Into the Spider-Verse offers fan-gasms with the Ultimate Spider-man Team-Up

From the animation studio that brought The Smurfs to cinemas as well as cutesy monsters of Hotel Transylvania, Sony Pictures Animations now bring Marvel's friendly neighbourhood wall-crawler in animated form to cinemas with Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse. As movie goers may be aware, Sony Pictures currently holds the rights of Spider-man on film since Y2K and has produced six live-action movies to-date which ranks at the 10th highest grossing film franchise of all time at over USD4.8 billion. With such a lucrative property, Sony retains a super-strength grip onto the Spidey film rights and which includes associated Marvel characters such as Venom, Morbius, Black Cat, Kraven, etc. This Sony Universe of Marvel Characters (SUMC) has already paid off gruesomely in the standalone movie Venom released this October and ranking in over USD845 million worldwide.

The Peter Parkers to-date (left to right): Tobey Macguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland.
Source: Time.com

Since the 1970's, live-action films of Spider-man has featured Peter Parker as their main protagonist, being the secret identify of the namesake superhero. The current Peter Parker is portrayed by Tom Holland and, through mutually profiting agreements with Marvel Studios, has been incorporated into the massively successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise since 2016's Captain America: Civil War. So with Peter Parker temporarily exported from the live-action SUMC, here comes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introducing Mile Morales as the new lead protagonist in the namesake role.

Official movie synopsis:

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. Spider-Man™: Into the Spider-Verse introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.

Team Spidey GO!

The movie is directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey (Rise of the Guardians), and Rodney Rothman. Voicing teenager Miles Morales is Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker. Forming the Spider Team are Hailee Steinfeld (Ender's Game, Bumblebee) as Gwen Stacey, Nicholas Cage as Spider-Man Noir, Kimiko Glenn as Peni Parker, and John Mulaney as Spider-Ham. Other supporting cast to note is Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins) as Wilson Fisk, Mahershala Ali (Luke Cage), Brian Tyree Henry and Lily Tomli.

Let's take a closer look into the different Spider-man of the Spider-Verse:

 MILES MORALES – The all-new Spider-Man

Miles Morales is a young teenager and a Brooklyn native. He’s a bright kid who’s been thrust into a new school and is having a hard time adjusting to a more rigorous academic environment. But he’s having an even harder time adjusting to his entirely new and unexpected life as a Spider-Man.  With the help of some surprising new friends, Miles learns to unlock the hero inside himself.

 PETER B. PARKER – Miles’ reluctant mentor 

He may look like Peter Parker, but he is older and the years of superhero life have taken a toll on his body. His experiences have left him world-weary and cynical. Peter never wanted to be a mentor, but training Miles Morales to be Spider-Man helps him to regain his original enthusiasm for that identity and reclaim the spirit of selflessness for which Spider-Man stands

SPIDER-GWEN – A super-cool Spider-Woman 

An intelligent and quick-witted teenager, Spider-Gwen is the Spider-Woman of her world, an excellent fighter who can swing and flip with the grace of a trained dancer. Although tough and brave when she’s fighting the bad guys, Gwen has suffered a loss in her universe that’s made her afraid to get close to people, even to an open-hearted kid like Miles. Once she learns there are others like her, she has the opportunity to let down her guard and become part of a team who have overcome their own tragedies to become the protectors of their worlds.

SPIDER-MAN NOIR – The Spider-Man of 1933

Spider-Man Noir, a Peter Parker from another century as well as another universe, is a more hardened version of Spider-Man who fought crime during the Great Depression in 1933. Unlike most Spider-People, Spider-Man Noir is only seen in black and white and has the 1930s perspective to match, which makes it harder for him to adjust to Miles’ modern (and colorful) world.

PENI PARKER and SP//dr – A half-Asian school girl from the future 

Peni Parker is a classic anime character, a school girl from an alternative universe with a psychic link to a spider. She’s an emotional, expressive vigilante who doesn’t wear the typical Spider-Man suit – instead, she has a mechanical, robotic Spidey suit that only responds to her DNA.

SPIDER-HAM – The comic relief

Meet Spider-Ham, aka Peter Porker… a cartoon pig! Spider-Ham is always the first one to crack a joke, but despite behaving like the ultimate ham, he takes his job as a Spider-Hero very seriously and fights alongside the others with own his special kind of cartoon fury.

AUNT MAY - A Pillar for all Spider-People

Aunt May has been very involved in her nephew's Spider-Man world, creating gadgets and providing tactical support for his superhero adventures. When May learns that there are Spider-People from other universes who need her help, she’s ready to provide coffee and web-shooters. She even wields a baseball bat to fight along side them when the villains arrive.

WILSON FISK aka KINGPIN – The ultimate crime lord 

Kingpin is the king of organized crime in New York. His climb to the heights of power has been built on decades of shady deals and ruthless violence, backed by an almost superhuman will. Kingpin blames Spider-Man for a loss so great that he is willing to risk the lives of every person in every universe to get back what he lost.

The Spidey team-up we've been waiting for is finally in cinemas!

The real thrill for Marvel fans would be to see this team-up amongst the different Spider-heroes. The animation style is very much inspired by its comic book origins, chock full of visual delights and “easter eggs” aplenty including the world's most famous cameo actor in animated form. But as aesthetically pleasing as a movie may look, it's core story must resound with the audience and this one most certainly strikes home.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has received raving reviews and even scored a perfect 100% by Rotten Tomatoes. Here's how it compared against the preceding live-action movies by Sony on the Tomatometer:

Even before it's US release, the movie already been nominated in the Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Animated, up against The Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet.

For more in-depth review, read what Star2.com has to say or watch opinion video by IGN:

Malaysia's Movie Premiere for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was held on 4 December 2018 at TGV 1 Utama and attended by our very local-verse of Spider-heroes:

Can you name each Spider-man in this group shot?

Cosplayers from Into the Spider-Verse with the exception of Spider-Ham.

Femme fatales Spider-Gwen, Mary Jane and Peni Parker.

Spider-men of the MCU.

Peter Parker: "I don't feel so good..."

Waiting patiently for the Marvel must-watch end-credit scene(s).

Once again, the Outpost Movie Recon Team (M.R.T.) has compiled the following intel of Spider-Verse promos from our local cinemas. Starting with TGV Cinemas, customers purchasing at least two tickets will be able to redeem a limited edition Spider-man phone ring (while stocks last). Find out participating cinemas and terms & conditions from TGV's website.

Furthermore, customers with minimum of three tickets may join TGV's Facebook contest for the chance to win movie premiums including a limited edition Spider-man PS4 Pro console as Grand Prize. Goto the contest post to participate and check terms & conditions at their website (ends 16 December 2018).

GSC Cinemas has similar movie premiums up for grabs (excluding PS4) via their own Facebook contest with no purchase requirements. But enter fast as the contest ends today / 10 December 2018.

For customers who have got at least two tickets, GSC is offering a limited edition 1:4 scale Spider-Gwen statue worth SGD900 / RM2,735 via another Facebook contest. Find out more on this premium collectible from XM Studios and join before 23 December 2018.

Over at MBO Cinemas, loyal Allstar members can make use of their points to redeem movie premiums once they have purchased minimum 2 tickets. Go ahead and redeem online at the URL links provided.

Plus mini-portable speakers may be redeemed for 5000 points at selected locations only.

So don't forget your web-shooters and swing into your friendly neighbourhood cinema to catch Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse showing NOW!

Teenager Mile Morales will be the next generation Spider-man.

©2018 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2018 MARVEL

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.

The Emoji Movie: Thinking of a Career as an Emoji? Watch this Out-of-this-World Animated Film First!

This week from Sony Pictures Animation comes  The Emoji Movie. The studio has certainly served strange animation flicks before such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in 2009 and its sequel in 2013. It has also blended animation with live-action in The Smurfs, an expected movie hit for 2011. Now The Emoji Movie may the studio's most bizarre animated film yet by presenting emojis as characters on an adventure through the digital world of a smartphone.

Official Synopsis:

The Emoji Movie unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phone's user. In this world, each emoji has only one facial expression - except for Gene, an exuberant emoji who was born without a filter and is bursting with multiple expressions. Determined to become "normal" like the other emojis, Gene enlists the help of his handy best friend Hi-5 and the notorious code breaker emoji Jailbreak. Together, they embark on an epic "app-venture" through the apps on the phone, each its own wild and fun world, to find the Code that will fix Gene. But when a greater danger threatens the phone, the fate of all emojis depends on these three unlikely friends who must save their world before it's deleted forever.

The world of emojis inside smartphones.

The Emoji movie features the voice talents of T.J. Miller (Deadpool, Transformers 4) as lead protagonist Gene, a Meh emoji, Anna Faris (recently separated  from Chris Pratt) as Jailbreak, James Corden (The Late Late Show with James Corden) as Hi-5, and Maya Rudolph as Smiler.

Left to right: Gene (T.J. Miller), Hi-5 (James Corden), Jailbreak (Anna Faris)

T.J. Miller (Deadpool, Transformers 4) voices Gene, a Meh emoji with emotional issues.

Left to right: Poop (Sir Patrick Stewart), Smiler (Maya Rudolph)

Top-billed celebrity cameos include pop artist Christina Aguilera as Akiko Glitter, and Sir Patrick Stewart of X-Men / Star Trek renown as Poop (LOL!). In the world of sci-fi geek-dom, it's delightful to see Sir Patrick "loosen-up" in his late career taking on such role which would have been unimaginable of the Shakespearean actor during his days as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek The Next Generation.

OMG, Sir Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek) is Poop Daddy!

Sir Patrick Stewart interview by Conan about being Poop Daddy.

In the context of being Poop Daddy on The Emoji Movie, our research on Sir Patrick came across this video from his sitcom series Blunt Talk which is particular hilarious in the context of this movie (watch & LOL!):

The Emoji Movie releases in Malaysian cinemas this week on 17 August 2017. Stay tuned to the latest movie updates on the official Facebook Page and website, as well as locally via Facebook for Sony Pictures Malaysia.

T.J. Miller with live emojis at a photocall during Cannes Film Festival. Photo - Reuters.

During a publicity stunt at the Cannes Film Festival in May, lead voice actor T.J. Miller parasailed in for a photocall (a media event to photograph movie features). However, after a safe landing he inadvertantly fell into the sea and thereafter remained soaked for the media event, much like the comedic elements expected in an animated film like The Emoji Movie. Whilst a wet T.J. Miller did not quite catch our attention in the news, it was the assortment of live emoji characters accompanying him during the photocall that really caught our eyes. From the publicity photos, there were at least 8 different Emoji Movie mascots sighted comprising Gene / Meh, Jailbreak, High-5, Cookie, Ice-Cream, Heart, Lips and Pizza, although Poop himself seemed missing. Read more about this Cannes photocall from Reuters.

Meet Gene and Poop here in Malaysia!

Locally we won't be seeing so many live emojis here but we have with good authority that Gene and Poop Daddy himself will be appearing for Meet & Greet sessions with fans at the following locales:

• Wednesday 16 August, 8.30pm @ GSC 1 Utama
• Friday, 18 August, 11.30am @ Sogo KL and 8.30pm @ GSC 1 Utama
• Saturday, 19 August, 3pm @ GSC IOI City Mall and 8.30pm @ GSC Midvalley Megamall
• Sunday, 20 August, 12.30pm @ GSC Midvalley Megamall and 3.30pm @ TGV KLCC
• Saturday, 26 August, 12pm & 3pm @ GSC Sunway Carnival, Seberang Jaya
• Sunday, 27 August, 1pm @ TGV 1 Utama and 4pm & 6pm @ TGV Sunway Velocity

And be careful hugging that Poop because well... you know what that emoji is meant to be!

For movie merchandise collectors, there are a bunch of Emoji Movie toys from McDonald’s® Happy Meals. For 5 weeks starting 3 August until 6 September 2017, two emoji plush characters will be available weekly:

• 3 - 9 August 2017: Gene 1 & Gene 2
• 10 - 16 August 2017: Dice & Jailbreak
• 17 - 23 August 2017: Hi-5 & Cat with Heart Eyes
• 24 - 30 September 2017: Monkey & Stop Sign
• 31 August - 6 September 2017: Frog & Slobbering Puppy

Each emoji comes with 2 expressions on each side of the plush. Grab em fast as per usual only available while stocks last.

Now for quirky fashion aficionados, Giamax has release limited edition handbags and other leather goods featuring The Emoji Movie. These official licensed movie merchandise was promoted at a Handbag Party last Saturday 12 August at Parkson Elite in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Check out photos of the handbags, purses and backpacks below and see what took placed at the Handbag Bag from Giamax's photo album on Facebook.

Limited Edition The Emoji Movie Giamax handbags and leather products.

 

These Giamax limited edition Emoji Movie merchandise is also available now at Sogo Kuala Lumpur at the ground floor Beauty Arcade until 28 August 2017. Make a minimum purchase of RM200 worth of these Giamax products and also take home a free lips emoji cushion.

Plus join Sogo's emoji lookalike contest on Facebook to stand a chance to win 1 of 5 Emoji Movie sling bags. To participate, contestants need to post a collage of 5 photos of  their impressions as emojis with a caption by 28 August 2017. Check full terms and conditions from their Facebook contest post.

Follow Giamax on Facebook for latest news on their Emoji Movie products, including the chance to win handbags every week from their Emoji Movie x Giamax  Facebook Photo Contest. To join, take a photo at their Photo Booth backdrop as selected retail locations then post to Facebook with the hashtags #giamaxemojimovie #giamaxhandbag. Check out their Facebook post for further instructions and full terms and conditions.

Over at GSC Cinemas Emoji Movie car stickers are being given out for every 2 movie tickets purchased. There are 2 designs issued randomly in selected cineplexes only. Check at GSC website to find out which locations to redeem this promo.

Finally TGV Cinemas is offering a Limited Edition Emoji Movie member card for their Movie Club. Cards may be collected upon sign-up over the counter (membership RM30) or existing members may swap their existing cards for a fee of RM5. Find out more directly from the TGV website.

Gene with Jailbreak and Hi-5 in tow begin their App-ventures on 17 August.

Some funny memes to LOL your day:

Disclaimer: The Emoji Movie and its trademarks are copyright to Sony Pictures Animation & their respective owners, referenced here for fan service announcements without intent to infringe.