Benjamin Bratt has joined the cast of #DESPICABLEME2! See the New Trailer! Plus More @DespicableMe!

May 8, 2013 | 6 Comments

FREE DESPICABLE ME 2 RINGTONES

Visit http://intl.despicableme.com/ringtones to download fun, free ringtones from your favorite Despicable Me 2 characters.

BOP-A-MINION GAME

Based on the traditional Whack-a-Mole game, and formatted for your mobile device, the object is to bop as many Minions as you can, earn coins and avoid the bombs. The more you bop, the higher your score. The game increases in difficulty based on the speed in which the Minions are popping up and dropping down into their holes. Text MINIONS to 834567 to start playing on your smart phone or head over to http://www.bopaminion.com on your mobile browser.

WIN A RIDE IN THE #DESPICABLIMP

Visit the Despicablimp Command Center at www.despicablimp.com to track the blimp via GPS and see the tour stops it is making across the country PLUS fans can enter the Despicablimp Sweepstakes, where one lucky Despicable Me fan will win a trip for four to the Hollywood world premiere of the film and get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride in the blimp! Hurry, the Sweepstakes ends on May 20!

 

DESPICABLE ME 2 Online

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Watch the trailer on YouTube

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

Filed Under: movies

Cloudy With a Chance of CInco De Mayo!

May 5, 2013 | 2 Comments

Filed Under: movies

Monsters U – College Posters and Full Voice Cast!

April 18, 2013 | 3 Comments

 

Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” welcomes some of Hollywood’s top stars to its roster of voice talent for this summer’s frighteningly funny comedy adventure, opening in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013. Joining Billy Crystal and John Goodman are Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Dave Foley, Sean P. Hayes, Joel Murray, Peter Sohn, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, Bobby Moynihan, Julia Sweeney, Aubrey Plaza, Tyler Labine, John Krasinski, Bonnie Hunt, Beth Behrs and John Ratzenberger. Also revealed this week were the story and screenplay credits. Directed by Dan Scanlon, “Monsters University” features a story and screenplay by Daniel Gerson & Robert L. Baird (“Monsters, Inc.”) and Scanlon.

Scanlon says the cast was able to bring the story to life with great ingenuity and enthusiasm. “Working with this group of actors was an extraordinary experience. They each brought a unique level of humor, emotion and creativity to their work that not only complemented their individual performances, but made the overall story come together in a really wonderful way.”

The voice cast includes the following:

· Billy Crystal (“Parental Guidance,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “City Slickers”) reprises his role as Mike Wazowski, now a college-age monster who follows his dream of becoming a Scarer at Monsters University.

· John Goodman (“Argo,” “Flight,” “Trouble With the Curve”) returns as James P. Sullivan (Sulley), an overly confident, young hotshot Scaring student at Monsters University.

· Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”) rejoins the monster world as Randy Boggs, a Monsters University freshman who is ready to experience all that college has to offer (if only he can curb his habit of disappearing).

· Helen Mirren (“Hitchcock,” “The Queen”) gives voice to Dean Hardscrabble, legendary Scarer and hard-to-please head of Monsters University’s prestigious School of Scaring.

· Alfred Molina (TNT’s “Monday Mornings,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Frida”) is the voice of Professor Knight, an esteemed professor in Monsters University’s School of Scaring.

· Dave Foley (TV’s “NewsRadio,” “The Kids in the Hall”) as Terry Perry, the skeptical half of a bickering two-headed monster and dedicated Oozma Kappa (OK) brother.

· Sean P. Hayes (“The Three Stooges,” TV’s “Up All Night”) gives voice to Terri Perry, the more sensitive side of a two-headed Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity brother with Scaring aspirations.

· Joel Murray (TV’s “Mad Men,” “Two and a Half Men”) voices Don Carlton, a “mature” student at Monsters University and a founding member of the Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity.

· Pixar’s Peter Sohn (“Ratatouille,” “Small Fry”) provides the voice of Scott “Squishy” Squibbles, an undeclared sophomore at Monsters University and Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity member who still lives with his doting mother.

· Charlie Day (“Horrible Bosses,” “Pacific Rim,” TV’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) provides the voice of the incomparable Art, an Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity brother with a questionable past.

· Nathan Fillion (“Much Ado About Nothing,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” TV’s “Castle”) portrays Johnny Worthington, the confident president of Roar Omega Roar (ROR), a Monsters University fraternity that prides itself on its notable Scarers.

· Bobby Moynihan (NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” HBO’s “Girls,” DreamWorks Studios’ “Delivery Man”) helps bring to life Chet Alexander, a yes-monster member of the Roar Omega Roar (ROR) fraternity.

· Julia Sweeney (TV’s “The Goode Family,” “Saturday Night Live”) lends her voice to Ms. Squibbles, indulgent mother to Monsters University sophomore Scott “Squishy” Squibbles.

· Aubrey Plaza (“To Do List,” TV’s “Parks and Recreation”) gives voice to Claire Wheeler, the somber president of Monsters University’s Greek Council and emcee for the annual Scare Games.

· Tyler Labine (“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil,” “Mad Love”) was tapped to voice Brock Pearson, vice president of the Greek Council and enthusiastic emcee of the Scare Games.

· John Krasinski (“Promised Land,” TV’s “The Office”) provides the voice of “Frightening” Frank McCay, a Scaring super star at Monsters, Inc.

· Bonnie Hunt (TV’s “The Bonnie Hunt Show,” “Cheaper By the Dozen”) was called on to provide the voice of young Mike Wazowski’s grade school teacher Karen Graves.

· Beth Behrs (TV’s “2 Broke Girls”) serves as the voice of Carrie Williams, fearless leader of the Python Nu Kappa (PNK) sorority.

· John Ratzenberger (“Cheers,” Disney•Pixar’s feature films) returns to the Pixar recording studio as the voice of a Monsters, Inc. employee.

Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”).

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY releases in theaters on June 21st!

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook: http://facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity
“Follow” Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar
Visit the website: http://www.Disney.com/MonstersU

 

OMG. Sean Hayes, Beth Behrs, Nathan Fillion, Bonnie Hunt, this is an amazing list, all my favs!!!! We cannot wait! And I just need to get 1 celeb pic!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

Filed Under: Disney, movies

Review – Parental Guidance on Blu-ray!

April 7, 2013 | 2 Comments

Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei prove that laughter is relative in this hilarious comedy that’s fun for the whole family!

Old-school grandparents Artie (Crystal) and Diane (Midler) get more than they bargained for when they get stuck babysitting their type-A daughter’s (Tomei) overprotected kids. But things go from hectic to hysterical when Artie realizes the kids are running the house with their newfangled technology. By playing by his own rules, which include sugary snacks, old fashioned games and tough love, Artie manages to outsmart the kids and achieve the impossible- bring the family closer together! Available on DVD and Blu-ray since March 26, 2013!

Firstly, anything with Bette Midler is a winner in my book. I have been a huge fan of everything she has ever done! From Mermaids on stage, to being twins with Lily Tomlin, she is iconic for a reason, she is fantastic! I have always loved her sense of humor.

Billy Crystal? From Soap to Mike Wazowski, he is another legend. Seeing him with Bette was great, they played perfectly off of each other.

And lastly, Marisa Tomei. I have no celeb pic to back it up, but she did graduate from High School in Brooklyn with my cousin Jill! And didn’t that help her accent in My Cousin Vinny! We watch her several times a year in that movie!

I watched this movie with my almost 10 year old son. It was great fun, it is a perfect family movie. And I can relate, my mother-in-law never does what I ask of her when she babysits! My son thought it was hysterical, and I have to say, I did lose it when I saw the bathroom scene with Billy Crystal singing the Mr. Doody song. That type of writing works really well for us! And here in NYC we all know several families that in a few years are going to have their kids screaming at them, like in the movie, “You lied to me, yogurt is not just like ice cream! Overprotective runs rampant in Manhattan.

This is a fun family movie, safe for the kids to see (unless they pick up some bad habits like eating an entire ice cream cake!). And these days, I need to know that before we see a movie, we are just moving from animated movies to real movies, and it is important that they be appropriate for my almost 10 year old son. Meanwhile, he had memorized a few of the scenes from the various commercials he and seen from when the movie was in the theaters , and in the last month from the DVD commercials! I wish he paid his school work this much attention.

Special Features:
Parental Guidance Blu-ray Special Features
● Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Andy Fickman
● Audio Commentary with Director Andy Fickman and Billy Crystal
● Gag Reel
● FXM Productions Presents: In Character with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei
Parental Guidance DVD Special Features
● Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Andy Fickman
● Audio Commentary with Director Andy Fickman and Billy Crystal

That’s one of the reasons I love owning my own copy of a good movie, I love deleted scenes! And a gag reel

Disclosure: We received a copy of the Blu-ray for review. All opinions are 100% honest and our own.

And since Tony Hawk was in the movie, I have to share my celeb pic!

Filed Under: movies, product reviews

Jurassic Park in 3D!

April 4, 2013 | 8 Comments

Wow! Jurassic Park 3D opens tomorrow, April 5th!

Are you one of us who have seen Jurassic Park and all the other incarnations of the franchise that followed? My spouse and I are, and were more excited to take our almost 10 year old son to this 3D remake, since we had seen it and already spent sometime jumping out of our chairs 20 years ago! Our son has scene snippets of the original movie over the past few years and was super excited to see the whole movie from start to finish, especially in 3D, that seems to be the way he is being brought up in the movie theaters these days.

My son of course loved the movie. We all thought our friend Mr. Spielberg did a masterful job reinventing the movie in 3D. The dinosaurs were even more terrifying up close. Watching the young Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum was nostalgic as well!

But if you ask my son the favorite part of the movie? When his dad, me, jumped right out of his seat when the dinosaur came upon Laura Dern as she was trying to get the electricity back on. Yes, I had already seen the movie, but this scene gets me every time. My son was very, very amused by my reaction. That shows me that the 3D was quite effective!

And he loved it. He loved the realness of the dinosaurs. With all the technological improvements and CGI that we have today, you can tell from this 20 year old movie that they did it right the first time, the movie dinosaurs from 20 years ago still hold up to the scrutiny of the 3D today. I was impressed!

For more information please visit Jurassic Park.com!

You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter. And, for more thrills and chills, check out the Youtube page!

 

Disclosure: We received tickets to attend a preview of the movie. All opinions are always 100% honest and our own.

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Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” to Dive into Theaters November 25, 2015! YAY!

April 2, 2013 | 2 Comments

The official information:

When Dory said “just keep swimming” in 2003’s Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo,” she could not have imagined what was in store for her (not that she could remember). Ellen DeGeneres, voice of the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, revealed details today about Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory”—an all-new big-screen adventure diving into theaters on Nov. 25, 2015.

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory.”

Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”

According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life.

“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature; the film was nominated for three additional Oscars® (Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Music, Original Score; Best Sound Editing). It was also nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made. At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time. It’s currently the fourth highest grossing animated film worldwide. The film has more than 16 million Likes on Facebook, and Dory—with more than 24 million—is the most Liked individual character from a Disney or Disney•Pixar film.

This was one of the first animated movies my son ever saw. And ours as well! We loved it and see that it remains a classic for everyone, after all, we have been on the ride at Walt Disney World every time we have visited, and yo have seen from my posts that every-time we see a seagull we say, “Mine, mine, mine!” ANd that includes this past week when we were in San Francisco and saw many seagulls!

My son and I are thrilled at this announcement and will be keeping you informed as much as possible in the coming months!

 

Like Finding Dory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingDory

Follow Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

 

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment, movies

Despicable Me 2 – Follow the Despicablimp and Catch a New Trailer!

March 29, 2013 | 3 Comments

About the Despicablimp

Look up!  You just might see a giant yellow Minion floating high above you, because Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me 2 Despicablimp has begun its journey across the U.S.!

Cruising at an average height of 1,000 feet, the Despicablimp will travel approximately 20,000 miles over the next few months going from coast-to-coast and points in between

Follow the Despicablimp’s Journey

Visit the Despicablimp Command Center at www.despicablimp.com to track the airship via GPS and see the tour stops it is making along the way.  Fans can tweet sightings of the blimp or post photos to Instagram or Flickr using #despicablimp to be featured on the site, and for a chance to win weekly prize giveaways. There is even a Despicablimp sweepstakes, where one lucky Despicable Me fan will win a trip for four to the Hollywood world premiere of the film and get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride in the blimp!

Follow @despicablimp on Twitter for real-time updates on where the blimp will be next!

 

Starring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Moises Arias, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher and Al Pacino, check out the new trailer!

 

Follow the conversation!

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

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Disney’s PLANES Reveals Full Voice Cast!!!

March 28, 2013 | 2 Comments

 

Disney’s PLANES has officially revealed the full voice cast for the film which opens in theatres everywhere this summer, August 9th!

Inspired by the world of “Cars” and directed by Disneytoon Studios veteran and aviation enthusiast Klay Hall (“King of the Hill,” “The Simpsons”), “Disney’s Planes” is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure about Dusty’s dream of competing as a high-flying air racer—and his decidedly unfortunate fear of heights. The film takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013.

 

  • Stacy Keach (“The Bourne Legacy,” Alexander Payne’s upcoming “Nebraska,” Robert Rodriguez’s and Frank Miller’s “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For”) provides the voice of Skipper, a reclusive old Navy Corsair who takes Dusty’s training to new heights.
  • Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life”) lends his voice to fuel truck Chug, Dusty’s buddy, coach and biggest fan.
  • Teri Hatcher (“Coraline,” ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”) brings life and charm to the say-it-like-it-is mechanic Dottie.
  • Cedric the Entertainer (“Barbershop,” “Larry Crowne, “Madagascar”) as Leadbottom, a puttering old biplane who has no time for Dusty’s far-fetched flights of fancy.
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Seinfeld”) lends her voice to Rochelle, a tough and confident racer who is the pride of the Great White North.
  • John Cleese (TV’s “Whitney,” “A Fish Called Wanda”) is the voice of Bulldog, the oldest and arguably wisest racer on the circuit.
  • Carlos Alazraqui (James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911”) brings to life the intensely charming El Chupacabra, a racer with more dramatic flair than is recommended at high altitudes.
  • Priyanka Chopra (“Barfi!”) voices the exotic, mysterious and ruthless Ishani, the reigning Pan-Asian champion from India.
  • Roger Craig Smith (Captain America in Disney XD’s “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” voice of Sonic The Hedgehog in “Wreck-It Ralph”) voices world champion racer Ripslinger—wings down, the biggest name in air racing—and he knows it.
  • Gabriel Iglesias (Comedy Central’s “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-up Revolution”) provides the voices of both Ned and Zed, two not-so-sharp saboteurs who work for Ripslinger.
  • Val Kilmer (“Batman Forever,” “Top Gun”) provides the voice of Bravo, a member of the Jolly Wrenches and a fan of air racing.
  • Anthony Edwards (TV’s “Zero Hour,” “Top Gun”) is the voice of Echo, a member of the Jolly Wrenches and a fan of air racing.
  • Colin Cowherd (ESPN) gives play-by-play coverage as Colin Cowling, an affable blimp and an eye-in-the-sky reporter for the Racing Sports Network.
  • Sinbad (Comedy Central’s “Where U Been?”) brings to life Roper, an irascible race official pitty full of sly remarks and colorful commentary.
  • Oliver Kalkofe (“Neues vom Wixxer”) provides the voice of meek German minicar Franz and his brazen airborne alter ego Fliegenhosen.
  • Brent Musburger (ESPN, ABC Sports) brings Brent Mustangburger, the excitable 1964½ Ford Mustang sports broadcasting icon, back to the big screen.

I will reveal my celeb pictures with some of these great actors as we get closer to the release date of the movie!

“Like” Disney’s PLANES on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlanes

“Follow” Disney’s PLANES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Visit the website: www.disney.com/Planes

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

Disney’s PLANES releases in theaters everywhere on August 9th!

Filed Under: Disney, movies

DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: Review & Interviews!

March 21, 2013 | 3 Comments

THE CROODS is a 3D comedy adventure that follows the world’s first modern family through the journey of a lifetime. When the cave that has always been their home is destroyed – with the rest of their world not far behind it – The Croods are forced to set off on the first family road (or path) trip. Rocked by generational clashes and seismic shifts, The Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures, and a future beyond any they imagined.

We still go to a lot of animated movies. My son is almost 10, but animated movies, especially now that most of them are in 3D, are still highly enjoyable for both of us.

This movie falls into the highly enjoyable category! I honestly did not have high expectations, although I should know that Dreamworks would not disappoint. The story of a disgruntled teenage girl is nothing new for any of us in America. The fact that she was pre-historic made no difference. Naturally she had an overprotective dad, and he is who I related to most of all. I love how he stubbornly tried to protect his daughter by doing the same thing that many generations of dads in his family had done before him. Luckily this rebellious daughter’s timing was just right to save the family from the changes that were about to start on planet Earth.

And of course a boy was involved! Whether he wanted to be or not! I really liked how Eep was not just a mushy girl with a crush though, she was a cave girl and she knew how to take care of herself. She did not grow weak around the guy, there is too much of that in the movies and TV.

The 3D effects were also top notch. My spouse and I have left many a 3D movie and asked ourselves what the effect added to the picture, and we usually think very little. I loved the way the 3D had you feeling like things were falling on you, and especially at one point where we all thought we were about to get burned by ash! Now those are some good effects.

 

And I got to interview Kirk De Micco & Chris Sanders! They both wrote  and directed The Croods! Here you see us with one of the supporting actors in the movie, Belt! 

We didn’t just interview these guys, we also suggested that a part 2 or a TV show should come out of this! Our group was almost all parents with children and we tend to watch the movie for ourselves and through our children’s eyes, at least I do. It was great to report to Kirk and Chris that the movie entertained young and old alike, and we would love more!

I was shocked to find out that the original story of The Croods was written by John Cleese of Monty Python, etc. fame! I had no idea! No wonder that it was so funny. And the other note, when you talk to people like Chris and Kirk, besides realizing that animated movies take years to produce, is the passion these guys have. The actors come in for a day of work every few months, these guys are living and breathing the movie over the course of 3 years or even more! In the days before I got to interview animators and film makers, I thought most of the work was simple computer programming & CGI. I could not be further off base.

It was great to sit and listen to these guys as they explained their process in coming up with the final story: the dad who is completely inflexible, the guy that comes rolling in, metaphorically “on a motorcycle” to take away the dad’s daughter, and the epiphany’s that all must have to work together, adapt, and survive. And teamwork: “These two groups not only have to need each other very much, but neither can have all the answers and be perfect.  When you put them together, things are much better.” Grug’s inflexibility must adapt to a changing world, and Guy’s brilliant ideas are helpful, but not always the only thing needed to get out of a nasty situation. 

Lastly, my favorite part of listening to the guys that actually wrote and directed The Croods is hearing how they are open to adapting their work to the actors and actresses, who once they come in for their lines, end up moving the picture in a different direction. Sometimes minor, sometimes major, but each actor’s personality can then be seen in their animated character from this collaboration.

You will enjoy this colorful animated prehistoric movie. My son loved it, and I didn’t even realize he had read the book before we left the house (the video game folks had sent that along) and memorized all the wonderful species the writers had come up with! If only he were as interested in his school work as much as he was into The Croods, that he couldn’t wait to memorize their story!

AND PLEASE ENTER MY CROODS GIVEAWAY HERE AND READ MY ACTOR INTERVIEWS!

 

Link Up!

Visit the official website

Like The Croods on Facebook

Follow @DWAnimation on Twitter #TheCroods

Re-pin great DIY tutorials, printables & more from The Croods on Pinterest!

 

Disclosure: I received tickets to a preview of the movie. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

 

Filed Under: movies

The Croods Celebrity Interviews & Giveaway Prize Package w/ $25 Visa Gift Card!

March 17, 2013 | 659 Comments

The Croods is a prehistoric romp made in terrific 3D, so real we thought the effects were burning us at one point!

“The Crood family dynamics, though unfolding a few million years ago, feel like they could come from your own household.  Like most fathers, family patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage) is fiercely protective of his wife and three kids. His hyper-vigilance has kept his cave-bound family safe, secure and….super- bored.  Grug’s strong and dutiful better half, Ugga (Catherine Keener), accepts her husband’s “fear is good; change is bad” mentality, as does their son Thunk (Clark Duke), who’s content with the static status quo.  Feisty mother-in-law Gran (Cloris Leachman) never tires of needling (or sometimes assaulting) Grug; and stone-tough toddler Sandy might be the fiercest Crood yet.” Until the next step in the evolutionary scale comes along, Guy, as played by Ryan Reynolds!

A group of NYC area bloggers got to sit down with 3 of the cast members of this animated movie, what an amazing privilege that was!

We had an opportunity to talk to Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone and ask  them how the process of an animated movie was different than live action, and they agreed that in some ways it was easier, but the process was far more lengthy. Emma Stone told us, “You just go in for a couple of hours every couple months.  It’s the greatest. You get in there, and you realize the directors and the animators have been working tirelessly 12 hours a day every single day for years.” The process of making an animated film and getting on the screen takes years. I thought it would be much quicker than that! It is the actors who only get called in every once in a while to spend a few hours performing. The animators, and the rest of the staff are working all day over the course of several years! Who knew an animated movie could take longer than a live action?

We had a question for the gang, how is it to take a break from current work to come in for 1 day to do some scenes for an animated movie? Ryan and Emma both agreed it was not difficult to get into character after being away form the film, that it was kind of fun and refreshing.

And having seen the movie, I thought these 2 worked really well together. And guess what? They told us they only worked together one time, at the very beginning of the process. 1 time! It is hard for us to realize that these actors are really acting, they have to make believe they are acting with each other when the other actor is not there, and they have to be able to act with the CGI that has not yet been combined with the movie!

And the funniest part for me? Ryan Reynolds on working with Nicolas Cage: he met him for the first time just before coming to talk to us, in the lobby of the hotel!

And yes, we got to interview Nicolas Cage as well. I was dying to ask if he still kept in touch with Cher!

Nicolas Cage is a seasoned veteran, he must have been through decades of these press junkets. One of the things I enjoy about being a parent blogger is that we are not official journalists, we can have a conversation with these folks, we can sometimes go off topic and talk parenting. And in this movie Nicolas is a parent, a very over-protective parent, so naturally we asked if this represented him in real life, he said to a point, but that he was more flexible than Grug.

One of the bloggers also mentioned that he looked like Grug the caveman! Mr. Cage was not thrilled about that until we explained that his expressions were copied so remarkably well.

“when you’re doing this process, they have a video camera on you at all times. And the animators will look at my facial expressions from the video tape and I think incorporate that into the drawing.” And that’s it in a nutshell, the extreme attention to detail, that when the actors are in character and voicing the animated character, the animators are watching them closely and adjusting the animation to the movements of the actors faces. Wow.

Lastly, Nicolas Cage explained to us how his improvisations made it into the movie in one scene, “When Grug is having a kind of a mini-nervous breakdown because he’s feeling like he’s losing the attention of his family.  And everyone is starting to fall for Ryan’s character. And so because he doesn’t have the great genius that Ryan’s character has, he starts to have this meltdown and starts talking about how he’s inventing all these great ideas and these things. And for some reason, inexplicably, I went into this sort of jazz riff kind of blues talk.  And I don’t know why I did that.  But, that stayed in the movie.” 

Yes, we had a chat with Nicolas Cage, that was amazing. And here’s the pic!

 

The film release date is March 22, 2013 and is being released by 20 Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation!

 

Link Up!

Visit the official website

Like The Croods on Facebook

Follow @DWAnimation on Twitter #TheCroods

Re-pin great DIY tutorials, printables & more from The Croods on Pinterest!

 

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky reader of the GayNYCDad award winning blog, will receive a Croods gift package containing:

- $25 Visa gift card for a family adventure at the movies
- Belt plush doll
- Coloring Book w/ crayons

Prizing is courtesy of 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation!

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3. Retweet this info (you can use the tweet button at the bottom of the post) and leave me a comment with a link to your retweet.
4. Retweet daily and leave a comment daily that you have done this.
5. Extra entry for leaving a comment on a non-giveaway post – you must leave a comment here as well to tell me that you have done so to get the entry.
6. Join me via Google friend connect on the blog and leave me a comment to tell me that you have done so!

You must leave a separate comment in the comments field for each entry that you make to be entered! If you are already any of these things, to enter just leave a separate comment reminding me of that! Contest ends midnight, March 31, 2013. Prizes must be claimed within 48 hours. Maximum winnings of 2 giveaways per every 90 days. See official rules for more information.

Every entry requires a separate comment!

Thanks and good-luck.

Disclosure: I received free entrance to a preview of the movie. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.
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