Speaking of MONSTERS VS ALIENS... and by that I mean Harry is speaking about them...

Hey folks, Harry here... MONSTERS VS ALIENS is the first Dreamworks Animation property that I feel has been specificially targeted for my brain. When I got offered a chance to go out to the fabulous Dreamworks Animation campus - I accepted mainly because I am an animation-holic, but I wasn't absolutely super-duper excited. I'm not the biggest fan of DREAMWORKS ANIMATION. In my opinion - in their CG world they've made 3 pretty darn good films with ANTZ, OVER THE HEDGE and KUNG FU PANDA. The first two SHREKS were fun as I watched them in the theater - but instantly upon leaving the theater, I began hating them. There's gags that stuck with me, but the humor and story was so incredibly disposable that I kinda hated having laughed - so basically the first two SHREK movies made me feel like a snob - and I really don't like that sensation. And the third... was an unbelievable pile of shit. But - DREAMWORKS ANIMATION had a carrot to entice me. MONSTERS VS ALIENS. Just at a basic level - that title translates to - "Harry's ass is gonna dig this" - and if the film doesn't live up to that - I'm going to be royally disappointed. But I did see a big chunk of the opening of the film. Most of which was taken in piece form for the trailer that was up, then gone - This actually looks like inspired material - and the directing team and everyone I met was extremely geeked out by working on this. Posters for films like ATTACK OF THE 50 FT WOMAN, THE BLOB, MOTHRA and others decorated offices - and as cool as the designs for the monsters and aliens were... What really got me going - and mainly what I saw were the HUMAN CHARACTERS. Too often, human characters in CG animated films lack character and tend to be young, smooth and unexpressive. For MONSTERS VS ALIENS, they've done something so geekily cool - so intrinsically speaking to my monkey brain that I was overjoyed with glee. They're doing JACK DAVIS humans. What the hell is that? Well, you're obviously not an EC and MAD MAGAZINE geek. Jack Davis had a specific style of caricature that ruled the pages of MAD MAGAZINE and EC Comics throughout their history. And every human character had that sort of look - and as I looked at the monsters - they kinda had that same Jack Davis parody of monsters look. And that's fantastic. In particular – I love the design on Stephen Colbert’s PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES – it’s such the dream image that you’d imagine Colbert would conjure for his Presidency – a comedic design cross from Colbert and Ronald Reagan. The initial scene – where he flies in to initiate first contact with the aliens in the form of what seems to be an enormous ship… well, it rules. He climbs this enormous staircase with a podium at the top – with a keyboard – and proceeds to play 5 notes that you all know – followed by a fantastic other musical selection. And he looks so fricken cool doing it. Later at the “War Room” style set – very inspired by Dr Strangelove – Colbert’s President is on full on ego bloated and scared whiney fear mode. Great stuff. That’s where we get introduced to General W.R. Monger – he’s the General with a plan to use Monsters against the Aliens. He’s voiced by badass vampire Kiefer Sutherland. Frankly, I couldn’t tell it was Kiefer – in either design or in voice – he sounds very much like an angry and fired up cross of George C Scott and Lawrence Tierney. He’s full on blustery – and he’s great. I didn’t really get much in terms of the Monsters – just their introductions through footage – but the cast for this thing is incredibly impressive. Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett and that evil evil dancing singing talent man… RAINN WILSON cue Girly Screams and Fainting Spells – he plays an alien named Gallaxhar. His design is crazy fun. The footage I saw was also all in 3D and damn it looked awesome. I also had a conversation with Katzenberg about 3D and the struggle he has in convincing the theatrical companies (ie the theater owners) to make the conversion for the upcoming onslaught of 3D entertainment. Of course – he was preaching to the converted – I’m 100% on board the 3D event film – and I’m also an advocate for 3D in the realm of dramas, comedies and especially Nature Documentaries – not to mention HOME THEATER!!! Jeffery was philosophical about the battle to bring theater owners around – he has days where he feels defeated and days where he feels it’s all going to work out beautifully – but he’s absolutely convinced that this will help save the movie theater experience and industry. We’re at a point where the home theater set up… my god, at my house I have something that I feel is more cozy and wonderful than any theater I’ve ever been to. As I work right now – SMART PEOPLE is playing beautifully 9ft by 12ft and there’s zero chance of interruption… of someone chewing popcorn behind my head – and I’m burning a candle that my wife got me that is scenting the room like Cupcakes (a sin I can not partake in, but damn I love that smell) 3D is an experience that for most folks can not really be duplicated at home with the effect it has in a movie theater. And when you have films like MONSTERS VS ALIENS coming in the format – you’ll see what I mean. The big one will be AVATAR – and Katzenberg has seen some of James Cameron’s mysterious film in 3D and he believes it will singlehandedly revolutionize the business. It will be THE experience to experience and Jeffrey’s campaign in many ways isn’t just about getting enough screens to do MONSTERS VS ALIENS – but to pave the way for AVATAR which will convert the unconverted… and will justify his commitment to the format – which he’s dedicated the future of DREAMWORKS ANIMATION to. MONSTERS VS ALIENS is the first big salvo in the 3D war to win the screens and projectors of movie theaters around the United States and one day the world. Some are betting 3D will be a folly – as it was perceived in the 50s… a cheap trick. Only the technology has improved like so much of the technology we have today. The experience has become vastly superior. Though that isn’t necessarily so – I’d argue that films like DIAL M FOR MURDER and MISS SADIE THOMPSON and CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and HOUSE OF WAX are in fact better than any modern 3D movie that I’ve yet seen. I’ve a feeling that will change – I’d love to see non-event movies shot in 3D. Something like a Wes Anderson film or a Paul Thomas Anderson film or a Coen Brothers movie. Something that is just patently cinematic, where 3D is a compelling tool used to draw you into the drama, comedy or suspense. That was a tool for atmosphere and not just about whiz-bangery. ANYWAY – I’m getting off target… it’s kinda what I do, but I feel that the subject of making cinemas better than they have ever been is important. That the experience is under assault by the home market – and that 3D is part of that answer. The other part is the part that has always been plaguing Hollywood… that is to make compelling and awesome movies that get our asses in seats and returning often. To that end, I can’t say MONSTERS VS ALIENS will be everyone’s cup of tea – but it might be one helluva Coca Cola…