Yash Raj and Disney join hands for animation films in India

ooff! At last, a June post not featuring Jhoom Barabar Jhoom! I am delighted! Okay, it's about the makers of JBJ.

Yash Raj Films, arguably the biggest money-making "studio" of India has joined hands with one of the biggest studio in Hollywood, Walt Disney Studios. Here's what the press release says:

Yash Raj Films (YRF), India’s premier studio, has entered into an agreement with The Walt Disney Studios, world-renowned leaders in family entertainment, to exclusively create a series of original computer-animated feature films, it was announced today by Yash Chopra, Chairman of YRF, and Dick Cook, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. The collaboration marks the first time for both companies to enter a co-production to produce films in India.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Chopra said, “Yash Raj Films has been at the forefront in live-action feature films for almost four decades. Together with my son Aditya Chopra, we have created our own space with the efforts of a wonderful team – both creative and business – and have had the opportunity of producing films that we believe in – films that entertain a large population, as well as the Indian Diaspora.”

“When YRF decided to venture into the animation space, we felt that an alliance with Disney Studios, the leader in animation, represented the coming together of not just two organizations, but the teaming up of like-minded individuals committed to creating excellent products. Both companies not only have a common quest for excellence but also the same culture and traditions,” added Mr. Chopra.

Mr. Cook said, “We’re thrilled and honoured to be working with Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra and their talented team at YRF to create exceptional animated films in the Indian language that are culturally relevant for the avid movie-going audiences in India and around the world.”

“Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra have proven themselves to be true visionaries and leaders in the Indian entertainment industry and have excelled in everything they have done. Animation is a new and rapidly expanding area in India, and the collaboration between Disney and YRF will bring the very best in story-telling and cutting edge technology together as we make wonderful films that appeal to the entire family,” added Mr. Cook.

This landmark announcement by Yash Chopra and Dick Cook is a first in the field of animation. YRF and Walt Disney Studios will work exclusively to co-produce a series of animation films in the Indian language. Both companies will be equal partners in the venture and will contribute creative, technical and financial support to the project.

Each film under this alliance will be creatively overseen by Aditya Chopra and worked on with an inventive array of leading local talent. The first film to be co-produced in this alliance will be ‘Roadside Romeo’, set to release in 2008. The film will be produced by Aditya Chopra and, written and directed by Jugal Hansraj, and will utilize state-of-the-art computer animation technology done entirely in India.

About Yash Raj Films (YRF)
YRF is the leading player in the Indian film industry and the country’s premier independent Studio conglomerate. The Company’s core lies in the production and distribution of some of the industry’s highest grossing films. With offices also in New York, London, and Dubai, YRF handles the global distribution of its own films as well as films of other leading Indian producers. The Company also has its own music and home entertainment labels, design cell and post-production facilities, internet, digital, merchandising and marketing divisions, as well as in-house units focused on the creation of television software, ad films, and music videos. YRF also has its own state-of-the-art fully integrated Studio, producing an average of 6 films a year, and thus making it an integral part of the entertainment business in India.

About Buena Vista International, Inc.
Buena Vista International, Inc. is the international theatrical distribution arm of The Walt Disney Studios. It is headquartered in Burbank, California with 27 offices worldwide.

About The Walt Disney Company in India
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with four business segments: consumer products, media networks, parks and resorts and studio entertainment. Disney is a Dow 30 company, had annual revenues of nearly $34 billion in its most recent fiscal year, and a market capitalization of approximately $73.8 billion as of May 11, 2007.

And their first film is:
ROADSIDE ROMEO

Synopsis:
A rich, cool, spoilt brat of a dog is abandoned on the wicked streets of Mumbai. He faces situations he has never faced before. He is confronted by dangerous, loony characters, the likes of which he has never met before. From mansions to streets... From five course meals to five courses of scraps... From soft beds to piles of garbage... From champagne to tap water... Hop on to the adventure as Romeo turns into “Roadside Romeo”...

Credit List
Written and Directed by Jugal Hansraj
Produced by Aditya Chopra
Music by Salim-Sulaiman
Lyrics by Jaideep Sahni
Animation Studio – TATA Elxsi (VCL)

Featuring (Voices Of)
Saif Ali Khan
Kareena Kapoor
Jaaved Jaaferi

Duh! Can't they leave the typical Bollywood stereotypes? They can't "HOLLYWOOD-ISE" themselves even when they are going to a COMMENDABLE, UNIQUE field. But, nonetheless, a good effort! Hope it turn great! For the first time, we'll be enjoying stars' voices on the mouths of canines. Let's hope Jugal Hansraj (the Masoom boy, or distinctly Sameer of Mohabbatein and Jignesh of Salaam Namaste)

IMAGE AND TEXT CREDIT: YASH RAJ FILMS (Click on the images to go to original page)

ORIGINAL PAGE

Poll: Does PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3 excite you? Xclusive Videos Here !

The movie from which I expected the most, has proved to be a downer. However, coming out of the melancholy, I observed there are more and more movies this season. But, interestingly, there are all the "threequels" (I don't know who coined this awesome term!) releasing in this May. On 4th there was the above one. 18th was the day for The Green Ogre (SHREK THE THIRD) . I heard that this movie has also declared a dud.

On 24th (In my homeland it's June 1) comes an eagerly awaited (if not most awaited movie) flick of this season, to fulfil my li'l expectations (Hopefully! Only despair has covered me these days). It's (there's no need to name, but have to mention for the sake of it.) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END. The third part of the trilogy. But the name is maybe a pun indicating that it's the final part. Hopefully it is! I don't them to drag on and on. If only it satisfies me.

PIRATES series is actually one of my favourites. For it entertains me big time without being very pretentious. It's foolish but it's fun! I don't expect a CITIZEN KANE or THE SOUND OF MUSIC from every film. There are some films which keep you entertained without getting "TOO MUCH" foolish or having taken audiences for granted. PIRATES are one such example.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL was a great watch. Especially for the awesome visual effects by ILM and rocking acting by one of Hollywood's best present day actors, Johnny Depp. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST had a "shaky" foundation. Nonetheless, the pace, better VFX and obviously the extremely love-able Depp were worth the money. It's a pity that he didn't get an Oscar nomination for DMC whereas he was better than COTBP. Anyways, the very last 10 seconds bowled me over just like DON did. Now I am hungry to know the reason of the resurrection. Hope they don't don't mess it up the Uncle Ben-Sandman style.

However, I don't expect A LOT. But it's my last theatrical hope this summer. So I bring you the exclusive videos of PIRATES 3 on this page. And guess what, it's just a single frame. You can choose any video you wish to see.

Now, I am going to conduct a poll. Answer the following.

• ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THIS MOVIE?
• HOW ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE PIRATES THIS SEASON?
• DO YOU LIKE THE SERIES?
• SHOULD THEY END THE SERIES HERE COMPLETING A TRILOGY?
• DO YOU AGREE WITH ME?
• DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY?

Okay. Enough talking. Now watch this. Click on the VIDEO PLAYSLIST BUTTON TO GET MORE VIDEOS. NOW
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: THE WHOLE OF THE VIDEO IS NOT FITTING HERE DUE TO THE BLOG TEMPLATE SPECIFICATIONS. THIS IS ABOUT HALF OF THE ORIGINAL VIDEO. SO I DECIDED THAT I WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER LINK FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT. I HAD RUN A BLOG WHICH IS OBSOLETE NOW. IT'S IN """"MAXIMUM RESOLUTION HERE"""""

Personal Movie Review: Spider-Man 3 - An Absolutely . . .

This is my first personal review appearing on BUwH. When I t movie of this frachise it didn't make me flabbergated but nonetheless it was a good movie. When I saw the second one, I was completely bowled over by it. Be it the story or screenplay or acting or direction or VFX or everythings........it was a perfect balance. Since then I was a fan of the "friendly neighbourhood". See my previous posts, how aggresively I promoted spidey 3. From June, I used up all my hard disk space collecting HD videos and trailers of SM3. After a tedious yet exciting wait of 3 years, I entered the theater with bated breath. After thye screening was over, I came to a conclusion that it's an ABSOLUTE movie. I tell you why.

*ABSOLUTELY awesome action scenes.
*ABSOLUTE no action thoughout the movie. They come as ABSOLUTE compromise, just for sake of the ABSOLUTE trailer.
*ABSOLUTE nonsense emotions.
*ABSOLUTE useless sobbing.
*ABSOLUTE example of Hollywood copying Bollywood craps.
*ABSOLUTE example of shortage of a proper story.
*ABSOLUTE worst screenplay seen in a long time.
*ABSOLUTELY bad storytelling. Sam! What's that?
*ABSOLUTELY lenghty. It crawls and crawls and leaves a perpetual pain.
*ABSOLUTELY no acting from any of the cast.
*ABSOLUTE action & bad storyline ratio of 1:100
*ABSOLUTE useless scenes.
*The screenplay's so occupied to give importance to each sub-plot, that the sory itself becomes ABSOLUTELY impotent without giving any importance.
*James Franco's teeth are ABSOLUTELY annoying.
*Franco puts an ABSOLUTELY decent performance.
*Just like too much cooks spoil the film each of the 3 villain mars everything ABSOLUTELY.
*ABSOLUTE lack of smartness, failure to infuse humour.
*ABSOLUTELY brilliant J. Jonah Jameson (this man's always....)
*If you sum up all the bad guys and merge into one 100 times over, that doesn't ABSOLUTELY touch a bit of Alfred Molina-played Doc Ock or even GG!

*Thomas Haden Church has only one ABSOLUTE squirming countenance and is ABSOLUTELY abysmal.
*Topher has an ABSOLUTELY decent, not great performance.
*An ABSOLUTE example of bad and plastic CG in form of the black sticky thing.
*ABSOLUTELY badly created role and VFX of Venom.
The number of Sandman plotholes/ goofs is just uncounatble.
*I'm a diehard science student. I don't like anyone tampering with that. Okay, Thomas enters the highly radioactive science zone without a >440 v spark. And a demoleculizer turning sandman? Can't take it anymore. It'd take another couple of posts to explain. So better leave it ABSOLUTELY undiscussed.

**************SPOILERS HERE!*******************
*The symbiant actually comes from a hot burning meteorite, but still ABSOLUTELY dies of the fire in the end.
**************SPOILERS END*******************

*When Flint Marko (Sandman) is in the demoleculizer, everything including his belt buckle turns to sand, but the locket with the picture of his daughter doesn't.
*Tobey is ABSOLUTELY better at dancing than acting.
*About Kirsten, it's ABSOLUTELY the less said the better. Quoting another reviewer, I say, you wish Goblin succeeded killing her in the first part.
*Bryce, though decent, is ABSOLUTELY wasted here.
*Bill Pope (DOP) is the ABSOLUTE star of the film.
*Sound Design may win it an Oscar ABSOLUTELY.
*The climax is the ABSOLUTELY the most contrived sequence ever made.

*Sony should ABSOLUTELY think changing every part of cast and crew.
*If you love Bollywood massacres like DHOOM:2 and KRRISH, you may like it ABSOLUTELY.
*It's the WORST movie in the franchise, albeit a bit above the likes of KRRISH, D:2, SUPERMAN RETURNS, BATMAN BEGINS.
*An ABSOLUTE example of a Hollywood crap being produced under popular demand and super success of the prequels. You may know that the release date 5/4/7 was set before the release of 2. So they made it somehow without a thought and respect for Spidey fans like me.
*update: Some dialogues are actually lifted from this film.

To sum up, an ABSOLUTE DISAPPOINTMENT.

If you really love the makers of the film and yourself too, do yourself a favour. Buy a SPIDER-MAN 2 special edition DVD than to watch this. I'd do that. Though some jug head thinks it's better than 2. You can also buy SRK starrer DON, which has better storyline and action.

Bollywood Unlimited Rating
Letter Grade: C-
Stars: * * * * ½ ½ * * * * * (4.5/10)

Wait for a television premiere in case you haven't seen it.

did you like or dislike the film or my review? tell me and give your ratings to the film and the review.

"SPIDER-MAN 3" Creates HIstory; Sets World Box-Office Afire . . . . . . . . . .

Very good news for all Spidey fans!! It was expected! The box-office result of Spider-Man 3 is out. That too for 1 day!

It's broken the all time opening day record.

Spider-Man 3 cast the widest web ever—over 10,000 screens at 4,252 theaters—and nabbed the all-time biggest gross for a single day: an estimated $59 million on Friday.

The previous title holder, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, drew $55.8 million on 8,500 screens at 4,133 theaters, contributing to a record-breaking $135.6 million weekend last July.

Distributor Sony projected Saturday morning that Spider-Man 3 would generate from $135 million to $145 million for the weekend (Friday to Sunday). The studio claimed a $258 million production budget for the Marvel Comics sequel, compared to $200 million for Spider-Man 2 and $139 million for Spider-Man.

By shattering the opening day record, Spider-Man 3 followed the path of the first two movies in the franchise as Spider-Man's $39.4 million and Spider-Man 2's $40.4 million set new benchmarks. Adjusted for ticket price inflation, those days would equal around $45 million and $43 million, respectively.

Additionally, Spider-Man 3 raked in $45 million overseas on Friday. Combined with domestic's $59 million, the sequel pulled in $104 million worldwide, the highest-grossing day ever for a single picture.

Eventually, in India too, where *only* Bollywood films reign, it has surpassed all its Hindi competitors. It has taken the best start of the year in India. It's opening rangeg from 90% - 100 %. No film this year (or any foreign language film ever) has done it before.

Spider-Man 3 Production Video: Aaron Lam discusses the film . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aaron Lam is an assistant of director Sam Raimi in Spider-Man 3. In this video he describes his role in production of the film. He also does a cameo in this film. He teases Peter Parker aka Spider-Man in physics classroom, regarding Gwen Stacy (Bryce Howard).

Tell me how do you like it!

Here too! http://spider-man-3-film.blogspot.com/2007/05/spider-man-3-production-video-aaron-lam.html


Origin

Spider-Man 3 Production Video: Costumes of Spidey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The release of the most anticipated movie this season is 5 days away (why???, someone give me a time machine!!!). Well, we are always dazzled and enthralled by the excellent looks of our very own superhero Spider-Man. His red-blue color costumes transports us into the world we can never dream of. So the credit goes to the people who work day and night for our visual treat.


In this video, we see how the suits are created. It's truly unbelievable to see how much effort they put forth. Watch this: just to create the web on the costumes they create a back liquid stuff and pour it into the layout and polishing...........it's beyond my reach. I am flabbergasted. In this video, head speciality costumer Shownee Smith and his team demonstrate everything.

Waiting!!!!!!!

Get it here too! http://spider-man-3-film.blogspot.com/2007/04/spider-man-3-production-video-costumes.html

Origin

More videos of SPIDER-MAN 3 Tokyo Premiere ....................................................

Barely two days ago, we posted some exotic videos of Tokyo Premier (Links: 1, 2). Now we are bringing you some other fantabulous videos from the mid-April premiere of Sony costliest production, SPIDER-MAN 3. This page has a number of cool videos:

1. Kirsten Dunst talks about working with the Spider-Man movie team
   
2. Producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad talk about the World Premiere in Tokyo
   
3. Producer Grant Curtis on his cameo appearance in Spider-Man 3
   
4. James Franco on Harry Osborne's intentions in Spider-Man 3
   
5. Rosemary Harris is ready for some stunt work

The videos are accessible here: http://www.spidermanmovieblog.com/archives/2007/04/more_tokyo_premiere_video.php

You can also get it here: http://spider-man-3-film.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-videos-of-spider-man-3-tokyo.html

Watch videos of Japan premiere of Spider-Man 3 .............................................

Well as we all know, SPIDER-MAN 3 was screened for the very first time in Tokyo, Japan. The cast and the filmmakers assembled there at the premiere. A person dressed in SPIDEY suits (red-blue) entertained the viewers greatly. There are four videos at the page:

1. Spider-Man swings by the World Premiere in Tokyo
2. Tobey Maguire talks about what to look forward to in Spider-Man 3
3. Sam Raimi reacts to the Japanese fans at the World Premiere in Tokyo
4. Topher Grace and Thomas Hayden Church discuss what's different with Spider-Man 3

The videos are very cool. The link is here: http://www.spidermanmovieblog.com/archives/2007/04/tokyo_premiere.php

Just can't wait!

also availabe here: http://spider-man-3-film.blogspot.com/2007/04/watch-sm3-tokyo-premiere-videos.html

(note: the photo is strictly for informational purpose and not for commercial purpose)

Featuring SPIDER-MAN 3 on BU ....................................................................

Well the hottest movie this season is arriving. That's SPIDER-MAN 3. A production by Columbia Pictures this film is the third part of SPIDER-MAN franchise. We have a sister blog regarding SM3. From now on, we will regularly post updates on SM3 on both the blogs. The previous films were money-spinner blockbusters. They took in about $ 2 billion (including merchandise, DVD sales etc). This film has 3 villains, including venom. So it's really exciting.
15 more days! Can't resist!!!!!!!

BOLLYWOOD UNLIMITED GOES HOLLYWOOD ......................................................................

There's a great news for BU visitors as they will be able to find out information on HOLLYWOOD too. We are a part of a global village, right? We will bring here Hollywood movies, flashbacks, retrospectives, box-office, reviews and lot more!

So get ready to sway with the waves of newly-formed BOLLYWOOD-UNLIMITED.

PENGUINS: A LOVE STORY - External Movie Review

I also promised to post this review. Original Link.

You may remember some months ago on Now Showing, I'd recommended the Morgan Freeman-voiced documentary March of the Penguins. That film was released theatrically in the US two years ago and even the DVD has been out for over a year. But this week at our multiplexes across the country, two new versions of the same film have been released theatrically — an English version titled Penguins, A Love Story, and a Hindi version called Penguins, Ek Prem Kahani, both narrated by Amitabh Bachchan.

Now the film itself was originally shot by a team of French documentarians in Antartica, and it's really a tale of love and survival. It's the heart-warming story of the long and arduous journey that penguins undertake every winter for the survival of their young ones. Who would have thought penguins would make such a fascinating subject for a film? But they do, and their story is filled with drama and pathos and nobility and honour. As far as the narration is concerned, I can't seem to understand why they'd release a new English version considering the one voiced by Morgan Freeman was just perfect.

I suspect the idea behind roping in Amitabh Bachchan to voice both the Indian versions was to generate curiosity among those who wouldn't watch a documentary film normally. It that's the case, I guess it makes sense. Now I saw the English version Penguins, A Love Story and in all honesty I have to say I preferred the Morgan Freeman version over this one, and there's only one reason for that — I feel they haven't fully exploited Bachchan's voice.

Where's the modulation, where's the touch of humour and wit which is what makes the Morgan Freeman version so engaging? Anyway, having said that let me confess that while the narration does play an important role in the film's overall impact, the story itself is so dramatic and so moving that it wins your hear instantly. For every single one of you who hasn't watched March of the Penguins, don't miss this opportunity, go to the cinema and watch one of the two Indian versions, it's a film you will thoroughly enjoy. That's three out of five and a thumbs up for Penguins, A Love Story, please don't miss it.

Rating: * * * (3/5) [good]

(Note: Text and image have been used only for informational purpose, not for any commercial purpose)