Tonight at 8:00 PM EST (please check local listings), NBC will be airing Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space. The half-hour special will feature the monsters battling evil space pumpkins. If you liked the movie, than be sure to check out this Halloween special.
-John C.
Written By E. Corrado
Monsters vs. Aliens is Henry Jackman’s first solo score for a film. Already an accomplished artist in scoring, he shared an award with Hans Zimmer & John Powell for the music in Secrets of the Furious Five at last year’s Annie Awards.
His score for Monsters vs. Aliens is just so much fun to listen to - and a great first solo film effort! The thing is that this score’s mix of quiet moments and action sequences really helps make the film. Listening to it again, I am reminded of the film, which I haven’t seen in about 6 months. Even so, the soundtrack stands very well on it’s own. It’s a nice length too - 1:05:46.
Jackman makes good use of rhythm and instruments for the appropriate feel here. Particularly in tracks Meet The Monsters, and the great ending The Ginormica Suite (a wonderful compilation piece - if you’re just going to buy one track on iTunes, buy this one). Track 13 also shows a good variation... I love tracks 10 & 11 as well - although all of the pieces are great, and I probably shouldn’t name them all one by one! Because of Jackman’s musical training in various forms, he makes good use of complementing this orchestral score with electronic instruments. (For an example of a mostly electronic piece, listen to track 19.)
Many of the themes for the film were set up in tracks 1, 4 & 5. These themes are threaded throughout, without becoming repetitive. Perhaps Jackman has gotten the hang of this from his work with Hans Zimmer? His scores often have themes that manage to clue you in without hitting you over the head with them. I can actually hear vague similarities to some of the Pirates and Kung Fu Panda music a few times in here - both movies that Jackman did additional music for, while working alongside Zimmer. (Interestingly enough, I realize now, it's between the Battle at the Golden Gate Bridge piece in this, and The Bridge score in KFP... It's just in a few of the chord sequences - maybe they are good for scoring bridge fights.) As for Pirates, I think it's more the rhythm style that's reminding me.
The score is pretty much all done in a light major feel. It has a certain bounciness throughout, yet effortlessly changes to a slow pace when needed. And when it is at a slow pace, the piano has some really beautiful themes - like in track 11. The strings also get a nice showcase in track 18. The soundtrack on a whole is actually very lyrical. Some scores are hard to listen to all in one sitting - this one is most definitely not. After it ended, I started going back and listening to some of the tracks again!
I was disappointed to see though that this particular score was not translated into a music book, like most DreamWorks animated film scores are by Cherry Lane Music Publishing. While the score does have a lot of enormity to it, it is very lyrical/theme based, and I think for that reason, it could have been translated well for piano, and (especially for) small band.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another nomination for Henry Jackman at this year’s Annie Awards - although he would be facing extremely tough competition with Michael Giacchino’s very different from this, yet still wonderful, score for Up, which will probably take home the actual award.
The full soundtrack includes a great balanced mix of 14 original scores, with 6 classic monster/alien themed songs. Because this isn’t a soundtrack with a lot of variation between really loud and really quiet tracks, it makes for a great listen in the car, since it can withstand highway noises without being drowned out, or getting too loud. This is also one that will be enjoyed by all ages.
The Monsters vs. Aliens soundtrack just leaves you feeling really good - it’s a happy set of music. Get this one.
Today, September 29th, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing Monsters vs. Aliens on DVD. We reviewed the film when it came out in theatres last March. You can read our reviews here. As our consensus read:
“ Monsters vs. Aliens is fun, entertaining movie, with a great voice cast, visuals, and music. Go see this in a theatre, and if possible, in 3-D. This is fun that the whole family, (around 6 and up), can enjoy. *** (Out of 4) ”
With that said, it’s still worth seeing on DVD. You can get it in a two-disc set, which includes the all-new short film B.O.B.’s Big Break, which is presented in anaglyph 3D.
-John C.
MONSTERS VS. ALIENS
http://www.monstersvsaliens.com/
Release Date: March 27th, 2009
Rated PG for sci-fi action, some crude humour and mild language.
Running time: 94 minutes
Rob Letterman (dir.)
Conrad Vernon (dir.)
Reese Witherspoon as Susan Murphy/Ginormica
Seth Rogan as B.O.B.
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D.
Will Arnett as The Missing Link
Kiefer Sutherland as General W.R. Monger
Rainn Wilson as Gallaxhar
Stephen Colbert as President Hathaway
Paul Rudd as Derek Dietl
'Monster Lineup' from Monsters vs. Aliens
Our reviews below:
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Monsters vs. Aliens Review By John C.
*** (out of 4)
What would you do if there was going to be an alien invasion? Unlock the monsters that the government has had imprisoned for over 50 years to fight them off. And so is the plot of Monsters Vs. Aliens. A big-budget 3-D CGI blockbuster that pays homage to 1950’s b-movies.
Dreamworks’ Monsters Vs. Aliens has incredible imagery and the 3-D is almost flawless. But, the film is not just great to look at. The voice acting is excellent, including Reese Witherspoon (Ginormica, 1-Inch short of being the 50-foot women), Seth Rogan (B.O.B., a brainless, but lovable blue blob), Will Arnett (The Missing Link, a half-man, half-fish cross), Hugh Laurie (Dr. Cockroach P.H.D, a scientist that has been crossed with a cockroach), Rainn Wilson (Gallaxhar, the evil squid-like alien who wants to take over the planet), and also including Kiefer Sutherland (General W.R. Monger) and Stephen Colbert as The President. These are A-list stars, but they’re also perfect for there roles and it never seems like they’re just the voices because they’re famous.
I personally find the 3-D works best to show a perfect sense of depth, like someone's hand coming towards the screen, or something hovering in front of something else, but when they try and throw stuff at the screen, it doesn’t quite work, because it just kind of floats out and disappears. Thank goodness here the technology is mainly just used for depth and there rarely is a scene where it doesn’t work. Be it the paddle ball in the opening scene or a fight on an alien ship, the 3-D presents images that quite literally jump off the screen. The film would probably be fun in 2-D, but the 3-D really is worth the extra 3 dollars. I imagine the DVD will be released in Color Code 3-D, which is the technology used for the 3-D Super Bowl ads, but for now you’re only going to get the proper 3-D experience in a theatre.
How does it rank among Dreamworks Animation’s other recent films? Well, for me personally, it was not as amazing as Kung Fu Panda, nor quite as laugh-out-loud funny as Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, But this is still a worthy addition to their list of films and a very enjoyable action-comedy, that actually is genuinely a lot of fun from start to finish.
Despite the title, I don’t think this film would be too scary for kids over about 6. Any younger and they will likely just be bored. I had a great time at this film and I can totally recommend it. If you are looking for a good time at the movies, then this is it. Go out and enjoy.
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Monsters vs. Aliens Review By Erin V.
*** (1/2) (out of 4) -(See explanation in review below.)
Monsters vs. Aliens is, as the title suggests, about monsters vs aliens. The story is as follows: On Susan Murphy’s, (Reese Witherspoon), wedding day, she is hit by a meteor, containing an alien substance that causes her to grow to 49’ 11” tall. Captured by the government, she is put in a secret facility that is completely off the radar, so in other words essentially does not exist to the outside world. There she meets the other monsters held in captivity, B.O.B., (Seth Rogan), The Missing Link, (Will Arnett), Dr. Cockroach, (Hugh Laurie), and Insectosaurus, (who does not speak, but instead makes roaring sounds that only The Missing Link seems to understand). Susan is the first new monster to be captured since the 50’s, and the government dubs her Ginormica. They are to be held there indefinitely, until an alien robot, sent by Gallaxhar, (Rainn Wilson), attacks the Earth. This robot is completely unfazed by conventional military weaponry, so W.R. Monger, (Kiefer Sutherland), who runs the monsters facility suggests to the President, (Stephen Colbert), that they let the monsters fight the alien robot in exchange for their freedom. Sure the title is Monsters vs. Aliens, but really, there is just Gallaxhar and his clones, which I guess technically does make it plural.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was a lot of fun to watch, especially in 3D. DreamWorks obviously has a great command on the field of CGI animation, considering the great graphics displayed here. Although the storyline is not all that complex, the visuals are quite stunning in certain scenes. While I think that the 3-D enhances this effect, especially out in space at the beginning when we get a great sense of depth and during the fight scenes, I am sure that it will still be a lot of fun in ‘2-D’. I found the characters all to be engaging enough to tell the story, and my favorites I think would be Susan - (Ginormica), B.O.B, Gallaxhar, and his robot. Susan had a nice character arc in the film as she truly becomes Ginormica, and the others, while they did not have really much development in their characters from beginning to end, were still very funny and engaging to watch on screen. I also liked Gallaxhar’s ‘mothership’, which had a voice spoofing the normal computer voice. It was very cool to look at, both inside, and out.
I would recommend going to see this movie. While it is not very complicated storywise, it is quite enjoyable. This would probably have been quite big as a Summer release, but I guess it’s nice to have something like this to go to now. I am giving it 3 1/2 stars instead of 3, in part from a filmmaking perspective. This is what the extra 1/2 star is for: The use of 3-D, (save for the beginning), was not too overblown, and the camera angles especially in fight/chase scenes were quite well done. This is very important in a movie like this, but harder than one might think to do. If the camera cuts too fast, or the angle is wrong, it can throw off a whole shot or scene. The voice cast does very well with the material provided, and I am sure that a lot of it is improv. Music by Henry Jackman, his first full solo feature film score, was also great to listen to and well done. We will have a review of the score sometime in the coming weeks.
Overall, while there is not all that much in way of story here, it seems more like an introduction to these characters in a way. DreamWorks has done this well before, often producing a sequel like Madagascar 2, or Shrek 2, which is fuller than the first, because it served more as an introduction to the characters world. The trailer is a good indication as to what this movie will be like. A fun movie to pass the time with great visuals to look at in 3-D.
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Monsters vs. Aliens Review By Nicole
*** (out of 4)
Monsters vs. Aliens is a fun tribute to the old monster and alien invasion films from the 1950’s. The movie follows Susan, an ordinary woman who, on her wedding day, is hit be a meteorite, and becomes really tall. The government thinks Susan is a monster, whom the dub “Ginormica”. They take her to a secret prison where monsters are hidden from the public. Here Susan meets the other prisoners; B.O.B., a gelatinous blue blob who has no brain; a half ape, half fish named The Missing Link; a half cockroach, half “mad” scientist named Dr. Cockroach; and a giant caterpillar named Insectosaurus. The prisoners are kept captive indefinitely, but when an evil alien named Gallaxhar attempts to take over the Earth, the government releases the monsters so they can defeat the aliens.
Monster vs. Aliens has a lot of really funny lines, and the monsters are really lovable. I also really liked the message, which is that individuals who are “different”, have an important role and place in society. This is especially evident in the character of Susan, who is really just a regular person inside.
Although this movie is about monsters and alien invasions, the characters are really funny , and in no way would frighten children. Even the villain, Gallaxhar, is not too frightening. However, Monsters vs. Aliens is not just for kids, but for anyone, especially those who remember the old monster films. And seeing this movie in Real D 3D added an even more fun element to the film. Monsters vs. Aliens is a fun, light comedy that you can take the whole family to.
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Monsters vs. Aliens Review By Maureen
*** (out of 4)
Monsters vs. Aliens is a whole lot of action packed fun. The 3D experience was a real treat though I think I also would have enjoyed it in 2D.
The whole film has a fun, retro feel to it with all kinds of references to the old monster movies that the older adults in the audience will get. I liked the fact that the monsters weren’t too scary for the younger members of the audience. I especially liked Susan/Ginormica, (voiced by Reese Witherspoon). It’s nice to have a female heroine in an animated action movie. Susan/Ginormica’s growth as a strong person proved that being big on the inside is more important than being big on the outside. The other monsters are also fun to watch, each with their own quirky and flawed characters. My other favorite monster is brainless B.O.B., (Seth Rogan). The relationships between the characters and their support for one another is nice.
The movie is pretty predictable for an alien invasion storyline. However the action moves along at a good pace, the animation is nice to watch and there were quite a few laugh out loud moments without being over the top. This isn’t my favorite of Dreamwork’s movies - Madagascar 1 + 2 still hold that spot for me. However Monsters vs. Aliens is up there with the better ones.
Overall, this was a very pleasant way to pass the evening and experience 2D well done even when that meant having to wear ugly glasses. Make sure you stay right through to the end of the credits. There is an extra scene thrown in and the final credits have an old James Bond feel to them. Good family fun. Well worth the premium price for 3D.
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Monsters vs. Aliens Review By Tony
*** (out of 4)
Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D from Dreamworks is a good animated film for the whole family. At the simplest level it is an action story with mutant monsters from earth battling an alien invasion, way too cute to scare little kids. At the same time, as in the Zucker films (without the vulgarity), the more people know, the more they will appreciate the frequent references to other films that it lampoons. The 3D images are beautiful to watch, drawn with the consistent attention to proportion sometimes lacking in recent Disney films such as Bolt and Chicken Little. The voice actors are well suited to their characters, notably Stephen Colbert as the dumb president, Kiefer Sutherland as General W. R. Monger and Seth Rogan as the brainless blob of blue gel. Finally we really enjoyed the music, both in the background and where highlighted, such as in the first contact scene.
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Alien Robot in Monsters vs. Aliens
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Consensus: Monsters vs. Aliens is fun, entertaining movie, with a great voice cast, visuals, and music. Go see this in a theatre, and if possible, in 3-D. This is fun that the whole family, (around 6 and up), can enjoy. *** (Out of 4)
The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens
Text By Linda Sunshine
Foreword By Stephen Colbert
Published By Newmarket Press, March 2009
Page count: 192 pages
Size: 11 x 10
Includes: Text and 400 illustrations
http://www.newmarketpress.com/title.asp?id=895
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The Art of Monsters vs Aliens Review By John C.
The Art of Monsters vs Aliens is a beautiful reference book that coincides with the new film from Dreamwork's Animation. It is filled with concept and character art, that gives you a sense of how the different characters came to be. Some of it is really funny, especially a lot of Timothy Lamb’s two page spreads, (particularly the one on pages 46-47), Lamb was also the one that does a lot (if not all) of the cool retro-style character posters.
Having not yet seen the film at the time of writing this, I now cannot wait to finally get to see it. If the book is any indication, (which it is), than this film will be spectacular in 3-D, but still great to look at in 2-D.
While the film is entertainment, this book reminds us that it is also art. A fact that will sadly be forgotten by a lot of people when they go see it this weekend.
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The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens Book Review By Erin V.
As an artist myself, I find these kinds of artwork books fascinating. Well written and easy to read, The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens is a great look into the making of this movie, as well as the art process for films like this in general.
In this book, we can really see what a challenge Monsters vs. Aliens would have been to create, because the characters are so huge. Along with making sure that the proportions are consistent between the characters, they have to keep them beside something that we recognize the approximate height of, such as a building or regular sized human being. Otherwise, we would have no way of telling just how big they actually are. Reading through the book, you will come to realize just how hard it is to make a movie like this - especially in 3-D. While it may look easy on screen, it is cool to get a little bit of perspective into just how much work is actually involved.
This book is filled with 400 amazing illustrations ranging from concept art to storyboards, and is divided into an introduction + five parts for ease of reference. (Character Design, Locations, Special F/X, The Making of Monsters vs. Aliens, and Out of the Picture.) The foreword which opens the book is written by Stephen Colbert, who voices the President of the United States in the movie. Very informative, this is a great tie-in to the movie. It must have been a hard task to assemble all of the interviews and text together, and decide what went in the book and what didn’t. While I have not read the whole book cover to cover as of yet, I can tell you right now that it is definitely worth adding to your collection.
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You can read our interview with author Linda Sunshine here, and find out more about The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens on Newmarket Press's website here.
Quick note: Our reviews of the film will be coming soon...
When did you find out that you were going to be working on this project? (Monster vs. Aliens) In the summer of 2008.
How much time are you given to put the book together? About 6 months.
Did you have access to all of the concept art for the film? How did you decide what pieces to include in the book? The staff at Dreamworks assembled the first rough cut of concept art, which I think was about 3,000 pieces. Our job was to cut that down to about 400.
Were you given a list of people to speak to, (e.g. directors, animators, storyboard artists, etc.)? Did you have to - or get to - choose who to speak to? Yes, the producer and production designer on the movie put together a list of about a dozen key people for me to interview. After I interviewed those folks, and knew what I wanted to cover, I asked to speak to about 10 others in specialty fields.
What was it like to talk to so many people involved, and how do you put it all together into the book? I begin with extensive interviews with the people who have the most creative control over the movie so that I can establish the main attributes, challenges, and areas of interest that might be included in the book. My job is to focus on the particulars that make this movie different from others that have come before. Once I know what really distinguished the movie, I can put together a rough outline of the main topics the book will cover.
These interviews are the most fun part of the book writing process for me. I love talking with creative people who are passionate about their work; to learn how they became interested in their particular field and how they solved the challenges presented to them. Personally, I am fascinated by people who are passionate and committed to their work, no matter what they may do.
When you first started working on The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens, had you seen any footage from the film, (e.g. animated story reels)? There was about 10 minutes of completed (meaning 3-D) film of 2 major scenes in the movie and I was able to view these on a big screen (with polarized glasses) very early in my research.
Have you seen the finished film yet? Yes. I attended a screening last week in Burbank on a Saturday morning. The theater was packed, about half adults and half kids. The movie played brilliantly. The kids were quiet and attentive, except when they were gasping with surprise because of the 3-D effects or howling with laughter. It could not have had a better reception as far as I could see.
From the beginning when you started going through all of the artwork, did one character really stand out for you? Would this now be your favorite character, and if so, why? There are 5 main monsters and one amazing alien (with thousands of alien clones.) All of them were interesting and engaging but since Susan AKA Ginormica is the central character in the movie (and the only “human” monster), she was definitely my favorite.
How is it to see something that you first met through concept art, up on the big screen? [If you’ve seen the finished film], does meet your expectations? The finished film more than met my expectations. It transcends being a “kids” movie with tons of references to more mature concepts like satirizing monster movies from the 50s, references to movies such as Dr. Strangelove and political asides about a somewhat nutty and incompetent president who can’t tell the difference between the button for a cup of latte and the button for an atomic device.
How do you feel The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens compares to other film related books you have worked on? Every new animated film seems to override anything that came before it. The technology changes so rapidly that each new advancement seems to push the entertainment and enjoyment factor just that much further. Monsters vs. Aliens contains special effects elements that have never been seen before.
I noticed that you’ve written a lot of books on Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of OZ. Do you have a favorite children’s book / film? As a child of the 60s I have to ask: Can anything compare to The Wizard of OZ? I saw it in the movie theater when I was 6 years old and I’ve never been so thrilled by anything before or since. That moment when the film transfers from black and white to color was a high point of my childhood. Though the technology advances, it is always those “first time” experiences of our childhood that stay with us forever.
Are there any upcoming projects that you can tell us about? Not yet. Ask me again this summer!
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One Movie, Five Views thanks Linda Sunshine for taking the time to answer our questions, and Harry Burton at Newmarket Press for setting everything up.
To read more about The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens visit the page on Newmarket Press's website here.
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