Posted by Anthony Pearson Jan 6, 2012, 21:11 GMT
Return to M&C's full 2012 Movie Preview. Pixar journey's to the Scottish highlands with it's animated epic - BRAVE When is it released? - June 22nd (US), August 17th (UK). Who does it star? - Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane. What is it about? - Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In "Brave," a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late. Find out more about this movie in our database here. ----- PARANORMAN is beautifully crafted stop motion animation from the creators of "Coraline" When is it released? - August 17th (US), September 14th (UK). Who does it star? - Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jodelle Ferland, Bernard Hill, Jeff Garlin, Tucker Albrizzi, Tempestt Bledsoe and Elaine Stritch. What is it about? - In Focus Feature's "ParaNorman," a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits. Find out more about this movie in our database here. ----- Sabre toothed squireel Scrat and company are back on the big screen for the fourth time in - ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT When is it released? - July 13th (US), July 6th (UK). Who does it star? - Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Jeremy Renner, Wanda Sykes, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Heather Morris, Joy Behar, Nicki Minaj, Josh Gad, Alan Tudyk, Nick Frost, Kunal Nayyar, Alain Chabat and JB Smoove. What is it about? - In "Ice Age: Continental Drift," Scrat's nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he's been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences -- a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these earth-shattering upheavals, Sid reunites with his long lost family, and the gang encounters a ragtag menagerie of colorful new characters determined to stop them from returning home.Find out more about this movie in our database here. ----- Swashbuckling stop motion comedy from Aardman animation - THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS (Titled "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists outside the US) When is it released? - March 30th (US), March 28th (UK). Who does it star? - Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, David Tennant, Brian Blessed, Salyma Hayek, Imelda Staunton, Jeremy Piven, Ashley Jensen and Russell Tovey. What is it about? - Hugh Grant, starring in his first animated role, is the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award. It's a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London. Along the way they battle a diabolical queen (Imelda Staunton) and team up with a haplessly smitten young scientist (David Tennant), but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure!Find out more about this movie in our database here. ----- A new Dr. Seuss movie adaptation featuring the voice of Danny DeVito as fluffy orange eco warrior - THE LORAX When is it released? - March 2nd (US), July 27th (UK) Who does it star? - Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Betty White and Rob Riggle. What is it about? - The Dr. Seuss story is narrated by a greedy entrepreneur who, despite warnings from the tree-loving Lorax, strips a forest of its stock of Truffula trees to manufacture clothing. The results are catastrophic as all the animals leave and nothing's left. The film will focus on a boy searching for a way to win the love of the girl of his dreams. Along the way, he learns of the Lorax, the grumpy yet loving creature who fights to protect the environment.Find out more about this movie in our database here.----- The escaped zoo animals become Europe's most wanted in - MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED
When is it released? - June 8th (US), October 19th (UK). Who does it star? - Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer and Andy Richter. What is it about? - Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent - Madagascar style.Find out more about this movie in our database here. -----
