Saturday, June 27, 2009
First "Alice" Poster
The first (and low-resolution) poster for Alice in Wonderland has made its debut. This one features Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, so perhaps other posters will come out shortly focusing on the other characters.
Friday, June 26, 2009
"Alice in Wonderland" UK Release Date
A couple of images from Empire Magazine, showing Mia Wasikowska as Alice and another little glimpse of Wonderland. The images reveal that Alice in Wonderland will be released in the UK on April 2nd, 2010.
Two "9" Character Posters
Two character posters promoting 9 are online, along with a few words from producer Tim Burton, courtesy of bscreview.com.
The first is of 7, voiced by Jennifer Connelly:
"A brave and self-sufficient warrior, 7 is the group’s sole female. A fiercely independent adventuress, she has been out patrolling the wasteland. To survive, she has adapted, finding the bones of a deceased bird and crafting her signature skull helmet.
"Producer Tim Burton explains why he loves 7: '7 is my favorite in terms of poses struck. Growing up on martial arts movies, 7’s got that real Bruce Lee kind of quality that is just really strong."
And 8, played by Fred Tatasciore:
"Armed with a giant kitchen cleaver and half a scissor blade, the none-too-bright muscle and enforcer of the group, 8, is created to help the others physically survive the dangerous, post-apocalyptic world."
The first is of 7, voiced by Jennifer Connelly:
"A brave and self-sufficient warrior, 7 is the group’s sole female. A fiercely independent adventuress, she has been out patrolling the wasteland. To survive, she has adapted, finding the bones of a deceased bird and crafting her signature skull helmet.
"Producer Tim Burton explains why he loves 7: '7 is my favorite in terms of poses struck. Growing up on martial arts movies, 7’s got that real Bruce Lee kind of quality that is just really strong."
And 8, played by Fred Tatasciore:
"Armed with a giant kitchen cleaver and half a scissor blade, the none-too-bright muscle and enforcer of the group, 8, is created to help the others physically survive the dangerous, post-apocalyptic world."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
High-Res "Alice" Pics and Logo
Want some high-resolution character and concept art images from Alice in Wonderland? Click on this /Film link.
Interesting how Disney is going for a sort of "auteur's touch" with the phrase "A Film By Tim Burton" in the official logo.
More to come!
More "9" Concept Art
More 9 concept art has surfaced on Buzznet. Here are two pieces on the Cat Beast. The Cat Beast was in the original short film, but in the feature will be joined by more mechanical monsters.
"Alice in Wonderland" Official Website Opens
Disney has launched the official Alice in Wonderland website. Not much is there at the moment, except a ticking clock anticipating March 5th, 2010, and the option to register for future updates. But stay tuned...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Bits of "Wonderland" from Visual Effects Supervisor Lantieri
Michael Lantieri, long-time special effects expert and the visual effects supervisor on Alice in Wonderland, gave MTV News some information on the making of Burton's next film, and Lantieri's first collaboration with the director.
"Tim just has a take on it in his head that is unlike anybody that I know," Lantieri said.
A frame from Alice in Wonderland, with Mia Wasikowska as the title character.
There have been countless adaptions of Lewis Carroll's phantasmagorical tale, but Burton's new, ambitious vision proved to be a bit tricky to work out during production.
"There were discussions over everything, including, 'Is it OK for the caterpillar to smoke?'" said Lantieri. "You'd be surprised how big a discussion that was and how they solve it."
3D is also a recycled tool in film, and was almost doomed to become a faddy gimmick decades ago. But although Wonderland was not shot in stereo, this 3D film will attempt to be a new step forward in the recent boom of the 3D revolution in cinema, according to the visual effects supervisor. "I think that's really gonna be something to look at," Lantieri said, declining to go into further detail on the project. "His vision and his take on things — I never get tired of it. If you can only imagine."
"Tim just has a take on it in his head that is unlike anybody that I know," Lantieri said.
A frame from Alice in Wonderland, with Mia Wasikowska as the title character.
There have been countless adaptions of Lewis Carroll's phantasmagorical tale, but Burton's new, ambitious vision proved to be a bit tricky to work out during production.
"There were discussions over everything, including, 'Is it OK for the caterpillar to smoke?'" said Lantieri. "You'd be surprised how big a discussion that was and how they solve it."
3D is also a recycled tool in film, and was almost doomed to become a faddy gimmick decades ago. But although Wonderland was not shot in stereo, this 3D film will attempt to be a new step forward in the recent boom of the 3D revolution in cinema, according to the visual effects supervisor. "I think that's really gonna be something to look at," Lantieri said, declining to go into further detail on the project. "His vision and his take on things — I never get tired of it. If you can only imagine."
Depp on "Wonderland," "Dark Shadows"
Steve "Frosty" Weintraub of Collider.com recently interview Johnny Depp (yes, THE Johnny Depp) and got some words out of the actor regarding his upcoming collaborations with friend Tim Burton: Alice in Wonderland and the big-screen adaptation of Dark Shadows. (Depp also discusses "Pirates 4" briefly in the interview.)
With enthusiasm, Depp confirmed that he will likely become Barnabas Collins. "Dark Shadows is happening," Depp said. "Tim is working on Alice in Wonderland which is obviously quite a large piece of work there. So when Tim is done with Alice and we get the script, which is very, very close, in order we'll probably attack it next year. It's exciting, very exciting. It's like a lifelong dream for me. I loved the show when I was a kid. I was obsessed with Barnabas Collins. I have photographs of me holding Barnabas Collins posters when I was five or six. I’m very excited to do it."
An image from the original television drama, "Dark Shadows." Depp hinted that tackling a feature-length adaptation of the show with Tim Burton might begin as soon as next year.
Johnny Depp also offered some information on Wonderland, just in time for the official debut of some of the film's characters and concept art:
Question: What kind of research did you for your role in Alice in Wonderland? Did you use the book or bring something outside of that to the character?
Depp: Well, certainly the book. The book is the basis for everything. There are little mysteries, little clues in the book that I found fascinating that were keys to at least my understanding of the Mad Hatter, like him saying, 'I'm investigating that begin with the letter M.' That was huge for me because when you do a little digging you realize you’re talking about a hatter, a man who made hats and if you go back and look at some of the historical hatters there’s that term that this guy or that guy is as mad as a hatter. There was a reason for that and the reason for that was mercury poisoning. So I found out what the M was and why they went nuts. So that became a huge thing. Then it was just kind of what I saw and what I thought the guy should look like. I made my little weird drawings and water colors and brought them to Tim [Burton] and he brought me his weird little drawings and water colors and they were not dissimilar [laughs]. You could've put them right together and they were pretty darn close. There’s a lot of color and brightness and then de-saturation in The Hatter. He’s like a mood ring I suppose.
Question: What's so special about your relationship with Tim? Is that he lets you do whatever you’d like as an actor?
Depp: Well, the most special thing is that he very luckily has given me about seven jobs. That's the most amazing thing. I’m looking forward to the eighth and ninth. There’s no real definition other than there is some kind of connection, some sort of understanding that Tim and I have that is at most times unspoken. Most people when they hear Tim give me direction or we’re talking about the character or something on the set, people are baffled. Completely befuddled and they don’t know what we’re talking about. A guy actually came to me one time after watching Tim and I talk for ten minutes and said, 'I didn't understand a word that you guys were saying.' So, yeah. I don't know. It's just one of those things that you don’t question, but I sure love him.
With enthusiasm, Depp confirmed that he will likely become Barnabas Collins. "Dark Shadows is happening," Depp said. "Tim is working on Alice in Wonderland which is obviously quite a large piece of work there. So when Tim is done with Alice and we get the script, which is very, very close, in order we'll probably attack it next year. It's exciting, very exciting. It's like a lifelong dream for me. I loved the show when I was a kid. I was obsessed with Barnabas Collins. I have photographs of me holding Barnabas Collins posters when I was five or six. I’m very excited to do it."
An image from the original television drama, "Dark Shadows." Depp hinted that tackling a feature-length adaptation of the show with Tim Burton might begin as soon as next year.
Johnny Depp also offered some information on Wonderland, just in time for the official debut of some of the film's characters and concept art:
Question: What kind of research did you for your role in Alice in Wonderland? Did you use the book or bring something outside of that to the character?
Depp: Well, certainly the book. The book is the basis for everything. There are little mysteries, little clues in the book that I found fascinating that were keys to at least my understanding of the Mad Hatter, like him saying, 'I'm investigating that begin with the letter M.' That was huge for me because when you do a little digging you realize you’re talking about a hatter, a man who made hats and if you go back and look at some of the historical hatters there’s that term that this guy or that guy is as mad as a hatter. There was a reason for that and the reason for that was mercury poisoning. So I found out what the M was and why they went nuts. So that became a huge thing. Then it was just kind of what I saw and what I thought the guy should look like. I made my little weird drawings and water colors and brought them to Tim [Burton] and he brought me his weird little drawings and water colors and they were not dissimilar [laughs]. You could've put them right together and they were pretty darn close. There’s a lot of color and brightness and then de-saturation in The Hatter. He’s like a mood ring I suppose.
Question: What's so special about your relationship with Tim? Is that he lets you do whatever you’d like as an actor?
Depp: Well, the most special thing is that he very luckily has given me about seven jobs. That's the most amazing thing. I’m looking forward to the eighth and ninth. There’s no real definition other than there is some kind of connection, some sort of understanding that Tim and I have that is at most times unspoken. Most people when they hear Tim give me direction or we’re talking about the character or something on the set, people are baffled. Completely befuddled and they don’t know what we’re talking about. A guy actually came to me one time after watching Tim and I talk for ten minutes and said, 'I didn't understand a word that you guys were saying.' So, yeah. I don't know. It's just one of those things that you don’t question, but I sure love him.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
More "Alice" Photos!
Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum and Mia Wasikowska as Alice have made their official debuts. These and the previous Alice in Wonderland posters are supposed to be put up in cinemas shortly.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Burton's "Wonderland" Revealed!
Before its release to theaters on March 5th, 2010, some teaser posters and banners will be coming to cinema lobbies offering the first official glimpses of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.
Although the look of the film still retains some of the styles from the Lewis Carroll original book, Wonderland "has been Burtonized," producer Richard D. Zanuck confirms. Zanuck offered some more information. "We finished shooting in December after only 40 days," said the producer. Right now, the live-action is being merged with the CGI and other animated effects, which will eventually be transferred to 3D (the film was not shot in stereo). Alice will be released in regular theaters, as well as IMAX and Disney Digital 3D.
The old tale has been updated a bit as well by screenwriter Linda Woolverton. In Burton's film, Alice (played by Mia Waskiowska) is 17 years old. She attends a party at a Victorian estate. She is proposed to and surrounded by hoards of stuck-up aristocrats. In a desperate escape, Alice slips away, and, led by a white rabbit, but unexpectedly finds herself transported to a very curious world. Apparently, Alice had visited Wonderland 10 years before, but had forgotten. The residents of this strange new world have not been so forgetful, however...
Zanuck had some kind words for Wasikowska: "There is something real, honest and sincere about her," Zanuck says. "She's not a typical Hollywood starlet."
Zanuck gave more tidbits about the characters and the actors playing them. On Johnny Depp as the wild Mad Hatter: "This character is off his rocker."
"He is so much fun and so nutty, I can't imagine anyone else doing it," said the producer. Depp transforms into yet another bizarre character, adopting an accent that Zanuck said was indescribable.
Zanuck also provided some information about the social conflicts in Wonderland, and about its tyrant, the Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter. "The creatures are ready to revolt and waiting for Alice to help them," said Zanuck.
The benevolent White Queen, played by Anne Hathaway, was overthrown by her malicious sister. Richard Zanuck said the White Queen."is beautiful but over the top. She doesn't walk. She floats. She's very eccentric."
Zanuck also revealed that film legend Christoper Lee will indeed play the role of the ferocious Jabberwock.
Matt Lucas will play Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Click on the USA Today link to explore three detailed pieces of conceptual art and see more of the fantastical Wonderland concocted by Tim Burton and his crew, a world filled with gigantic fungi, mysterious topiary, and anthropomorphic flowers.
Photos courtesy of Disney Enterprises Inc.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Another "9" Website Revealed
Another website promoting the film 9 has been uncovered: http://www.9experiment.com/
In the website, you can explore more of the scientist's designs, inventions, and plans, the world of 9, play games, watch a video introduction by Elijah Wood (who provides the voice of the title character), discover hidden content, and more. There is much to explore...
Friday, June 12, 2009
More "Art of Tim Burton" Samples
Tying in with the MoMA Tim Burton exhibition coming this fall, a book will be released containing loads of the director's artwork, aptly titled, "The Art of Tim Burton." The book will be a over 400 pages packed with over 1000 works of art by the visionary filmmaker, spanning across decades of his career and life.
Here are a few samples (click on them to see a larger version), courtesy of /Film:
Romeo and Juliet, pen and ink.
Untitled (Blue Girl with Skull). 1992–1999.
Polaroid, 33 x 22″ (83.8 x 55.9 cm).
Untitled (Trick or Treat). 1980
Pen and ink, marker, and collage elements on board, 15 x 15″ (38.1 x 38.1 cm).
Untitled (Frankenweenie). 1982.
Pen and ink, marker, and charcoal on paper, 11 x 13″ (27.9 x 33 cm).
Here are a few samples (click on them to see a larger version), courtesy of /Film:
Romeo and Juliet, pen and ink.
Untitled (Blue Girl with Skull). 1992–1999.
Polaroid, 33 x 22″ (83.8 x 55.9 cm).
Untitled (Trick or Treat). 1980
Pen and ink, marker, and collage elements on board, 15 x 15″ (38.1 x 38.1 cm).
Untitled (Frankenweenie). 1982.
Pen and ink, marker, and charcoal on paper, 11 x 13″ (27.9 x 33 cm).
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
More on the MoMA Burton Exhibition
An oil painting called "Blue Girl with Wine."
From November 22nd, 2009 until April 26th, 2010, visitors can come to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and see an exclusive exhibition of Tim Burton's artwork. Over 700 drawings, puppets, paintings, costumes, and more will be visible, many of which have never been shown to the public before. Also on display will be some of his artwork and student films prior to his professional career.
“There is no other living filmmaker possessing Tim Burton’s level of accomplishment and reputation whose full body of work has been so well hidden from public view,” said Ron Magliozzi, MoMA’s Assistant Curator. “Seeing so much that was previously inaccessible in a museum context should serve to fuel renewed appreciation and fresh appraisal of this much-admired artist.”
An untitled drawing for Burton's book, "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy."
"Everybody draws," Burton said. "I just never stopped when the teachers told me to.
"It's easier for me to think things through visually instead of verbally, so it's like a diary in that way," he added. "I have so many drawings. I never look at the stuff - I just keep doing it."
In conjunction with the Tim Burton exhibition, a series of films that inspired the filmmaker will be presented including “Jason and the Argonauts” (Don Chaffey, 1963), “Frankenstein” (James Whale, 1931), “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (Robert Wiene, 1920), “The Pit and the Pendulum” (Roger Corman, 1961), “Nosferatu” (F. W. Murnau, 1922), “Earthquake” (Mark Robson, 1974), and several others.
Click MoMA's official link for more information.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
New "9" Illustrations, Prequel Story
Plenty of information and artwork on the film 9 are available online.
MTV.com and io9.com each have some exclusive artwork, featuring the anatomy of the ragdoll characters of the movie and the extremely detailed world they inhabit, respectively. It looks like an immense amount of precision is being used in constructing the stark, ominous post-apocalyptic work of this sci-fi epic.
Also, the scientist character from 9 has his very own Facebook account. He will be providing tidbits on his scientific progress, providing a developing prequel story for the film.
Friend him, before it's too late...
9 will be released in theaters on September 9th, 2009. It is directed by Shane Acker, who made the award-winning short film that this new feature is based upon.
MTV.com and io9.com each have some exclusive artwork, featuring the anatomy of the ragdoll characters of the movie and the extremely detailed world they inhabit, respectively. It looks like an immense amount of precision is being used in constructing the stark, ominous post-apocalyptic work of this sci-fi epic.
Also, the scientist character from 9 has his very own Facebook account. He will be providing tidbits on his scientific progress, providing a developing prequel story for the film.
Friend him, before it's too late...
9 will be released in theaters on September 9th, 2009. It is directed by Shane Acker, who made the award-winning short film that this new feature is based upon.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Limited Edition Expanded "Mars Attacks!" Score
There are less than 500 copies of this brand-new expanded rerelease of Danny Elfman's Mars Attacks! score! La-La Land Records has completely remastered all 74 minutes and 48 seconds of orchestral score from the film. The album contains linear notes by Dan Goldwasser and features comments from Elfman.
The price is $19.98, and units are going fast!
Special rerelease produced by MV Gerhard and remastered by James Nelson.
Click the La-La Land Records link to read more and hear some sample tracks.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Disney Fan Expo Gives Glimpse of "Wonderland"
For eager fans, the first ever Disney fan expo will show some samples of Alice in Wonderland, as well as other upcoming films such as Toy Story 3 and the remake of Tron.
The four-day D23 Expo will take place from September 10-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
More details can be found at this link.
The four-day D23 Expo will take place from September 10-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
More details can be found at this link.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
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