by Daniela Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Release Date: March 13 2015
Disney has started having a knack for taking their classic tales and creating live-action retellings. Earlier this year we had Maleficent, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the villain, and we also have future projects like The Jungle Book on the horizon. If we take Maleficent as an example, the main issue that a lot of Disney fans took from it was its disregard for a lot of the "source" material (the 1959 animated film) and completely rewriting a lot of what we already knew. So, is it a good idea for Disney to reimagine the story of one of the most iconic princesses?
It's really no surprise that Disney has decided to Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo around with the story of Cinderella. Aside from their animated film from 1950, there have been many adaptations of this Grimm tale. One that I hold close to my heart is the Rodgers and Hammerstein's versions, this includes the Broadway show and the Brandy TV special. I grew up with In My Own Little Corner and Ten Minutes Ago was one of the first songs I learned on the ukulele. With all these different adaptations of one classic fairytale, it does make me wonder how far away Disney is willing to veer away from their version of the story of which they established.
by Daniela Studio: Lionsgate Release Date: November 21, 2014 (U.S)
November 20, 2014 (N.Z) WARNING: Potential spoilers for those who have not read The Hunger Games series!
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (gosh that's a mouthful) is based on the third book in The Hunger Games trilogy from author, Suzanne Collins. It is the sequel to Catching Fire (2013) and will be succeeded by Mockingjay Part 2 (releases on November 20, 2015). Francis Lawrence returns as director and is also the director of the final installment in the series.
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), is recovering from the events in the Quarter Quell (the 75th Hunger Games) and trying to adjust to life under the rules of Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) in the undergrounds of District 13. With Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) captured by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and her unwillingly becoming the face of the rebellion, Katniss must fight to protect her family, friends and save a nation that has been living under the tyrannical rule of the Capitol.
Our Leader the Mockingjay - Teaser Trailer
We open with shots of hovercrafts and the voice of Plutarch
Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) talking to President Coin. Raise your hand if you feel like crying
already! The two are discussing Katniss’ capabilities of being the face of the
rebellion. If you can recall, in Catching Fire, Plutarch was serving as a
double agent for the rebellion and constructed the Quarter Quell in a way that
allowed them to save the victors that were fighting on their side. Coin is
reluctant as she thinks the last games had taken a toll on Katniss.
Inbetween this conversation, we cut to see Katniss walking through a packed gloomy looking District 13. The people appear to be tired, dirty and broken as
the events of the war have destroyed their lives. I did notice that when
Plutarch says “they’ll follow her,” all the people start to turn their attention
towards Katniss. I see what you did there Francis Lawrence.
Enter President Snow (Donald Sutherland) who declares that “any association with the mockingjay symbol
is forbidden!” Let us take this opportunity to marvel at those scarily accurate crop circles! Now here’s where the action starts. We get our first
glimpses of the actual war that has broken out in Panem. From gun-wielding, stormtrooper-like peacekeepers (peace… yeah right) to the big bombings in what I assume to be District 8, Panem looks to be in utter chaos. As if our hearts can take it anymore, we see a young boy,
who most likely won’t make it to the end of the film, asking “are you fighting
Katniss? Are you here to fight with us?” Katniss replies with “I am, I will” following with the sound of a million hearts breaking. Then... BOOM! MOCKINGJAY SYMBOL! BOOM! RUE’S
WHISTLE! BOOM! EVERYBODY CRIES.
I actually really liked this teaser! It's serious and sets the tone for the movie. Everything appears grey and dull (like Coin's hair) and the music complements the pacing if the teaser really well. The series has come a
long way from just releasing shots of Katniss running through the forest… which
was actually never used. I find it really interesting that throughout the
trailer we just hear about Katniss and hear about all the plans yet, we don't even see her face til the very end. It
reflects the fact that the whole rebellion is centered around her and her
image, but the all the events of the movie are a result of Plutarch and Coin’s
plans.
Prepare your tissues people! I for sure will be bringing them along for Justine. Can you tell I'm a little bit excited for this?
FUN FACT: I dressed up as Seneca Crane (amazing beard and all) and Justine came as Effie Trinket for her little brother's birthday party. That was also the second time that I have had a beard drawn on my face at her house...
Check out the one of the previous teasers below! I LOVE the propaganda angle that Lionsgate has been using!
WARNING: Potential spoilers ahead! The Japanese trailer gives out details that were not revealed in the English trailer!
Following the on-going phenomenon that was Frozen, Disney has now started to released footage of their 54th animated feature. Big Hero 6 is the company's first attempt at making an animated film after acquiring Marvel. Fortunately for Disney, Big Hero 6 is one of Marvel's lesser known properties so they have the creative liberty to make a few changes here and there. And no, this isn't a sequel to Big Hero 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
Big Hero 6 follows a young Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter), a robotics prodigy and his robot balloon man, Baymax (Scott Adsit). The adventure begins when the two learn of a criminal plot unfolding in their city of San Fransokyo (a combination of San Francisco and Tokyo). Along with the likes of a newly formed team of heroes: GoGo Tomago (Jamie Chung), Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) and Fred (T.J. Miller), they must stop the evil Yokai from fulfilling his dark and mysterious plan.
English Trailer
Much like the first Frozen trailer, the first official English trailer for Big Hero 6 focuses a lot around humour. It mostly centres around the pair of Hiro and the adorable Baymax. The two are at the police department and are trying to report a crime regarding a microbot controlling man in a kabuki mask. Unfortunately for Hiro, the officer doesn't seem to be giving him the time of day which leads to Baymax being suited up for battle.
If you didn't love Baymax in the first teaser, you will for sure fall in love with him in this trailer! He gets the best gags and the funniest lines that fans have constantly been raving about! Disney has made a refreshing change as humour doesn't rely on the usual slapstick comedy but more of those... incredibly... awkward... moments. I have no idea why, but I thought him taping up himself was hilarious! And who could forget "big hairy babyyyyyyy." If you now call your cats that, I think you're awesome. We also get a small glimpse of the other Big Hero 6 team members but only hear the voices of GoGo Tomago and Fred. For any How to Train Your Dragon fans, T.J. Miller who voices Fred, also voice Tuffnut! It would have been nice to have a bit more of the team but no doubt they will be more prominent figures in future trailers. I'd also love to see them in crime-fighting mode!
The kabuki mask villain is no other than the terrifying Yokai. His design is simple with his tall and dark figure but all of your attention goes to his mask. Iconic characters like Ghostface from Scream or V from V for Vendetta also follow this route. Don't even get me started on how frustrated I was that Evey never told us who V was! Interestingly, no voice actor has been announced for this character. He could be one of those creepy silent villain types or... I smell a plot twist!
Evidently, Disney is holding back and not playing all their cards just yet. Let's remember that infamous Elsa trailer that was much more emotional that the initial trailer that Disney released for Frozen. Luckily for us, the Japanese trailer has a teensy bit more to show. Also, who doesn't love a good Disney Easter egg? I love how they threw in references to their past films. A big thumbs up to you if you found them without looking them up!
Japanese Trailer
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Note: Translations were made by Dore (naturalborncoward on Tumblr) who is a good friend of ours! Thanks Dore!
The boy lost his beloved older brother
His name is Hiro. Hiro has by his side his brother Tadashi’s memento.
Baymax: Hello. Hiro: Who are you? Baymax: My name is Baymax. I will protect your body and soul. Hiro: Oh, Baymax… Baymax: Tadashi created me. On a scale from 1 to 10, which level is your heartbreak at? Hiro: Can you not…
From the makers of Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph
Baymax: I will protect you no matter what, that is Tadashi’s wish. Tadashi (video): You and Baymax together will save everyone.
However, Hiro still doesn’t know(?) the real orders Baymax is entrusted with…
Baymax: I do not think this is necessary for a care robot… Hiro: Test it out. Hiro: That’s good, Baymax!
Baymax (hugging Hiro): There there…
Can the world be saved with kindness?
Unlike the first official English trailer, the Japanese trailer takes the emotional route by already ripping a character away from us! It opens with the funeral of Tadashi, Hiro's older brother and you can already tell that this is going to be much more serious. It's a classic Disney move to always have some sort of family member die and cause everyone to start their movie experience off with a little bit of emotional trauma. Thanks guys. Hiro is clearly upset from the loss of his brother indicating that the two were probably very close. We get a glimpse of Tadashi through a video he leaves for Hiro. Enter Baymax, who we understand to be the creation of Tadashi. Baymax's purpose is to protect Hiro and ultimately become his best friend. But Baymax's orders from Tadashi aren't as clear cut as we think.
Interestingly, we don't even see the other team members here. In comparison to the English trailer, despite the same footage from the teaser, we get to see more of Baymax's personality and purpose rather than him being purely comic relief. One thing I did think was cool was the end quote "can the world be saved with kindness?" Obviously this theme will be a large theme in the movie and I'm excited to see how it will play a part in such an action-packed story. It's also interesting to note that the film will be called Baymax when it is realeased in Japan. So, my guess is that Baymax is going to play a much larger role in the film than I had originally anticipated. And who doesn't want more Baymax?
