CinemaCon Day Four and Final Finishes with Paramount Pictures and Disney Offerings

Jeri Jacquin

The final day is here in what has been a four-day movie lovers dream of what is to come in theatres, what studios are celebrating and some pretty cool stars to show us the way. The morning begins with Paramount Pictures and gladiators making absolutely sure we know what is coming.

One of the films I am so looking forward, as writer/director John Krasinski shows up on the big screen to introduce it, is the movie IF. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming, the story of imaginary friends is one we are all going to relate to as adults and thrilled to share with the kids. President and CEO of Paramount Brian Robbins announces they have deals with Krasinski and Reynolds and I think that’s a smart move!

Scarlett Johansson makes her on screen appearance to talk about the film TRANSFORMERS ONE. This is an origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron based on Cybertron that is the home of both Autobots and Decepticons. She welcomes Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron to the group. The film is directed by Josh Cooley.

A new Smurfs Movie is coming with James Corden, Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris, Sandra Oh and Kurt Russell. The lovely Rihanna is providing the songs for the film which should be a lot of fun. There is more Airbender news as there will be a trilogy starting with Aang: The Last Airbender. SpongeBob and the gang are back with (a very long title) The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants with Clancy Brown and Brian Doyle-Murray.  

A QUIET PLACE: Day One is the third in In John Krasinski’s vision, along with writer/director Michael Sarnoski and Bryan Woods, of the world invaded by creatures. Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn bring in a new trailer in this telling of what happened on the very first day when the world went quiet. The tag line of Hear How It All Began is very smart.

One of my family’s favorite video games is Sonic the Hedgehog, so you can imagine our thrill when in 2020, a film of the same name was released and we got to see our blue hero come to life and take on Dr. Robotnik. Two years later, Sonic is back with new friends Knuckles and Tails to once again take on the bad doctor. It is no surprise that SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is wrapped and ready! If you’re looking for something a big more, well, frightening, then SMILE 2 should bright up the day. Director Parker Finn has taken it on and we can all be smiling, or not, in October.  

Ridley Scott joins the audience from the big (and I mean big) screen to introduce footage to GLADIATOR II. The film tells the story of Lucius, played by Paul Mescal, and his life after the death of Maximus. The film also stars Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen just to name a few. It’s going to be absolutely epic.

In development and news at Paramount is a Star Trek origins film, Edgar Wright is working on THE RUNNING MAN with Glen Powell (who seems to be everywhere), the inevitable is here with a GI JOE and TRANSFORMERS crossover, the LAST RONIN, a musical coming from the South Park and Book of Mormon team (oh lawd help us all!), and another SCARY MOVIE film. Also, one of my all-time favorite films by Christopher Nolan is the 10-year anniversary release of INTERSTELLAR. The release will have both 70mm and IMAX releases and I’m going to see them both!

The final presentation comes from the Disney Studio with a cheerful and informative reminder about cell phone (okay so it wasn’t so cheerful and informative is subjective) from Deadpool & Wolverine. To talk about what the studios of Disney, Walt Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Searchlight and 20^th Century Studios are offering up is Alan Bergman, Co-Chair of Disney Entertainment.

In development are more of the AVATAR, AVENGERS, STAR WARS, TOY STORY and FROZEN franchises. To give audiences a peek that include a bunch of apes, as KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES will be released this year in IMAX. Jerry Bruckheimer is the producer of Daisy Ridley’s next film YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA which is the tale of Trudy Ederle who swam across the English Channel. INSIDE OUT 2 gives the audience exactly what it wants, Amy Poehler referring to CinemaCon as “the coolest of all the Cons” and a look at the film.

Representing Marvel Studios is Kevin Feige who brings the slate of films to come, Florence Pugh “screen times” from the THUNDERBOLTS set, and Anthony Mackie brings a bit of CAPTAIN AMERICA: Brave New World. Writer/director Shawn Levy promises a “spoilerish-free” look at DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. The next in the line of alien’s films is ALIEN: Romulus and a message from Fede Alvarez. The story is a group of space colonizers scavenge in the wrong place, well, we know what’s going to happen.

From Searchlight, writer/director Jesse Eisenberg is a film about cousins who tour Poland is the film A REAL PAIN. When a career woman decides to stay home, it turns into the film NIGHTBITCH starring Amy Adams. Finally, from Searchlight, Emma Stone, Jesse Plemmons and Willem Dafoe star in KINDS OF KINDNESS. Twentieth Century Studios brings THE AMATEUR starring Rami Malek in the action thriller.

Disney brings a beloved story deeper into the telling as director Barry Jenkins talks about MUFASA: The Lion King. Now that Simba is the king of the Pride Lands, he wants to make sure his son knows the way to lead learning about Mufasa’s journey.

Who better to introduce MOANA 2 than Maui himself, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He believes that the film is “so much deeper than a movie to me”. He is also given the NATO Spirit of the Industry Award for “his commitment to the theatrical experience”. Mitch Neuhauser says of Johnson, “No one exemplifies a commitment to the theatrical experience more than Dwayne Johnson. He has attended CinemaCon more than any other creative person, which speaks volumes when it comes to his support of the global exhibition community, and we are thrilled he is here today to accept the Spirit of the Industry Award.”

To end this year’s CinemaCon event is the 2024 BIG SCREEN ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS with Kevin Frazier hosting. This year’s winners are:

STAR OF THE YEAR

Lupita Nyong’o

CINEMACON VANGUARD AWARD

Amy Poehler

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Shawn Levy

BREAKTHROUGH PPERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Joseph Quinn

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN ACTING

Dan Stevens

RISING STAR OF 2024

Ariana Greenblatt

VIOLA DAVIS TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Geena Davis

CINEMA ICON AWARD

Dennis Quaid

Congratulations and well-deserved to all and see you next year at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas!

Disney+ Rolls Out its First Hit with THE MANDALORIAN

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on the new streaming service Disney+ from characters based on George Lucas’ STAR WARS and creator Jon Favreau is a continuing story in the galaxy far, far away with THE MANDALORIAN.

It has been five years since the Galactic Empire’s defeat and life has gone on. For a Mandalorian bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) it means working hard for very little. When the need for a hunter slows down, there is one job that needs doing and Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) offers it up with what seems a veil of mystery.

 

The job is to go to Arvala-7 and find the bounty who happens to be fifty years old. Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) makes it very clear that the bounty be brought back alive. The Mandalorian doesn’t seem to care in the slightest as long as he can change a bar of Beskar into armorer.

Crashing onto Arvala-7, the Mandalorian is attacked by large creatures called Blurgg’s and is saved by Kuiil (Nick Nolte) who wants only one thing in return. Kuill wants those who have invaded his planet to be removed so peace will return, oh, and the Blurgg! Taking him to the place where bounty hunters have gone previously, a quick showdown ensues with the help of a IG-11 droid. Finding the bounty, The Mandalorian isn’t going to let anyone get near him.

A fifty year old infant is now in his hands but there are other mercenaries who want the kid. Trying to get away quickly, The Mandalorian discovers his ship has been stripped down by Jawas. Kuiil knows how to get it all back and with his help, plus a trip to get an egg, provides the parts to get off the ground again.

Pascal as The Mandalorian has already thrilled audiences in only two episodes. There is a mystery behind the helmet that he (so far) hasn’t made an attempt to remove. This character obviously has a story to tell about his people, the Beskar, how he became a bounty hunter and why he is keeping his bounty safer than expected. Pascal seemed to have a steep road ahead of him but I’m thinking it’s leveled off a lot more since the first episode. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Weather as Greef is a business man and his business is bounties. It is clear he has no problem stiffing The Mandalorian for his work but I always say what goes around comes around so Greef better be prepared. Nice to see Weathers again! Abhati as Dr. Pershing has me creeped out in that he is going to be the guy who wants to do things that is going to upset everyone. Nothing wrong with playing a bad guy as long as you do it extremely well.

Nolte as Kuiil is a character that has a lot of emotions but keeps them in check. Then again if Nick Nolte says, “I have spoken” you tend to believe him. I am hoping that we see more of this character because he certainly has something to offer.

Other cast include Werner Herzog as The Client, Taika Waititi as IG-11, Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon with Horatio Sanz as Mythrol, Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand, and Julia Jones as Omera.

It was announced in 2018 that Jon Favreau would serve as a writer and executive producer of the series. Adding to that list is Dave Filoni, Colin Wilson, and Kathleen Kennedy to complete the producers list. When it comes to directors the line includes Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa and Deborah Chow.

With that line up and the success of Disney+ and only two episodes airing to a hungry Star Wars audience, it is no surprise that the green light has been given to the second season. To be honest I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about the film having been disappointed by a few films in the Star Wars franchise.

That being said, by the end of the first episode I was squealing with delight and thrilled that the second episode wasn’t so far behind. Telling anyone who will listen to watch THE MANDALORIAN immediately is probably wearing my friends out. It’s true though, this is going to be a series that has such potential and the main reason is that it feels like Star Wars, and that above all is what will keep me coming back each week.

This is out of the park for Disney+ in that they have everything Star Wars on their streaming service so while I’m introducing my granddaughter to the Star Wars saga, I can enjoy the continuation of that world. Mainly because the kid in me is totally geeking out over THE MANDALORIAN!

Thanks Disney+!

SOLO: A Star Wars Story

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theaters this week from director Ron Howard and Walt Disney Studios comes the story of a scruffy-looking-nerf-herder in SOLO: A Star Wars Story.

On Coreillia, a young Han (Alden Ehrenreich) is trying to get away from the miserable and abusive life on the planet. Wanting to bring the girl who has his heart Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke), he devises a plan that will test his piloting skills. Mere steps from the transport that will take them away, they are spotted and Qi’ra pushes Han to leave without her. Pledging that he will return for her, there is only one thing he can do to make that happen and immediately joins the Imperial Navy who give him the name Han Solo.

Several years go by and Han still is having a difficult time. Kicked out of the Imperial Flight Academy, he ends up on Mimban fighting in a battle as an infantryman. That’s when Han notices Imperial Officer Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and Val (Thandie Newton) and follows him to discover that he is actually an imposter but not before Tobias has him arrested and thrown in a pit where he meets Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo).

Managing to escape from prison, Han and Chewbacca make their way back to Tobias who sees potential and brings them aboard his ship. Getting help with his next job, Han learns that the leader of the Crimson Dawn, Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany), is expecting a shipment of something called coaxium and Tobias is going after it. The problem is there is someone else interested in doing the same thing which puts Tobias, Han and Chewbacca in danger.

The meeting with Vos is not something Tobias is looking forward to but Han is shocked to see Qi’ra there all grown up and Vos’ right hand woman. Feeling that their lives are in danger, it is Han who says that they can steal unprocessed coaxium from the mines on Kessel. Agreeing to the plan, Vos also sends Qi’ra with them and she locates smugger Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). In a game of poker brings them all aboard the Millennium Falcon to Kessel and once they get their bounty they have little time to get the unstable coaxium back to Vos.

But they is also the Cloud Riders led by Enftys Nest as the group learns that they are only trying to make a difference by aiding the rebellion against the Empire. When they arrive to delivery to Vos, he informs them that he knows what they’ve been doing and how he knows shocks Han and Chewbacca. Now Han must deal with the traitor, save a friend and make things right for the Cloud Riders – and he will definitely make sure all scores are settled.

Ehrenreich as Solo does a fine job as the young Solo. He has the look of someone who doesn’t take orders well and isn’t about to be told what to do, that’s important. He throws out the arrogant confidence and silly charm that I’d expect from Han Solo. That being said there is something not quite right – oh yes, it isn’t Harrison Ford. Look, I get that it’s hard to walk in on a role that has been made iconic by another actor, in fact I give Ehrenreich props for doing it, but I can’t make the leap in years between this young Han and the Han of 1976.

Clarke as Qi’ra is another character that I’m afraid will end up with its own film (gawd please don’t). Kind of broke my heart a little that Leia wasn’t Han’s first love but the more I got to know Qi’ra the less I worried about her. The chemistry between Clarke and Ehrenreich is good. Glover as Calrissian gave a charmer performance and he gave the character swagger and capes. His robot counterpart was far funnier and more interesting to watch however.

Harrelson as Beckett is a smuggler who is going to go with who ever is going to pay him the most. Being a traitor seemed to come naturally to this character and Harrelson gives it his smirk and calmness that ends up being some of the trademarks found in Han. Newton as Val has a small role that works with Beckett and is the smuggler with a heart.

Bettany as Vos is a bad guy who doesn’t give one wit of care who knows it or what anyone else thinks of it. In fact he only answers to one person (sorry, no spoiler for you!) so how he handles situations goes easily unchecked.

Big shout out to Suotamo as Chewbacca because I think this is the first film that I’ve seen him in where he’s “talked” so much! It must be said that seeing him on the Millenium Falcon was uber cool.

Other cast include Phoebe Waller-Bridge as L3-37, Jon Favreau as Rio Durant, Linda Hunt as Lady Proxima, Ian Kenny as Rebolt, John Tui as Korso, and Warwick Davis as Weazel.

Now that I’ve given you background lets get right to it, SOLO: A Star Wars Story is just that and nothing more – a story. There isn’t anything in this film that makes me thrilled and may answer only one question that I hadn’t thought to ask. The rest is what I call Star Wars noise and that’s about it. There were laughs, action and plenty of symbolism and nods to the original Star Wars and there isn’t anything wrong with that.

I guess my problem is I wanted something more, something unexpected, something – something! It’s hard to explain it unless you can have a conversation with the 1976 version of me. I think the fact that Han is gone, Luke is gone and Leia is really gone, it is hard for me to care about this film because I never really needed to know the back story of characters. I trusted who they were from the beginning and was happy with that.

Now ROGUE ONE was cool because it didn’t involve the main three characters but instead the story of how R2-D2 got the Death Star plans. That took me in a direction that was where I wanted to go, SOLO just really doesn’t do that. I mean I go for the ride but I’m happy when it’s over.

This is another difficult Star Wars review to write because I am an original die hard fan, yes I stood in line every Saturday for months to go for the ride and I didn’t need any urging. That’s what I want from anyone who dares to take on the task of making these “A Star Wars Story” film and we all know there are more on the horizon (deep sigh).

I think I also feel a bit like someone is treading on my memories, on my love of the galaxy far, far away. I didn’t embrace these characters but instead wanted to offer them a cup of blue milk in a traveler cup and send them on their way.

SOLO: A Star Wars Story isn’t bad, it’s filled with a lot that fans love and that is going to have to be enough.

In the end – never tell him the odds!

ROGUE ONE: A Star Wars Story Takes Us to a Galaxy Far, Far Away on Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to our own galaxy this week on Bluray/DVD and Digital HD from director Gareth Edwards, Lucas Films and Walt Disney Studios is a chance to be a kid again with ROGUE ONE: A Star Wars Story.

Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) is farming with wife Lyra (Valene Kane) and young daughter Jyn when they are visited by Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn). Demanding that Galen return to his work with the Galactic Empire creating a weapon to stop the rebellion, Krennic isn’t happy when Galen refuses. He sends troops to search for young Jyn, but she is no where to be found.

They don’t know she has been taken in by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), it is brief as Jyn (Felicity Jones) is now grown, a criminal and working in a forced labor camp. That is until she is rescued by Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and reconditioned robot K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) and taken before the Senate leaders of the Rebellion.

They want Jyn’s help in finding where the plans for the Death Star may be and how to obtain them to help the rebellion. When her only other choice is help or return to the labor camp, Jyn begrudgingly agrees to go with Cassian to the city of Jedah. There they meet Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) and Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang) by walking straight into a street battle.

The group also finds Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed), an Imperial pilot who knows Galen! With the location of the plans, they come together and go to the one place no one else would dare go – straight into the Imperial base surrounded and guarded by those whose only goal is to crush the rebellion.

They need to save the rebellion and save the dream!

Jones as Jyn carries the film as a strong character that remembers what happened when she was young. Wanting to find her father, the mission becomes so much more than she could have ever imagined. Jones has the right amount of gumption and emotion giving her character heart and even if she is afraid it doesn’t stop her from going forward.

Luna as Cassian is very focused on what needs to be done to ensure the security of the rebellion. He has the backing of the Senate because this soldier believes in bringing down the Empire. Meeting Jyn doesn’t change that goal, only reshapes how to make it happen.

Tudyk as the voice of K-2SO is absolutely hilarious and clear that this robot has a mind and opinion all his own.

Mendelsohn as Krennic is a man with an agenda that includes taking down anyone that gets in his way. Whitaker as Gerrera sees what Jyn is capable of but also knows the Empire can not be stopped without her.

I was excited when learning that Donnie Yen would be part of ROGUE ONE as Chirrut Imwe. Following his career for several years now from Asian/martial arts films, this is perfect casting. Everything he does has purpose and reminds me of another Jedi master. Jiang as Malbus protects Imwe and clearly knows his way around heavy weaponry which is always handy when fighting any Galactic Empire. Ahmed as Rook is quick and has no trouble showing off his own rebellion side!

Mikkelsen as Galen has the perfect demeanor for this character. He doesn’t have much to say because everything is in his eyes. He has the ability to cut his eyes in such a way that even I’m a little scared of him. I love that he took this role.

Other cast include Alistair Petrie as General Draven, Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma, Ben Daniels as General Merrick, Ian McElhinney as General Dodonna, Fares Fares as Senator Vaspar, Sharon Brewster as Senator Pamlo, and Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment began distributing under its own label in 1980 and continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

ROGUE ONE: A Star Wars Story had me once again from the moment my television screen lit up! Transported immediately and in such a way that time reversed a little taking me back to 1977, ROGUE ONE brings with it such familiarity as if no time had passed between those weekends I spent in the theatre watching STAR WARS and now.

What I mean by that is this film brings with it the costuming, a story that mingles easily into the STAR WARS realm of storytelling yet intense with layering and small nuances that fans are going to get giddy over. It is amazing how one moment in the original STAR WARS storyline (and you’ll know when that is soon enough) brought about this absolutely fantastic cinematic adventure

I do not want to go into details because it is the details that I want everyone to experience for themselves. Just know that there isn’t going to be a disappointing moment in the 133 minutes of sheer joy on the screen. Let everyone have the opportunity to enjoy every aspect of what has been put together for fans.

The Bluray Bonus Features include The Stories with an intimate collection of stories that take you behind the scenes with filmmakers and cast to reveal how the film came to life, A Rogue Idea, Jyn: The Rebel, Cassian: The Spy, K-2SO: The Droid, Baze & Chirrut: Guardians of the Whills, Bodhi & Saw: The Pilot & The Revolutionary, The Empire, Visions of Hope: The Look of Rogue One, The Princess & The Governor and Epilogue: The Story Continues.

This is such an amazing film and STAR WARS fans can’t be disappointed under any circumstances. The film brings many of us back to the beginning with the look and feel and hope that continuing stories will remember that is how we like it!

In the end – it is a rebellion built on hope!