Illumination Entertainment made their name with the DESPICABLE ME franchise and as Gru returns this summer in the third instalment, STARBURST takes a look at what to expect...
What is it about baddies that is so enigmatic? From the earliest days of cinema, we have often found that, despite the fact we know the heroes are mostly in the right (not always though, remember that philandering Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction), it is the villains who absorb us and entertain us the most. From classic Disney villains (Maleficent, Jafar, Ratigan, Ursula) to - metaphorical and literal - moustache-swirling actors like Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), Tim Curry (Stephen King’s It, Legend, Three Musketeers, Mighty Max), Christopher Lee (Star Wars prequels, Dracula, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies) and Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Fifth Element, Hannibal), we love watching baddies. In fact, this is something that is becoming bigger as the years advance, as bad guys and gals are becoming the focus of big movies; see recent examples in Megamind and Suicide Squad. However, one of the most successful villain-centric capers of recent times is Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me. Back in 2010, this badly behaved animated family film not only kicked off this studio’s impressive run in style, it created a franchise in its cinematic evil laboratory and grew (or should that be Gru?) characters that have since feverishly acquired a mainstream following.
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Esta historia es de la edición June 2017 de Starburst Magazine.
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Memoirs Of The Dead
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STAND BY FOR SHADO
This autumn marks the 50th anniversary of Gerry Anderson’s evolution from producing Supermarionation to live-action TV shows with UFO. We take a fond look back on a complex, mature series that took Century 21 Productions to new creative heights…
SHORT AND TO THE POINT
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ROAD TO OTAKU
YOUR GATEWAY INTO THE WORLD OF ANIME......WITH YOUR NAVIGATOR, JAMES 'MAGIC PERKINS' PERKINS
INDEPENDENTS DAY - FC RABBATH
Born in Alexandra, Egypt in October 1986, director/writer FRED ‘FC’ RABBATH has been an inventor, author, comedian, journalist, and all around entrepreneur. He’s also hugely well-travelled thanks to his father’s work, which required Fred to live in several countries before he was even 16. Tirelessly prolific, he has written and directed a string of acclaimed short films and a number of features including Scarlet’s Witch (2014), The Hum (2015), The Movie Extra (2015), and especially A Brilliant Monster (2018), which we described as ‘quirky and highly watchable… a psychological horror/thriller that examines the nature of creativity and the obsessions which drive the creative mind’ He’s back later this year with THE WAITING, a highly unusual and unpredictable ghost story that turns slowly into an unusual romantic fable. We spoke to Fred about his background and his approach to his work in the independent movie sector.
HEART and SOUL
Known for re-shaping the landscape of movies as we know it (not just animated ones), Pixar has respectfully raised the bar with delightful, heartfelt aplomb. From the intense opening segment of Up where no matter how lacking in emotion you think you are, tears will still come running, to the joyous Randy Newman-scored Toy Story moments, to the roaring, superhero family dynamics in The Incredibles, there’s an endless array of remarkable Pixar memories. Even in just these highlighted animated spectacles alone, Pixar has imprinted many sequences into our brains that we will never, ever forget. Everyone has a favourite Pixar character, scene, quote, song, and catchphrase that still evokes something nostalgically magical in them. So, what’s yours?
TRUTH BE TOLD
Following on from our TRUTH SEEKERS set-visit last issue, we speak with the driving forces behind Prime Video’s excellent new supernatural comedy series, SIMON PEGG, NICK FROST, and SAMSON KAYO...
Telephemera
ALAN BOON DELVES INTO THE TELEVISION ARCHIVES TO UNEARTH ANOTHER LONG-FORGOTTEN CURIO...
AN EYE FOR AN EYE
The controversial 1978 film I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE has just been released as part of a 6-disc box set that includes the reboot trilogy, the UK debut of the direct sequel, DÉJÀ VU, and a feature-length documentary GROWING UP WITH I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. We managed to speak with actors CAMILLE KEATON and JAMIE BERNADETTE as well as the son of the original director, TERRY ZARCHI to find out more about the legendary revenge films…
telephemera
ALAN BOON DELVES INTO THE TELEVISION ARCHIVES TO UNEARTH ANOTHER LONG-FORGOTTEN CURIO...