“GULLIVER’S TRAVELS” IS PHILS.’ 1ST BOX-OFFICE GIANT

20th Century Fox opens enormously big at 2011 as “Gulliver’s Travels” heaped up a gigantic 23 million gross nationwide at the box-office in its first two days alone which opened Jan. 8. “Gulliver’s Travels” is Fox’s (Phils.) first release for the year that became the top-grosser among the foreign films that opened 2011.

Jack Black takes on the titular role of Gulliver who works as a mailroom clerk in a Manhattan newspaper. Imaginative and immensely open for adventure, Gulliver then bluffs his way to a writing assignment on the mysterious Bermuda triangle. His assignment then takes him to a miniature kingdom where he learned that size doesn’t matter to make a big difference. The movie also stars Emily Blunt, Amanda Peet and Jason Segel.

Jack Black remains to be a humongous comedic force as kids and adults laughed and roared at the movie’s crazy antics. Daniel Floresca, a 12-year old who is also a contributing writer at the Manila Bulletin’s Funpage shares, “I laughed so many times during the movie. I was amazed because the little people with the giant Gulliver looked so real on screen. I was also impressed by the appearance of the buildings and small objects in Lilliput. Kids should see Gulliver's because it teaches lessons like don't pretend to be someone that you're not and that even small people can do big things if they really want to."

Among the cinemas that recorded the biggest at the box office are Trinoma (P1.3M); SM Mall of Asia (P1.13); Powerplant (P929,543); SM North Edsa-The Block (P805, 820); SM Megamall ({772, 050); Greenbelt 3 (P747, 532); Alabang Town Center (P705, 365); Glorietta4 (P668, 616); Shang Cineplex (P655, 850); Eastwood (P652, 117).

The gigantic bulk of the film’s box-office is likewise contributed by Gateway Cineplex-Ali Mall (P516, 969); SM Cebu (P481, 848); TheatreMall (P462, 412); Market!Market! (P450, 304); Newport (P426, 720); Robinson’s Ermita (P399, 518); Gaisano Davao (P368, 389); Filinvest (P365, 259); Robinson’s Galleria (P361, 222); Ayala Cebu (P357, 480).

“Gulliver’s Travels” is now showing in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros.

UNINHIBITED ANNE IN "LOVE & OTHER DRUGS"

“Love & Other Drugs” showcases anew Anne Hathaway’s unconventional choices as she takes on the role of Maggie, a young artist afflicted with Parkinson’s disease that prevents her into entering life-changing decisions especially when it comes to relationships. Anne’s extraordinary risks in her career continue in “Love & Other Drugs” where she takes another brave choice and pushes her boundaries in a story of love’s powerful nature between a couple who tries to resist but eventually surrenders.

“Love & Other Drugs” tells of two people, both free-spirited who started out having casual sex which then evolved into something much more complex. Maggie’s disease makes it difficult for her to continue her work, slowly impairing her speech and motor skills. Jake on the other hand plays Jamie Randall who is an ultimate seducer working at the giant pharmaceutical Pfizer. The two initially agrees to a no-strings-attached arrangement, just sex whenever and wherever each of them needs it. But as their casual relationship turns into weeks, both feels an uneasy change when Jamie unexpectedly mans up and starts taking responsibility for Maggie. Maggie, on the other hand is slowly opening up to the possibility of depending on to somebody to entrust her life.

“When Maggie meets Jake, she is at a transitional moment in her life,” says Hathaway. “She hasn’t accepted her challenges, and more importantly, she hasn’t been able to accept herself.”

Hathaway and the filmmakers made sure that Maggie’s condition shapes the character’s attitude and was always in the service of the character. “I loved how seemingly fearless Maggie is,” says Hathaway. “I was moved by the challenges she faces and by the façade she presents to the world, as an idealized sex goddess who is fine with everything and anything. But there’s an aching and yearning there; she’s scared and vulnerable, and a wonderful person under all of that. As an actress, you dream of opportunities to explore those things.”

She received advice from another real warrior in the drug wars, Lucy Roucis, a professional actor with Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed when she was in her late twenties) who now works in Denver with an acting troupe called PHAMALY (the Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League, Inc.). In the film, Roucis also plays a part as a person afflicted with Parkinson’s whose shtick at a convention for Parkinson’s patients helps Maggie begin to come to terms with her condition.

Anne Hathaway shot to stardom when she starred opposite Meryl Streep in the sleeper hit “The Devil Wears Prada.” She eventually secured her place among the highest echelon of actresses when she starred in Jonathan Demme’s critically acclaimed “Rachel Getting Married” where she garnered nominations from Academy Award, Golden Globe®, Independent Spirit and SAG Award in the lead actress category.

Hathaway recently starred in box office hits – the ensemble romantic comedy “Valentine’s Day” and in “Alice in Wonderland.” Her other film credits include “Bride Wars,” “Get Smart,” “Becoming Jane,” “Passengers,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Princess Diaries” and “The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement,” “Havoc,” “Ella Enchanted” and “The Other Side of Heaven.” She also stars as the lead voice Jewel in the upcoming colorful family movie “Rio.”

“Love & Other Drugs” opens January 26 in Manila, Cebu and Pampanga theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

like us on facebook 20th Century Fox (Phils.)

WASHINGTON AND PINE ARE UNSTOPPABLE

Denzel Washington and Chris Pine team up in the upcoming action-thriller “Unstoppable” directed by Tony Scott. Washington and Pine play train engineers whose lives are put at risk in an attempt to stop an unmanned long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas enough to wipe out an entire city.


Based on actual events, the story centers on an experienced train engineer, Frank Barnes (Washington) who’s about to be laid off as part of company cutbacks while Chris Pine plays Will Gordon, the newbie conductor hired to replace him.

Chris Pine who starred in the blockbuster movie “Star Trek” likens both movies in a recent interview with MTV. “It (“Unstoppable”) also has the genetic code of the summer tentpole movie. It’s fun and action-packed. And it’s got some really interesting, complex characters to kind of anchor the whole thing. And Tony always talked about how the movie was like a train. Once it gets going, it just does not stop,” Pine shares.

“Unstoppable” opens November 10 in (Phils.) theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

INVESTING SHIA

Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf) may be worth millions at a ludicrously young age but he is also keen to do some good in the world by investing in green energy amid a fascinating world intoxicated by the sheer thrill of as much money as possible.

In Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” LaBeouf’s Jake is a honest trader who gets embroiled in ominous financial dealings that is bound to spin dangerously out of control. With Michael Douglas’ Award-wining role Gordon Gekko out of prison and Josh Brolin’s Breton James, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” multiplies greed and avarice where there is no such thing as ‘enough.’

“Wall Street 2” steers Jake Moore (LaBeouf), a smart young proprietary trader into making millions at the venerable Keller Zabel Investments, run by Louis Zabel (Frank Langella), Jake’s mentor. Jake’s girlfriend, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), meanwhile, is supportive of his drive – fueled by an idealism she finds lacking in her father Gordon – to invest in green energy. A wave of rumors that Keller Zabel is stuck with billions in toxic debt causes the company’s stock price to suddenly nose-dive, and Louis Zabel is forced to fight for his company’s life. When the government refuses a bail-out, Bretton James (Josh Brolin), a ruthless billionaire and master manipulator, arranges a takeover of Keller Zabel for a fraction of its worth. This move then propels Jake to avenge his losses by finally forging an unlikely alliance with Gordon.

To play the role of Jake, Oliver Stone cast Shia LaBeouf, star of the hugely successful “Transformers” films, as well as the recent “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and the thriller “Disturbia.” “He reminds me of a young Tom Cruise [with whom Stone worked on “Born on the Fourth of July”],” says Stone of LaBeouf -- “The same drive, work ethic, and energy.”

LaBeouf was drawn to the role of Jake for several reasons, including his admiration for Stone’s body of work. “I love ‘Wall Street’ – I’m here because of it,” says the actor. “As a movie fan, you learn a lot watching Oliver’s movies. You get a lot of facts as well as entertainment.”

In addition, starring in an Oliver Stone film was a change of pace for the young actor. “I’ve been making fantasy films for a while,” he explains. “I wanted something with teeth, and Oliver Stone makes movies with teeth.”

LaBeouf describes Jake as someone who comes from a modest background, and whose tenure as a caddie for Louis Zabel, the head of the esteemed investment bank Keller Zabel, would lead to much bigger things. “Jake is a guy who came from nothing, in Long Island, with a father who’s non-existent,” the actor explains. “Jake was hired right out of business school and put into Keller Zabel as a proprietary trader, and starts trading his own account. He works his way up the ladder and becomes Zabel’s right-hand man at a young age.”

“When I took the movie I knew little of the world of finance – I didn’t know what a derivative was, I didn’t know stocks, bonds,” he continues. “Oliver said, ‘If you want to do this you’d better get cracking [and do your homework],’ and I walked into a brokerage house office and asked them to set me up an account.”

LaBeouf then dove into his research with zeal. After what amounted to an intensive course in finance at various investment and trading houses, LaBeouf made a modest investment grow exponentially. He also passed his Series 7 test, becoming a licensed broker-dealer.

“It is amazing. I come from poverty. My mother laughs about it all the time. She went on welfare; we had no money and now I’m trading upwards of $300,000 in the morning. It’s outrageous. It’s really outrageous. My Mom’s happy as a clam,” LaBeouf concludes on the current state of his career.

“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” opens September 29 in (Phils.) theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

"VAMPIRE SUCKS'" JENN PROSKE: TWI-LOVE OR TWI-HATE HER

Jenn Proske & Chris Riggi in VAMPIRES SUCK

There’s a new Bella in town - a.k.a. Becca in the upcoming spoof comedy “Vampires Suck” from geniuses Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer who gave us the laugh-out loud parodies “Scary Movie,” “Date Movie” and “Meet the Spartans.” 

Becca, played by Jenn Proske stars in the all-tangled love triangle opposite Matt Lanter , Chris Riggi and Ken Jeong (“Hangover”). In a recent interview with buzzbox.com, Proske revealed that she’s Team Edward but she still has strong feelings for Jacob. “I kind of feel a little bit of pressure because I play Becca, the Bella character. Plus, Matt Lanter who plays Edward looks good on set! Matt was amazing. I had never been on camera before and was nervous that whoever I was working with would judge me. He was so willing to teach me tips and was so friendly. We hang out all the time but we’re just friends,” Proske gushes.

Jenn definitely nailed every bit of Bella’s character such that after one major audition, she immediately got called in for “Vampires Suck.” This is by far her first major audition after graduating from Boston University at 2009, though Jenn relates that she was I originally got called in for Alice Cullen, but knew that she wasn’t quite right for the role. “I knew I felt the Kristen Stewart role more so I had to go in 7 or 8 times,” recalls Jenn.

Asked what’s in store for the Twilight fans and Twi-haters in “Vampires Suck” – “There’s something for everyone in this movie! Everything is done in a very funny way and I think it’s hysterical!” Jen says.

“Vampires Suck” opens August 25 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

“CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER” IN 3D

Return to the magic and wonder of C.S. Lewis’ beloved world – via the fantastic Narnian ship, the Dawn Treader in 3D!


In this new installment of the blockbuster “The Chronicles of Narnia” motion picture franchise, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their cousin Eustace, their royal friend King Caspian, and a warrior mouse named Reepicheep, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to the Dawn Treader. Their mission – on which rests the fate of Narnia itself – takes the courageous voyagers to mysterious islands and a river that turns to gold, to fateful confrontations with magical creatures and sinister enemies, and to a reunion with their friend and protector, the “Great Lion” Aslan. 


"Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader" opens December 9 (Phils.) in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. 

check out http://www.facebook.com/20thcenturyfoxphilippines for the movie's upcoming promos.

“VAMPIRES SUCK” IN THEATERS AUGUST 25!

At the heels of the phenomenal vampire tales come “Vampires Suck,” a parody of today’s hit teen flick from the outrageous minds of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (“Date Movie,” “Epic Movie,” "Meet the Spartans").

“Vampires Suck” pools together talented comics headed by Ken Jeong (“Hangover”) with Matt Latner, Jenn Proske and Chris Riggi. The movie bites when Becca (Proske) finds herself in the midst of vampire-human-wolf love triangle, taking her deeper into teen angst and romance as she decides between Edward Sullen (Latner) the vampire and Jacob (Riggi) the werewolf. In the midst of being torn and before she finally decides between Edward and Jacob, Becca must get around her controlling father who manages to embarrass her at all times. Thanks to her set of friends who make her feel normal while contending with their own teen romantic issues headed for a smash in their most awaited prom. 

“Vampires Suck” is a 20th Century Fox film to be distributed by Warner Bros. in Philippine theaters.

check out http://www.facebook.com/20thcenturyfoxphilippines for the movie's upcoming promos.