|
Preview by: Jack Foley
THERE are few safer bets in Hollywood than a new film from the
Pixar crew.
The animators extraordinaire seem to possess the Midas touch
at the Box Office, thanks to the success of films such as Toy
Story, Monsters Inc
and last year’s runaway success, Finding
Nemo.
Their latest, due for release in December, is called The Incredibles,
and centres around a retired former super-hero, Mr Incredible,
and his wife, as they hide out in the Witness Protection Programme,
away from the glare of super-villains and lawsuits.
Having built a new life and family, however, Mr Incredible is
called back into action to save the world one more time - with
the inevitable hilarity ensuing.
A teaser trailer, featuring Mr Incredible’s attempts to
squeeze into his costume, has been doing the rounds for some time,
but a new version, which shows more of the film (including a search
for said costume) merely serves to heighten the buzz surrounding
the project.
Pixar have yet to deliver a dud, and this shows no signs of being
their first.
The film features the vocal talents of Brad Bird and Craig T
Nelson, as well as Samuel L Jackson, Jason Lee and John Ratzenberger
- and looks a fairly safe bet to become the runaway family hit
of the Christmas season, particularly given the absence of a Lord
of the Rings movie!
|
 |
The Incredibles will also be notable for being one of the final
films as part of Pixar’s distribution deal with Disney (Cars,
the final film, is due in 2005). Apparently, the two parties could
not reach a mutually satisfying agreement on a new deal.
In a statement released earlier this year, Steve Jobs, Pixar
CEO, said: "After ten months of trying to strike a deal with
Disney, we’re moving on. We’ve had a great run together
- one of the most successful in Hollywood history - and it’s
a shame that Disney won’t be participating in further Pixar
successes."
The successes in question equate to over $2.5 billion at the
box office, as well as more than 150 million in DVD and video
sales.
According to many reports at the time, the main stumbling point
came as Pixar sought a deal much like the one that George Lucas
has with 20th Century Fox - which means that they would pay the
distributor very little and keep all the profits.
Needless to say, every major studio is now attempting to secure
their services.
In the meantime, Disney will be looking to The Incredibles to
boost its flagging fortunes, given that the studio is having a
bad year.
Its big budget epic, The Alamo,
bombed at the US Box Office, while the company has also been at
the centre of the controversy surrounding Michael Moore’s
Fahrenheit 9/11
- the rights to which have now been sold to the Weinsteins.
|
