2016 Summer Family Movies Round-up
Most school’s have now officially broken up for the summer holidays, so it is the perfect time for us to highlight some of the best family movies arriving in UK cinemas over the next few weeks.
THE BFG
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Mark Rylance, Penelope Wilton, Jermaine Clement, Bill Hader, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall and Ruby Barnhill
Release Date: 22 July, 2016
From the imaginations of two of the world’s greatest storytellers, Roald Dahl and Steven Spielberg, THE BFG tells the extraordinary tale of a young girl named Sophie (played by British newcomer Ruby Barnhill) and the Big Friendly Giant (played by Oscar Winner Mark Rylance) who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.
Together they embark on a marvellous and buckswashling adventure filled with snozzcumbers, dream jars, frobscottle and even the Queen! The mismatched pair form an unlikely friendship that will inspire enormous bravery in the BFG and give Sophie a taste of the family she dreams of.
Directed by three-time Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, the film reunites the director with his Oscar-nominated collaborator on “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” Melissa Mathison, who adapted the childrens author’s timeless adventure for the big screen. “The BFG” is produced by Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer with Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Michael Siegel serving as executive producers.
The film stars three-time Tony Award®, two-time Olivier Award, BAFTA and Oscar® winner Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant; Penelope Wilton as the Queen; Comedians Jemaine Clement and Bill Hader as Fleshlumpeater and Bloodbottler; Rebecca Hall as Mary, the Queen’s handmaid; Rafe Spall as Mr. Tibbs, the Queen’s butler; and introduces newcomer Ruby Barnhill as Sophie.
The story was first published in 1982 and has been enchanting readers of all ages ever since. Dahl’s books, which also include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” are currently available in 58 languages and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide.
The BFG arrives in cinemas across the UK & Ireland from today!
FINDING DORY
Director: Andrew Stanton
Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, and Eugene Levy.
Release Date: 29 July, 2016
Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past.
What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton.
“Finding Dory” swims into cinemas on 29 July, 2016.
PETE’S DRAGON
Director: David Lowery
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence and Robert Redford
Release Date: 12 August, 2016
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon. Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opens in UK cinemas on 12th August 2016.
Pete’s Dragon flies into UK cinemas on 12 August, 2016
BLINKY BILL: THE MOVIE
Director: Deane Taylor
Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Rufus Sewell, Toni Collette, David Wenham, Deborah Mailman, Richard Roxburgh, Robin McLeavy, Barry Otto and Barry Humphries
Release Date: 19 August, 2016
Join cheeky Aussie koala Blinky Bill as he goes on the adventure of a lifetime when Blinky Bill: The Movie comes to cinemas nationwide on 19tH August!
The cast of Blinky Bill: The Movie is led by Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) as the voice of Blinky Bill, Rufus Sewell (A Knights Tale, The Holiday) as the treacherous feral cat Sir Claude and Robin McLeavy (Hell On Wheels) as Blinky’s best friend Nutsy.
Starring alongside them is Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine, About a Boy) as two charming yet gossipy emus called Sheryl and Beryl, Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires) as Blinky’s kind and courageous Mum and Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage) as the wildly eccentric Wombo the wombat.
Rounding off this esteemed ensemble are David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King) as the manic but loveable frill-necked lizard Jacko, Barry Otto (The Great Gatsby) as the tyrannical Mayor Cranklepot and Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge) as Blinky’s adventure-loving father.
Blinky Bill is a koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Greenpatch and following in his explorer father’s footsteps. Mr Bill went missing in the Outback some time ago and Blinky is the only one who believes his father is still alive.
When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his Dad’s whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him into the dangerous Outback. He quickly makes friends with Nutsy, a zoo koala, and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard. Pursued relentlessly by a vengeful Cat who has a personal score to settle with Blinky, the trio must learn to work together if they ever want to survive the rugged Australian landscape and find Blinky’s father!
Blinky Bill: The Movie is based on the classic Australian book series by Dorothy Wall and directed by Deane Taylor (Art Director of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas). From an original screenplay by Fin Edquist (Maya the Bee), the film was produced by StudioCanal and Screen Australia in association with Flying Bark Productions and will be distributed in the UK by Enchanted Animation.
Blinky Bill: The Movie arrives in cinemas across the UK on 19 August, 2016
