Family entertainment sickens Billy VICKY ROACH National Features June 13, 2012 7:00PM (NEWS.COM.AU)

Comedian Billy Connolly voices a character in new Disney film Brave. Picture: John Fotiadis

BILLY Connolly would like it to be known that his recent collaboration with Disney does not signal a shift towards the middle of the road.

"As a matter of fact, that whole family thing makes me puke," says the comedian, 69, with characteristic baldness.

"When somebody says they are a family entertainer, I think: I must remember not to see them. It means they are completely inoffensive and not going anywhere near the edge."

For Connolly, giving voice to Brave's loveable and unreconstructed 10th century King Fergus had more to do with posterity.

"What I love about making animated films is you get the feeling, rightly or wrongly, that your grandchildren's children will probably see it - they tend to last for ages," he says.

"I get a weird buzz out of that rather than the goody- goody stuff."


READ MORE:  http://www.news.com.au/news/family-entertainment-sickens-billy/story-fn6c8sdb-1226394550913

New Images From Prometheus, The Hobbit, Bourne Legacy and more (Spin off, On line)

Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 10:45am

• by Kevin Melrose

While USA Today has already provided us with a new image from Marvel’s The Avengers, the newspaper also has as part of its 2012 preview revealed stills from several more movies — including a first look at Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy.


Jeremy Renner stars as Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy, Universal Pictures’ spinoff of its lucrative action franchise. Directed by Tony Gilroy, who wrote the previous installments, the movie also stars Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton. It opens Aug. 3.



Disney has released a new image from Pixar’s Brave, which stars Kelly Macdonald as the voice of Merida, a Scottish princess who inadvertently unleashes a curse upon her father’s kingdom. It opens June 22.



We also get a new look at Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first part of director Peter Jackson’s two-movie adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy novel. The film, which also stars Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and a host of others, opens Dec. 14.



Noomi Rapace looks somewhat perplexed in a new image from Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated sci-fi epic Prometheus. The 20th Century Fox film, which also stars Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba and Charlize Theron, opens June 8.



Universal Pictures provides us with another look at Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen in Snow White in the Huntsman, which also stars Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth. The re-imagining of the classic fairy tale opens June 1.

Tags: Brave, Prometheus, Snow White And The Huntsman, The Bourne Legacy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

 

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/01/06/new-images-from-prometheus-hobbit-bourne-legacy-and-more/

 

 

 

Pixar's Brave Has Girl Power

Disney Pixar takes us back in time with their latest animated film Brave. The movie centers on a stubborn princess who defies convention to follow her dreams. But what starts off as a simple declaration of independence ends with dire consequences.

Disney has released a new trailer for their highly anticipated feature from Pixar, titled Brave. It's an animated tale set in the ancient Highlands of Scotland. The film stars Boardwalk Empire's Kelly Macdonald, Oscar-winner Emma Thompson and Grey's Anatomy hunk, Kevin McKidd.

Brave centers on Merida, a courageous young woman who defies tradition and plays by her own rules. As the daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Thompson) she's expected to get married and follow in her mother's footsteps. Unfortunately, Merida has other plans that don't mesh with her family's.

When Merida decides to tempt fate and pave her own path, chaos is unleashed on her kingdom. Her problems are then compounded when she asks an old witch for help. Merida sets out on a journey to undo the damage and break a beastly curse that could haunt her forever.

Could Brave be the next girl power movie to hit theaters? Like its Disney-made predecessor Tangled (loosely based on Rapunzel), it has qualities of a fairy tale with hints of comedy and action. The protagonist isn't a damsel in distress and doesn't immediately fall in love with a handsome prince, which is a welcomed change.

Pixar has a lot riding on Brave's success. Their last film to hit theaters was Cars 2, which was considered their first critical failure. The film earned a mere 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, putting an end to their acclaimed winning-streak. Brave is the studio's shot at redemption.

With the exception of Emma Thompson and Julie Walters, the primary cast of Brave consists of Scotland natives. The film is directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, who previously worked on Ratatouille, The Incredibles and The Lion King.


Brave opens in theaters everywhere June 22

She Knows