New Movie Clip From BRAVE - Plus FOUR Classic Pixar Movies Returning To Theaters!

Pixar has released a new movie clip from their upcoming Scottish tale BRAVE and I'm really enjoying the comedy in this film so far.

PLUS, AMC Theaters are exclusively releasing the following Pixar classics on Memorial Day weekend: UP, TOY STORY 3, RATATOUILLE and WALL-E. Not only that but these re-releases will enjoy an extra low ticket price of $6! All of these cool screening will also pre-roll a behind the scenes look at BRAVE.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

I would love to check out these affordable screenings but there are no AMC locations near me unfortunately. If you get a chance to get out and enjoy - let us know.

The Top Ten 3D Movies Of 2009

Jim here. So what do you think - consensus on everybody's number 1? :-) I think so! Anyway, this list was due and I am sure others will want to voice their opinion as well so feel free to chime in with your top ten list too.

Here is mine in reverse order (Title - Studio | World Box Office | Tomatometer | Format - comment):

10. G-FORCE - Disney | $283m | 24% Fresh | CG / Live Action - A notable conversion effort.
9. THE FINAL DESTINATION - Warners | $153m | 28% Fresh | Live Action - Interesting seeing Death work in three dimensions.
8. DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Disney | $255m | 55% Fresh | CG MoCap - Visually quite stunning, though character's faces were soulless.
7. MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D - Lionsgate | $100m | 55% Fresh | Live Action - Very good revisit to the original horror.
6. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS - DWA | $382m | 72% Fresh | Animation - Not Dreamworks best, but far from worst. Expect much more with HTTYD.
5. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS - Sony | $195m | 85% Fresh | Animation - Excellent first outing in 3D animation for Sony. Impressed. Rivals DWA today.
4. CORALINE - Focus Features | $122m | 89% Fresh | Stop Motion - Henry Selick's vision and attention to details is astounding.
3. ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS - Fox | $888m | 45% Fresh | Animation - There is no doubting the worldwide popularity. Family Appeal.
2. UP - Pixar | $683m | 98% Fresh | Animation - A masterpiece of storytelling. 3D used well.
1. AVATAR - Fox | $760m, Still In Theaters | 83% Fresh | CG PerfCap / Live Action - Revolutionary Cinema. Nothing short of an event movie for this generation. A must see... twice.

Honorable Mention: TOY STORY 1 & 2 3D Conversions.
Worst of 2009: BATTLE FOR TERRA

There is no doubting AVATAR as the top 3D movie of 2009. It may be the top MOVIE of the past decade. I certainly believe it is. Pixar has a heckuva entry with UP because the story is typical Pixar and so is the visual quality. And ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS was great family fun AND it raked in the cash.

All in all, a superb year for 3D! I look forward to 2010 and all the surprises in store: ALICE IN WONDERLAND, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, SHREK FOREVER AFTER, TOY STORY 3, MEGAMIND, RAPUNZEL, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SAW VII, TRON LEGACY to name a few.

Stay tuned for the 2010 3D Movie Viewing Guide! Now what is your top ten list for 3D in 2009?

UP's Box Office Balloons To Over $68 Million

Jim here. According to Box Office Mojo, Pixar's UP is going to have a heckuva ride in the coming weeks. Box office receipts have already soared to ~$68.2 million (by comparison, WALL-E only opened to $63.1 million last year). UP is enjoying 6,700 screens at 3,766 locations.

Moreover, 3D screens accounted for $35 million of the gross from only 1,534 screens (~51% of revenue from only 23% of the screens). CLEARLY 3D is a wise choice for business types. Audiences are enthralled with the format. That $35 million opening topped the previous, short lived record from Dreamworks Animation: MONSTERS VS. ALIENS which had $32.6 million of it's take from 3D screens. Of course UP is enjoying more screens that MvA did.

Is there any doubt that UP will be one of the best efforts ever from Pixar? I can't wait to see how their technology evolves now with 3D in their back pocket. Toy Story 3D anyone? :-)

Where's A Cannes Opener When You Need One?

Jim here. Couldn't resist that one. Yes, Pixar's UP is opening the Cannes Film Festival in ummm, somewhere in France... the city's name escapes me right now, but they speak French very well there. This is the first time EVER that an animation has opened the iconic event and it is no wonder that it is in 3D. This is, after all - the Year Of 3D.

And wouldn't you know it, Disney has opened up their photo vault and given us some more images to stare at as we await the opening of UP at our local theaters. Check them out below.

I can tell you that UP is a VERY impressive effort from Pixar. I have seen the opening 45 minutes or so AND another 5 or 6 minutes of the action packed finale - certain things remain clear: There is only one Pixar. It is evident when you see their work and let me tell you that in 3D - it's mesmerizing. The storyline is top quality as you would expect and quite emotional; it was not the movie I thought it was going to be from the outset. And isn't that what movies are supposed to be all about? Pleasant surprises. It is the animation to beat this year.

Go see UP when it opens on May 29. You'll be glad you did. Pixar's UP brings joy to sorrow and dimension to life!

You Pixar fans UP for this one or what??

New ALICE IN WONDERLAND & PIXAR'S UP Screencaps In 3D!

Jim here. What is with all the cool 3D movie stories that the British Film magazines are getting lately? First Empire had these great images and now Total Film has what they are calling a 3D Extravaganza. Thanks to my intrepid reader in the UK, we have these images scanned for our viewing pleasure! Total Film has included red and blue glasses with the publication so that you can view these old school, anaglyph 3D images. If you have red and blue 3D glasses at home, you can view these as well, right now.

Click images to blow up.

As much as I hate anaglyph, there is no better way to show 3D on paper and it is cool to see some new images from ALICE IN WONDERLAND and UP. I have also posted the image they have for AVATAR, but it is very disappointing as we know this to be a fake, fan created work. Total Film also includes 3D images from THE DARK KNIGHT, THE MATRIX, STAR WARS, BLADE RUNNER, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING so I highly recommend picking up your own copy of Total Film to see those and the full articles too. I may be able to show you those images soon as well - stay tuned.

What IS interesting about the AVATAR image is the new quote from Ridley Scott that was in the article beside it: (breathlessly) "It's... Amazing"!

I want to again invite you to purchase your own copy of Total Film for the full coverage. I think they probably had someone convert 2D images to these 3D ones for the feature, but its still kinda cool. I doubt that they are official studio photos - which would infer that they are looking at "dimensionalizing" their properties to 3D. But damn, that would be nice!!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND looks like a trip doesn't it?!

"Dimensionalizing" is a term coined and trademarked by In-Three

3D Shorts - "Thriller"; "Up" Opens Cannes; "Dragon" Team Working Hard; and iZ3D Compares 3D Formats

>>Update on Michael Jackson's THRILLER 3D movie:
Anschutz Corporation is financing the 3D movie version of the record breaking song and video for release after Jackson's upcoming 50 show concert tour. It is said to be based on roughly the same material as the upcoming Broadway musical of the same name.
- Sorry. Can't get excited about this project yet. Need to know it's gonna work and who is running the show.

>>Pixar's UP to open Cannes Film Festival:
Cannes organizers made the announcement today that UP will be the first animation and the first 3D movie to ever open the prestigious festival. "We are very proud," Thierry Fremaux of CFF told AFP, "to welcome Pixar studios, it's brilliant world, its talented directors and producers." UP is due in our theaters May 29th. Personally, I think it has a great chance at taking home the Palme d'Or for best film this year.
- This is indeed an honor. Congratulations to the UP team over at DWA!!

>>Dreamworks Animation are using TWO directors to get HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON done on time:
Dreamworks Animation is using both Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois as directors to get this movie done on a greatly accelerated schedule. Says a DWA staffer: "We know we're going to be working a lot of overtime on the picture, but nobody's uptight about it, everybody's happy to be working. The story's coming along, nobody is worried about that. We know the picture's going to get done. We've done it before, many times ..."
Further conjecture from the TAG blog: "Walking around, I saw more scenes of Shrek IV being worked on than Dragon, (Shrek in slapstick action with supporting players) yet the ogre lumbers into your local cinema a couple of months after Dragon. This could mean story is further along on Shrek than Dragon, or it might mean Shrek has more moving parts and needs a longer production schedule, or it might mean ... not much at all."
- We knew that they had two directors on for quite some time now (about a year - they also were writers) but this paints the scene a bit better. Obviously the Shrek franchise gets top attention over there as it is a guaranteed money maker. HTTYD is due in theaters March 26, 2010.

>>iZ3D to provide Game Developer Conference attendees a unique visual 3D comparison:
iZ3D is going full out to show typical users the difference between standard 2D, the famous red and cyan anaglyph 3D, and a state-of-the-art Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) display. iZ3D will be providing this demonstration at the San Francisco conference March 23-27, 2009 in Booth 6020.
"3D visual technology has come a long way from the days of the red and blue anaglyph 3D effect that tricked your eyes into the illusion of depth through the use of color. 2D technology is the current norm and presents users a flat graphics experience that is great for word processing applications, but not for an immersive graphical experience such as gaming, " stated Tom Striegler, CEO of iZ3D Inc.
“The easiest way to explain the visual difference an iZ3D monitor provides is to play a game on a 2D monitor where you experience only a two dimensional game. On an iZ3D monitor, the graphics that were originally created in a 3D modeling program come to life, you duck items flying at you and experience movement such as flying or falling,” commented David Chechelashvili, iZ3D VP, Marketing.
-Awesome! If you are at the conference - definitely check this out and compare formats to see what everyone has been talking about...
iZ3D is a sponsor of MarketSaw.

If You Missed The "Monsters vs. Aliens" Commercial During The Super Bowl...

Jim here. If you missed the 3D commercials during the Super Bowl, you can check them out right here! Let me know what you think...

Dreamworks Animation's MONSTERS VS. ALIENS




Disney Pixar's UP




...and the SoBe / Dreamworks Animation Commercial (Shot by 3ality Digital who also shot CHUCK in 3D showing tonight on NBC):

New Poster and Leaked Clip are "Up"!

Hi, Michael here.  Check out this new poster and teaser clip from Disney/Pixar's Up.

The clip is from Sony's CES keynote, and is a more recent version of some of the incomplete footage that director Pete Docter showed off at Comic-Con last summer.

From everything I've seen and heard, Up looks to be another instant classic from the geniuses at Pixar.  I can't wait to see how they use 3D to take their stories to even grander heights.

Poster source: Yahoo! Movies

Update On Disney 3D Movies For 2009

Disney had just given us their 2009 schedule of releases and I have snagged the 3D ones of course! There is an amazing FIVE 3D movies from Disney in 2009. Let's take a look:

1. February 27th - JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE
"...a high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary feature film event from director Bruce Hendricks (“Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert”). The film blends excerpts from the Brothers’ red-hot “Burning Up” concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, a never-before-heard song ("Love Is On Its Way"), swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor—giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of KEVIN, JOE and NICK."

CAST: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift
DIRECTOR: Bruce Hendricks
PRODUCERS: Art Repola, Johnny Wright, Philip McIntyre, Kevin Jonas Sr., Alan Sacks
GENRE: Rockumentary
RATING: G
RELEASE DATE: February 27, 2009
NOTES:
• The “Burning Up” tour was one hot ticket: the Brothers sold out three Madison Square Garden shows in record time. On November 18, 2008, the Brothers released a photo diary
book: “Burning Up: On Tour with the Jonas Brothers.”
• Jonas Brothers’ “A Little Bit Longer” album debuted in August 2008 at # 1 on the Billboard Top 200 as the 3rd highest debut of 2008. It has since gone platinum. Their next
single is “Tonight,” which hits the radio in January 2009.
• Disney’s “Camp Rock” debuted on Disney Channel in June 2008 as the network’s #2 original movie of all time with 8.9 million viewers.
WEBSITE: Disney.com/JONAS3D.com

2. May 29th - UP
From Disney•Pixar comes “Up,” a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”), Disney•Pixar’s “Up” invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. “Up” will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D™ in select theaters.

VOICE TALENT: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo, Jordan Nagai
DIRECTOR: Pete Docter
CO-DIRECTOR: Bob Peterson
PRODUCER: Jonas Rivera
COMPOSER: Michael Giacchino GENRE: Animation/Adventure
RATING: TBD
RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2009
NOTES:
• John Ratzenberger is tapped yet again to lend his voice, this time as Construction Foreman Tom.
Ratzenberger is the only actor to voice a role in all of the Disney•Pixar films.
• Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino has received numerous accolades for his work on previous Disney•Pixar films “Ratatouille” (GRAMMY® Award winner, Best Score Album Soundtrack; Annie Award winner, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production; Oscar® nomination, Best Original Score) and “The Incredibles” (Annie Award winner, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production; GRAMMY nomination, Best Score Album Soundtrack).
WEBSITE: Disney.com/UP

3. July 24th - G-FORCE
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer brings his first 3-D film to the big screen with G-FORCE, a comedy adventure about the latest evolution of a covert government program to train animals to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws. Tapped for the G-FORCE are guinea pigs Darwin (voice of SAM ROCKWELL), the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster (voice of TRACY MORGAN), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez (voice of PENELOPE CRUZ), a sexy martial arts pro; plus the literal fly-on-the-wall reconnaissance expert, Mooch, and a starnosed mole, Speckles (voice of NICOLAS CAGE), the computer and information specialist. Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning visual effects master Hoyt Yeatman—G-FORCE takes audiences on a high-octane thrill ride, proving once and for all that size really doesn't matter.

CAST: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, with the voices of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan
DIRECTOR: Hoyt Yeatman
SCREENPLAY BY: The Wibberleys and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Tim Firth, based on a story by Hoyt Yeatman (credits not final)
PRODUCER: Jerry Bruckheimer
GENRE: Comedy-Adventure
RATING: TBD
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2009
NOTES:
• Director and visual effects master Hoyt Yeatman has teamed with producer Jerry Bruckheimer on such movies as “Armageddon,” “Con Air” and “The Rock.” G-FORCE is Yeatman’s directorial debut.
• G-FORCE is producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s first 3-D movie.

4. October 2nd - TOY STORY
They’re toys, they talk—at least when people aren’t around—and they’re back…celebrating the return of the “Toy Story” franchise—in Disney Digital 3-D™ this time! TOY STORY, the film that started it all, takes moviegoers back to that fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys—Woody (voice of TOM HANKS), the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear (voice of TIM ALLEN), the fearless space ranger. The comically-mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences when circumstances separate them from their owner Andy and they find themselves on a hilarious adventurefilled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance. Disney•Pixar’s TOY STORY kicks off a Disney Digital 3-D™ Toy Story celebration, which includes “Toy Story 2,” opening Feb. 12, 2010, and culminates in a brand new adventure starring Buzz and Woody: “Toy Story 3”—in theaters June 18, 2010.

CAST: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger,
Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey
DIRECTOR: John Lasseter
PRODUCERS: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs
ORIGINAL STORY BY: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft
SCREENPLAY BY: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen and Alan Sokolow
GENRE: Animation-Comedy/Adventure
RATING: G
RELEASE DATE: October 2, 2009
NOTES:
• TOY STORY, originally released on November 22, 1995, was the first fully computer animated feature film and the highest grossing movie of the year with nearly $192 million domestically and $362 million worldwide.
• The four people behind the original story of TOY STORY—John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and the late Joe Ranft—are the key creatives (writers and/or directors) responsible for most of Disney•Pixar’s subsequent releases: "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2," "Monsters, Inc." "Finding Nemo," “Cars," "WALL•E" and the 2009 release "Up."
• TOY STORY was nominated for three Academy Awards® and two Golden Globes.®
• Director John Lasseter was awarded a Special Achievement Award (Oscar®) by the Academy Awards® for his “inspired leadership of the Pixar TOY STORY team, resulting in the first feature-length computer-animated film."
• John Lasseter made his feature film directing debut with TOY STORY in 1995. He has since directed such Pixar classics as “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2” and “Cars” and served as executive producer of all other Pixar films to date. He is currently the chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and principal creative advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering.

5. November 6th - DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking 3-D motion picture event. Ebenezer Scrooge (JIM CARREY) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (GARY OLDMAN) and his cheery nephew (COLIN FIRTH).
But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.

CAST: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, Fionnula Flanagan
DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis
PRODUCERS: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
SCREENPLAY BY: Robert Zemeckis
BASED ON THE CLASSIC NOVELLA BY: Charles Dickens
GENRE: Fantasy Adventure
RATING: TBD
RELEASE DATE: November 6, 2009
NOTES:
• Jim Carrey tackles seven roles, including Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
• The Dickens novella was first published on December 19, 1843, becoming an instant—and enduring—success.

What an AWESOME lineup of 3D from Disney to meet what will surely be the year of 3D: 2009! I have got to say I am looking forward to each and every one of these efforts and especially UP and A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Which one(s) are you looking forward to?

Quick Post: Disney Will Show The 3D Trailer For "Up" In Front Of "Bolt"

Great news - I have been wanting to see that trailer that was released for UP in 3D for a little while now - can't wait to see what else is placed in front of BOLT this weekend.

If you check out BOLT - please let me know what trailers are playing in front of the movie, different regions may have different trailers as well... THANKS.

Wow! Two More Disney 3D Trailers For You: "Up" And A Second Trailer For "Bolt"

Jim here - wow a lot of action today with previews for upcoming 3D projects! This time around it is from Disney:

First is UP - a tale of an old man traveling via balloons in his HOUSE. "In this 'coming of old age' story, a seventy-something hero, alongside his clueless wilderness ranger sidekick, travels the globe, fighting beasts and villains, and eating dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon." A boy scout tags along... :-)

Have a look!



Second - have a look at the 'B' Trailer for BOLT: "An animated comedy adventure featuring a super-dog named Bolt (voice of John Travolta), whose days are filled with danger and intrigue—at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet—a cross-country journey through the real world to get back to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus). Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and the help of two unlikely traveling companions—a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voice of Susie Essman) and a TV-obsessed hamster named Rhino (voice of Mark Walton)—Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero..."



It brings me a great deal of satisfaction to finally start to see these 3D projects come to light. Seriously, it has been a bit of a long haul to date and now the trailers are starting to roll in and I couldn't be happier. Kinda giddy even! Cheers and enjoy.

Quick Post: New "Up" Poster From Disney / Pixar

Hey guys - Jim here. Got a new poster for Disney / Pixar's upcoming 3D animation "Up"- check it out.

What's UP? A Clip From The Pixar 3D Animation AND Why It Will Break Records...

Jim here guys. There are some very minor spoilers here so don't read further if you want a pristine viewing experience at the theater next year. If you haven't seen this clip yet, it does a good job of setting the stage for what should be a grand adventure - AND a grand box office return as the demographics for this movie are across the board.

At Comic-Con this year, attendees were treated to a clip from the movie (not the short one below). The clip featured Ed Asner as an old man who rebels against going to a retirement home and instead uses his own home as a huge gondala of sorts with thousands of helium balloons attached to travel to the jungles of Venezuela (a promise he made to his deceased wife). Tagging along is Russell, a boyscout who needs to assist an elderly person to earn a badge. Their antics had the audience truly engaged and laughing eagerly - so have a look at the short clip below!

Here is why this movie could potentially break Pixar's own record for an original (and not a sequel) movie: Demographics. As I said above, the reach for this movie is staggering. Everyone from 5 year olds to 105 year olds will want to see this movie as there are compelling characters to identify with. Then add on 3D immersion and the rest is history. Increased revenues from the 3D premium, a broad demographic and the quality of Pixar combines for what could be a perfect storm of box office bonanza. In theory at least.

UP is slated for a May 29, 2009 release.

Comic-Con 2008: Pixar's UP & Pete Docter on 3-D!

Hi everyone, Michael here with some words from UP director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) at the Pixar / Disney panel regarding his plans for the stereoscopic aspects of the first ever 3-D Pixar film.

During the Q & A portion of the panel, I asked Docter the following:

Q:  "I was wondering, because it is the first Pixar movie that will be shown in stereoscopic 3-D, what your process is like in planning for a 3-D movie?"

A:   "I don't know. (crowd laughs) Yeah, we're still figuring it out ourselves. We have a whole team that's set up to operate specifically for the 3-D part of it. We're thinking it's pretty much just in terms of our normal storytelling: what's the best way to communicate this visually?

This team has done a lot of study in terms of what 3-D does, and how to maximize the effect of it and they are going to be advising us as we go along, so it's going to be a learning curve for everybody. We just got into it."

Check out Comingsoon.net for great in-depth descriptions of both the Bolt and UP panels and footage.  I thought both looked great: Bolt seems like it will be an extremely cute, funny movie (especially for pet owners), while UP is like Pixar doing Miyazaki.  Docter's answer to the 3-D question gives me a lot of confidence that Pixar is living up to their reputation as a studio that always puts the story first, and that will use all tools (including 3-D) to further that story.

Comic-Con 2008 Coverage Preview!

Michael here.  I'll be in San Diego covering Comic-Con for MarketSaw from Thursday through Sunday, updating as often as possible (let us hope the free wifi in the convention center stands up to the 140,000 attendees!)

There will be several 3D related panels this year, including UP and Bolt from Disney/Pixar on Saturday and the NASA-sponsored, Star Trek-actor-filled Quantum Quest on Thursday. And, of course, I'll be attending Warner Bros.' Terminator Salvation event on Saturday, where Avatar actor Sam Worthington might be on hand, and Thursday's Fox panel, where The Day the Earth Stood Still and Max Payne are the only films announced so far to have a presence at the panel...but, as any regular conventioneer knows, however, surprises are a dime a dozen at the Con.  Might there be an Avatar-related announcement at the Con?  If there is, the Fox panel is where it will most likely be!

The panels:

Thursday, July 24

11:30-1:00 20th Century Fox: The Day The Earth Stood Still and Max Payne—
Stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, plus director Scott Derrickson and producer Erwin Stoff, present an exclusive look at The Day The Earth Stood Still, Fox's contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Keanu is Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor's appearance, a woman (Jennifer) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission—and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described "friend to the Earth." Klaatu Barada Nikto.

The legendary interactive video game Max Payne comes to the big screen, telling the story of a maverick cop determined to track down those responsible for the brutal murder of his family and partner. Hell-bent on revenge, his obsessive investigation takes him on a nightmare journey into a dark underworld. As the mystery deepens, Max is forced to battle enemies beyond the natural world and face an unthinkable betrayal. "Max Payne" himself—Mark Wahlberg—will be on hand with Mila Kunis, Ludacris, and director John Moore to discuss turning the game's noirish, hard-hitting, and complex world and characters into a movie event. Hall H

3:30-4:30 Quantum Quest— This stellar panel will introduce Comic-Con audiences to Quantum Quest, the 3-D, large format CGI-animated film designed to both excite and educate young audiences about the wonders of science. Joining the panel will be co-directors Dr. Harry Kloor (Star Trek Voyager) and Dan St. Pierre (Everyone’s Hero, Shark Tales), voice actorsBrent Spiner (Indpendence Day, Star Trek: The Next Generation), Robert Picardo (Star Trek), Gary Graham (Enterprise), Anousheh Ansari, the world’s first female private space explorer whose blog from space thrilled millions of visitors daily, and Charles Kohlhase, the NASA/JPL coordinator for the film. Shawn Clement, the film’s composer, rounds out the panel. Ballroom 20

Saturday, July 26

1:15-2:00 Warner Bros.: Terminator Salvation— In the highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise, set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in has been altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind. Hall H

2:30-3:30 Disney Pixar: Bolt and UP—
For superdog Bolt, every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue, at least until the cameras stop rolling. Be the first to see exclusive animation as directors Chris Williams and Byron Howard present the new 3D comedy-adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios!

Then it's UP: From the inventive storytellers that have taken you into the worlds of space, toys, and superheroes comes the extraordinary adventure that will take you to a lost world where anything can happen, and everything will. Meet director Peter Docter (Monsters, Inc.) as he presents the first-ever look at Disney Pixar's new animated 3D adventure comedy, UP. Hall H

3D Animation IS The Standard Now...

**UPDATE (April 9th): Confirmed. John Lasseter of Disney has stated that all future Pixar movies will indeed be in 3D!!

Well folks GREAT news out of Disney. After the excitement of the Miley Cyrus / Bolt announcement the same press release goes on to note some extremely exciting 3D releases for Disney/Pixar. NOTE that Disney/Pixar seems to WILL be going down the same path as Dreamworks Animation in that all of their major tentpoles are seemingly in 3D. Simply. AWESOME. These movies are of course ON TOP OF the already announced Toy Story trilogy being in 3D (yes, re-released volumes 1 and 2 with a brand new 3 in 3D). Check it out:

2010:

UP
(Domestic Release Date: May 29th, 2009, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
   Pixar Animation Studios
   Director: Pete Docter
   Co-Director: Bob Peterson
   Producer: Jonas Rivera
   Writer: Bob Peterson   
Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Jordan
Nagai
   From the Academy Award(R)-nominated team of director Pete Docter
("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic
adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen
spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life
to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a
twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named
Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling
journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains
and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer -- look "Up."

RAPUNZEL
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2010, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
   Walt Disney Animation Studios
   Directors: Glen Keane, Dean Wellins
   Producer: Roy Conli
   In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences
will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic
tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl
with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair ...
lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010
holiday.

2011:

    NEWT 
(Domestic Release Date: Summer 2011, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
   Pixar Animation Studios
   Director: Gary Rydstrom
   Producer: Richard Hollander
   Writers: Gary Rydstrom, Leslie Caveny
   What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts
on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they
can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes
of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award(R) winner for sound
Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted."
Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover
that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one
choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.

THE BEAR AND THE BOW
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2011, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))
   Pixar Animation Studios
   Director: Brenda Chapman
   Producer: Katherine Sarafian
   Voice Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
   A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's
action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired
Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a
great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a
reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom
and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of
nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director
Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the
storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this
rich Highland tale.


2012:

    CARS 2
(Domestic Release Date: Summer 2012, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
   Pixar Animation Studios
   Director: Brad Lewis
   All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms
back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's
fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the
"Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find
themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic
escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis,
producer of the Oscar(R)- winning film "Ratatouille."

    KING OF THE ELVES
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2012, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))
   Walt Disney Animation Studios
   Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
   Producer: Chuck Williams
   Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only
experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and
imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta,
whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to
name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they
attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new
leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers
and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.

Source: PR Newswire

Showest Updates: Monsters vs. Aliens Pic! Disney to Release "Up" in 3D!

Keep checking back to this post as I will be updating this throughout ShoWest!

>>UPDATE: (March 12th) - "Monsters vs. Aliens" wows its ShoWest audience as footage brings loud applause! There is no doubt that Katzenberg's "Ultimate 3-D" is very successful in bringing the viewer INTO the movie rather than having objects COME OUT to you. That is the key - that is the 3D ANTI-GIMMICK. For all those who still do not believe me or Katzenberg - please check out "Monsters vs. Aliens" when it finally comes out next spring, because it won't disappoint. Of course there are other 3D release coming out soon - BUT I cannot vouch for their artistry yet.

>>UPDATE: (March 11th) - Awesome new image from Dreamworks Animation for the 2009 3D "Monsters vs. Aliens". Here are the announced actors who will lend their voices:

>Kiefer Sutherland - General W.R. Monger
>Reese Witherspoon - Susan Murphy
>Stephen Colbert - The President
>Seth Rogen - The Jellylike B.O.B.
>Rainn Wilson - The Evil Alien Gallaxhar
>Hugh Laurie - Dr. Cockroach
>Will Arnett - The Half-ape, Half-fish Missing Link

MvsA is directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon and is based on the horror comicbook "Rex Havoc". It is still set for a March 27th, 2009 release.










>> Disney is going to release "Up" in both 2D and 3D on May 29th, 2009. This now adds to their other 4 movies due for release next year namely: "G-Force" (July 24th); "Toy Story" (Oct 2nd); A Christmas Carol (Nov 6th); and "Frankenweenie". Thanks to Peter over at /Film for the info.

>> Fox's "Ice Age 3" is now known as "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and is still scheduled for release July 1st, 2009.