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Do the best books make the best movies?

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

When I was little, I absolutely loved the Ramona book series written by Beverly Cleary. The movie version, Ramona and Beezus, comes out today, and I have mixed feelings about this.

Any avid book lover knows that a movie adaptation can go two ways—they can take one of your favorite stories, and all the images you pictured when you read them, and your interpretation of the characters, and totally and completely muck it up—or, they bring delight to millions of fans by bringing our favorite fictional characters to life. This balancing act between a good movie adaptation and a potential disaster is, I think, even more dangerous when we’re talking about children’s books—you don’t want to mess with people’s sense of nostalgia the wrong way.

I’ve seen some great movie adaptations of some of my favorite children’s books—Horton Hears a Who, A Little Princess, Charlotte’s Web—and I’ve also seem some pretty terrible ones, which shall remain nameless here.

The same is true of adult movies—I Am Legend, I Robot, Fight Club (yes people, it was a book first), Romeo and Juliet, My Sister’s Keeper, Lord of the Rings, The Shining, Carrie, It, and on and on.

Why do you think great books get turned into movies? Does it open up a great story for those who wouldn’t normally pick up the book, or dumb down great books and ruin the way the fans remember them? What are some of your favorite book-to-movie adaptations? What makes them successful, or not? Is it the actors, directors, setting, or some subtle combination of these elements that makes it work?

–Jennifer Ringler

Check out the trailer for Ramona and Beezus:

Posted in Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Rubies Costume Co. Signs Licensing Deal for The Green Hornet

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

In anticipation of the January 14, 2011 release of Sony Pictures’ action film, The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen, Rubie’s Costume Co., Inc. has obtained a license to create products ranging from deluxe costumes of Green Hornet and Kato to hats, gloves, masks, and other costumes.

In The Green Hornet, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA’s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to  maintain a directionless existence on the party scene—until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father’s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. To get close to the criminals, they come up with the perfect cover: they’ll pose as criminals themselves. Protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets.

Watch the trailer here.

Posted in Halloween, Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Disney Goes Designer for Toy Story 3 Fashions

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Last week, Disney Consumer Products (DCP) unveiled limited-edition Toy Story 3 designer T-shirts by designers Henry Holland, Victor Glemaud, Jonathan Saunders, Costello Tagliapietra, and Cassette Playa at a private celeb-studded fashion unveiling at REVOLVEclothing boutique in West Hollywood.

Each designer was inspired by a Disney∙Pixar Toy Story 3 character: Rex, Hamm, Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear. The T-shirts became available on June 18, coinciding with the film’s release, and are being sold exclusively at the REVOLVEclothing boutique and the REVOLVE online store.

Produced by Mighty Fine, Inc., there are five T-shirt designs in total, which are available in both men’s and women’s styles.

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Posted in Apparel, Fashion Licensing, Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Toy Story 3 Has Something for Everyone

Friday, June 18th, 2010

At long last, Friday is here. What makes the day even more awesome is that Toy Story 3 is here as well!

I haven’t seen it yet, though I have some friends that went to some midnight showings and will therefore be half asleep at their jobs all day. Apparently the wait, and the all-nighter for those who caught the midnight shows, was totally worth it.

I just read a very thought-provoking review of the movie, that says that the film deals with some very grown-up and serious issues in a great way, yet is still a fun-loving kids movie as well.

I know that so many kids’ movies have grown-up messages in them, and appeal to a diverse audience. Is this a new phenomena? When I was younger, were kids’ movies just fun for kids, or were there deeper meanings that I just didn’t see? I know that Looney Tunes had a lot of jokes for the grown-ups that I missed in the first go-around when I was nine. I know that Happy Feet was about more than dancing penguins.

What do you think of messages about culture, the environment, politics, human relationship, love, and loss being part of fun-loving cartoons? Which properties do you think have pulled it off well? Do our kids know they’re being taught about serious human issues, or do they just like the fun animation?

Whatever your take on it, go see the movie, read the review that got me thinking such deep thoughts at 9 am on a Friday, and tell us what you think!

Also, watch the trailer here.

–Jennifer Sinclair

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Posted in Kids Properties, Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Smurfy Sneak Peek

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

We are very excited about the Smurfs movie!

We don’t know much about it yet–only enough to know it’s going to be Snurftastic!

This Sony film is set to hit theaters July 29 of next year, and somehow brings the little blue guys into our world.

The newest and most exciting Smurf news is the newly release teaser trailer. Watch it here.

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Posted in Character Licensing, Kids Properties, Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Telltale Games Announces Back to the Future and Jurassic Park Video Games

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Telltale Games, an independent digital publisher and developer of episodic interactive entertainment, has announced a multi-year, two-title video game development deal with Universal Partnerships & Licensing. Telltale Games has secured the rights to create video games based on two of Universal Pictures’ films, Back to the Future and Jurassic Park. The first game released under the agreement will be a Telltale Games “season” based on the Back to the Future

films.

With more than five million episodes delivered to date across all major video game platforms, Telltale digitally delivers episodic content to consumers. The agreement broadens Telltale’s product offerings into new genres and new styles of gameplay.

Look for the first video game based “season” of Back to the Future from Telltale this winter followed shortly by Jurassic Park. Telltale will release more information on both game series at a later date.

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Posted in Movie Licensing, New Deals, Video Games | No Comments »

Old Movies New in Theaters Today

Friday, June 11th, 2010

When I went to go see Die Hard 4 in 2007, there were two young boys, maybe 16 or 17, in the theater as well. One of them turned to his friend and said, “So what’s this movie about, anyway?” And the other one said, “I don’t know, I’ve never heard of it, I think it’s an action movie.”

Well, obviously this makes me feel really old, since I grew up watching the first three Die Hard films with my dad. In fact, when I’m stressed out, I’m likely to devote entire weekends to Die Hard and Lethal Weapon marathons to mellow me out. (Is that weird?) Who do these kids think they are? How can they just come to the theater without any idea of the legacy in which they are about to partake?

Anyway, the point is, today, two new films are opening in theaters that both, much like Die Hard, are attempting to draw new generations to a property that’s been around for years. I’m talking about The Karate Kid and The A-Team.

Both remakes look pretty awesome, and both have inspired me to add the originals to my Netflix list for a trip down memory lane.

Movies aren’t the only things that get re-vamped for younger audiences. Classic properties abound in licensing, from Charlie Brown to Ninja Turtles to Strawberry Shortcake. What do you think about bringing old properties to new audiences? What makes it work for some and not for others? How powerful is nostalgia when it comes to what we purchase? Do these younger fans even know that the properties they love are remakes or spin-offs?

Deep licensing thoughts for a Friday afternoon.

–Jennifer Sinclair

Check out trailers for The Karate Kid and The A-Team here:

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Posted in Around the Industry, Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Twilight is an Immortal Success at Licensing Show

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Summit Entertainment’s modern day vampire love story, The Twilight Saga: New Moon took home five International Licensing Excellence Awards yesterday at the LIMA Opening Night Awards Ceremony at Licensing Show. Licensing agent Striker Entertainment represents Summit and The Twilight Saga franchise.

The film took home an award in each of the five categories it was nominated: Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year; Best Retailer of the Year; Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program of the Year; and two awards in the category of Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program of the Year (Soft Goods for the National Entertainment Collectibles Association’s apparel and accessories, and Hard Goods for Cardinal Industries’ Twilight board game).

In case you’re the last one in the world who hasn’t seen New Moon, here’s the trailer:

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Posted in Around the Industry, Movie Licensing | No Comments »

MarVista Entertainment Teams with Borders

Monday, June 7th, 2010

MarVista Entertainment is working with Borders to launch an exclusive line of consumer products supporting the world premiere of 16 Wishes. The movie premieres Friday, June 25 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

Borders will be the exclusive retailer for all 16 Wishes merchandise. A variety of products will be available nationally in all Borders and Waldenbooks retail locations and online at Borders.com.

MarVista has also signed a promotional partnership with Rita’s Italian Ice to promote the movie. Beginning June 15, 16 Wishes movie flyers will be posted in all stores, and the company will support the launch with an email campaign to its “Birthday Club” members, together with a Facebook and Twitter campaign.

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Posted in Movie Licensing | No Comments »

Toys “R” Us Premieres Dedicated Toy Story Boutiques

Friday, June 4th, 2010

In celebration of the anticipated theatrical release of Toy Story 3, Toys “R” Us is debuting dedicated Toy Story 3 boutiques, in all of its nearly 1,300 toy stores in 34 countries around the world.

The boutiques, which are open across the U.S., are filled with an assortment of Toy Story-inspired toys, including action figures, construction sets, role play accessories, musical instruments, and electronic devices. Similar sections will open in Toys “R” Us stores around the world, coinciding with the movie’s release in each respective country.

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Posted in Character Licensing, Kids Properties, Movie Licensing, Promotions, Retail, Toys and Dolls | 1 Comment »

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