Monsters University – Trailer #1

This trailer for Monsters University – the sequel to Pixar‘s 2001 classic Monsters, Inc. – is looking fantastic; light-hearted, genuinely funny, and  full of potential. The once infallible Pixar are in desperate need of a massive critical and box-office hit to get them back on the winning track after the moderate (for their standards) efforts of Cars 2 and Brave.

I am a fan of the classic ‘college comedy’ format and I’m eager to see it as formulated by the Pixar brain-trust, just to witness how a wild college toga party or bong hit is represented in this kind of universe.

The terrific voice-cast features the return of John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Tilly, Frank Oz, and Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger; while including the likes of Kelsey Grammar and Ken Jeong.

Monsters University should be a great time for all ages, and Australia will be the first to see it on June 20.

via Walt Disney Studios UK

Jack the Giant Slayer – Trailer #2

If it wasn’t for his excellent history with terrific films such as The Usual Suspects and the first two X-Men films, I would worry that director Bryan Singer‘s upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past is in the wrong hands, based solely on this horribly bland trailer for Jack the Giant Slayer. There are so many clichés here it is painful (Bill Nighy is a grumpy, high-concept character! Rockin’ rock music in a fairytale trailer!), the only thing on display of any actual substance is Ewan McGregor‘s moustache.

I can now see why Fox decided to push the release of this one from mid-last year – blockbuster season – to the relative safety of a March release. Be wary.

Jack the Giant Slayer opens locally on March 21.

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