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Showing posts with label sigourney weaver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sigourney weaver. Show all posts

Saturday, March 9, 2024

ZOE SALDAÑA, SIGOURNEY WEAVER, AND KATE WINSLET FEATURED IN UNDERWATER ART CELEBRATING “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER” AND SHOT BY CHRISTY LEE ROGERS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

 


Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Kate Winslet, stars of 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water,” posed for renowned underwater photographer Christy Lee Rogers for a series of photographs celebrating our oceans to raise funds to support The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 

 

James Cameron, the film’s producer/director/writer, is a long-time supporter of ocean conservation. Rogers created these artworks in her unique style, breaking usual conventions and shooting the actresses through the play of light refracting through the water to evoke the feel of a painting.

 

Cameron said: “I have long admired Christy’s art and began collecting her works several years ago. Her unique style of shooting her subjects underwater naturally inspired me to suggest she do a special shoot with our cast.”

 

The artwork will be launched online on March 8, 2024, as four  limited edition, museum quality photographs signed by Rogers, as well as a series of high-quality prints both signed by Rogers and unsigned, available for purchase through Fraser Scott at A Gallery Artists Ltd. via  Rogers’ website at  www.christyleerogers.com/avatar.


“Offering these unique pieces of art to benefit The Nature Conservancy through the “Avatar: The Way of Water’s” ‘Keep Our Oceans Amazing’ campaign is a perfect synergy, and we were excited to collaborate with Christy,” added producer Jon Landau.

 

In celebration of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Disney and “Avatar” launched a global “Keep Our Oceans Amazing” campaign to raise awareness of the challenges facing oceans and marine life. The campaign supports TNC and its work to protect 10 of our oceans’ amazing animals and their habitats, connected to the beauty of Pandora. This art sale is one of many ways fans can help TNC reach its goal, as 100 percent of net proceeds from the art sales will go to TNC and help protect our oceans. To learn more, visit:  www.nature.org/disney

 

Christy Lee Rogers said: “Water is healing – it’s life itself. And as the provider of life – oxygen to all through tiny phytoplankton, our oceans need our care more than ever right now. It is a great honor to be able to help James Cameron, Jon Landau, and the ‘Avatar’ and Disney teams in realizing that dream of clean and protected world oceans – through the release of these images for The Nature Conservancy.” 


“Healthy oceans are vital to the health of the planet and all living things, including people. Oceans are 90 percent of the habitable planet and home to more than half of all life on earth; they provide livelihoods for billions of people, produce the food we eat and half the air we breathe,” said Melissa Garvey, global director of ocean protection at The Nature Conservancy. “Through the work of Christy Lee Rogers and the support of Disney and ‘Avatar,’ we can shape a brighter future where people and nature can thrive—ensuring healthier oceans for all.”

 

20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water,” nominated for four Academy Awards® including best picture, is filmmaker James Cameron’s highly acclaimed first follow-up to his 2009 blockbuster hit “Avatar.” Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the Lightstorm Entertainment Production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. The screenplay is by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. The story is by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno. David Valdes and Richard Baneham serve as the film’s executive producers.



Tuesday, January 2, 2024

4K Digital Review: Aliens

 


Aliens is James Cameron's sequel to Ridley Scott's wildly popular and intensely scary Alien movie. We pick up after the end of Alien where Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) had escaped the Nostromo with her life and then spent the next 57 years in hibernation sleep in her escape pod. The escape pod is picked up by a savage ship and when Ripley awakens she discovers that everything and everyone she loved has died. 

The company that Ripley worked for is still thriving and very upset that she had destroyed a $43 million spaceship despite what she told them about an alien species they encountered on LV 426. Ripley also learns that there are colonists on LV 426 and there has been no incident from the supposed alien species in 20 years. At the same time, a scouting party runs into the same alien spaceship that the Nostromo did 57 years ago and proceeds to wipe out the colonists on LV 426.

Communications is lost with LV 426 and the company sends a ship full of Marines and include Ripley as a consultant. The Marines are ambushed by the aliens and are now cut off from their escape route and drop ship. The survivors now have to survive the night and hope they can get to a second drop ship and get off the planet before it is too late. 


Video:

The 4K scan is interesting to me. While it isn't perfect, the sets and machines looks incredible, it's the faces that look weird and fake. The skin tones look almost like putty at times. So, the image isn't completely horrible, just problematic.


Audio:

The Dolby Atmos mix is fantastic as per the norm for Disney. The dialogue is crisp and clean as usual. The surround sound is very effective in all the action pieces. The cries of the aliens and the laser blasts envelope you. The large mech mover that Ripley uses provides some of the best surround audio of the movie as it adds weight to the scene.

Bonus Features:

    • James Cameron Introduction – A message from writer/director James Cameron introducing the Special Edition version of the film.

      2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew-Special Edition – 1990 Special Edition Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.

      The Inspiration and Design of ALIENS – For the 30th anniversary, writer/director James Cameron reveals new insight into his own inspiration and the design elements for Aliens.

      2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew – 1986 Theatrical Version Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.


      Isolated Scores
      ● Final Theatrical Isolated Score – This isolated track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner's music score in its final form following extensive reworking during the post-production process.
      ● Composer's Original Isolated Score – Although there are a few instances where the length of individual sequences was changed slightly after the music was recorded, this isolated score track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner's original intentions.

      Superior Firepower: Making Aliens – Immerse yourself in the world of ALIENS with 11 fully-loaded featurettes that deconstruct all that went into making this sci-fi thriller, from casting to creature design to post-production and everything in between.

      57 Years Later: Continuing the Story
      ● Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction
      ● Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization
      ● This Time It’s War: Pinewood Studios, 1985
      ● The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action
      ● Bug Hunt: Creature Design
      ● Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
      ● Beauty and the *****: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien
      ● The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound
      ● The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects
      ● ALIENS Unleashed: Reaction to the Film


      Superior Firepower: Making Aliens Enhancement Pods – Supplemental video pieces to complement Superior Firepower: Making ALIENS.

      ● Without Sigourney Weaver
      ● Origins of Acheron
      ● Building Hadley's Hope
      ● Cameron's Design Philosophy
      ● Finding an Unused Power Plant
      ● Cameron's Military Interests
      ● Working with Sigourney Weaver
      ● The Importance of Being Bishop
      ● Paul Reiser on Carter Burke

      The Paxton/Cameron Connection
      ● Becoming Vasquez
      ● On Set: Infiltrating the Colony
      ● Props: Personal Light Unit
      ● Simon Atherton Talks Weapons
      ● Praising Stan Winston
      ● Test Footage: Chestburster
      ● Fighting the Facehugger
      ● Test Footage: Facehugger
      ● Stan Winston’s Challenge

      Test Footage: Queen Alien
      ● Stan Winston's Legacy
      ● Cameron's Cutting Edge
      ● Sigourney Weaver's Triumph
      ● Re-Enlisting with Cameron
      ● From Producer to Stunt Double

      Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics
      • Angle 1: Videomatic

      Angle 2: Videomatic/Final Shot Comparison
      • Audio Commentary by Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung

      Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes From Special Edition
      ● Ripley's Daughter – Burke informs Ripley that her daughter died two years ago.
      ● Van Leuwen's Verdict – Van Leuwen reads the findings of the court of inquiry.
      ● The Colony/The Jordens' Discovery – The colony is bustling with life and activity. Newt, along with her brother and parents, come upon the Derelict ship.
      ● Burke's Answer – At Ripley's apartment, Burke explains why he's making the trip to LV-426.
      ● INT. Sulaco – Establishing shots of the interior of the Sulaco before the crew awakens from hyper-sleep.
      ● Hudson's Hubris – As they descend in the drop ship to LV-426, Hudson boasts about their advanced weaponry.

      False Alarm – Hudson and Vasquez detect motion in the colony, only to find it is pet hamsters.
      ● Ripley Pauses – As she enters the colony, Ripley hesitates for a moment.
      ● The Sentry Guns – Hicks reveals they have robot sentry systems. While examining the colony blueprints, Ripley and Hicks discuss where to place the robot sentries.
      ● Fire in the Hole – Hudson and Vasquez set up the UA 571-C remote sentry weapons and following a quick test, seal the tunnel.
      ● Last Line of Defense – The Sentry Guns dutifully scan the tunnel for incoming targets.
      ● Newt's Questions – Newt quizzes Ripley about the fate of her parents.
      ● Hudson's "Ant" Theory – Hudson speculates on how the Aliens are organized and reproduce.
      ● The Aliens Attack – The Sentry Guns unload on multiple targets.
      ● The Aliens Retreat – Under withering fire from the sentries, the Aliens are temporarily repulsed.
      ● First Name Basis – As Ripley departs the drop ship to try and rescue Newt, she and Hicks share their first names with each other.


      Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned - Long one of the most sought-after lost moments from the entire ALIEN Anthology, this scene depicting Carter Burke's fate is now revealed.

      Deleted Scene Montage - This collection of scene extensions and omitted moments represents the remainder of deleted scenes not appearing in either the Theatrical Version or the Special Edition.

      Still Galleries and more
      • Original Treatment by James Cameron
      • Storyboard Archive
      • The Art of ALIENS
      • Cast Portrait Gallery
      • Production Image Galleries

      Continuity Polaroids
      • Weapons and Vehicles
      • Stan Winston's Workshop
      • Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras
      • Video Graphics Gallery
      • Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers

      Post-Production Aftermath
      • Image Galleries
      • Laserdisc Archives
      • Main Title Exploration
      • Theatrical Trailers
      o Teaser Trailer
      o Theatrical Trailer
      o Domestic Trailer
      o International Trailer
Conclusion:

Aliens is still one of the best sci-fi films around. While the video isn't perfect, the audio is and the ton of bonus material make this a must have for your collection.

Aliens is available on digital and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on March 12, 2024.

*The movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the sole purpose of review and the review is strictly my own opinion*

Thursday, April 15, 2021

NEVER BEFORE SEEN CLIP FROM "SECRETS OF THE WHALES"

 


BURBANK, Calif. (April 13, 2021) – Today, Disney+ shared a clip from its upcoming original series, “Secrets of the Whales,” featuring a sperm whale calf nursing from its mother – a moment recorded on video for the first time.

 

Additional never before seen moments featured in the series include: evidence suggesting that Belugas give themselves names so groups can keep track of each other; baby belugas sharing their moms’ call signs, scientists learning that a baby sperm whale suckled from its mother when they saw the footage, 30,000 humpbacks charging down the coast of Australia towards Antarctica and using breeches to talk to each other, and the first cross-species adoption ever recorded; Beluga pod adopts narwhal as part of the pod.

 

The four-part series, from National Geographic, is executive produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and conservationist James Cameron (“Avatar”) and narrated by award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver (“Alien,” “Avatar,” “Gorillas in the Mist”)All four episodes will be available to stream exclusively on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2021, exclusively on Disney+.

 

The digital soundtrack to “Secrets of the Whales,” with score composed, produced and mixed by Raphaelle Thibaut, will be released on April 19 by Hollywood Records/Disney Music Group. Music from Secrets of the Whales Original Soundtrack features 20 tracks from the series and will be available at digital service providers.

 

The three-year project will also be featured in the new National Geographic book, Secrets of the Whales, now on sale, and the May issue of National Geographic magazine, The Ocean Issue, available online at natgeo.com/planetpossible, on April 15. 




Featuring the expansive knowledge and skill of acclaimed National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, the series ventures deep into the world of whales to witness the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures to reveal life and love from their perspective. “Secrets of the Whales” unveils new science and technology to spotlight whales as they make lifelong friendships, teach clan heritage and traditions to their young, and grieve deeply for the loss of loved ones. Filmed over three years in 24 global locations, throughout this epic journey, we learn that whales are far more complex and more like us than ever imagined. This is a personal story that very few are lucky enough to witness … until now.

 

“Secrets of the Whales” is produced for National Geographic by Red Rock Films. For Red Rock Films, Brian Armstrong and Shannon Malone-deBenedictis are executive producers. For Earthship, James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm are executive producers and Kim Butts is associate producer. For National Geographic, Pamela Caragol is executive producer. The series is scored by composer Raphaelle Thibaut.


Tuesday, March 9, 2021

DISNEY+ REVEALS THE TRAILER FOR ITS ORIGINAL SERIES ‘SECRETS OF THE WHALES’

 



BURBANK, Calif. (Mar. 9, 2021)  Today, Disney+ released the trailer for its upcoming original series “Secrets of the Whales,” which plunges viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to reveal the mysterious and beautiful world of five different whale species: orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals and sperm whales. 

 

The four-part series, from National Geographic, is executive produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and conservationist James Cameron (“Avatar”) and narrated by award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver (“Alien,” “Avatar,” “Gorillas in the Mist”). All four episodes will be available to stream exclusively on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2021, exclusively on Disney+.

 

Featuring the expansive knowledge and skill of acclaimed National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, the series ventures deep into the world of whales to witness the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures to reveal life and love from their perspective. “Secrets of the Whales” unveils new science and technology to spotlight whales as they make lifelong friendships, teach clan heritage and traditions to their young, and grieve deeply for the loss of loved ones. Filmed over three years in 24 global locations, throughout this epic journey, we learn that whales are far more complex and more like us than ever imagined. This is a personal story that very few are lucky enough to witness … until now.

 

“Secrets of the Whales” is produced for National Geographic by Red Rock Films. For Red Rock Films, Brian Armstrong and Shannon Malone-DeBenedictis are executive producers. For Earthship, James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm are executive producers and Kim Butts is associate producer. For National Geographic, Pamela Caragol is executive producer. The series is scored by composer Raphaelle Thibaut.