The trailer for “Shrek Forever After” is online, and Dreamworks is calling is the last sequel in this particular franchise. Of course, I don’t believe it. The cynical side of me says if they can keep making money on it, they’ll keep churning out sequels or video games or straight-to-dvd installments. But the characters really are pretty cute, so that’s ok with me.
The plot for “Shrek Forever After” is similar to Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Shrek lands in a Far Far Away world as if he never existed. The ogre Fiona is public enemy number …read more

With Twitter going 24/7, and celebrities tweeting about everything from their latest hookup to what they had for lunch, you have to wonder how all of this is going down in their camps. It sort of takes the control away from their agents and publicists, and that can’t always be good.
WENN News is reporting that the head honchos of some movie companies are banning stars from joining Twitter, to prevent secret information from leaking out. The first victims: Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers. They’re set to star in another “Shrek” sequel, “Shrek Forever After,” next year.

Dreamworks execs have …read more

It’s hard to imagine "Harvey" with anyone but Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, the guy who befriended a 6 1/2-foot-tall invisible rabbit in the 1950 film version of Mary Chase’s play — which won a Pulitzer Prize, by the way.
But if anyone can do a remake, it would be Steven Spielberg, who plans to direct an upcoming film, a co-production of 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks. It’s the first film under DreamWorks’ new incarnation; the company will finance 50% through its new partner Reliance and distribute through Disney.
It’s funny how all these film companies are hooked …read more

I noted in my "Monsters vs. Aliens" review how much I liked the 3D format. I usually don’t like 3D movies and find them distracting, but I thought it worked really well for that movie.
Meanwhile, Roger Ebert dissed the format in his review of the movie. It’s a big discussion in the movie biz right, with DreamWorks pushing its slate of 3D movies. I think it works for some, but not all, movies.
My friends at Cinema Blend caught up with Michael Bay at ShoWest and posted a a great piece about his thoughts on the matter. When asked …read more

Well, this news isn’t good. I just read in Variety that DreamWorks Animation’s net income fell 45% last quarter to $52 million, from $94 million the year before.
Even though sales of “Kung Fu Panda” DVDs generated $102 million during the quarter, revenue still fell 31% to about $200 million, down from $290 million.
Hmmm, this is a little different report than I posted earlier this month. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be one sad puppy if this company, which helmed films like “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Over the Hedge,” and “Flushed Away” takes a dive.
CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said in …read more

Wow, what a cast! I got pretty excited when I saw that Robert Downey Jr., Tina Fey and Ben Stiller were in talks to star in a movie together. Then a little let down to find out their VOICES would be in an animated movie together. But still a little excited at the prospect.
They’re in negotiations for DreamWorks’ "Master Mind," about a superhero villain who loses his reason to live after accidentally killing his good-guy nemesis.
They’re looking at a Nov. 5, 2010 release date. Stiller is also producing via his Red Hour Films.
Eh, maybe I’ll get more excited …read more

Check out the new poster for “Monsters vs. Aliens,” in theaters March 27, 2009. The DreamWorks movie is about a young girl who turns into a monster after being hit by a meteorite from outer space. She’s then taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. Features the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Keifer Sutherland, Hugh Laurie, and others.
It looks a lot like “Monsters, Inc.,” doesn’t it?

Image: Monsters vs. Aliens, DreamWorks Animation, 2009