“Global James Bond Day” on October 5

“Global James Bond Day” on October 5

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise on the anniversary of “Dr. No,” which enjoyed its world film premiere in London on October 5, 1962, and in anticipation of the worldwide release of the 23rd James Bond adventure “Skyfall,” Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today that October 5, 2012 will be Global James Bond Day, a day-long series of events for Bond fans around the world.

A new feature documentary from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Passion Pictures and Red Box Films, “Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007,” will be also be unveiled, country-specific details to follow. Directed by Stevan Riley (“Fire In Babylon”), “Everything or Nothing” focuses on three men with a shared dream – Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman and author Ian Fleming. It’s the thrilling and inspiring narrative behind the longest running film franchise in cinema history which began in 1962.

Further worldwide events celebrating Bond’s golden anniversary include a global online and live auction charity event of 50 lots to benefit twelve charitable institutions organized by Christie´s in London (full details at www.christies.com/bond), a global survey to discover the favorite Bond film by country, a film retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, a “Music of Bond” night in Los Angeles hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and an exhibition, “Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond Style,” at TIFF in Toronto.

Leading up to “Global James Bond Day,” for the first time ever fans can own all 22 films in the franchise on Blu-ray Disc in one comprehensive collection with “BOND 50,” releasing worldwide beginning September 24. Further updates by country will be announced in due course on 007.com and facebook/JamesBond007.

Commenting on “Global James Bond Day,” Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of “Skyfall,” said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating James Bond's golden anniversary on film with this special day of events for Bond fans around the world.”

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in “Skyfall,” the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In “Skyfall,” Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

The film is from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Directed by Sam Mendes. Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan.


Opening across the Philippines in October 31, 2012, “Skyfall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

The Guys of “ParaNorman” Scare Up the Screen

The Guys of “ParaNorman” Scare Up the Screen

Leading the talented voice cast of Focus Features' new 3D animated comedy “ParaNorman” are Kodi Smit-McPhee (“Let Me In”), Casey Affleck (“Ocean's Thirteen”) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Superbad”). The acclaimed family film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting September 5.

The voice of the film’s 11-year-old hero, Norman Babcock, is provided by Kodi Smit-McPhee, a young Australian actor who in a brief few years has made a big name for himself. While Norman talks to ghosts in order to rid his town of zombies and stop a witch's curse, the film is really a comedy, which was perfect for Smit-McPhee, whose work in recent years has been in fairly dark films. As he told Entertainment Weekly, “my favorite genre is comedy…It’s pretty ironic and funny that I always get these kind of dramatic…movies.”


Even as “ParaNorman's” scary premise is actually just scary fun, Smit-McPhee’s more dramatic roles helped convince the filmmakers that he was the right actor for the job. Director Sam Fell acknowledged that it was “difficult to find someone young who has range and sensitivity. But we’d seen Kodi Smit-McPhee’s astonishing performance in `The Road,' and we felt that he could carry this movie so that audiences would invest in this boy’s journey.”

Indeed the experience of one young man’s journey into adulthood proved a little too real for Smit-McPhee. By the end of his recording sessions, he found himself moving, at least in one way, towards becoming a man. As his voice began to change, he recounts, “I think by the last session, we had recorded a little bit, and they were like, ‘Alright, I think that’s it. We just squeezed the last bit out of you.’ My Norman voice is gone and stuck with that movie.”

Oscar-nominee Casey Affleck is not an actor whose emotionally intense characters would make one immediately think of putting him in a kids’ film. But for the 36-year-old actor, making “ParaNorman” was a labor of love on many levels. Affleck voices the character of Mitch, the amiable high school jock who inadvertently becomes part of the gang out to save the town of Blithe Hollow from a witch’s curse.

Affleck jokes, “I had never done an animated movie before. Usually, when people hear my voice, they fire me; so, this was a first!” But, in the end, he found the experience “liberating, especially not having to worry about what I looked like.” Even better, Affleck ended up confiding that making an animated movie was “a lot of fun. Everyone put me at ease. It was helpful to be able to work with Anna [Kendrick, Norman’s sister Courtney] and other actors in the same room at the same time. I concentrated on getting Mitch’s voice right, and having it come together with what I was hearing from the others.”

Affleck projected perfectly the unaffected, not-always-bright but quite sweet character of Mitch. For Affleck, working on this film was more than an opportunity to brush up on his voice work: “I go to a lot of movies with my kids, and I wanted to be part of `ParaNorman' because this movie is one that both kids and grown-ups will like, which is rare.”

Christopher Mintz-Plasse, the young comic actor who is arguably best known for playing Fogell (aka “McLovin”) in the high school comedy “Superbad,” is showing a different side of himself in “ParaNorman.” While Fogell was the ultimate nerd, a character so geeky and uncool that he was perfect fodder for bullies, in “ParaNorman,” Mintz-Plasse takes the role of Alvin, the hefty bully who picks on Norman.


For Mintz-Plasse, it was a part that he relished as it allowed him to get some karmic payback for his own awkward teenage years, explaining that he himself was “picked on in school. Doing this role, I thought of the kids I knew.” Director Sam Fell believed Mintz-Plasse was the ideal choice for Alvin exactly because the actor brought an unexpected quality to the character, explaining that “casting Chris was unusual in that people think of him for nerdish roles. But having him placed a more vulnerable comic voice into this school bully, showing how Alvin thinks of himself as a tough guy yet is still a scared kid.”

Character Voices of Lego Movie Revealed

Character Voices of Lego Movie Revealed

Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pratt and Morgan Freeman will lend their vocal talents to the LEGO® world, starring as characters in the upcoming original 3D animated LEGO feature, currently in production, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures.

The film, the first-ever full length theatrical LEGO movie, follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.

Chris Pratt (“Moneyball”) stars as Emmet. Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) and Elizabeth Banks (“The Hunger Games,” Emmy nominee for “30 Rock”), will star as two of Emmet’s fellow travelers: Vitruvius, an old mystic; and tough-as-nails Lucy, who mistakes Emmet for the savior of the world and guides him on his quest. She also calls upon the mysterious Batman, a LEGO® minifigure voiced by Will Arnett (Emmy nominee, “30 Rock”), with whom she shares a history.

The 3D computer animated adventure will open nationwide on February 28, 2014.

Phil Lord & Christopher Miller (“21 Jump Street,” Golden Globe nominee “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”) are directing from their original screenplay, story by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, based on LEGO construction toys. The film will incorporate some of the most popular LEGO figures while introducing several new characters, inviting fans who have enjoyed the brand’s innovative toys and hugely popular video games for generations to experience their visually unique LEGO world as never seen before.


The film will be produced by Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes,” “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”) and Roy Lee (“The Departed,” “How to Train Your Dragon”). It will be distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Katy Perry Q&A for the Movie "Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D"

Katy Perry Q&A for the Movie "Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D"

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson is the daughter of two Christian ministers who allowed only gospel music in their home.

But Hudson's alter ego, 27-year-old Katy Perry, looks every inch the pop star, with her purple hair and pink ruffled dress, as she arrives at a Beverly Hills hotel suite to talk about her new movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D. Perry invited two filmmakers to tag along as she circled the globe on her sellout 124-arena California Dreams Tour. The movie captures performances and real life, including a glimpse into her marriage to comedian Russell Brand at the beginning of the tour, and one painful moment depicted later when she is seen sobbing as the marriage unravels.
''There were some moments that made my tummy turn when I saw them in the final edit, because I'd already lived them and I really didn't want to live them again,'' Perry says.

''But I thought maybe if I shared that I got through the problem, other people wouldn't feel so alone in their problems. We all go through a lot of the same things and it's not about the problem but about how you solve it. The theme of the whole movie for me is about overcoming obstacles.''

Perry never met an obstacle she couldn't overcome, it seems, starting at age nine, when she taught herself to play guitar. In 2007, she landed a record deal and her first single, 2008's I Kissed a Girl, held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. She went on to become the first woman in music history to produce six No.1 singles from one album, Teenage Dream, including Firework and California Gurls.

''I think we're all blessed with gifts and I was lucky I just found out what mine was early on and have planted that seed and tried to water it every day,'' she says.

The down-to-earth performer admits that she does harbour a desire for perfection.

''What holds me up is focus and determination, and this incredible ambition that just hasn't subsided yet,'' she says.

Had you any other music films in your mind when you made that call?

I was inspired by Madonna’s documentary “Truth or Dare.” I loved her documentary and I loved seeing it, because I wasn’t exposed to anything like that, really, when I was growing up. For instance, I want to watch the first “Alien” film, because I want to see “Prometheus,” and I haven’t seen the first one. I wasn’t allowed to watch or hear or be exposed to a lot of different pop culture moments in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when I was a kid, because of my upbringing.


And you gave the filmmakers unlimited access during your California Dreams tour?

Yes, they came on the road and they shot everything—they were there for probably eight months out of the whole year, and they had over 300 hours of footage. Then, we started taking swings at the idea of making a movie and reached out to a bunch of people – it was a long process. We took it to different studios, and Paramount really latched onto the idea, and they’ve been great partners. We’re so in-synch and we wanted the same thing, and it’s been incredible. And in the movie industry, the summertime is really important. They’re putting it out on such an important weekend, and it’s very exciting – I have Christmas Eve jitters [laughs]. I’m very excited about it, and people seem to be responding to it in a very positive way.


Tell me about the decision to shoot in 3D. It works really well with the concert footage. What does it give the film?

We filmed that at the Staples Center for two nights with these new 3D cameras that hadn’t been used before - or, at least they hadn’t been used for this type of thing - and the texture is so beautiful. The slow motion shots are great – and I love that we can bring that to this type of film, because it adds some gorgeous nuances and detail. There are a lot different textures in the film that we use to tell the story, because there is a lot of backstory. Overall, I’m very happy with it, and I’m happy with the narrative.


And there is a clear narrative. It’s not just a film of you on tour; it’s a diary of your life up to this point…

Yes, the narrative is really about overcoming these obstacles of where I came from and who I wanted to be, and my personal obstacle of what I had to get through. And now, I’m still here and I’m still standing. And I think it was important to me to leave in those scenes of me in distress.


It shows too, that no matter what was going on backstage – no matter how upset you were – you still have that ‘the show must go on’ mentality….

You have to find a balance between being a human being and a performer. I know that it’s important for me to realise that this is a job at this level and to separate my personal life from my professional life and the fact of the matter is that we all have obstacles and problems in our lives. It would be unfair for me to press my problems on to my audience who were never there to experience that – they were there to be entertained, they were there to have a great time, they were all in costume and so I had to turn that side of me off when I went on stage.


No, it doesn’t. But it is poignant and it’s honest. But clearly you could have left those scenes out. Why did you feel it was important to include them?

Well, it’s the elephant in the room that I couldn’t avoid or ignore, because it would be ignorant of me to think I could make a complete film without even touching on it. And I’ve always wanted every choice I make to have integrity. Sometimes, that’s not the easy choice, but hopefully, what people get from this is that they don’t have to change who they are to fulfil their dreams. That’s what I believe and that’s what I’ve tried to do myself.


Is one of the messages in the film that there is a price that you pay for fame, too?

Yes, there are definitely sacrifices. But that’s part of a lot of people’s stories, whether they are famous or not. There is sacrifice. You know, heavy is the head that wears the crown. I put that in one of my songs - ‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown, don’t let the greatness get you down.’ Sometimes, it can be an extreme pressure, but really, it’s an opportunity. I try and have a positive outlook.


You’ve said before that Alanis Morissette was an influence on you. Have you met her?

Yes. I hung out with Alanis the other day - she is just so wise beyond her years. She said something that really stayed with me - she said, ‘Transparency is the new mystery.’ I agree with that, because in our culture, in our society, unfortunately, you see a lot of women, a lot of girls, and people who are ‘famous,’ and they are always perfectly presented—I think that can make people feel insecure. They think that they have to appear perfectly presented and perfectly made up, and to have certain possessions or material things that make them seem more of value...and that’s not at all what people should be focused on in order to achieve their dreams. And that’s some of the reasons why I kept those moments in the film where I’m clearly tired and I look horrible, I don’t look like I used to be, perfectly presented at all times. Because I’ve really built up this cartoon image of me and, in some ways, I think it’s time—not necessarily to break that down, but...to show that not only am I Dorothy wearing slippers and I’ve been on this long journey, but also, here’s what’s under the hood. Here’s where I come from.

What do you hope the audience will get out of this film?

I hope that people will be inspired and get moving, and I hope that they will be encouraged to know that they don’t have to change into something that they are not in order to succeed. My message is, live a full life and reach your goals, however big or small they may be. I think some of my audience, especially teenagers, can feel a little bit lost about how to get to where they want to go. I think they can be confused about what they want to do in life, and how they want to fulfill their ambitions...because I think we’ve been fed, especially in the last five years or so, the wrong priorities. And although I’ve been susceptible to some of those things, I’ve tried to move beyond that idea that you have to be a victim in order to achieve your dreams.

Showing on August 29, 2012, “Katy Perry: Part of Me” is released is distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.

Monsters are Just Like Regular People in ‘Hotel Transylvania’

Monsters are Just Like Regular People in ‘Hotel Transylvania’

“Hotel Transylvania is a story about a father and a daughter – it’s just that the father happens to be Dracula,” says Genndy Tartakovsky, director of Sony Pictures Animation’s new, 3D animated comedy, “Hotel Transylvania.”

“Like all fathers, he’s an overprotective, psychotic, and endearing guy who’d do anything for his daughter, but unlike other fathers, he’s the Prince of Darkness.”

In the film it turns out that the world’s most famous monsters – including Dracula, Frankenstein, the Werewolf, the Invisible Man, and the Mummy – are just like regular people, with families and problems and a need to get away from it all… but unlike humans, they have to live in hiding from a world that thinks they’re, well, monsters. What better place to hide than Hotel Transylvania, which Dracula himself operates as a sanctuary from the rest of the world and has been human-free since 1898?

But Dracula has issues of his own… his daughter, Mavis, is a teenager – in fact, she’s about to turn 118 – and as she becomes a woman, the vampire’s greatest fear is losing his relationship with her. Well, his two greatest fears are losing his relationship with his daughter and garlic, but that’s another story.

“One of the toughest things you have to do as a parent is to let your children go out into the world,” says producer Michelle Murdocca, who has shepherded the film since its inception. “You can’t protect them; you just have to trust that they’re going to be able to take care of themselves. It turns out that even Dracula thinks the world can be a scary place sometimes.”

“Hotel Transylvania makes these monsters funny – funnier than they’ve ever been – but the reason these monsters have lasted through the years is that they all have great personal stories,” says Tartakovsky. “There’s a humanity to them that makes them accessible. And that’s what we’ve found for our Dracula – there’s a great, accessible, bittersweet story, where you see how human the vampire is.”

“When I first joined Sony Pictures Animation – right at the very beginning of the studio – and looked at the development slate, I was immediately struck by `Hotel Transylvania,’” says Murdocca, who also produced Sony Pictures Animation’s first feature film, “Open Season.” “I loved the fun that we could have with all of these traditional characters as we do a whole new take on them. When Adam Sandler joined the project, it really opened up a lot of possibilities about who Dracula could be – suddenly, we saw the potential of it becoming a bigger and broader comedy than we had ever imagined.”


Opening across the Philippines in September, “Hotel Transylvania” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

"The Avengers 2" to be Shown in 2015

"The Avengers 2" to be Shown in 2015

During last week’s quarterly earnings call, Bob Iger announced that Joss Whedon will write and direct the sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers. And on August 16, Walt Disney Studios announces that the sequel will hit theaters on May 1, 2015.

With a global box office of $1.46M, Marvel’s The Avengers is the third biggest release of all time. And the film is just beginning its run in Japan, the final international market.

Marvel’s The Avengers opened in North America May 4 with a staggering $207.4 million – the biggest US debut of all time – and has been shattering box office records ever since including the industry’s all-time second weekend record with $103 million; fastest film to reach $200 million (3 days), $300 million (9 days), $400 million (14 days), and $500 million (23 days); and highest Saturday ($69.5 million) and Sunday ($57 million) totals.

Among only 12 films that have grossed $1 billion at the global box office, Marvel’s The Avengers is one of five billion-dollar Disney releases, which also include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Alice in Wonderland, Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Dylan McDermott, the Meanest “Campaign” Manager

Dylan McDermott, the Meanest “Campaign” Manager

Golden Globe-winner Dylan McDermott (TV’s “The Practice,” “American Horror Story”) stars in Warner Bros.’ new comedy “The Campaign” as Tim Wattley aka The Terminator, the baddest, toughest, meanest and winning-est campaign manager who ever whipped a candidate into shape for success.

In the film, as Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) brazens through an embarrasing sex scandal with his usual flair, the seasoned politico prepares to segue unopposed into his fifth term in office. But this time, to his astonishment, a challenger appears out of nowhere: local tour operator Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) — a dumpy, soft-spoken, cardigan-wrapped, fanny-pack-wearing oddball with zero political experience. As Election Day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other.


On Marty’s side is political operative Tim Wattley. “Political operatives and consultants are like samurai warriors,” director Jay Roach explains. “Tim Wattley is a dark, Rasputin-like character - like an assassin who just happens to be a political consultant. He’s one of those guys who work below the surface and get passed down from one administration to another for whoever needs them, left or right, and is willing to pay for their services. They’re essentially hired guns, but instead of people, they assassinate character. And Dylan is great in the film. He brings some odd chemistry to the mix, which is exactly what we wanted.”

As the laser-focused Machiavellian, McDermott developed an even more severe take on the character than was originally conceived. “Wattley arrives on the scene like a commando and assesses the situation, sees what needs to be fixed and fixes it,” the actor outlines. “He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, which is good because he’s dealing with a guy who looks like a gnome. He gets Marty botox’d, gets his eyebrows trimmed, his teeth whitened, his hair styled and his entire wardrobe overhauled. He gets Marty to the gym, teaches him how to walk, how to talk, and what to say. He cleans out the house and puts the whole family on notice. He even replaces their dogs.”

Under Wattley’s tutelage, Marty also adopts a catch-phrase of his own, “It’s a Mess,” aimed at anything and everything his opponent has supposedly mishandled—without, of course, detailing any actual solutions.

“Wattley takes over Marty’s life and Marty trusts him because he believes that if he does as instructed, he can win this election and make his town a better place,” says Galifianakis.

At least that’s part of the plan. But what Marty doesn’t realize is that, for all his keen attention, Wattley doesn’t have the slightest interest in him or his potential constituents. McDermott acknowledges, “Wattley is maybe the craziest person in the movie, in his own way. His job is to get someone elected, period. He couldn’t care less about this candidate or the one on the other side, or the communities they serve or what they stand for, or any of that.”


Opening across the Philippines on August 29, “The Campaign” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

'The Expendables 2' Now Showing in Philippine Theaters Nationwide

'The Expendables 2' Now Showing in Philippine Theaters Nationwide

If you're expecting some sort of warm-up, forget it. The Expendables 2 drives into explosive action right from the very start, it will take your breath away! The original core team consisting of Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, and Randy Couture enters with a bang and continues at such a blistering pace. Hanging by a zipline while being shot at and shooting like crazy...this is just one of the many memorable images in the movie. You better keep your eyes glued to the screen for the revelation of the characters of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth, Yu Nan, Chuck Norris, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. When Schwarzenegger quips, "I am back!”, he surely makes his presence felt. Yes, you have every reason to be excited!

The way one Expendable is murdered during a mission assigned by Mr. Church (Willis), there is no question why the rest of The Expendables are propelled to take revenge. They show just how bad their attitude can get. “Track him. Find him. Kill him.” This becomes the mission statement of Barney (Stallone) for the enemy, Jean Vilain (Van Damme), whose mean looks and heavy built, plus his ensemble of thugs, cannot go unnoticed. The other side of the story about how Vilain gets to steal weapons-grade plutonium only shows the extent of his evil deeds, which justifies Church's emphatic urging to Barney: “Tear him apart!”

Interspersed with all the high-powered battles is the amusing exchange of banters among the cast. In such scenes, it is apparent that they all enjoyed making the movie just as they have expressed in interviews. Seeing the iconic Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Willis, and Norris fighting side-by-side is classic! The chops of Jet Li and the killer moves of Statham can easily inspire oohs and aahs. The youth and the pretty boy look of Liam provide a striking contrast to the legends', while his character's backstory gives heart to this flick awash with machismo. Chinese actress Yu Nan is an added asset to the group. Let it be said that Director Simon West (Con Air) knew exactly what he was doing. All in all, The Expendables 2 is made of cool stuff perfect for your chill-out moment.


Watch it as it hits the theaters starting today, August 16. From Viva International Pictures.

Ben Stiller's “The Watch” Opens September 5 in Philippine Cinemas

Ben Stiller's “The Watch” Opens September 5 in Philippine Cinemas

Meet the neighborhood watch: civic-minded Evan (Ben Stiller), fun-loving family guy Bob (Vince Vaughn), tough-talking “wild card” Franklin (Jonah Hill) and the looking-for-love divorcé Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade). In a seemingly serene suburban enclave and safe haven, Evan Bob, Franklin and Jamarcus have decided to join forces to safeguard their community. In addition, they’re enjoying some of the perks that come with being a “Watcher”… like drinking beer and just being guys.

But when the guys’ patrol vehicle hits something that leaves behind a trail of green goo and a tentacle of some sort, and they find a strange, bowling ball-like device that emits a concentrated beam of energy – they realize that their little group has stumbled onto something bigger than a prowler on the loose.

“When they formed this ‘band of brothers’, the guys thought, sure, they might encounter some weird neighborhood stuff – maybe a burglar here, or peeping tom there – but suddenly they realize they’ve facing something extraordinary,” says producer Shawn Levy, the director of such hits as “Night at the Museum” and “Real Steel.” “And The Watch is not just unprepared or unqualified, it’s not remotely equipped to deal with this problem; yet it’s all on them to stop it.”

To play the four members of “The Watch,” Levy and director Akiva Schaffer (a creative force on several famed “Saturday Night Live” short films) tapped three comedy icons and a fast-rising talent. “We wanted the best,” says Levy,” and so we went out and got the best – three titans …together in the same movie! And then we threw in the ‘grenade’ of ‘what the hell are you going to get with Richard Ayoade?’”

Beyond the hilarity lies a story about four guys who were not complete, or their best selves, until they joined forces. As Bob admits to Evan: “You took a ragtag group of misfits and taught us there was something bigger than a few beers and some bro-time. You taught us about community and how important it is.”

At its core, “The Watch” is a story with universal appeal, “It’s about four regular guys who might remind you of your brother, dad or husband,” Levy sums up. “Suddenly, they come together to battle something they have absolutely no clue how to deal with.”

And when it comes to friendship, marriage, career, family – or protecting the world – it’s always best to watch out for one another.


“The Watch” opens September 5 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

First Look: “Battle of the Year” Teaser Trailer

First Look: “Battle of the Year” Teaser Trailer

Take your first look at the teaser trailer for the upcoming Columbia Pictures dance movie “Battle of the Year”. Watch below:




The film stars Josh Holloway (“Lost,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”) and recording artist Chris Brown (“Takers”).

With compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences, “Battle of the Year” is set in the international world of B-boying – the urban dance more commonly known as “breakdancing.”

Unforgettable images frame the intimate stories of an all-star American dance crew who, with the help of their tough coach (Josh Holloway), struggle to reach their dreams despite being misunderstood by society and even their own families. Their lives collide in France where their skills are put to the ultimate test: the “Battle of the Year” finals, with crews from 18 nations vying for the title of World Champion.

The film features electrifying dance performances and astonishing displays of power and grace, showing how a street dance from New York has evolved into an inspiring art form for a new generation around the world.

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Battle of the Year” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Q&A with Colin Farrell on “Total Recall”

Q&A with Colin Farrell on “Total Recall”

Irish actor Colin Farrell stars in Columbia Pictures' “Total Recall,” an action thriller about reality and memory.

In the film, Rekall is a futuristic company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs.

But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

Q. What sort of man is your character, Douglas Quaid, in this version of Total Recall?
Colin Farrell: We were following Philip K. Dick's short story, “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” and in it Quaid is a working class member of the proletariat, a worker, who is living a life that seems to be mundane enough for him to be having fantasies about, in the short story, going to Mars. In our film it is not necessarily dreams about going to Mars, but he’s having a recurring dream and it has a great significance. So really he’s just a normal man; he’s just an everyman. That’s the construct of the character and in his own life he’s feeling a great disconnect to his wife, to his work, to his friends, and he decides to have a memory of an experience implanted. He goes into this place in the film [Rekall] just looking for something.

Q. Did you feel any pressure stepping into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shoes?
Farrell: No, honestly, I didn’t feel any pressure. And I’m not trying to give a rehearsed answer, but it really felt like a different film. It really did. And I am a huge fan of the original Total Recall. I was a big fan of Arnie’s stuff as a kid, I’m talking Red Heat, Commando, obviously Terminator, and Predator is still to this day one of the best action films I think I have ever seen. I loved his stuff, and love his stuff, so thank God I didn’t feel pressure to fill those shoes or compete with that ability to throw out a one-liner. Maybe I could do Predator next (laughs)!

Q. Your vision of Total Recall is darker and more serious than Arnie’s, presumably?
Farrell: I wouldn’t like to say the original is cheesy, but it was a bit camp. You put a bullet in your wife’s head and you say [imitates Schwarzenegger]: ‘Consider that a divorce!’ I mean, that was good, that was very good. It’s camp, and it’s not camp because it’s outdated. It was camp at the time; it’s meant to be. It’s intended that way, it’s not an accident, but this film is tonally very different. I really approached it more as a drama, set against the backdrop of these magnificent cityscapes and these really elaborate action scenes.

Q. It’s not your first movie based on a story by Philip K. Dick…
Farrell: No, I did Minority Report. And with Minority Report and Total Recall, they’re not dissimilar visions of the future. They’re both inspired by Philip K. Dick’s work, and while his stories in literary form are open to interpretation and expansion, he inspired a certain world format. Sci-fi generally seems to be a fertile ground for drama. There’s a suspicion among all of us I think that the future is not so bright. Technology is making incredible leaps but what we are doing to ourselves as human beings is quite alarming. So while the vision of the future in Minority Report is not all that dark, it certainly is in Total Recall, Blade Runner, Pitch Black, Alien and the like.

Q. Total Recall looks a physical role so did you work out specifically for the film?
Farrell: I worked out consistently for three or four months, for five or six days a week, with weights. And I ran a lot. There’s a background to the character that is touched upon in the film where he might have had some military training, which I’d need to know about. I knew it was going to be a physical shoot so yes I worked out quite a bit.

Q. You seemed to move away from blockbusters for a while before taking on Total Recall. Was it a conscious decision to stay away from them?
Farrell: I had a few films that were big but that didn’t do so well, and I wasn’t getting offered that many big blockbusters either. Then this came along and I read the script. I was initially dubious when I heard that they were remaking Total Recall. I thought, ‘Is it worth it and what are they going to say about the original?’ But I read it and it was such an excellent script.

Q. Did it feel good then, returning to a huge movie like this?
Farrell: Actually Total Recall genuinely felt more intimate than some of the smaller films I’ve done. It just happens that way and it defies explanation. It was like 100 and whatever million dollars, but I worked really, really closely with [director] Len Wiseman, and with the other actors. The crew was really, really cool and I lived in Toronto for five months. We got to know each other quite well and it felt a lot more intimate than it had any right to feel. There were all these grand action sequences and these beautiful epic worlds, but on the day it was just a bunch of actors on set, trying to figure out what the other person was feeling and doing and thinking, and trying to figure out what you were feeling and doing and thinking. Ideally, I would mix it up, go from one genre to another. I’d love to do big films and small films for the rest of my life.

Q. Your next two films sound interesting as well…
Farrell: I’ve just finished a film, Seven Psychopaths, with Martin McDonagh. Martin’s stuff is always kind of absurd and dark and yet hopeful. This one was set in America and I’m the only Irish character in it. And then I’m just starting on Dead Man Down. It’s written by Joe Wyman and directed by Niels Arden Oplev. It’s about an Hungarian immigrant who loses his family and decides to infiltrate a gang that was responsible for the death of his daughter. That script really is dark.


Opening across the Philippines on August 22, “Total Recall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

“People Like Us” Will Make Audiences Laugh and Cry - Michelle Pfeiffer

“People Like Us” Will Make Audiences Laugh and Cry - Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Lillian, a widowed mother whose estranged son makes a stunning discovery about their family, in DreamWorks Pictures’ critically acclaimed drama comedy “People Like Us.” The film will is currently showing exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4 & Trinoma).

In “People Like Us,” street-wise salesman Sam (Chris Pine) finds his latest deal collapsing on the same day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father’s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside-down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) whom he never knew about. As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family - and re-examine his own life choices in the process.


Pfeiffer describes the film as “Ultimately it’s about family skeletons and forgiveness and healing. It’s a drama but there is a lot of humor in it. In the beginning, Lillian and her son Sam are both just shut down from each other, from themselves and from life. They have both, in very different ways, retreated from really living, feeling, experiencing and interacting.

“One of the messages this movie sends is that we’re all running around with secrets, not talking about everything we should be talking about,” Pfeiffer adds.” We all think we are the only ones that go through this, but in reality there are a lot of “people like us.”

The filmmakers were all fans of Michelle Pfeiffer so when she responded positively to the screenplay and the part of Lillian, they were delighted and excited to work with her. Writer-director Alex Kurtzman recalls his first meeting with the famed actress: “I knew after one minute of sitting down with Michelle that we were going to be utterly connected to each other and that she was going to give a performance that was totally unselfconscious and totally true. I walked out of the meeting thinking, I am so lucky to have this woman playing this part. She is so amazing and every day on set together was a gift for me.”


Pfeiffer admits that the unique story was a major attraction to the project for her. “They don’t make a lot of movies like this anymore and I think there’s a real appetite for it,” she concludes. “Given the cast and the subject matter, it will appeal to a really wide range. People are always looking for something that moves them in some way, whether you’re making them laugh or you’re making them cry. This one does both.”

Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan Stars in “Ruby Sparks”

Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan Stars in “Ruby Sparks”

“Ruby Sparks” is the story of a novelist’s vision who inexplicably comes to life, only to prove far more complicated than even he could have imagined. With a light touch and a dash of magical realism, the first screenplay from actress and playwright Zoe Kazan attracted the attention of Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, the married team who directed the run-away hit “Little Miss Sunshine.” The film takes an unpredictable route into fantasy, identity and the ways we invent love – and how love can re-invent us.

Paul Dano plays Calvin, a celebrated author in his younger years who hasn’t had a follow up novel years after his first breakthrough novel. Struggling with writer’s block, disappointed and unfulfilled, his close relationships are with his dog and his brother. Calvin who is cut off and isolated is constantly being urged by his married brother Harry (Chirs Messina) to get out, live, date and write. Finally finding in his imagination a muse for his novel and with his old typewriter, he creates the perfect girl he named Ruby. Barely done with his first chapter, to his astonishment that his character, Ruby (Zoe Kazan) has magically sprung to life and arrived in his kitchen where she is cooking eggs.

Life changed as Calvin believes that he willed the perfect woman into his life by the sheer power of his imagination. Ruby leaps off the page and into the kitchen of his house, filling it with her warm and joyful personality. Is he hallucinating? Is this a fantasy? Or is the lovely Ruby Sparks a flesh and blood girl: the girl he has been waiting for? Whether real or imaginary the delightful Ruby turns into a muse who helps Calvin rekindle his passion for writing and his passion for life.
Joining the incredibly talented couple Dano (“Little Miss Sunshine,”“There Will Be Blood”) and Kazan (“Revolutionary Road,” “It’s Complicated”) in the movie are Annette Bening who plays Calvin’s free-spirited hippy mother and Antonio Banderas plays her artistic and flamboyant lover.

Find out what will happen to “Ruby Sparks” when it opens September 19 in select theaters from 20th Century Fox (Fox Searchlight Pictures) to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Ruby Sparks - Trailer:

Legacy Video for “Resident Evil: Retribution” Launched

Legacy Video for “Resident Evil: Retribution” Launched

Columbia Pictures has just released a “legacy” video for its upcoming 3D sci-fi action-thriller “Resident Evil: Retribution”. Watch the video below:





It is a montage of scenes from the past “Resident Evil” movies, along with new footage from “Retribution,” that tells the story/history of the franchise leading up to the new film.

In “Resident Evil: Retribution,” the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella's most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

Opening across the Philippines in September 2012, “Resident Evil: Retribution” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

"Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D" Out in Theaters Soon!

"Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D" Out in Theaters Soon!

The first woman in music history to produce five number one singles off of one album, Katy Perry has scaled the heights of pop music stardom few have reached before her. So when the artist invited two young filmmakers to tag along (and “catch everything on film - nothing off-limits”) as she circled the globe on her record-breaking “California Dreams Tour,” she thought it might produce something of interest to her legions of fans. But it proved to be bigger than anyone could have predicted…

The result is the 3D movie music event of the summer - Katy Perry: Part of Me - a backstage pass, front row seat and intimate look at the fun, glamorous, heartbreaking, inspiring, crazy, magical, passionate and honest mad diary of Katy herself.

This is an intimate, fly-on-the-wall portrait of a natural born performer hitting the very peak of global popularity - the unflinching and ever-present cameras reveal the highs and the lows of Perry’s extraordinary trek, both personally and professionally.

The genesis of the project lies with the artist herself: “I could instinctively feel that something important was about to happen that year - it felt like this big wave was coming, and it felt like it was going to be a long one. So, I reached out to two filmmakers and said, ‘Hi, guys, I’d like to you come on the road and document the ride.’”

That ride was a yearlong world tour – selling out 124 arena shows – across the United States, Europe, South America and the Far East, and cameras were able to not only capture the palpable excitement and fun of her live concerts, but also to follow Perry back to the ‘reality’ of her day-to-day life, away from the stage lights and candy-colored costumes. Frank interviews with those who perhaps know the real Katy best - her family and her assembled family of “Team Perry” - offer glimpses into Perry’s background, as well as create a picture of a woman giving her all onstage…while pressing personal challenges await offstage.

Per Katy: “This movie is a journey. Last year, I had a year I’ll never be able to re-create…amazing highs and some big lows, but that’s life. Everyone goes through the good and the bad, but it makes you stronger. But no matter what, as with my live concerts, my ultimate goal with this movie is to make people smile.”


“Katy Perry : Part of Me” is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.

Watch “Katy Perry : Part of Me” trailer HERE.

Animated Comedy “Hotel Transylvania” Checks In Soon!

Animated Comedy “Hotel Transylvania” Checks In Soon!

Welcome to “Hotel Transylvania,” Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula (voice of Adam Sandler) has invited some of his best friends – Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and more – to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday. In the vampire world, that signals the time to break out from the sanctuary.

For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but everything could change for the overprotective dad when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis (voice of Selena Gomez).

"It's refreshing to go back to the beginning of Dracula — and then have Adam Sandler put his spin on it," says director Genndy Tartakovsky. "There will be no sparkling skin. But there are a lot of jokes."

The jokes come thanks to Sandler's pals who join him on the project - “Grown Ups” alumni Kevin James (Frankenstein) and David Spade (Griffin the Invisible Man). They join a monster team of voice actors that includes Steve Buscemi (Wayne the Werewolf), Molly Shannon (Wanda the Werewolf) and Cee Lo Green (Murray the Mummy).

"The motto of `Hotel Transylvania' is that it has been human-free since 1898," says Tartakovsky. "This is a place that all his friends can come without being persecuted by humans. They are just trying to live their own lives.''

But all that changes when backpacker Johnny (Andy Samberg) discovers the place and falls for Mavis. Dracula disguises Johnny as just another partying monster, called Johnnystein, and then tries to sneak him out to avoid alarming the guests.

"They stumble upon a female skeleton taking a shower as they try to get out," Tartakovsky says. "Dracula is really apologetic."

Producer Michelle Murdocca says Sandler was attracted to the project as the father of daughters Sadie, 5, and Sunny, 3. "It's a story of an undead dad who is overprotective, and Adam can relate to that. Even now, he's right in the thick of it."

It was also monstrous fun to see Sandler work with his comedian friends, says the director. Tartakovsky encouraged the stars to do their voice work together. "I said we need that chemistry to show these monsters are a family," Tartakovsky says. "When those guys were together in a room, it was just an explosion of energy."


Opening across the Philippines in September, “Hotel Transylvania” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

Zach Galifianakis is the Oddball Candidate in “The Campaign”

“Hangover” alumnus Zach Galifianakis plays Marty Huggins, the unlikely challenger to Will Ferrell's incumbent Congressman Cam Brady in Warner Bros.' new election-themed comedy “The Campaign.”

In the film, as Cam Brady brazens through an embarrasing sex scandal with his usual flair, the seasoned politico prepares to segue unopposed into his fifth term in office. But this time, to his astonishment, a challenger appears out of nowhere: local tour operator Marty Huggins - a dumpy, soft-spoken, cardigan-wrapped, fanny-pack-wearing oddball with zero political experience.

As Election Day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other. It’s a mud-slinging, back-stabbing, home-wrecking comedy that takes today’s political circus to its logical next level. Because, even if you believe campaign ethics have hit rock bottom…there’s still room to dig a whole lot deeper.

“Marty is a bit of a simpleton,” says Galifianakis. “He runs a tourist office in a town that gets maybe four visitors a year. But he’s very happy with his life, and he’s proud of his town. He’s a little weird, too, in ways that are probably better left unexamined, but you sense that he has a good heart.”

Marty may have started out with some good intentions but soon adapts to reveal a talent for treachery that just needed some focus - which his backers are happy to provide. “I’ve followed politics all my life and I’m still amazed by the amount of puppeteering that goes on behind the scenes in the making of a politician, and how the public can be duped by that,” says Galifianakis. “We’re just showing, in a fun and funny way, how the sausage is made.”

Director Jay Roach agrees that “Marty is a little off-center. He loves his community, his pugs, and then his wife and kids, probably in that order. What immediately sets him apart from Cam, besides his total lack of polish, is that he genuinely cares. For reasons that have nothing to do with his qualifications, he is suddenly tapped to run for Congress and, because he really wants to make a difference, he accepts. But he clearly has no idea what that involves and, seeing that, you kind of start rooting for him to figure it out and make the most of this great, unexpected opportunity.”

“You see what’s going on in the political arena now, watch the election ads, listen to the rhetoric, and it’s a wonder that we could even keep up,” says Galifianakis.

Timed to open as the 2012 American election race is powering into the home stretch, “The Campaign” casts a vote for comedy. “By the time it’s released, I imagine the 2012 campaigns will have amplified and accelerated in very interesting ways,” Roach predicts. “People will either be on the edge of their seats over what’s going to happen next, or more than a little burnt out, and looking for something that lets them laugh about it.”

Opening across the Philippines on August 29, “The Campaign” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Chris Pine Responds to Humor, Anger of “People Like Us” Script

Chris Pine Responds to Humor, Anger of “People Like Us” Script

American actor Chris Pine (“Star Trek,” “This Means War”) portrays a street-wise salesman who is suddenly confronted by a deep family secret, in DreamWorks Pictures' new drama comedy “People Like Us.”

Also starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Elizabeth Banks, the film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 & Trinoma) starting August 15.

In “People Like Us,” Sam (Pine) finds his latest deal collapsing on the same day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father’s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside-down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie (Banks) whom he never knew about. As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family - and re-examine his own life choices in the process.


After reading the script, Pine signed on for the role of Sam - a very different role from his previous parts. He recalls what drew him to the material: “As so often happens when you read good material, it doesn’t take long after finishing the last page to realize that this will be a part of your life. I liked the balance of humor and anger…so many layers of emotion that had been packed down.”

“Sam is a class-A bullshit artist with his work, with himself, with his girlfriend, with his life. He is Mr. Show,” Pine describes. “He has created - because of a deep pain, a deep sense of abandonment - a wonderful, shiny, bright, big show that he sells to the world while he dies a little bit more every day.”

The filmmakers were very excited about casting Pine and his performance blew them away. “Chris’ performance is a magic trick because his character makes every wrong decision and yet, at every turn, with every decision he makes, you’re feeling for the guy,” says writer-director Alex Kurtzman. “And that can only come from an actor who is both protective of the character and also incredibly appealing on screen.”

Kurtzman also gets kudos from Pine who appreciated his collaborative and inclusive style. The actor says, “I got great joy out of watching Alex direct for the first time, watching him bring to life something that was so emotionally impactful for him. But what I really want to stress is that Alex’s greatest gift is his incredibly fine-tuned sensitivity. Alex was always inclusive. He always created a true sense of wanting to make it better communally. Work became this even playing field and he had the ability to not be precious about something that was clearly very precious to him.”


“People Like Us” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Elizabeth Banks, from “Hunger Games” to “People Like Us”

Elizabeth Banks, from “Hunger Games” to “People Like Us”

On a roll after the smash success of “The Hunger Games” where she played the pink-haired Effie Trinket, Elizabeth Banks now appears as Frankie, the long-lost half-sister of Chris Pine's character in DreamWorks Pictures' acclaimed drama comedy “People Like Us.”

The film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4 & Trinoma) starting Aug. 15.

In “People Like Us,” street-wise salesman Sam (Pine) finds his latest deal collapsing on the same day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father’s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside-down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie (Banks) whom he never knew about. As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family - and re-examine his own life choices in the process.

“Frankie is always leery of men,” Banks describes her character. “I think she’s met all kinds and she’s very protective of herself and her situation and her son. To invite someone as deeply into her heart as she does Sam is a very rare thing for Frankie.”

The filmmakers embraced Banks’ comedic talents as they felt that her natural talent would be perfect to define Frankie’s on-screen persona. Writer-director Alex Kurtzman explains, “Elizabeth is such a natural comedienne; she’s so funny, and she can make a moment pop in 10,000 different ways, and that’s what her character Frankie needed to do. Frankie needed to be this person who came into the room and you couldn’t take your eyes off of her. And if you asked her a direct question about her life experience, she’d deflect it with some humor.”


Banks can likewise relate to the film's theme. “I actually know a couple of people who met family members way late in the game,” shares the actress, “and interestingly I think you have a life at that point, so it really is all about how much you are going to let this person in or out, and how open you are going to be to this new scenario.

“As we get older, we choose our family,” adds Banks. “When we’re children we don’t have a choice. But when we’re older, we really can make choices about whom we want to invite into our life in that kind of way. And I kept thinking about moments I could relate to Frankie. Frankie always knew her father was out there and wondered when she was walking down the street, did she pass him or is he around. I love thinking about those things.”

Asked what audiences should expect from “People Like Us,” Banks replies, “I come back to this theme of acceptance and gratitude and grace and forgiveness. A lesson I’ve had to learn in my life is that forgiveness is the ultimate grace, and the idea that crosses all cultures is that you really can find grace in forgiveness.”

Straight from the Ever Dependable Rowley - A Wimpy Kid's Bestfriend

Straight from the Ever Dependable Rowley - A Wimpy Kid's Bestfriend

Wimpy kid Greg Heffley’s best friend Rowley has given friendship a cool and solid splash since appearing in author Greg Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series and movies.

Typifying an epitome of an ideal best friend in today’s crazy-cut hub of growing teens, Rowley played by Robert Capron in the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movies is back the 3rd time in “Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.” Rowley, a parent-abiding teen leads his best friend Greg Heffley with their other friends out of trouble in and out of school. The very dependable and charming Rowley takes in all the fun with a wise twist to keep out of the punishment radar from parents and school authorities alike.


In the movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3: Dog Days,” the filmmakers and writers based the story from Kinney’s third and fourth books – The Last Straw and Dog Days.

In the latest film, school’s out and Greg is looking forward to enjoying the best summer of all time. But when his dad decides that some father-son bonding is in order, Greg must do everything he can to keep him from ruining his vacation. So he hatches a plan along with Rowley to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club – but even that fails to keep Greg away from the season’s dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a camping trip that goes horribly wrong.

Robert Capron again brings his signature charm to the role of Rowley. “He walked in and he was Rowley,” producer Brad Simpson remembers of Capron’s audition for the first picture. “He has a huge heart, is excited about life and the world, and has some of the same qualities that Rowley has.”

Meanwhile, check out these safety tips from Rowley on how to deal with adults to save yourself from the ordeals of being grounded.


“Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3: Dog Days” will open in local (Philippines) cinemas on August 15 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Jeremy Renner is Aaron Cross in 'The Bourne Legacy'

Jeremy Renner is Aaron Cross in 'The Bourne Legacy'

Two-time Academy Award® nominee Jeremy Renner a performer as comfortable with drama as he is with action, stars in Universal Pictures “The Bourne Legacy” he plays Aaron Cross is one of six agents in a program called Outcome. Unlike the CIA’s Treadstone, Outcome agents have been developed and trained for use by the Department of Defense. More than assassins, Outcome agents are designed for use in isolated, high-risk, long-term intelligence assignments. The behavioral science that was suggested as the underpinning of the Treadstone agents has been upgraded and advanced, but it’s the shared origins of these two programs that makes Outcome so vulnerable as Bourne’s story becomes public knowledge.

How did this role come to you?

It came to me in a very Bourne-like way. Someone flew out to Germany where I was shooting Hansel and Gretel. They knocked on my door, handed me a script and said, ‘When you’re done with it, call this number…’ It was very spy-like. So I read it, loved it, and thought I’d be an idiot not to do it.

Did you have any qualms about doing this role given that you know Matt Damon who played Jason Bourne in the previous films?

The only qualm would have been if I was being asked to play Jason Bourne. So, it was really easy because I’m not. Now that the trailers are out you get the idea of what the film is about.

Who is your character, Aaron Cross?

At his basic, Aaron Cross is a guy that wanted to belong. He’s a guy who wants to fit in and be a part of something. He’s completely the opposite of who Jason Bourne was. Bourne was just trying to find out who the hell he was, but this Aaron Cross knows exactly who he is. He knows what he wants to do and that’s being a part of this team.

You have an amazing motorbike chase scene in Manila with Rachel Weisz clinging on for dear life. How did you prepare?

To prepare, I had to get used to that motorcycle. It’s an on-road, off-road bike which is a different way to ride than the street bikes that I’m used to. It’s the opposite of almost everything I’ve ever ridden. I had to get use to that bike and then having someone on the back riding with me. If it was just me, I would have taken a few more risks but when I’m responsible for the person on the back, it’s a different thing. I just had to demonstrate due diligence and get used to that bike as much as I could.

Did you participate in bike boot camp?

I did it on my own and also worked with Dan Bradley, who set me up with some people to train with. Once we got to Manila, I worked with Dan and our motorcycle guys there just racing around in parking lots.

Did you go to any CIA facilities for your research on The Bourne Legacy?

No, it was much more about physical training. I had to do things that couldn’t be faked, like the fighting, so I had to really work on my fighting skills. You can’t fake those.

You seem like a guy who would know how to fight.

I don’t know about that. I haven’t gotten into a fight since the second grade and I would like to keep it that way.

In The Bourne Legacy your character, Aaron, talks about drugs designed for use in “programmable behavior”. Is this a reference to the use of steroids in sports today, enhancing strength to super-human levels?

No, I don’t think there’s any of that. This is a specific thing that I can’t talk about without spoiling the film. It’s not trying to make a backhanded statement about anything.

Do you think there are people like Aaron Cross out there?

Oh, I don’t know. If there are I don’t think I’ve met them.

Did you read Robert Ludlum’s Bourne book series?

No, I haven’t. That would require a lot of time. I’m a guy who has very limited time right now. It’s such a leisure activity to sit down and read for pleasure. I normally read to be educated. The last time I read for pleasure was probably 15 or 20 years ago.

We see you doing a scene where you’re practically walking up a vertical wall. How many takes did you do?

It was a lot of work. That was a fun, tough scene. We had to do that about 20 times or so. It got exhausting. I think they ended up using the second take.

You filmed The Bourne Legacy in several locations including Canada, South Korea and the Philippines. Which was the most memorable location?

I really had a lot of fun in Alberta, Canada just because it was around Christmastime and it was snowing. You don’t really get that in California. It was really beautiful although I hated putting on the beard.

It’s not your own beard?

No, it’s impossible to do that in the middle of a shoot. You would have to grow the beard and then shoot out of sequence. There‘s no way that’s going to happen.

Were those real wolves in that scene where you’re under attack in the forest?

Yes, those were real wolves.

How freezing cold were you in those scenes in the snowy mountains?

It was very cold. The most memorable thing was being in the water at negative temperatures. That was pretty intense. There’s nothing you can do to prepare for it. You just go in and freeze and hope your heart doesn’t stop.

What comforts do you bring when you’re on location?

I travel pretty light. I just need some food. My basic needs are like those of a caveman.

You’re also a musician. Is music important to you?

I’ll bring a playlist or two, if I need a little help for energy. I play it with my headphones on while I’m preparing in the morning. I’ll spend about an hour in the morning stretching and getting loose so that I don’t get injured.

Starring in The Bourne Legacy, did you feel a little like you’re open to comparisons from the past?

No, not really because this film is all tied together. It just expanding on the original concept and continues the story. This film’s story also runs parallel with the story of The Bourne Ultimatum, which is happening at the same time. It really opened up the parameters and the perspective on what that universe is.

Are you signed to a sequel?

If the movie does well, I think we’d love to do another one.

Ten years ago, you played the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. But your role in The Hurt Locker in 2008 changed everything. Now you’re starring in massive action films like Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, The Avengers and The Bourne Legacy. You must feel pretty good about that.

I feel like the luckiest guy around. It’s nice to be able to work and it’s even nicer when people see your work. When it turns out well and does well at the box office, it’s even better. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Can you talk about your new production company, The Combine?

It’s a great way for me to be creative from a different perspective. Instead of just being the painter, painting the house, now I’m a guy contracting the house. That’s what producing a movie is like, having a little bit more say in the matter. On jobs, I tend to take on more work than necessary anyway. I’m not just an actor who comes in. I consider everything and I really like cinema and movies. The Combine allows me to aggregate some people who I think are really talented and am crazy about. Then they can make movies that the studio won’t make or maybe they make one of those a year. I think there’s a great pipeline for amazing cinema like The Hurt Locker or The Town or films that aren’t $150 million massive franchises where you put on some tights and need CGI to be made. I’m willing to put in the legwork for it.

Are these your passion projects?

Yes, but hopefully these projects come with commercial viability. We want them to do well and we want people to see them. We don’t want to make art-house movies.

And you plan to star in and produce a Steve McQueen biopic. Was he an idol to you growing up?

I think he’s an icon. I was never really a crazy rabid fan by any means, but I certainly have seen quite a few of his movies. I just thought he was a really interesting guy and interesting to explore. It’s an honor to explore his journey.

What makes him so iconic?

I think the things we know about him are only just the backdrop to who he is as a person. He’s a walking dichotomy. He’s the most generous and giving and at the same time he’s the most stingy and frugal. He’s constantly the polar opposite of himself. His upbringing was also really interesting. I can’t wait to jump into this project.

Are you still renovating houses?

Yes. I’m doing one now. It’s been a part of my life for a long time and I don’t plan on giving it up. I really, really enjoy doing it. It’s a tangible thing, one of the few things that I do in life that will still exist after the movies are gone. These are homes and lifestyles that I help provide for people.

Is it hard to part with these houses after you’ve put so much love and care into them? Do you get emotionally attached to them?

It’s like having a dog. You’re not a dog-owner; you don’t own the dog. You provide a nice lifestyle for that dog to live as long as it’s supposed to live, but you don’t own it. To me, it’s the same with children. You don’t own your children. You want to give them the tools to succeed in life. Then they grow up and you give them the other tools to make it through life. You’re done parenting at that point, at least in my eyes. It’s the same thing with a house or anything else. You don’t own anything. You’re just lucky enough to share experiences together.


“The Bourne Legacy” is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp. Showing on August 8, 2012 nationwide.