Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Studios are off to the races in Cars 2 as star race-car Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and his best friend, the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), jump-start a new adventure to exotic new lands stretching across the globe.
The duo are joined by a hometown pit crew from Radiator Springs when they head overseas to support Lightning as he competes in the first-ever World Grand Prix, a race created to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the finish line is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and bombshells when Mater is mistakenly ensnared in an intriguing escapade of his own: international espionage.
Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and “towing” the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan, Italy, France and England, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new cast of cars, boats, trains and airplanes – complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
The release of Cars 2, Pixar’s 12th full-length animated feature, coincides with the 25th anniversary of the celebrated studio and follows the release of the 2010 Oscar®-winning blockbuster, Toy Story 3. Academy Award-winning filmmaker John Lasseter, the creative leader of Pixar since its inception and chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, returns to the driver’s seat as director of this latest Cars adventure.
The film is co-directed by Brad Lewis (producer of Oscar-winning Ratatouille), who spearheaded the intense research and initial story development until Lasseter was able to slip back into the director’s chair. Cars 2 is produced by visual-effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, Up; visual effects executive producer, Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith). Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (The Incredibles, Up) provides the electrifying score with a surf-rock-meets-spy-thriller flavour and a variety of global accents, evoking a sense of thrills, mystery and emotion. Brad Paisley, Robbie Williams, Weezer, French singer Bénabar and Japanese girl band Perfume lend their diverse musical talents to the film’s soundtrack.
Adding to the fun and excitement of Cars 2 is a stellar cast of actors that provides the voices for the cars, not to mention the boats and planes that this global adventure requires. Owen Wilson reprises his role as hotshot race-car Lightning McQueen, winner of four Piston Cups and now a leading contender in the World Grand Prix. Larry the Cable Guy provides the voice of Mater (proprietor of Tow Mater Towing and Salvage), Lightning McQueen’s best friend and the heart and soul of Radiator Springs. Bonnie Hunt is back as Sally, the baby-blue Porsche 911 Carrera whose motor races for Lightning.
Acclaimed actor Michael Caine makes his Pixar debut as Finn McMissile, a top British spy who mistakes Mater for an undercover American agent with a genius disguise. Emily Mortimer brings charm, cleverness and cachet as Holley Shiftwell, a rookie field spy who knows every trick in the manual. Versatile actor John Turturro gives a free-wheeling performance as Francesco Bernoulli, the world-renowned Italian racing champ who is Lightning’s chief rival. Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, Paul Dooley, Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, Jason Isaacs, Eddie Izzard, Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave also lend their vocal talents. Real-life Formula 1 racing champ Lewis Hamilton and NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon add a touch of authenticity with their cameos in the film.
Cars 2 is presented where available in Disney Digital 3D and uses the latest technical advances to maximum advantage in giving audiences a front-row seat (as well as a car’s eye view) for all the racing action, and stunning global settings. Pixar’s phenomenal technical team also takes the medium to exciting new heights, utilising state-of-the-art tools for modelling, lighting, shading and rendering.
Classification U
Honey 2 - A world of dance
The legacy of legendary dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels lives on in spirited 17-year-old Maria Bennett The Vampire Diaries.. After a brush with the law, Maria has returned to her gritty Bronx roots to rebuild her life with nothing but a talent for street dance and a burning ambition to prove herself. She finds refuge in the place that made her feel most alive as kid – the rec centre where Honey’s exuberant classes first ignited her passion for dance. Keeping on the straight and narrow means living with Honey’s mom Connie and holding down two jobs just to make ends meet. But a rare night out at a local dance club gives her an opportunity to let loose with a joy and energy she had almost forgotten.
Maria’s killer moves catch the eye of Brandon, a Rec Center volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HD’s. Maria’s skills also attract the attention of her old boyfriend Luis, the charismatic leader of the award-winning 718 dance crew, who hopes to lure her back into the street world she is trying to escape. Seeing a chance at creating a new and meaningful life, Maria pours her heart and soul into dance and begins training the HDs to compete on the television competition Battle Zone – which means going up against the 718 and Luis. Like Honey before her, Maria rediscovers the thrill of dancing as she finds out who she truly is and where she belongs.
Inspired by Honey, the hip hop movie phenomenon starring Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Joy Bryant and Lil’ Romeo, Honey 2 takes audiences into the complex world of street crews who express both their individuality and community through an awe-inspiring array of dance styles. Energetic choreography, a diverse cast and gravity-defying stunts provide a breathtaking background for the world of competitive dance-offs.
Honey 2 is directed by Bille Woodruff (Beauty Shop), who brought the first Honey to the screen in 2003 and is renowned throughout the music industry for directing some of the hottest music videos around for top recording artists including Britney Spears, R. Kelley, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Joe, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson and Nelly. Honey 2’s executive producer Marc Platt has produced some of Hollywood’s most memorable movies including the original Honey, Wanted, the Legally Blonde films, Nine, Scott Pilgrim Vs.The World and Charlie St. Cloud, among others. Platt is also the producer of Broadway’s blockbuster musical Wicked. Paul Hellerman (The Mexican, Jackie Brown) serves as producer. Propelling the story with the hottest dance moves around is choreographer Rosero McCoy, known for his exuberant dance routines in the original Step-up feature film and MTV’s “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew.”
In Honey 2, Katerina Graham (“The Vampire Diaries”) stars as Maria, a young girl who uses her passion for dance as a means to overcome adversity and life on the streets. Joining Graham is a diverse cast of incredible actors and dancers, including Randy Wayne (Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning), Seychelle Gabriel (The Last Airbender), Christopher Martinez (Bring It On: Fight to the Finish), Brittany Perry Russell (CSI: NY), Melissa Molinaro (The Pussycat Dolls Present: the Search for the Next Doll), Casper Smart (Step Up 3-D, Dance Flick) and Tyler Nelson (Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming, MTV’s Taking the Stage). Also rounding out the cast are character actor Gerry Bednob (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Lonette McKee (Honey, Sparkle) who reprises her role of Connie Daniels from the original film. Luke Broadlick (Britney Spears Circus tour, Step Up 3-D) and Justin DeAnda (Camp Rock 2, Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel) lend their dance expertise to the film as well.
Classification PG
Horrible Bosses - When quitting is not an option
Management candidate Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) has been logging 12-hour days and eating everything his twisted supervisor Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) dishes out, toward the promise of a well-earned promotion. But now he knows that’s never going to happen. Meanwhile, dental assistant Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) has been struggling to maintain his self-respect against the relentless X-rated advances of Dr Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), when she suddenly turns up the heat. And accountant Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) has just learned that his company’s corrupt new owner, Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell), is not only bent on ruining his career but plans to funnel toxic waste into an unsuspecting population.
What can you do when your boss is a psycho, a man-eater or a total tool?
Quitting is not an option. These monsters must be stopped. So, on the strength of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con whose street cred is priced on a sliding scale (Jamie Foxx), the guys devise a convoluted but foolproof plan to rid the world of their respective employers… permanently.
But even the best-laid plans are only as good as the brains behind them.
The comedy Horrible Bosses stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, with Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, Julie Bowen and Jamie Foxx.
Horrible Bosses is directed by Seth Gordon and produced by Brett Ratner and Jay Stern, from a screenplay by Michael Markowitz and John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein, story by Markowitz. Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Michael Disco, Samuel J. Brown and Diana Pokorny serve as executive producers, with John Rickard and John Cheng as co-producers.
The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography David Hennings; production designer Shepherd Frankel; editor Peter Teschner; costume designer Carol Ramsey; composer Christopher Lennertz; and music supervisor Dana Sano.
A New Line Cinema presentation of a Rat Entertainment Production, Horrible Bosses is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Classification 16
Films are released by KRS