Helen Mirren Voices Dean Hardscrabble in "Monsters University"

To Dean Hardscrabble, there are scary monsters and there are all other monsters. It’s no surprise she feels this way—she is, after all, a legendary Scarer and Dean of the School of Scaring at Monsters University. Aspiring Scare students must be up for the challenge to impress her, though she is convinced that her assessments of who is truly scary are never wrong.

Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren (“The Queen,” “Red,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”) provides the voice of the esteemed dean in Disney/Pixar's new, 3D animated comedy “Monsters University.”

“Hardscrabble has been arguably the hardest character that I’ve ever worked on in the 15 years I’ve been here,” says character art director Jason Deamer. “We had as many as 12 people working on her. She had to be terrifying and creepy, but at the same time beautiful and graceful.”

Filmmakers recruited a rare centipede for inspiration—Scolopendra Gigantea, also known as the Amazonian giant centipede. “We didn’t want her to be just a pure centipede,” says production designer Ricky Nierva, “so we thought having a dragon-, bat-wing motif would be cool. She can get from point A to point B really quickly, and her wings provide great opportunities to illustrate her emotions—when she gets angry, she can unfurl them quickly.”

With 30 legs, spectacular wings and a lifetime of experience, Dean Hardscrabble knows Scaring. She has no use for mediocrity—and her students know it. So when the hard-to-please Dean witnesses the spectacular culmination of the rivalry between Mike (voice of Billy Crystal) and Sulley (voice of John Goodman), she takes swift action, dashing their dreams in an instant.

Unlike Hardscrabble, Helen Mirren, who lends her voice to the character, appreciates Mike Wazowski’s work ethic. “Following your dream is all very well, but without the hard work it’s nothing. I think too many people think all you have to do is just have a dream and it will happen, and this movie very adroitly and very elegantly teaches a lesson to young people—success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent sweat and hard work. And even then, there are no guarantees.”

In “Monsters University,” ever since college-bound Mike Wazowskiwas a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a professional Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot MU legacy James P. Sullivan, “Sulley,” a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.

Now showing in Disney Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “Monsters University” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Monsters University Review

Reviewing Monsters University courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Philippines. Opens June 29 and featuring the voices of Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sully respectively.

It's a return engagement to the world of Sully and Mike Wozawski this time however, we take a step back to that time before the events of Monsters Inc. to find out the origin of Mike and Sully's friendship as well as how they actually got to where they are.

In the grand scheme of things, Monsters University is the first daring risk that Walt Disney and Pixar has taken. They've always been known for making sequels but never a prequel. Did they pass the mark? Did they actually do good in this type of feature film story telling? The answer is yes.

There's a lot of cute moments here in Monsters U that will appeal to folks of different ages. It's also chock full of meta stuff, which is amusing considering that all that plus more is wrapped in such a movie. Still after all these years, I'm also still impressed with how Disney managed to cast it's traditional magic in this new movie.

The characters are also evenly matched to their voices; Serenity's Nathan Fillion comes into the film as Johnny the Jaw, Sean Hayes [of Will and Grace] as Terri, Charlie Day as Art and Helen Mirren as Dean Hardscrabble all fit the characters to the T.

Being that it's a prequel, nothing earth-shattering or career ending happens here. No villain dies and Randell Boggs [played by Steve Buscemi] is still alive and still the laughing stock in one form or another. 

As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of metas that come into play in this movie. One of the most recurring ones happen to revolve around Mike and how he pines to be a scarer, no, the top scarer for Monsters Inc. Of course that doesn't happen in the first movie as its actually Sully who becomes that. While Toy Story delved around friendship and acceptance of what you are, Monsters University focuses more on friendship and growing up together. It's an evolving friendship as seen in the relationship between the two main characters.

Another great thing about Monsters University is the gags. It starts slow but by the time we get to see the big scare fest, you'll be chuckling not only at the antics of Mike and Sully but also with the other OK (Oozma Kappa) members such as Art and Terri & Terry. 

Major props to the production crew for giving us a couple of easter eggs in the movie. Oh and to answer your question, YES, THERE IS ANOTHER POST-CREDIT SCENE and you do not want to miss that.

Overall, Monsters University is a great movie to catch this weekend. Be sure to bring the kids and make it a family bonding moment. Oh and I also advice you to watch it in 3D as it gives more life to the already lively gang of would-be scary monsters. 

Special thanks once again to Walt Disney Studios Philippines. Catch Monsters University as it is released today (June 26). 

HITCHCOCK Review - Ayala Cinema Exclusive

Here's my review for the film "Hitchcock" starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson. It's exclusively screening in Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide.

Read more after the cut.

Anthony Hopkins is cast as the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock in this wonderfully devious film about one important part of the the master director's career, the inception and the creation of the film 'PSYCHO'. 

Hopkins knows his part and plays it to perfection for this movie. It's an exceptional piece of work they did with the prosthetic and the makeup for the film especially for Hopkins. But it's not just the outside that made it so damn convincing. Anthony Hopkins also made it so he looks really acts the part. It's these rare performances that makes you go "ohhhhh" when you see it. 

Hitchcock Slashes its Way to Ayala Cinemas

Lurking behind Alfred Hitchcock, cinema's "master of suspense" -- the extraordinary film icon known for orchestrating some of the most intense experiences of menace and intrigue audiences have ever seen, was a hidden side: his creatively explosive romance with his steadfast wife and filmmaking collaborator, Alma Reville.

Now, for the first time, Fox Searchlight's searing drama “Hitchcock” lays bare their captivating and complex love story. It does so through the sly, shadowy lens of their most daring filmmaking adventure: the making of the spine-tingling 1960 thriller, “Psycho,” which would become the director's most controversial and legendary film. When the tumultuous, against-the-odds production was over, nothing about movies would ever be the same - but few realized that it took two to pull it off.

Starring Oscar-winners Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren as Alfred and Alma, respectively, “Hitchcock” will be shown starting Feb. 6 exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide. Moviegoers can catch the film at Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center, Market! Market!, Ayala Center Cebu, Marquee (Central Luzon), Abreeza (Davao), Harbor Point (Subic) and Centrio (Cagayan de Oro).

The film also stars Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel and James D'Arcy.

New Hitchcock Teaser Trailer

In the world of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies, chaos, danger and sinister evil hide in the shadows of his characters’ ordinary lives. But what about Hitchcock’s own everyday life? The consummately skilled director carefully cultivated a public persona – constructed out of his portly silhouette and macabre wit – that managed to keep his inner psyche tightly under wraps. But for decades the question has lingered: might there be a way to get inside Hitchcock not as an icon but as a person?

New Poster for Hitchcock featuring Mirren and Hopkins

20th Century Fox shares a new, classy looking poster for the upcoming "Hitchcock" starring Academy Award Winners Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren.

The film is set to be released locally (i.e. The Philippines) beginning February 6, 2013. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel among others. Really intriguing stuff.