Me Excites: Monsters University

Mike and Sulley are back! This time you’ll meet even more friends of all shapes, colours and sizes from the monster world as we go back in time to their college days. In fact, we go back all the way to where it all began. If you ever wondered how Mike and Sulley first met, don’t miss Disney•Pixar’s "MONSTERS UNIVERSITY"!

Way way way before there was Monsters Inc., or rather before Mike and Sulley were the successful scarers that they were, they started out at university. Now I have to say that I was enthralled with Monsters Inc. when it debuted – the revolving ‘magical’ doors that led to any bedroom in the world, the interestingly familiar yet odd world of the monsters that mirrors ours, and how normal the monsters really are (in a sense) with scaring children for their screams as fuel and a day job. Not to mention, the various blobs and colors of monsters, those with fur, multiple appendages and/or eyes created an interesting world of monsters that were easy on the eyes (somehow). All of which made for good think-free fun time, great for little ones, but even better for those ‘little’ at heart. :p

So it comes as no surprise that I was simply ecstatic when I saw the trailer for Monsters University, a prequel (of sorts) to Monsters Inc. where Mike and Sulley were not the successful ‘top’ scarers that they were, but two young monsters on different paths who happened to collide into each other and embark on their journey together.

This movie is set 10 years before Monsters Inc. so it is a great place to delve into the fun imaginary monster world and discover more about their education system: from the diversity of university life to the quirky names of their academic programs (e.g. elite scare program, now imagine if we really had a course like that in the real world hehe) and myriad of sports, clubs and societies (which should be rather similar but yet strange to us).

Of course, that is not the say forgetting about the leads of this movie. Mike has lifelong dreams of being a great scarer, but his big ambitions are thwarted during his first semester when he encounters Sulley (who’s the equivalent of a jock – all brawn but hardly any brains) who thinks he’s all that.

Hopeful and enthusiastic Mike collides into...

a Sulley who thinks he's all that

Their encounter soon brings out their inner competitive sprit, which soon gets out of control as they try to outdo each other and eventually gets them kicked out of the University’s elite scare program.

and so the "bonding" begins

However, it is because of this incident (and many others) that brought these two monsters together to become the great friends and ‘monstatic’ scarers they are in Monsters Inc.! Naturally, I am curious to find out how their friendship blossomed, despite their different personalities and perspective on life. Don’t you?

Do you have the talent to scare? Well, actually if you want to win exclusive movie premiums and in-season passes to Monsters University , take the Monsters Aptitude Test [M.A.T] now to see if you're qualified! Wait are you waiting for?!

Catch Pixar’s MONSTERS UNIVERSITY in Singapore cinemas this 20 June 2013! For more updates, like the Official Walt Disney Studios Singapore Facebook Page, follow @disneystudiosSG and subscribe to the Official Disney Studios Singapore YouTube Channel!

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Oz The Great and Powerful

Movie Synopsis

Disney’s fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot - fame and fortune are his for the taking- is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity - -and even a bit of wizardr - Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful wizard but into a better man as well. Oz The Great and Powerful is produced by Joe Roth, with a screenplay by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire (credit not final). Grant Curtis, Palak Patel, Philip Steuer and Josh Donen are serving as executive producers. Oz The Great and Powerful opens in Singapore theaters on March 7, 2013.

Thoughts

The Wizard of Oz was an enjoyable fantasy of a 12 year old getting transported into another universe where magic exists along with the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion and witches. I remember the dramatic (well, I was young) ending of the Green Witch (she was scary) when she melted. It was a story I can remember to this day, so imagine my surprise and delight when I found out that Disney is releasing Oz The Great and Powerful!

What makes it all exciting is the chance to know more about the character of the wizard, who was exposed to be a regular guy rather than a real wizard. In the “The Wizard of Oz”, the focus was more on Dorothy and her interaction in the alternate universe she found herself in. The conflict of the witches and the wizard were already well into its advanced stages (no real back-story of what really happened, it was more of a he-said-she-said situation that needed to be resolved since that universe was almost on the brink of destruction).

Oz The Great and Powerful goes back to before Dorothy’s arrival and shows some insight on the budding problems that led up to the conflict in The Wizard of Oz. It is amusing to see how the character of the wizard of Oz starts off as a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics and big dreams, to someone better. As I only watched The Wizard of Oz, the only impression I had of the wizard was that he was someone who was not that outstanding. So it would be interesting to find out more about this character and how the conflict came to be.

And after seeing the official trailer, the excitement is getting to me to want to watch this movie! Since the producer of this movie is also the same one who produced Alice in Wonderland, I am not only excited to catch this movie but also expect beautifully shot scenes and great graphics, along with a wonderful and interesting storyline (more back-story about the wizard)! Are you excited about this movie as I am? ^^

Catch Disney’s OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL in Singapore cinemas this 7 March 2013, like the Official Walt Disney Studios Singapore Facebook Page, follow @disneystudiosSG and subscribe to the Official Disney Studios Singapore YouTube Channel!

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Frankenweenie

Disney’s latest movie FRANKENWEENIE is a quirky dark themed movie about bringing one’s pet back to life. It joins the likes Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Nightmare Before Christmas, all movies which are peculiarly fun and intriguing with a tinge of dark. 

Movie Synopsis 

From creative genius Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland, The Nightmare Before Christmas) comes Frankenweenie, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

Frankenweenie is a stop-motion animated film that was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder. It is presented by Disney, directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on an original idea by Tim Burton.

My Thoughts

Trying to revive a beloved pet; just to relive the happy times and bond that was shared is such a heart-warming thing. Of course in the real world, that would be a ridiculous fantasy. And even if it were to happen there are always consequences (of the bad variety – it always is the case with movies that deal with reviving the dead) that result from going against nature.

 But let’s say, hypothetically that in an alternative universe where it was possible: that there were no consequences (e.g. zombies, disasters and that sort of thing) and that I had the science knowledge and/or a ridiculously large amount of money, when faced with a similar situation would I go to great lengths to keep my favorite pet by my side forever? YES, as selfish as it sounds (I am human only after all), I would do all I can to keep my favorite pet by my side in this alternate universe to relive the good happy days of before.

Since it is an alternate universe it will be a happy ending (since I can determine it). However, for that to happen, a lot of money has to be involved to fund such an endeavor. Even in an alternate universe I think the laws of economy still apply. Money is needed for cloning and other science whatnots. With the money, I would clone him with his previous memories, try to resurrect him through means of science (though the chance of getting a zombie is more probable), or retrieve his memories somehow and make him a digital entity that lives online (e.g. mobile phone, computer, laptop etc…) – the epitome of forever.

Forever, that is a very definite yet vague word that varies from person to person. Don’t forget that if being able to bring back a pet from the dead is successful, does that mean that it is immortal (by definition of forever)? If so, than I would have to find the elixir of life as well, since it kind of defeats the purpose of bringing back your pet from the dead, only to have you gone from having expired yourself, right? That or having your pet die on you the second time, reliving the sadness all over again.

That said, although I might not do what Victor did to in the real world, I do enjoy watching other people attempt to do so in the reel world - where everything works out in the end and there are lessons to be learnt... or not. ^^ I believe in the real world, memories are the best way to hold on to a favorite pet, and that I would get to meet that pet one day in heaven. But anything is possible in the reel world with a whole lot of fun thrown in for some good entertainment.

So what lengths will you go to keep your favorite pet by your side forever? Will you do like what young Victor did? 

Catch Disney’s FRANKENWEENIE in cinemas this 15 November 2012 and like the Official Walt Disney Studios Singapore Facebook Page, follow the @disneystudiosSG and subscribe to Official Disney Studios Singapore YouTube Channel!”

 

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