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In the lead up to the big summer films of 2011 we are in the midst of some wonderful family movies in the coming months. DreamWorks Studios just released Gnomeo and Juliet which grossed $25.5M in its opening weekend. DreamWorks also has its highly anticipated thriller, I Am Number Four (rated PG-13), opening this Friday, February 18.

On March 4, 2011, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) under Nickelodeon-Paramount Pictures, debuts its animated movie Rango. Rango (voiced by the incomparable Johnny Deep) is the name of a troubled chameleon that is having an identity crisis (ironic for a changeable creature) and is trying to discover his path in life. Along his journey he finds himself in a Western town swarming with bandits where he soon realizes his dream of becoming a swashbuckling hero.

What’s new and unique about Rango is the method by which director Gore Verbinski worked with his actors to create the voices for the movie. Typically voice work for animated movies is non-collaborative. For instance when I interviewed Zach Levi and Mandy Moore, the main voices for Disney’s animated movie Tangled, the actors had never met until the press tour.

For the movie Rango, director Verbinski created an environment where all of the main actors had this incredible playing field complete with costumes, props and sets to act out the script (see video below). Their voices were recorded in what Verbinski calls “emotion capture” with the audio used for the final film. Verbinski’s goal was to develop a more “raw and kinetic” quality to differentiate it from the vocal performances of other animated films.

Continue reading Rango: Aims to Deliver More Than a Deep Message

For Monday night’s preem of “Rango,” Paramount turned Broxton Ave. in Westwood into a Western ghost town, opting for old-timey saloons and general stores rather than red carpet’s traditional step-and-repeat.

“I wasn’t familiar with the Western genre, so I did have to watch a bunch of films” in preparation for the role, shared thesp Isla Fisher. “I wanted her to sound like Holly Hunter in ‘Raising Arizona.’ I must have watched that movie a million times.”

Fisher also said “Rango” was assembled unlike most animated films, with the actors rehearsing their parts together as though it were a play before recording any voices.

Story scribe James Byrkit said the film’s true influence is rooted not only in Clint Eastwood genre pics but also “this Don Knotts film called ‘The Shakiest Gun in the West.'” After all, in the pic Johnny Depp voices Rango, a chameleon with an identity crisis.

Byrkit added that he and helmer Gore Verbinski share a trait that shows through in their films together: They don’t like to be pinned down to a single genre or style. “I love the whole broad spectrum…I love the big effects spectacles, but I also love old MGM musicals and everything in between.”

– variety.com

Hampton Hotels recently announced a partnership with Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies to offer hotel guests and their families the chance to see the new animated film RANGO, which is set to open nationwide on March 4, 2011. Guests who purchase and complete a weekend stay at any Hampton property in the U.S. from January 24 through March 6, 2011 will receive a movie ticket family pack including two adult and two child movie tickets to their local theater.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for families who stay at Hampton Hotels to be rewarded with the experience of seeing this exciting new film”

“Hampton is thrilled to be partnering with Paramount and Nickelodeon on their new animated movie, RANGO, which delivers a wonderful message for families about self-discovery, perseverance and adventure,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “Through this promotion, we’re offering guests an added value for their stay and bringing families together with free movie packages.”

From the director of “Pirates of the Caribbean” comes RANGO, featuring the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher and Abigail Breslin, an original animated comedy-adventure that takes moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk into the Wild West.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for families who stay at Hampton Hotels to be rewarded with the experience of seeing this exciting new film,” said LeeAnne Stables, executive vice president of worldwide marketing partnerships, Paramount Pictures.

This offer can only be booked online through www.Hampton.com/Rango. Guests who book and complete a weekend stay from January 24 through March 6, 2011 will receive four complimentary RANGO movie tickets (two adult and two children tickets.) Guests who take advantage of this promotion will receive their tickets via email between March 1 and March 8, 2011 and must redeem the tickets at theatres by March 20, 2011.*

For more information about this promotion, please visit www.Hampton.com/Rango, and for more information about the movie RANGO, visit www.RangoMovie.com.

Isla Fisher had no problem being cooped up on set with Johnny Depp for a month.

The two actors star in animated comedy Rango, in which Johnny plays a gun-toting chameleon.

But Isla said that director Gore Verbinski still insisted on the cast acting out their scenes together, from which he lifted the audio.

“We shot this on a sound stage as a play for a month,” Aussie actress Isla explained.

Isla, who is married to Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen, said she had a great time working with one of the world’s biggest heart throbs.

“Unfortunately Johnny had to look at me everyday for four weeks, fortunately for me I got to look at him and it was great fun,” she joked.

“I feel like the chemistry that comes from reacting off an actor, rather than being in a sound booth with just a microphone for company, has made all of our performances, at least I hope, more energetic” she said.

Isla, who wore a stunning blue mini-dress to the premiere, admitted it’s easy to see why so many people love Johnny

“[He’s] very easy to get along with, very funny, very nice, very talented, I have nothing but great things to say about Johnny – me and the rest of the world!” she laughed.