STACK Aug #154

THE LEGO Ninjago Movie The voice cast and producer of the third big brick in the block-busting LEGO Movie franchise were in town to talk ninjas, family, and Jackie Chan. L EGO movies are family films in more ways than just appealing equally to kids and adults. In between fighting

Theroux, “so his brand really lends itself to what we did in this movie.” Lin adds that the martial arts master even brought in his own stunt team to act as doubles for each of the characters. “When you see the martial arts in the movie, they did all the stunts, and we animated against all that action. It sounds crazy and it’s

villains and injustice, the films’ mini-figure heroes are searching for their own place in a family dynamic. Emmet Brickowoski found his amongst his gang; Batman was a solo operator but had Alfred, Robin and Batgirl; and then there’s the team of The LEGO Ninjago Movie . Based on an original LEGO property that also inspired a TV series, Ninjago is the island home to this group of six ninjas – teenagers by day, warriors by night – who must fight to defend it from the evil Lord Garmadon. In true LEGO Movie tradition, a cracking voice cast – Dave Franco, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña, Zach Woods, Justin Theroux and the legendary Jackie Chan – bring the characters to life. But how does a bunch of seasoned actors prepare to play LEGO roles?

“We went to LEGOLAND for a couple of months just for research,“ jokes Franco, with Nanjiani adding, “I keep a bunch of LEGO under my pillow every

the first time we ever did that.” “It feels so unnecessary,” quips Nanjiani. Lin also promises that this will be the most beautiful looking LEGO movie to date. “We’ve brought some new live-action elements, and we have some organic elements – real grass, water, trees – as well as a great comedy cast. It’s a really different look and that’s really exciting.”

night to get into character.” Unfortunately, Chan (who voices the

group’s Sensei) couldn’t make it to Comic- Con, but producer Doug Lin and the cast were quick to acknowledge his contribution to the movie. “In his films there’s always a large element of comedy, even with the fights,” says

The LEGO Ninjago Movie is in cinemas on September 21.

SCAREDIEGO A new trailer and footage from IT, as well as a first look at the just completed Conjuring 2 spin-off The Nun , was unveiled to an appreciative and rowdy audience. An advance screening of Annabelle: Creation , the second film to feature the demonic doll introduced in The Conjuring , followed. New Line got Comic-Con off to a spooky start onWednesday, hosting a special late night horror event at the Horton PlazaTheatre. IT is the first of a two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s best-seller and director Andy Muschietti ( Mama ) and the film’s child star ensemble introduced the new footage, which featured the kids known as The Losers’ Club bonding by the lake, fending off bullies in a rock fight (a scene fans of the book and mini-series will fondly remember), and a quick cameo by resident evil Pennywise the clown waving a severed child’s arm. Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise looks to be a far more sinister creation than Tim Curry’s TV version, and we can’t wait to see more of him. “Pennywise is one of the greatest monsters of all time,” noted Muschietti. “The idea of reimagining Pennywise, to me, means it’s important to stay true to the essence of the character, but also bring

IT

some edge to it – something people won’t expect to see. “It’s a great moment to be alive, because IT is coming back after all this time,” he beamed. Producer and screenwriter Gary Dauberman presented a scene from The Nun , who creeps up behind star Taissa Farmiga in a Romanian chapel. The brief clip promised a Euro-horror feel, which bodes well.

Annabelle

Annabelle: Creation director David F. Sandberg ( Lights Out ) and stars Anthony LaPaglia, Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman and Lulu Wilson took to the stage for a quick Q&A prior to the screening, with Sandberg describing the film as not “the usual sort of horror sequel where you get the same movie with things cranked up a bit.” And he was right – the scares come thick and fast, with a scene involving a bedsheet ghost a standout.

IT opens in cinemas on September 7, Annabelle: Creation is released August 10, and The Nun is due in 2018.

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