When the Star Trek Into Darkness marketing campaign began in earnest late last year with a much-discussed teaser trailer, the debate was all about the villain: Benedict Cumberbatch’s icy voiceover and acrobatic evildoing led to lots of theorizing that his mysterious character was Khan , Robert April and other Star Trek canon creeps . Four months later, with the release of the J.J. Abrams -directed film a little over a month away, a TV clip that debuted on Sunday continued to shift the spotlight from bad guy to good: Captain James T. Kirk. Actually, the transition began with the Star Trek Into Darkness international trailer that hit the web in late March. Although Cumberbatch’s character is prominent (and vicious) in the clip, Chris Pine’s Kirk emerges as the guy who’s going to break a lot of rules and sacrifice however many Starship Enterprise extras he needs to top Benny’s reign of terror. You can watch the transition via the embeds below: First Teaser Trailer Star Trek International Trailer The latest TV Clip: The key dialogue in that last clip begins with Kirk’s superior officer Christopher Pike ( Bruce Greenwood ) telling him: “Do you have any idea what a pain in the ass you are?” then, later, adding: “But there’s greatness in you, Jim.” Okay, so it’s no surprise that the central conflict of STID is Kirk vs. Cumberbatch. Rather, it’s…marketing. As the clock ticks down to STID ‘s release date, it’s a way of preparing moviegoers who aren’t Star Trek geeks for what to expect at their local cineplex come May 16. What remains to be seen is whether future clips will put the emphasis on any other supporting characters, such as Spock , in the weeks to come. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Now that’s what you call good publicity! Tom Hanks of all people dropped an F-bomb on Good Morning America this morning (video below!), shocking GMA host Elizabeth Vargas and putting the epic, arty Cloud Atlas on the map with those four little letters. Well done! If I had to wager I’d place Hanks as one of Hollywood’s top three most beloved stars, so I’m 99% sure our glorious nation of moralistic, upstanding, non-swearing citizens forgave him on the spot when he subsequently cranked up that Hanks charm and apologized “to the kids of America that are watching this right now.” Yes, all of those GMA-watching youngsters, Tom. To be fair Vargas pressed Hanks into doing his Cloud Atlas Cockney accent, which makes his Cloud Atlas pidgin English accent sound like Shakespeare. Hanks even protested a bit, explaining that his British voice consists pretty much only of foul language. But no matter: LIZ VARGAS WANTED THE VOICE! If you ask me, Hanks’s f***in’ slip up was a great happy accident, the perfect stunt for getting the masses interested in the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer ‘s massively ambitious film . ” Tom Hanks plays multiple characters? And he swears?? Sign me up, honey! ” Etc. etc. Watch it on YouTube . (via Mediaite ) Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Finally , the Scary Movie franchise is living up to its waning reputation as the classiest WTF-iest of the lowest common denominator spoof-offs, as The New York Post reveals : “‘ Charlie [Sheen] and Lindsay [Lohan] filmed a love scene,’ said a spy. ‘The scene they were shooting for the movie was of them in bed together’… We hear the Scary script called for Lohan to kiss Sheen, and also to slip into a kinky collar.” Making out with Charlie Sheen! Just another thing Amanda Bynes hasn’t had to do . (Yet.) [ NY Post via WetPaint ]
Screenwriter Scott Stabile has read the pans and box office bomb reports and anti- Oogieloves screeds, and yet ! He’s got nothing but (Oogie)love for even his harshest critics: “As all of us adults know, we live in a tense and troubled world. Young kids will be exposed to plenty of real-life scares and violence on TV, in video games, on the computer and in daily life. Why do we have to expose preschoolers to anything but innocence and love in a 90-minute movie? Why isn’t it enough to show a gentle world where people are kind and help one another, in hopes that young kids mimic those sentiments over fighting and jealousy and revenge?” [Scott Stabile via Oogieloves on Facebook ]
Oh, those Oogieloves — even a record-setting, all-time low worst box office opening of all time can’t keep ’em down. At least, according to Oogieloves mastermind Kenn Viselman, who managed to spin the G-rated kiddie pic’s abysmal $448,131 three-day take (that’s roughly $207 per screen) into something positive. Debuting to shockingly low $47-per-screen results on Wednesday, Oogieloves was headed for the wrong kind of notoriety even as business picked up ever so slightly over the long holiday weekend; by Labor Day, numbers across its 2,160-theater opening had risen to $72 per screen. Improvement! Speaking with The Wrap on Monday, Viselman, who boasted of turning the Teletubbies into a phenomenon and opened Oogieloves in wide release under his own Kenn Viselman Productions banner, embraced the silver lining: This was never about box office,” Viselman told TheWrap Monday morning. “It was about exposure. We’ve now got the notoriety we were trying to get for weeks before the film opened,” he said. He said that a financing glitch weeks before the release hurt the marketing of the film. “I won’t say we’re not disappointed, for our team and for the exhibitors who both did a great job,” he said. “But this wasn’t made to win the Academy Award — it was made to get parents to get up and dance with their kids. I know from talking with parents who did take their kids to see it, that they loved it. “The attention we’re getting as a result of this is going to help our video on demand and DVD campaigns,” he said, “and it’s going to help the next films, whether they’re theatrical releases or video.” Next films . Ahem. The “interactive” children’s adventure involves three giant candy-colored creatures called the Oogieloves trying to find five magical balloons in time for their friend’s birthday party. Along the way they cross paths with a veritable buffet of C-listers (Chazz Palminteri, Jamie Pressly, Cloris Leachman, Cary Elwes, Christopher Lloyd, Toni Braxton) who sing and dance and encourage the kids in the audience to follow suit. It’s worth noting that in spite of the plot and box office response, Oogieloves did garner some critical support. Over at Rotten Tomatoes it boasts a 32 percent Tomatometer rating; one parenting-oriented publication called it ” enthralling for preschoolers .” My friend Nick Robinson took the liberty of Tweeting his Oogieloves theatrical experience yesterday in a mostly empty theater — if singing and shouting and dancing and blowing kisses at the screen is encouraged in Oogieloves , why not live-Tweeting? If you’re not among the target demographic of parents enduring talking vacuums and Doc Brown in a sombrero for the sake of their toddlers, this might give you the best idea of what it means to live through Oogieloves : From a narrative perspective the movie is troubled because it has failed to establish why the balloons are magical. #OOGIELOVES — Nick Robinson (@Nickrob) September 04, 2012 The vacuum cleaner is mad that the #OOGIELOVES drank milkshakes and he made sure the pillow was asleep so he could flirt w/ the window.— Nick Robinson (@Nickrob) September 04, 2012 I don't even like Cary Elwes that much but I feel bad for him as a human being. #OOGIELOVES — Nick Robinson (@Nickrob) September 04, 2012 The balloons sang a song and then they set the movie up for a sequel. #OOGIELOVES — Nick Robinson (@Nickrob) September 04, 2012 THE OTHER PEOPLE JUST WALKED OUT!!!!!!!!!! #OOGIELOVES it's not Over— Nick Robinson (@Nickrob) September 04, 2012 Reward Robinson for doing this so you don’t have to by following him on Twitter . And can we all have a moment of silence for poor Cary Elwes? Here’s a clip of him in Oogieloves as “Bobby Wobbly.” It’s worse than I’d feared . Previously: So, WTF Is An Oogieloves, Anyway? Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Kicking off a media blitz of post-scandal promotion for David Cronenberg ‘s Cosmopolis , Robert Pattinson taped his first one-on-one interview with Jon Stewart tonight, hit the film’s NYC premiere, and is slated to appear Tuesday at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the Opening Bell . Folks familiar with the Don DeLillo book on which Cosmopolis is based, however, know that having financial prodigy/bored billionaire Eric Packer at the controls of America’s financial infrastructure would be, in fact, a terrible idea. But anyway! RPattz alert! Pattinson stars as Packer in Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis , which opens Friday in limited release and should prove an even more fascinating career milestone for the Twilight idol then previously thought, given girlfriend Kristen Stewart’s headline-grabbing dalliance with Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. Pattinson’s media tour, after weeks of hiding out in relative seclusion, also heralds his most thematically-ambitious, challenging project to date and will redefine how many mainstream critics and audiences perceive him. The RPattz tour began tonight at the film’s premiere in New York (see above picture of Pattinson in appropriate “I Will Survive” outfit) with an appearance on The Daily Show , which according to Tweets from folks in the audience like devoted Pattinson blogger @ tinkrbe1l3 , does cover the Stewart betrayal: There was a Freudian slip. I don't think Rob meant to say “it does” so quickly when Jon said something about these things ending ur world.— Tinker Bell (@tinkrbe1l3) August 13, 2012 Tomorrow morning at 9:30 am, Pattinson and Cronenberg will ring the NYSE bell, followed by a visit to Good Morning America and New York Times chat on Wednesday and a massive 30-minute sit-down with MTV on Thursday. In any case, it’s all good publicity for The Cronenberg, right? Middle America and the Twilight faithful, get ready to see RPattz like never before. You really probably are not at all ready for this jelly. Cosmopolis Synopsis: From director David Cronenberg (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, DEAD RINGERS, THE FLY, EASTERN PROMISES) and based on the prophetic novel by Don DeLillo, comes COSMOPOLIS, a contemporary thriller that turns into a wild, hypnotic odyssey through our new millennium’s obsessions with power, money, control, information, technology, violence, sex, mortality, revolution, destruction and ultimately, redemption. Unfolding in a single cataclysmic day, the story follows Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson) – a 28-year old financial whiz kid and billionaire asset manager – as he heads out in his tricked-out stretch limo to get a haircut from his father’s old barber, while remotely wagering his company’s massive fortune on a bet against the Chinese Yuan. Packer’s luxe trip across the city quickly becomes dizzyingly hellish as he encounters explosive city riots, a parade of provocative visitors, and is thrust into a myriad of intimate encounters. Having started the day with everything, believing he is the future, Packer’s perfectly ordered, doubt-free world is about to implode. Produced by Paulo Branco and Martin Katz, COSMOPOLIS also stars Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon, Mathieu Amalric, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand, K’Naan, Emily Hampshire with Samantha Morton and Paul Giamatti. COSMOPOLIS will be opening in New York at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center on August 17th. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Summertime is blockbuster season, and with it comes the usual onslaught of promotional tie-ins. Naturally, The Amazing Spider-Man has generated its share of interesting merchandising partners. However, with great products come great risibility, and with over ninety promotional partners it was inevitable that some of the marketing would miss the mark. From odd adult eyewear to a line of cosmetics, take your pick of the items that failed in the goal to get your spending-sense tingling. Promotional Partners in Crime In this new era, with all the kids living on the inter-tubes, the concept of keeping the details of your film a secret is a dwindling enterprise. Directors endeavor to preserve the crucial plot points of their film, hoping those details can remain veiled with closed sets, limited script releases, performers signing non-disclosure agreements, and all manner of clandestine control of their intellectual property. That is why it becomes amusing when all these efforts become unraveled by unintentional reveals by the companies licensed to sell branded merchandise. (Obligatory spoiler-alert!) Up until last December the visuals of The Amazing Spider-Man ’s villain – The Lizard – had been a closely guarded secret. That is, up until a certain confection company released promotional materials for retailers. Suddenly the web was abuzz because everyone had a sense of how he would appear – courtesy of The Lizard Pez dispenser. A few months later key plot spoilers were discovered when construction-toy maker Mega Bloks released their tie-in play sets at an annual toy fair. Fanboys began drooling over the fact that key moments of the film were rendered via injection-mold plastic. One involved a mechanical battle frame Rhys Ivans would use to combat our hero, while another diorama exposed a battle at an underground laboratory. Yet another play set shows a climactic battle that ensues atop the Oscorp Tower. The addition of what were described as “S.W.A.T. Team Lizard” action figures tipped the hand of yet another plot detail. If you want to learn the details of upcoming films, go to aisle 8 at Toys-R-Us! “Ate” Legged Freaks Common among summertime blockbusters are the food tie-ins, and Peter Parker does not disappoint here. Kelloggs and Keebler together have forged a shopping cart full of products, from a disturbing-looking cereal to Cheese-It crackers to fruit snacks. The Spidey-branded Rice Krispy Treats not only get spider graphics on the box and wrappers, they’re comprised of industrially-dyed red pieces. These, I suppose are emblematic of the color associated with our hero. The end result is something… different ; the unwrapped product takes on more of a viral appearance that seems to make it more appropriate for a film like Contagion . Twizzlers candy has also joined the fray, using their licorice as more than a supplemental confection: They’re selling it as a key component in the Spidey universe. The eponymous hero is shown crouched on a web made of the candy, and even the film’s logo is rendered in red licorice. Better still is the corporate explanation, which tells us in a press release just how perfect Twizzlers complements the Spider-Man moviegoing experience: “Twizzlers Twisted Web! From the candy’s signature red color to its web-like characteristics, our iconic Twizzlers Twists are the perfect complement to sweeten fans’ movie experience.” That’s something for fans to bear in mind as they are about to breeze past the concession stand. And you thought deciding whether to see this in 3-D was going to be the big decision. Surprising among the numerous promo partners is that the fast food licensing rights went to the lesser franchise Carl’s Jr. (Burger King carries those rights in most Latin America markets). Now, before stampeding to a local burger joint for a collector cup there’s something to bear in mind. On July 4 the Carl’s Jr. restaurants offered their “Spider-Man Eats Free” promotion. This actually means that anyone arriving at the restaurant decked out in full Spider-Man attire in theory received a free Amazing Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger. To get a sense of who might show up, behold what the company envisions for its own lobbies. Across the Pacific we find our favorite niche territory marketing partner Jolibee has teamed up with Spidey. The Phillipine chicken magnate has once again offered up a collectors bird bucket – filled with its signature “Chickenjoy” – decorated in heroic graphics. Jollibee also offers a number of toy food promotions with our webbed hero, one of which makes me pause; the Spidey ring-toss toy has a rather curious design. Now, a better person may avoid mentioning this appears to display rectal violation of the web slinger, but amazingly I’m not better than that. Nor am I above noting how he seems to be enjoying things in this particular pose. Better to simply move on. Roll Your Eyes-Play It goes without saying that there are a crap-ton of toys associated with any given superhero film. One of the talked-about aspects of this reboot helps the kids out: In years past the tots had to contend with clunky web delivery contraptions to replicate the physiological spinnerets displayed in the previous three efforts. Now, even as the toys have not gotten better, Marc Webb ’s Spider-Man has Peter Parker employing a mechanical web shooter means the kids will have a much easier time getting their Andrew Garfield on. Variations in design involve these toys launching various media, from twine to rubberized webs, to water. Parents will especially cherish the “Silly String” version, which can stain household fabrics and requires rapid replacement of the “web fluid.” Among the action figures there’s one particular curiosity. Remember the scene in The Amazing Spider-Man where Spider-Man had to take to his dune buggy to battle an evil scourge? Of course you don’t remember, because nowhere in the franchise, nor the comic pantheon, does Spidey EVER get behind the wheel of such a conveyance. Despite that reality, your kids can relive the moment which never occurred. About the closest you can arrive to this object making any sense would possibly involve some random scene involving The Sandman from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 – and that is a monumental stretch. Why? Cos(play) You Can When you imagine the entire realm of the Spider-Man universe I’m certain the first thing to come to mind is an array of colored finger nail polishes. Cosmetic manufacturer OPI has released a line of lacquer colors in conjunction with the film. The hues range across the spectrum, with names that evoke the film. Number One Nemesis, Just Spotted the Lizard, Call Me Gwen-Ever, Into The Night, Your Web Or Mine, Shatter The Scales, and My Boyfriend Scales Walls. The last one, for the record, is white. All of them, for the record, make little to no sense. Footwear tie-ins for the kids are another commonality in comic book-based releases. The Amazing Spider-Man has generated quite a few different designs, but the most arresting has to arrive courtesy of Striderite. Not only does the design resemble the famed mask, but with each step the eyes flash. As the company states, “Your little super hero will feel like the real deal with light-up powers.” It’s a little difficult to gather, however, just how Spider-Man is particularly connected with the power of light. Clearly someone did their homework. So let’s say you’re near a group of shrieking 6-year-old harridans and they are all sporting shoes that strobe. The retinal damage one may incur is a potential threat, but you can ward off those rays from their Spidey shoes with this functional and entirely sane-looking set of Spider-Man glasses. Sure, you may run the risk of getting kicked out of the Chuck E. Cheese if caught wearing these, but let’s be honest here; you probably deserve it. Brad Slager has written about movies and entertainment for Film Threat , Mediaite , and is a columnist at CHUD.com . His less insightful impressions on entertainment can be found on Twitter .
It’s been nearly two and a half years since word first came of Kevin Spacey heading off to China, where the Oscar winner and noted cell-phone critic would become the first major star to lead a fully Chinese-funded production. That production, Inseparable , finally has a teaser on the Web, and it’s… interesting . The given tagline — “A young man with problems at home and work befriends his odd neighbor” — is vague enough, but nothing quite prepares you for the last shot… …unless you happen to have previously had a look at the new posters. Thoughts, anyone? Ha! Trick question — your head exploded. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
“We have relationships with a number of companies so that we can make this movie. The simple fact is that, without them, we couldn’t do it. It’s unfortunate but that’s how it is. This movie costs a lot of money to make, it costs as nearly as much again if not more to promote, so we go where we can. The great thing is that Bond is a drinker, he always has been, it’s part of who he is, rightly or wrongly, you can make your own judgment about it, having a beer is no bad thing, in the movie it just happens to be Heineken.” Somewhere in Hell, Frank Booth weeps . (Link NSFW, obvs.) [ Moviefone via NYT ]
The Farrelly Brothers’ Three Stooges flick is pratfalling into theaters Friday, so naturally stars Will Sasso, Sean Hayes, and Chris Diamantopolous bounced into the ring Monday night on WWE Raw to bring Stooge awareness to the world of wrestling. ENTV has all the choice details and footage from the historic meeting of WWE and Larry, Curly, and Moe — for which Sasso-as-Curly donned full Hulkamania gear before getting chokeslammed by Kane. ( Kane, my new hero !) Well, at least this stunt was at least marginally less painful (for me, not so much for Curly) than that ill-advised medical spoof video for Stoogesta. Actually, it’s the single most satisfying bit of Three Stooges marketing material I’ve seen so far. Agree/disagree? [via ENTV ]
