All work and no play makes Drac a dull vamp, so it's time for A Monster Vacation in Hotel Transylvania 3

The Outpost blog lately has been serving up articles on sequel movies so this week continues the trend as the third outing of the Hotel Transylvania animated movies flows into cinemas nationwide with the title A Monster Vacation.

For readers needing a recap, the first Hotel Transylvania was released in 2012 by Sony Pictures Animation. Pretty much an original production unknown to the world at its time, the premise of this kids movie is that classic monsters like vampires, werewolves, mummies and the Frankenstein creature exist, but instead are the ones living in fear of humans who has prosecuted them for centuries. So as a safe-haven for monsters, vampire Count Dracula, or Drac for short (voiced by renown comedian Adam Sandler) has built a 5-star hotel as a safe-haven for monsters and to raise his daughter Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez).

All's going well at Hotel Transylvania until a hapless young American tourist named Jonathan (Adam Samberg) strolls in nonchalantly. In order not to panic his monster guests over a "fearsome" human, Drac disguises Johnny as a Frankenstein-type monster to partake in Mavis' 118th Birthday Party. Well "Johnnystein" and Mavis expectedly “zing” and after some drama involving Drac's disapproval and human-monster relations, the duo come together romantically and all's happy again in Hotel Transylvania.

Breaking boundaries between humans and monsters are lovey dovey couple Mavis (Selena Gomez) and Johnny (Adam Samberg)

The movie proves a hit at the box-office which Sony execs deem suitable for a sequel, hence Hotel Transylvania 2 was released in 2012. In the animated world, seven years have passed where humans now know and tolerate the existence of monsters. Mavis and Johnny are married and have a  five year-old child named Dennis (Asher Blinkoff). Grandfather Drac is greatly concerned that Dennis has no vampiric powers and may have to live out his life as a human far away in California. Much of the movie premise then revolves around associated familial issues complicated further by the introduction of Drac's father Vlad (Mel Brooks) who is rather intolerant of humans. Since all kids animated movies end on a happy note, Dennis does eventually manifest some vampire abilities and therefore safe to remain in Transylvania to grow up with his monster family.

A Monster Vacation sets sail in cinemas now..

Now in Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation, Mavis surprises Drac with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel. The rest of Drac's Pack cannot resist going along. But once they leave port, romance arises when Dracula meets the mysterious ship Captain, Ericka. Now it's Mavis' turn to play the overprotective parent, keeping her dad and Ericka apart. Little do they know that his "too good to be true" love interest is actually a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing, ancient nemesis to Dracula and all other monsters.

#HOTELT3
New Adventures? ✅ New Monsters? ✅ New Trailer for #HotelT3? ✅ ?
Posted by Sony Pictures on Wednesday, 21 March 2018

The monsters dress down for the holidays!

Director Genndy Tartakovsky takes the reins again for the third time and reunites with the voice cast from previous movies. Together with the vamp family Drac, Mavis, Johnny, Dennis and Drac, the all too friendly monsters are back for the ride: “Frank”-enstein (Kevin James), Murray the Mummy (Keegan-Michael Key), Wayne the Werewolf (Steve Buscemi), Eunice (Fran Descher), etc. An assortment of new characters will also be introduced such as the infamous Van Helsing monster hunters.

Lonely Drac (Adam Sandler) sees potential romance with ship's Captain Erika (Kathryn Hahn)

Apparently as part of their monster cruise, some of the monsters stopped over in tropical Malaysia for their vacation! Check out these videos of Drac spotted in Penang absorbing some local culture and later in historic Malacca visiting A Formosa. He must have applied super-thick SPF 100 sunblock not to melt under our sunny weather!

HT3- Penang
Drac was real busy this week as he makan, travel, mingle, repeat! To all Penangites, he thought your food ‘chin chiak ho chiak’! And the street art? Amayyyzingggg! Let us know if you think there are other places Drac should visit too! Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation in cinemas 19 July 2018.
Posted by Sony Pictures on Monday, 25 June 2018

Drac at the gate of of A Formosa, a Portuguese fort build in the 16th century in the historic city of Malacca.

HT3
Pappa Drac went like, WALAOEHH! Let’s get him a cup of Malacca’s signature Coconut milkshake after this! Can you guess where he will be heading to next? Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation in cinemas 19 July 2018.
Posted by Sony Pictures on Friday, 29 June 2018

Since then Drac has met up with his good friends Frank and Murray to continue this vacation in Kuala Lumpur this week and later Johor.

The Outpost Movie Recon Team (M.R.T.) has reliable intel that these friendly monsters may be found at the following cinemas:

Friday 20 July

2:00pm @ GSC Midvalley Megamall

6:30pm @ TGV Sunway Pyramid

8:30pm @ MBO Subang Parade

Saturday 21 July

4:00pm @ MBO Setapak Central

8:00pm @ GSC Pavilion KL

Sunday 22 July

2:00pm & 6:00pm @ GSC IOI City Mall

Friday 27 July

1:00pm @ GSC Palm Mall, Seremban

6:00pm @ GSC Aeon Bandaraya Melaka 

Saturday 28 July

1:00pm & 8:00pm @ GSC Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru

4pm @ TGV Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru

8pm @ GSC Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru

Sunday 29 July

1:00pm @ GSC Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru

4:00pm @ TGV Kulaijaya, Johor

Meet Murray, Drac and Frank “live” in Malaysia at selected cinemas this month.

Find out more about Hotel Transylvania 3 from the official website and follow Sony Pictures Malaysia on Facebook for local movie engagements including plenty of flash contests.

As per usual, the Outpost M.R.T. has scouted local movie goodies that Hotel-T fans can attempt to loot. Firstly GSC Cinemas are rewarding their customers exclusive soap with purchase of two Hotel Transylvania 3 tickets, plus a family purchase of two adults with at least one child ticket will take home a special drawstring bag. Refer to terms and conditions with info on participating cinemas from their official website.

In addition, those purchase of two tickets stand a chance to win one of three Dream Cruise vacations for two pax on luxurious ocean liner to Singapore or Phuket. Participate by posting in Comments of this Facebook post by 29 July 2018 and refer to full terms and conditions at GSC's website.

Finally, there is a simple free to join Facebook contest with movie premiums to be won just by Like / Love / Wow this post and tagging 5 friends before Sunday 22 July.

Premium-X Cinemas in One-City USJ also has a similar Facebook contest. Just follow instructions from their post.

TGV Cinemas is conducting a special Family Screening session this Saturday 21 July, 11am at Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur. Thematic activities are included with tickets are priced at RM25 per pax whereby adults must attend with kids in tow. Drac, Frank and Murray might even be there to greet them! Get full terms and conditions at TGV's website then buy your tickets.

MBO Cinemas has a slew of Hotel Transylvania 3 promos, starting with a movie edition of their AllStar member card. Once again, members can utilise their Star Points in attempt to redeem movie premiums through "Name Your Own Points".

Purchasers of minimum two tickets for Hotel Transylvania 3 then stand a chance to win major prizes of a 50in Sony TV or PlayStation 4 Pro, as well as movie premiums. Don't wait too long though as contest ends this month on 31 July 2018.

For concession counter promos, only MBO Cinemas is offering a thematic cup as part of a single combo for RM28 or share combo for RM55 inclusive of soft drink(s) and popcorn. Find out more at this dedicated landing page on their website together with submission forms for the aforementioned contests.

Finally, mmCineplexes has movie premiums to giveaway via their Facebook post here. Participation requires proof of purchase for two Hotel Transylvania 3 tickets and submitting details via online form by 29 July 2018.

Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation is now showing in cinemas everywhere.

#HotelTransylvania #HotelT3

Disclaimer: Hotel Transylvania and its trademarks are copyright to Sony Pictures Animation, referenced here for fan service announcements without intent to infringe.