Pixar’s upcoming sequel to Monsters, Inc – Monsters University – is looking to sign up new students interested in a unique learning experience where you can be yourself. The new ad for the upcoming animated comedy shows that it doesn’t matter if you have one huge eye waving on a stalk over your body or if you have horns, you too can enroll in Monsters University.
Pixar also launched a new website for further info on this monster-friendly college.
Watch the trailer:
Monsters University arrives in theaters on June 21, 2013.
The Plot:
Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.
American Idol‘s Kris Allen, his pregnant wife Katy, and their dog, Zorro, were involved in a nasty car accident on January 1, 2013 – not exactly the best way to kick off a new year. Allen’s wife and dog escaped shaken up but uninjured. However, Allen wound up with a broken wrist, which will require surgery.
The Allens kept their fans up to date on what happened via Twitter.
“Thank you @ford for equipping me with a car that kept my whole family @katyallen @ZorroPup and the little one we have on the way safe.” @KrisAllen, 8:53 PM on 1 Jan 13
“Kristopher and Katy are both pretty beat up but ALIVE! Thank you Jesus! They are setting his arm now and will have surgery tomorrow.” @allen_kimberly, 6:39 PM on 1 Jan 13
Followed by:
“Yes I got in a really bad wreck tonight and yes I’m having a lil baby. #gonnabeadaddy” @KrisAllen, 8:54 PM on 1 Jan 13
So what does this mean for Allen fans who bought tickets to his upcoming tour? He may not be playing the guitar, but the tour hasn’t been canceled.
“Don’t worry everyone I may have broken my wrist but the #OutAliveTour is still on.” @KrisAllen, 8:55 PM on 1 Jan 13
According to another Tweet to a fan who asked about the first stops on the tour, Allen says he’s not going to “miss even one of them.” Here’s hoping for a swift recovery for the entire Allen family.
Guillermo del Toro was blown away by the short film Mama and based on his reaction to the horror short, he came on board the feature-length film. Both movies are from filmmakers Andy and Barbara Muschietti, with the feature starring Jessica Chastain (who’s currently earning Oscar buzz for her work in Zero Dark Thirty) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (awesome in Game of Thrones).
The Plot of the Feature Film:
Five years ago, sisters Victoria and Lilly vanished from their suburban neighborhood without a trace. Since then, their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), have been madly searching for them. But when, incredibly, the kids are found alive in a decrepit cabin, the couple wonders if the girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home.
As Annabel tries to introduce the children to a normal life, she grows convinced of an evil presence in their house. Are the sisters experiencing traumatic stress, or is a ghost coming to visit them? How did the broken girls survive those years all alone? As she answers these disturbing questions, the new mother will find that the whispers she hears at bedtime are coming from the lips of a deadly presence.
Alexandra Daddario and Dan Yaeger lead the cast of the latest addition to the Texas Chainsaw franchise, Texas Chainsaw 3D. Directed by John Luessenhop, the R-rated horror film is set to open in theaters on January 4, 2013.
Alexandra Daddario plays Heather Miller, Dan Yeager is Leatherface, Tremaine ‘Trey Songz’ Neverson is Ryan, Scott Eastwood is Carl, and Tania Raymonde is Nikki. Shaun Sipos stars as Darryl, Keram Malicki-Sanchez is Kenny, James MacDonald is Officer Marvin, and Thom Barry plays Sheriff Hooper.
The ensemble also includes Paul Rae as Burt Hartman, Richard Riehle as Farnsworth, Bill Moseley as Drayton Sawyer, and Gunnar Hansen as Boss Sawyer.
Alexandra Daddario stars as 'Heather Miller' in 'Texas Chainsaw 3D' - Photo credit: Justin Lubin/Lionsgate
Official Synopsis: Lionsgate’s Texas Chainsaw 3D continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible.
Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family – or so they thought.
Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars…
As we put away all the holiday decorations, begin a new year and say goodbye to 2012, it’s time to look back at a year that had superheroes dominating the box office, two political thrillers getting rave reviews from both the critics and the public, and love fighting to conquer all including summer camp and high school. Here are my choices for the Top 10 films of 2012 that not only entertained the movie-going public but had the audiences mesmerized by the magic up on the big screen.
Not since perhaps the Oscar-winning film The French Connection has a cop film captured the friendship, loyalty and danger two partners face out on the streets stopping crime so wonderfully. Made on a shoestring budget, End of Watch chronicles two Los Angeles policemen as they accidentally get involved going up against a drug cartel and end up being targeted for death. The performances by both Gyllenhaal and Pena come across so authentic and real the audience is likely to forget they are watching a fictional Hollywood movie.
This sweet, funny and romantic comedy was the first entertaining and original film to hit theaters back in March. With a fresh script, an improbable premise, and the two stand-out performances by Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt as two very unlikely co-workers/lovers, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was the first charming film for audiences to enjoy in 2012.
Gripping, dark and expertly directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty focuses on the manhunt for Osama bin Laden through the eyes of CIA operative Maya (Jessica Chastain). Despite all the controversy over how accurate the movie is and if classified information was leaked to the filmmakers, the movie stands out as a harrowing, suspenseful political thriller that will have the audiences fascinated by the drama and action up on the screen.
Set in 1965 at a summer camp off the New England coast on a small island and directed by Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom is a quirky, funny and very sweet film about two 12 year olds, Sam and Suzy (Jared Gilman & Kara Hayward), who fall in love with each other and run off to be together, and the chaos it creates for their parents and those involved in trying to find them. It captures the innocence of first love so oddly and richly that at times the audience is sure to be rooting for the kids to make it even though that’s just not possible…or is it?
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained is a mix of spaghetti Westerns, violent revenge flicks, and blaxploitation films. It’s also 40 minutes too long and goes WAY, WAY OVERBOARD with its violence. So why is it on the Top 10 best list for 2012? Two reasons. First, Christoph Waltz’s scene-stealing performance as Dr. King Schultz, a German native who used to be a dentist but gave it up when he discovered being a bounty hunter was far more lucrative. It’s his best performance to date and deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, which Waltz is sure to win. Second, the writing in the film – especially the first half – has some of the best dialogue in a film this year. Anyone who is a Quentin Tarantino fan or a fan of the old spaghetti Westerns is sure to love this movie.
This fun-filled, zombie-infested stop-motion animated film has just the right mix of laughs and fright to entertain almost all moviegoers, with the exception of any children under the age of eight who might find some of the scenes with the witch too dark and disturbing. ParaNorman has a strong voice cast bringing these characters to life and looks visually beautiful with all its different colors and images. It’s hands-down the best animated film of the year.
Sharply written and very original, this dark crime comedy has a wonderful ensemble cast with two stand-out hilarious and unforgettable performances by Sam Rockwell as Billy, the outlandish and crazy best friend of Marty who gets poor struggling writer (played by Colin Farrell) inadvertently involved in dognapping the absolute wrong dog in town and Christopher Walken as Hans, the stylish, religious man who’s Billy’s business partner. The film is sure to have the audiences laughing and jolting out of their seats with its humor and shocking violence.
Sweet, charming and sentimental, Perks is one of the best coming-of-age films to hit the big screen in decades. Emma Watson delivers a beautiful performance as Sam, the good-hearted, slightly damaged new best friend and first love to the main character, Charlie (Logan Lerman). The scenes where she subtly conveys Sam’s growing attraction for Charlie the more time she spends with him are flawless. It’s a truly memorable performance by an actress who is one of the best of her generation. The film captures perfectly the pains, sorrows and joys of losing and finding best friends, falling head over heels in love, and beginning to discover the person you’re going to grow up to be.
This riveting, action-packed third and final installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman legacy is the perfect farewell to the Caped Crusader and his beloved Gotham City. The film’s action scenes are stunning, especially the first 13 minutes of the film which ranks as one of the best, most exciting and visually shocking openings of a film in movie history. The cast is superb, but the stand-out performance in the film has to go to Anne Hathaway as the sexy, slinky and sly cat burglar Selina Kyle. She’s the best Catwoman to grace the screen…yes, even better than Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. Compelling and emotional at times, The Dark Knight Rises brings a perfect end to the Batman saga and makes the film franchise one of the best trilogies of all time.
Based on a true story and flawlessly directed by Ben Affleck, Argo is without a doubt the number one best film of 2012. It has everything a moviegoer could want or ask for from a film. It captures the look, tension and emotions of the 1979 Iran revolution perfectly. It has powerful, engaging performances from the cast, especially Alan Arkin as the famous movie producer backing the CIA’s cover financially and Bryan Cranston as Affleck’s character’s boss who goes above and beyond what’s possible to try to get the six Americans back home safely. It’s a masterpiece of filmmaking and IS the best movie of the year.
Victor Garber, Meagan Good, Wes Brown, Katherine LaNasa, Ella Rae Peck, Tate Donovan, and Laz Alonso in ‘Deception’ (Photo by: J.R. Mankoff/NBC)
Meagan Good and Laz Alonso star in NBC’s one-hour drama Deception, premiering on January 7, 2013. Alonso plays FBI Agent Will Moreno and Good stars as a detective named Joanna Padget Locasto who teams up with him to solve a murder.
The cast also includes Victor Garber as Robert Bowers, Tate Donovan as Edward Bowers, Katherine LaNasa as Sofia Bowers, and Ella Rae Peck as Mia Bowers. Wes Brown plays Julian Bowers and Marin Hinkle is Samantha Bowers.
The Plot: When wealthy socialite and notorious party girl Vivian Bowers is found dead of an overdose, no one is really surprised. The heiress to the Bowers pharmaceutical empire has been tabloid fodder for years: wild, pretty, privileged… and now dead at the age of 32. But for FBI agent Will Moreno (Alonso), things don’t add up with this suspicious dynasty.
Convinced that the troubled girl’s death was a homicide, he has a clever plan to get to the truth. Her name is Detective Joanna Locasto (Good). Twenty years ago she was Vivian’s best friend and practically grew up inside the Bowers’ home. And when she appears at Vivian’s funeral, the family re-embraces her and no one is the wiser. Joanna quickly begins to uncover dark secrets and clues about why Vivian’s life was very much in danger. At the same time, she rekindles an old romantic relationship and rediscovers the allure of the luxurious lifestyle she once knew. She’s about to see once again just how the other half lives… and dies.
If you’re not one of the million or so people who decided to freeze your butt off while waiting for the ball to drop on New Year’s Eve but you wish you were – then LiveStream’s got a solution just for you. They’re streaming the countdown to 2013 live from Times Square, and you don’t even have to leave your warm and cozy house to feel like you’re part of the party.
Disney’s taking audiences on a trip to the Emerald City in 2013 – and they’ll literally be sending two lucky people on a trip to Seattle, Washington (The Emerald City) courtesy of the Oz The Great and Powerful New Year’s Sweepstakes. Disney’s just launched the sweepstakes as well as an instant win game in support of the March 8, 2013 release of the new Oz film directed by Sam Raimi.
The sweepstakes runs through January 31, 2013. Fans are invited to Tweet their New Year’s resolutions (using #DisneyOZ) for a chance to win the 4-day/3-night Grand Prize trip to Seattle for two.
Contest Details Per Disney:
“Visit the official Oz The Great and Powerful Facebook page to watch the Tweets pave the way to the Emerald City and click on select bricks to instantly win prizes, including $100 gift cards for HSN (Home Shopping Network), $50 Visa cards, $10 Starbucks gift cards, copies of the L. Frank Baum Book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, signed movie posters, and other Oz The Great and Powerful products.”
For Sweepstakes: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents 13 years or older of 50 U.S. and D.C. and Canada (excluding Quebec). Entrants must have a Twitter account, tweet a New Year’s wish, and include #DisneyOz. Starts 12:00:01 PM ET on 12/27/12, ends 11:59:59 PM ET on 1/31/13. Sponsor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
For Instant Win Game: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents 13 years or older of 50 U.S. and D.C. and Canada (excluding Quebec). Entrants must select the Instant Win Bonus Brick in the game located at www.facebook.com/OzTheGreatAndPowerful. Starts 12:00:01 PM ET on 12/27/12, ends 11:59:59 PM ET on 1/31/13. Sponsor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Oz The Great and Powerful – The Plot:
When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.
Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.
That’s right, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is on the verge of celebrating its 100th episode. The animated series will mark the milestone on January 5, 2013 with the premiere of the episode “Missing in Action.” The episode will air at 9:30am on Cartoon Network.
Created/executive produced by George Lucas, the series continued the popular Star Wars story and includes key characters such as Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as well as new sidekicks, villains, and heroes.
“Thanks to our partnership with Cartoon Network, we have been able to bring The Clone Wars into millions of homes not only in the United States but around the world,” stated Tom Quinn, Lucasfilm’s Head of Worldwide Distribution. “We appreciate the support they have given the series and their enthusiasm for the brand.”
A Look Back at the First 100 Episodes [Courtesy of Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network]:
· “From the start, the idea was to show that there were many more Star Wars stories left to tell after the six movies. We all love the Star Wars universe, and we wanted to keep it alive on-screen in a way that had never been done before. We looked at everything that had been created before us, going back to the original film in 1977, and we mined concept art, behind-the-scenes footage, comics, games, and novels and brought it together with George’s guidance to make a series that jumps to every corner of his galaxy.
I’m very proud of my crew and all of Lucasfilm for being part of this series. I’m looking forward to what comes next. Seven years after Revenge of the Sith was in theaters, it’s never been a better time to be a Star Wars fan, as the best is yet to come! – Dave Filoni, Supervising Director, Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “To produce 100 episodes of an animated series is a major milestone. But to produce them at the high level of quality of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an incredible achievement. And it’s a testament to our amazing crew. They are some of the most talented, dedicated, hard-working, and passionate people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with and know. Being a part of making Star Wars and working closely with George Lucas has been an incredible experience and blessing. I truly feel this work will live on forever. Here’s to another 100 episodes! – Cary Silver, Producer, Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “Star Wars – the movie I saw twelve times as a 17-year-old. The movie that began a cultural and creative universe that now spans generations. For me to be a part of this in The Clone Wars is a dream come true.” – Clancy Brown, Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption and voice of Savage Opress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “The Clone Wars looks amazing and has incredibly dramatic performances from all of the characters. It’s really incredible to have this seamless expansion of the Star Wars universe.” – Seth Green, Actor/Creator/Executive Producer
· “It is an honor being a part of the phenomenon that is The Star Wars universe. A series that has changed so many people’s lives all across the globe. The Clone Wars has brought me great joy, playing female roles with great strength and creativity. I am so proud knowing that every week families have an action-packed and inspiring show to enjoy together. May the Force be with us, always.” – Jaime King, Sin City, Heart of Dixie and voice of Aurra Sing in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “It’s a high honor to be a part of the Star Wars universe and such a long-running show. Our talented writers, animators, and cast of voice actors have made The Clone Wars truly unique. And of course, we wouldn’t have hit 100 episodes had it not been for our incredibly dedicated fans that make this possible!” – Matt Lanter, 90210 and the voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· Having grown up with Star Wars, I cannot describe the thrill of working with Dave and George in pushing this beloved modern myth into challenging and often risky areas. It’s an opportunity I wanted, but surely never thought I’d have. And more than that? Everyone is doing such great work! A barn full of wildly talented maniacs! – Sam Witwer, Being Human, Battlestar Galactica and the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “The Clone Wars is Star Wars for a whole new generation. To be a part of it, let alone to be Obi-Wan Kenobi, is beyond awesome.” – James Arnold Taylor, Johnny Test and voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “The milestone of 100 episodes is a reflection of the amazing work and dedication of the entire Clone Wars cast and crew. Being a part of this production has been an honor and privilege that has changed my life forever.” – Ashley Eckstein, Founder of Her Universe and voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “Star Wars: The Clone Wars is like nothing else on television. It makes me remember how much I loved Star Wars as a boy, and inspires me to love Star Wars all the more for the thrill, the fun, the heart and sheer inventive awesomeness. The Clone Wars is Star Wars, better than ever. – Dee Bradley Baker, American Dad and voice of the clones in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “Back in 2005, when David Acord and I met Dave Filoni, he showed us a hand drawn video storyboard sequence of Anakin and his new apprentice leapfrogging battle droids and scaling a cliff with an AT-TE walker. Even from that humble sequence, we could tell that this show was special. In between our geeking out over our love of Star Wars that day, Filoni asked, ‘I wonder if you guys wouldn’t mind adding some sound effects.’ Well, 100 episodes later we still share that bond, and we have all been able to put that love back into the show. We proudly hold this series in our hearts like we do the film saga.” – Matthew Wood, Supervising Sound Editor and voice of General Grievous in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “From the beginning, I think we all felt there was something truly special about The Clone Wars. I will be forever proud and grateful to have had the chance to be a part of this show. It has been an obscene amount of fun, I have met the most amazing fans and made friends for life in my Clone Wars family. Congratulations to the whole Clone Wars team on 100 beautiful episodes!” – Catherine Taber, Star Wars: The Old Republic and voice of Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
· “I was a Star Wars fan long before I was a Star Wars actor, and to now be part of something that has completely re-energized the franchise, and to be entrusted to voice a character as beloved as Yoda… well, the word ‘humbled’ doesn’t do what I feel justice. Thank you to George, Dave, our stellar cast, everyone at Lucasfilm and the fans, for making this show matter.” – Tom Kane, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and voice of Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
A scene from ‘Diggers’ (Photo Courtesy of National Geographic Channel)
The National Geographic Channel will be debuting Diggers: Hatfields & McCoys on January 29, 2013 at 10pm, showcasing new artifacts which shed more light on the infamous feud between the two Kentucky families. According to National Geographic, the new artifacts were located at Randall McCoy’s home in Hardy, Kentucky.
McCoy’s home was the site of the 1888 New Year’s Day shoot-out between the Hatfields and the McCoys, and the location of the final showdown had never been fully uncovered. Kim McBride, co-director of the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, confirmed the Diggers team did in fact discover items on the private property that once belonged to the McCoys.
“This is an incredible discovery behind America’s greatest family feud,” stated McBride. “After spending two days excavating at the site, we were pleased to find a number of original artifacts from the actual structure, such as window glass and both wrought and machine-cut nails, and we were able to trace the lineage of the property right back to Randall McCoy and his wife Sarah McCoy. As archaeologists, we are very excited to find real evidence to back theories that have abounded for decades.”
And West Virginia University Extension Professor Bill Richardson said, “This is amazing. These appear to be actual bullets fired at the Hatfields by the McCoys in defense of their home. Nothing like this has ever been found before.”
The Details: “Diggers hosts, amateur scientists, vocational metal detector enthusiasts and history buffs George ‘KG’ Wyant and Tim ‘Ringy’ Saylor, first discovered what they thought were clear signs that finally proved the McCoy home was on the property and that this was the site of the final Hatfield-McCoy standoff, which helped to end at least a decade of family fighting.
Conferring with the private landowners and working with Diggers staff archaeologist Kate Culpepper and local historian Bill Richardson, the team pinpointed the location of the home and discovered charred wooden board remains, as well as specific items from the home, including possible parts from a stove, nails and a plow blade fragment.
After they found the burned wood and artifacts, Wyant and Saylor followed protocol agreed on with the archaeology community at the start of the series production and called in McBride to verify the find. The team screened shovel test units and recorded the site with the Kentucky Office of State Archaeology, to ensure that the site was protected and the find was legitimate.”
