 2 and 3D. The growth of the 3D market is staggering with approximately 2,000 3D screens in 1,500 locations currently showing 3D films. They stated that with this rate of growth it would not be too long before it made sense to release a 3D movie in wide general release. It will be interesting to see with the economic slowdown if that has any influence on the speed at which 3D digital cinema is adopted by both distributors and movie-goers.

The footage they showed was on the ‘super-secret’ caliber and they remanded all in the audience to hold hands and form a human chain. Anyone letting go was to be shot. Humor was clearly the order of the day as they kicked off the presentation.

First up they showed us the latest trailer for UP but this time in 3D. This came with a promise of more at the end of the session. Though it was the same trailer already available online, it was in glorious digital projection and in 3D. The glasses they handed out were very sophisticated and hard plastic. These were not your run of the mill disposable lenses you may be used to. Prices for these glasses are said to go between $28 to $45 a pair!

More Toys Coming

Following the warm up by UP (in theaters this May) they announced the re-release of Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3D later this year for limited two-week engagements just in time for the holidays. Attached to the double feature Toy Story 3D release will be the first look at Toy Story 3 which is due out in theaters in Summer 2010. No footage was available to be viewed but I am happy to report that the entire cast (Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, etc…) will be back and new toys will be added to the list! Stay tuned.

Car Toons and 3D Beasts

Next up on the roster was a teaser for the upcoming Cars 2 release. Again, no footage was available, but they did show us the first of several teaser ‘Cars Toons‘ which will be released in the coming months to help promote the movie and reacquaint audiences with the cast of “Cars.” They ran “Tokyo Mater” which looked and sounded amazing. Truly eye-popping and great.

Following this was a rather disjointed clip from the upcoming reissue of “Beauty and the Beast” in 3D. This rendering of older footage seemed a much weaker entry into the 3D market place when compared to the crystal clear imagery of Pixar’s toons. Although it was impressive to see the toon in 3D, it was not as strong as the other contenders. Nice improvement, not sure of how well it will do to woo audiences in.

Refreshed Classics

Next up was a short set of sequences from “A Christmas Carol” from director Robert Zemeckis and starring the incomparable Jim Carrey. Yes, that’s Jim Carrey as Mr. Scrooge (photo below). They teased us with a few glimpses from the behind the scenes production reel and some concept art but nothing more.

Apparently they are busy with post-production. The shot of Carey as Scrooge was the only real image from the film released. Disney is claiming that “This November, we’ll charm the Dickens out of you”. I certainly hope so!

Although we were all anticipating some wildly fun scenes from the upcoming Burton/Depp pic “Alice in Wonderland” all we got were some production photos. Still it’s better than nothing and what we did see whet my appetite! But they kept the best back. Helena Bonham Carter stars at the Queen of Hearts, yet all we were shown were her feet and a stock head shot of Helena out of make up. As for Depp, we got the top of his hat as his head was tilted forward, face out of view. Sneaky devils! And for all the IMAX 3D fans, “Alice in Wonderland” is also be released in Digital 3D as well as IMAX 3D. I think it is safe to say we are all wild about ‘Alice’!

The footage I was most looking forward to seeing was from TRON. I remember seeing the original TRON years ago and was mesmerized by the blending of computer imagery and live-action. The footage they presented was a production reel to demonstrate the technology and look of the movie. SPECTACULAR! It takes TRON to a whole new level and expands it 100 fold over where the original TRON left off. Principal photography commences in a few weeks in Vancouver and we are angling for some behind the scenes news. Stay tuned.

Highs and Lows

The least appealing of all of the trailers shown was surprisingly a Jerry Bruckheimer production called “G-Force” starting the voice antics of Bill Nighy, Will Arnett and Zach Galifinkis. It can be best described as a hamster movie about a secret army of highly trained government hamsters out to save the world. Seriously? I guess kids will like it… very young kids… who have never seen other movies… and who love hamsters.

But the highlight of the Disney presentation was a full 47-minute clip from the upcoming Disney/ Pixar release “UP“. Introduced by the film’s director, Pete Docter, “UP” will be the next instant classic to come out of the house of Pixar. Pairing a cantankerous 78-year old man with a precocious boy and setting them out on an adventure in a flying house with thousands of colorful balloons is a recipe for a fun-filled family outing!

When the clip ended the audience applauded loudly and I was left feeling I can’t wait for this movie to open! As a special treat they sneaked in a short never before seen action sequence from the end of the movie. They really got us to the edge of our seats and just as they were about to save the… the lights came up! Again, sneaky devils! Total cliff-hanger but I can’t wait till May.

At this morning‘s session Disney applied all the charm and wowed us with some terrific examples of what to expect from them in 3D coming soon. The 3D technology never looked so good and the stories are there as well – the perfect pairing for box office gold.

Transformed in Paris, Vegas

Following the presentation I took a walk, a long walk, out front to the entrance of the Paris Las Vegas where ShoWest is held each year, to take some photos of the life-sized model of Bumblebee from Transformers. He was standing guard welcoming delegates and visitors to the Paris under the replica Arc de Triomphe. They also had a few cars used in the movie on display in the turn court.

Also this evening I saw the DreamWorks/ Paramount picture “The Soloist” starring the incomparable Robert Downey Jr. and a riveting Jaime Foxx. Based on a true story and based on the writings of LA Times reporter Steve Lopez, this movie not only delivers but it’s a knock out. A full review to come!

More on all the posters, the standees, the attendees and my walk around the showroom floor in my next update. Stay tuned!