MARCH, 17


WILD CARDS: BATTLE OF THE ROX

Action / Sci-Fi
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Cate Blanchett, Tim Roth, Jeremy Irons, Matt Dillon, Seth Rogen, Jason Schwartzman, Megan Fox
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenwriters: Matt Kubrick & Joey Stark

Box Office: 78 mill.
Net Gains: 46 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: I must admit I am disappointed with this box office. I expected much more for this last movie of the saga. Well… anyway, it is a great movie and I feel so proud of this franchise that now reaches its end.

HE-MAN AND MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

3D Animation / Action / Fantasy
Cast of Voices: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Ron Pearlman, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Malcolm McDowell, Jennifer Hale, David Hayter.
Director: Andrew Adamson
Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

Box Office: 130 mill.
Net Gains: 114 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Great box office! The Kubrick & Adamson duo succeeds again after ‘The Ice Princess’. Probably, one of the most creative and spectacular animated movies seen on screen for a long time!

WEIGH ANCHOR

Drama / Coming of Age
Cast: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Emile Hirsh, Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson, James Franco, Brittany Murphy
Director: Peter Weir
Screenwriter: Josh Collins
Producer: Grand Island Movies

Box Office: 38 mill.
Net Gains: 28 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: This low budget production was not meant to compete with He-Man or Wild Cards. It just looked for its own audience and it found it. Very nice box office’s breakdown. Personally, my favourite Collins’ drama so far. Hope to see it back at the next GMA Edition!


WILD CARDS: BATTLE OF THE ROX

'Although each new episode of this saga could be enjoyable by itself, Wild Cards has become more and more a franchise 'for fans only'. This spectacular showdown shot by Zack Snyder has not succeeded at box office as expected. Audiences may have wrongly seen it as a product oriented only for the most loyal followers of the saga. It's a shame. This 'Battle Of The Rox' is a powerful visual show and a great adventure movie that could be appreciated for those not so familiar with the previous Wild Cards movies. Although there are so many references to the previous installments of the franchise in the plot, the adventure told in this one also has an epic dimension and an own identity that makes it appealing enough by itself. Anyway, an appropriate farewell party for one of the best CMP's franchises that can be also considered as one of the best movies of the saga'.
-Chris Burgess

'After seven directors, Wild Cards has found in this last episode who probably is the best director for it. I would dare to say that none of the six previous directors has understood the visual potential, the epic background and the adventure spirit of the George R.R. Martin's universe as perfectly as Zack Snyder. The freak world of Wild Cards and the visual creativity of Snyder mix in a perfect receipt to offer us a great cinematic experience, visually closer to another recent Snyder's work, 'Watchmen', but also recovering the 'bigger than life' conception of another of his movies, '300'. 'Battle Of The Rox' is an extreme pleasure for all the saga's geeks. And after 'Preacher' and this one, Snyder confirms himself as one of the most interesting directors working for CMP'.
-Alex Stampton

'It is very difficult to keep up a franchise after seven movies. Wild Cards has been a franchise different from all the rest in CMP. Changing the director and even the movie genre from one movie to the next has been one of the best ideas of its authors to keep the saga alive. The Wild Cards movies have never been major blockbusters - not even in these times when CMP seems capable of releasing a '100 millions' movie almost every week. But it has created a crowd of loyal fans that have followed each new proposal like a religious cult. And although not all of the seven movies have maintained the quality level of their best - 'Wild Cards', 'WC:Ace In The Hole' and 'Chrysalis: Pennies From Hell' - and some signs of decadence appeared in the latest one, 'WC: Double Solitaire' - the weakest production of the saga, in my opinion -, the final balance of this lasting franchise has to be positive from a creativity point of view. 'Battle Of The Rox' closes the plots of the saga on style and meets the trademarks of the franchise: creativity, visionary production design and surprising characters that make a difference between Wild Cards and the standard sci-fi or superheroes franchises repeatedly offered by Hollywood'.
-Charlie Kiggs

HE-MAN AND MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

'When Matt Kubrick is mentioned there are a lot of people that still thinks instantly in horror slasher movies. And that's becoming more and more unfair as new Kubrick's movies are released. In recent times, Kubrick has offered us - among some other interesting proposals far away from slashers -, two of the best animated movies ever: 'The Ice Princess' and this He-Man. Both directed by Andrew Adamson, these movies have stayed away from the contemporary mainstream of animation defined by Pixar and followed by the rest of Hollywood's Animation Studios. 'The Ice Princess' or 'He-Man' have nothing to do with Pixar's style. Both productions are closer to the visual style of comics and graphics novel and leave aside the inevitable comedy elements in any Pixar or Dreamworks Animation's movies to focus on the recreation of fantasy worlds with an epic adventure spirit. Kubrick and Adamson have been brave enough to abandon the official rules in animation established by Pixar and their imitators and have dared to explore new territories. The reward? Two animation master pieces that audiences have appreciated as the creative adventures they are. There's life beyond Pixar thanks to Kubrick and Adamson.'
-Anne Roman

'CMP's Animation has grown up lately to top quality. Matt Kubrick showed the first signs of his talent for the genre with the successful 'Robotech' saga during the first CMP's Seasons. Those were entertaining anime-esque movies that didn't reach the technical perfection of the more recent CMP's animated productions but still were quality features. CMP failed later in its attempt to develop movies closer to the 'pixar style' with the poor 'Happy Hamsters' and 'Calvin and Hobbes' that took the Studio to forget about animation for a while - and even shut down an Animation Department headed by director and producer Michael Bay. But, during the latest Studio's seasons, CMP's animation has reborn from its ashes with ambitious productions that have become big box office's hits. Josh Collins with 'Bird Of A Feather' and specially Kubrick with 'The Ice Princess' have taken back animation to a main position in the Studio's plans. Now, 'He-Man and Masters Of The Universe' follows that wade reaching a technical perfection never seen before in CMP and making CMP's animation proposals more and more trustable for audiences. It seems like the golden age of animation in CMP is here to stay and I just hope the Kubrick & Adamson duo keep leading it in the future'.
-Roy Winslow

'I am not a big fan of 3D. I can't concentrate in a movie when I am just waiting for the next special 3D effect surprise. So, finally, I find 3D a distracting nuisance more than an appealing element of a movie. I admit 'He-Man' uses the capacities of 3D with intelligence. But I made an experiment: I watched the movie twice. I went first to a theatre showing the movie in 3D and then watched the movie again in a non-3D theatre. And I must say I enjoyed better the second time. Not being a fan of the character, I must admit that this movie is a mostly entertaining redefinition of He-Man that has nothing to do - both in terms of conception and design - with the original tv series. Andrew Adamson has created an adult He-Man - close to Conan, by the way - and has upgraded him to an epic hero placed in an appealing fantasy world and surrounded by more than interesting villains - also improved in terms of design from the original series - to create an engrossing animation extravaganza suitable not only for kids but for all fans of fantasy adventure. So forget about 3D. There's much more in this movie than just that.'
-Vic Carter

WEIGH ANCHOR

'Josh Collins's has abandoned for once his usual 'drama formula' - you know: tragic event, family shocked, suffering girl in the middle... - to offer us a growing up drama. And that's great news not only because that Collins' formula was showing some signs of exhaustion lately – its last example, 'After The Storm', became a major flop - but specially because 'Weigh Anchor' is probably one of the best Collins' screenplays ever. The plots and subplots are perfectly paced and the interesting variety of characters are pictured with mastery traces to tell us a story with a perfect mixture of drama, romance and even a few comedic moments. 'Weigh Anchor' is one of those delicious hidden gems - as Mr. Thumb likes to call them - that has the danger of getting lost in the middle of all the Wild Cards, He-Man or Avengers big productions. But that would be a shame. This movie is a must see for all those that want to be touched when going to a movie theatre and not just shocked by amazing 3D effects or any other technical virtuosity. Watching this growing up drama will make you grow up.'
-Amy Ratched

'I don't know who will be the other two contenders but I know for sure by now that Joseph Gordon Levitt will be one of the challengers for the next Best Actor GMA. What an impressive debut in CMP! Gordon Levitt has found the perfect tone to create his character leaving aside any acting excess and not pretending to look just handsome and nice. He has perfectly understood what his character demanded and offers us a performance to remember. The new Johnny Depp is here. Also, Kirsten Dunst returns to CMP and presents again her candidacy for another GMA nomination. The rest of the cast also deserves a specific praise. Wonderful Jeff Daniels as a father with a weak personality. Brittany Murphy keeps growing as an actress in CMP after her great work in 'After The Storm'. Same goes for Emile Hirsh, making understandable why Collins trusts him so much. Patricia Clarkson and James Franco take the best of their minor characters. And Michelle Williams looks as sweet and moving as her character demanded. And my last praise goes for Peter Weir. In these days ruled by directors surrendered to easy effectism, it is a pleasure to have back in CMP a directional master like him.'
-Tim Reeve

'The storyline of this movie brought to my mind the lyrics of the classic Billy Joel's song 'Piano Man'. Just like the song, there's a guy playing music in a bar, a waitress dreaming of something better than withstanding drunk clients approaches, a friend at war... And, just like the song, this movie has the deep taste of the classic creations than can be heard or watched once and again and still move you. 'Weigh Anchor' is a melancholic story that makes you think about your own life even if it does not have anything to do with its plot. Love, chances, dreams, loneliness... are elements of everyone's life and all of that is shown in this beautiful story. We have all felt as Gordon-Levitt, Kirsten, Michelle or even Daniels or Clarkson's character some time in our lives. Cause that's exactly what this great movie is about: life.'
-Jackie O'Callaghan

WILD CARDS: ORIGINS

‘Past week CMP launched a wonderful DVD Box Set, ‘The Wild Cards Collection’. It included a little jewel that deserves to be highlighted here: the 60 minutes animated feature directed by Matt Kubrick himself ‘Wild Cards: Origins’. And it is a shame we didn’t have the chance of watching this great production on the big screen. The movie is a prequel to the whole Wild Cards franchise and it tells why people turned into Aces and Jokers, something never told before in the movies of the saga. The funny thing is that this ‘Wild Cards: Origins’ is probably one of the most interesting and appealing episodes of the CMP’s franchise. The story and the characters perfectly adapt to animation. Kubrick has not done just a routine work but has set up a quality animation product that makes the DVD Box Set worth by itself. If you are a fan of the Wild Cards universe you just cannot miss this one, an indispensable jewel that will leave you with hunger of more.’
-Charlie Kiggs


This week two of the most active CMP writers will release their films. The end of a major saga in CMP, Wild Cards: Battle of the Rox, an animated 3D adaptation of the He-Man franchise, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, both written by Matt Kubrick (though Wild Cards co-written with Joey Stark) and the third release, Josh Collins returns to his dramatic self in Weigh Anchor.

WILD CARDS: BATTLE OF THE ROX

CRITIQUE: It's being hailed as the final episode of the Wild Cards saga, which helped put the fans' butts in the seats. It was definitely worth it, Kubrick & Stark worked very hard to let this film go out with a bang. Even the cast and director knew they were working on something special and huge that they didn't just use this film as an afterthought. An intense edge-of-the-seat action film so engrossing that when the movie is long over, you're still stuck to your seat hoping the theater ushers don't kick you out so you can see the next showing. One of the best in the franchise. Afterward I went to the local DVD store and got a copy of the Wild Cards Collection.
ACTING/CAST: 9/10
DIRECTION: 9/10
WRITING: 10/10
CONCEPT/PLOT: 8.5/10
RE-WATCH VALUE: 10/10
OVERALL: 9/10

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

CRITIQUE: Another exciting film to jump on the recent 'in 3D' bandwagon. But at least this one is actually worth seeing in 3D and the adventure is certainly worth going along with. Andrew Adamson has a knack for animated adventure which is certainly proven in his last success, Ice Princess and in this one. Kubrick's creativeness seems to have matured a lot lately with all of these big movies he's been making. I would assume fans of He-Man along with sci-fi action adventure fantasy stories would be the ones flocking to the theaters for this one. Just try to laugh on the inside when you see the geeks who go overboard and dress up like the characters.
ACTING/CAST: 8/10
DIRECTION: 9/10
WRITING: 7.5/10
CONCEPT/PLOT: 7/10
RE-WATCH VALUE: 9/10 (it's much better to see it at theaters, sucks to see it at home unless you have a giant plasma TV)
OVERALL: 8/10

WEIGH ANCHOR

CRITIQUE: I fear with the business the other two will bring in that nobody will see this one. Shame because it's one of those hidden gem types of films that will be looked at somewhere down the line and viewer will ask 'where was I when this came out' Weir and Collins create a story and characters with delicacy so far from the overly dramatic tearjerkers Collins is accustomed to. Very well made in all aspects of the film making process. Hope to see Joseph again in CMP!
ACTING/CAST: 9/10
DIRECTION: 9/10
WRITING: 8.5/10
CONCEPT/PLOT: 8.5/10
RE-WATCH VALUE: 7/10 (you can watch it again and not get tired of it, but one of those movies where you watch it when you're in the mood)
OVERALL: 9/10

MR. THUMBS' CERTIFIED PICK OF THE WEEK
As much as I enjoy Weigh Anchor, it's one of those films you see at home. So if you're looking for something new that came out this week, my pick is tied this week:
WILD CARDS: BATTLE OF THE ROX and
HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE


WOODLAND CREATURES
By Anne Roman

The peculiar comedy ‘Woodland Creatures’ surprisingly became one week ago a new ‘200 millions’ release for CMP. The movie has become the new alltimes top 3 most profitable movie for the Studio and the alltimes top 4 best box office. This week, we take a look to the insides of this outstanding success.

THE CONCEPT
The idea of making a movie with a cast dressed up as furry animals came to Josh Collins watching the teaser for ‘Bee Movie’ where Seinfeld appeared dressed up as a bee.

THE PREPRODUCTION
Before submitting the screenplay to CMP, Collins sent to Harry Stark a short document where he only explained the concept of the movie. Collins wasn’t completely sure that Stark would want to produce such a peculiar comedy. Only when Stark told him he liked the premise, Collins started working on the screenplay. A few drafts were sent to CMP before the Studio got the final version of the story from Collins.

THE DIRECTOR
Adam McKay wasn’t the first choice to direct the movie. Josh Collins wanted Kevin Smith to direct it. The screenplay was sent to Smith, who initially showed some interest. But, after getting involved in its preproduction, Smith suddenly decided not to direct the movie. A replacement was urgently needed.
Harry Stark wanted Jay Roach to direct it. Ben Stiller – already committed with the project – proposed his friend Shawn Levy to direct it. Levy and Stiller had worked together before in ‘Night At The Museum’ and CMP’s ‘The Lollipop Man’. But Josh Collins finally chose a debutante in CMP, Adam McKay.

THE CAST
CMP respected the cast proposal from Collins. The shooting suffered a slight delay cause Amy Adams was already shooting ‘Ugly’. Replacing her was considered but Ben Stiller insisted in Adams as his co-star and finally the Studio decided to wait for her.

THE SHOOTING
When the shooting of the movie started, some problems were noticed. It was so difficult for some talents to move – and even breath - with their costumes. So producer Wilson Claypool took a quick decision. The costumes would be lighten up and some digital effects would be designed to make the characters look closer to the animals they were supposed to be. Anyway, ‘Woodland Creatures’ was not an expensive movie at all.

THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN
The CMP’s Marketing Department had doubts about the poster and the rest of the marketing campaign for the movie. The image of the characters had to be a surprise. If posters and teasers already showed them, the surprise factor would be lost. So posters, teasers and trailers were finally designed in a way you did not actually see how the dressed up talents looked like. That way, you had to watch the movie – and pay a ticket… - to know it.

THE RELEASE
Harry Stark was convinced the movie would work. But some of his executives weren’t. Audiences could just love or hate the peculiar premise of talents looking as silly animals. The movie wasn’t released as the main event of the week – the Studio put the accent on ‘Fallout 2’ the week of its release. ‘Woodland Creatures’ was the underdog of the week. That way, if the release was a disaster, the expected success of ‘Fallout 2’ and ‘Fallen Kings’ would not attract too much attention on it.

THE FINAL NUMBERS
As it happened with ‘The Ice Princess’ or ‘The Dark Tower. The Drawing Of The Three’, once again a movie reaches unexpectedly the top of most successful CMP’s movies. It is funny how the most successful and profitable movies are not being lately the ones CMP expects to be. Movies launched as predictable blockbusters make only a correct breakdown and, suddenly, medium productions without too much hype break all records. Nobody at CMP would have ever bet that ‘Woodland Creatures’ would become the top 4 best worldwide gross release.

…AND
The end of the movie joked with a possible sequel. After the success, will that joke become a reality?

FAMILY MOVIES SUCCESS
By Mr.Thumb

This past week we've witnessed only one of the recent many family-friendly films that have proven to make a huge profit for Crazy Moon Pictures. Woodland Creatures starts off Season 10 with a major bang, having CMP studio head Harry Stark looking in the direction of the department that churns out these types of films.

This department which makes all films kid-family oriented comes out with not only animated films but live action movies that a parent could bring their kid to and not have to worry about covering their eyes. Most films CMP make have made are GMA nominated, geared toward the sophisticated film goer who looks for quality in the acting, directing, writing and overall story arc. Many are gory horror films that will end up giving the little ones nightmares.

But just because CMP makes superhero, fantasy and adventure films doesn't mean families won't be coming to see the latest Avengers or Harry Flashman, and I even saw parents bringing their kids to the Star Wars, Game Boy or Land of NOD films. But no matter how many of those you want to make, you still want to be able to have the random children's movie in there to not only add to the versatility of the studio, but to give the audience that chance to be a kid again with their own kids sitting with them.

In the early seasons of CMP, family films were rare and when they came out, they didn't quite attract the audience too much and it stirred up so much doubt that studio head Harry Stark thought to pull the plug on the family/animation department. You can't blame him, CMP was trying to establish itself when films like Calvin and Hobbs and Happy Hamster were released.

We aren't sure what exactly happened, rumors say Stark had to let some producers in that department go and hired some new ones to avoid death to that part of the studio. He didn't want to have to kill it, family audiences are a HUGE deal in the industry, you cut them off, you'll be losing a lot of money. But whoever he hired certainly knew what they were doing because Season 5 came around and struck the match by releasing the big hits that families would see such as Game Boy, Dungeons and Dragons and even Welcome to Summer Camp, which wasn't the biggest profit from the department, but it still managed to avoid loss.

Season 5 was the strike of the match, but the lighting of the fuse came in Season 6. The Lollipop Man, Babes in Toyland, Game Boy 2, and thanks to his history being taught in school, even Martin Luther King's biopic which wasn't geared towards the family crowd but everyone no matter what age saw it.

Season 8 was the explosion. Ice Princess, CMP's first animated feature in many seasons set the bar high for animated films like Bird of the Feather, also a success. Season 9, the department is still booming. The Season of the Fantasy and action films. All were movies that parents could take their children to even if some weren't geared toward them. Land of NOD, Magic, Silver Sable, The Flash, Nick Fury, Fantastic Mansion and I even saw parents bring their kids to Sherlock.

Has Stark and the department of family-oriented films discovered the secret to producing their films? Not trying too hard? Is it good timing while so many films are horror remakes, depressing dramas, or unoriginal? Is it star power? Ben Stiller has proven to be a bankable talent that families love to see after the success of Woodland Creatures and Lollipop Man. It's only natural for a studio after going through nine seasons to find what works and what doesn't.

It's always so unpredictable. All I know is these last few seasons, we've had more successes with family audiences than failures and the trust has been revived in the beloved studio head. I hear there's plenty more films down the line with families in mind. Just don't try so hard with anything you do and you might just have a hit. Look how many films the studio has released that you can tell didn't try too hard to make a blockbuster and ended up going beyond expectations.