'The Angry Birds Movie 2' Finds Their Hatchlings

'The Angry Birds Movie 2'

The adorable Hatchlings of Sony Pictures Animation's and Rovio's The Angry Birds Movie 2 are being voiced by Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), JoJo Siwa, Genesis Tennon, Alma Varsano, Faith Urban and Sunday Urban, Sony Pictures announced today. 

The Hatchlings are the baby birds that have stolen everyone's hearts and have no intention of giving them back, and can be seen in action in a sneak peek clip from the film launching today.

They join an all-star cast that includes Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones, Bill Hader, Rachel Bloom, Awkwafina, Sterling K. Brown, Eugenio Derbez, Danny McBride, Peter Dinklage, Pete Davidson, Zach Woods, Dove Cameron, Lil Rel Howery, Nicki Minaj and Beck Bennett.

In the film, out in theaters August 14, 2019, three Hatchlings voiced by Prince, Tennon and Varsano (Zoe, Vivi and Sam Sam) embark on their own epic story, and are now up to their own tricks! 

• Their role-playing-game-gone-wrong launches them on an adorable adventure that will charm and delight the world. No hatchling is too small to dream big!

About 'The Angry Birds Movie 2'

The flightless angry birds and the scheming green piggies take their beef to the next level in The Angry Birds Movie 2! 

When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride), and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck's sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina), and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.

The film is directed by Thurop Van Orman with a screenplay by Peter Ackerman and Eyel Podell & Jonathon E. Stewart. It is produced by John Cohen, and stars Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones, Bill Hader, Rachel Bloom, Awkwafina, Sterling K. Brown, Eugenio Derbez, Danny McBride, Peter Dinklage, Zach Woods, Pete Davidson, Dove Cameron, Lil Rel Howery, Beck Bennett, Nicki Minaj, Brooklynn Prince, Maya Rudolph, Tony Hale, JoJo Siwa, David Dobrik, Gaten Matarazzo, and Colleen Ballinger.

SOURCE: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Related Video:

Beer, Food... Sex Ed?

Reuben's staff celebrate a winning game at SERVE 2018 (CNW Group/Head and Hands)

Head & Hands' Sense Project has been supplementing Quebec's insufficient sex education program since 2005. Despite the government's 2017 decision to bring sex education back into the curriculum, it has stagnated in the pilot phase for more than two years. 

The Sense Project employs an approach that are trans- and queer-positive, casual, and non-judgmental. Delivered by a team of trained peer facilitators 18-25, the unique combination creates an environment of relatability where teens ask what they want, and get the answers they deserve.

In the last year, the Sense Project made a shift to working more with the Francophone school system, with a 253% increase in the number of safer sex workshops offered in French. 

• The Sense Project also debuted two new workshop series for teens surrounding different sexualities and trans experiences.

Every year, the annual SERVE Beach Volleyball Tournament brings together staff from bars and restaurants from around Montreal raise money for the Sense Project, supporting another year of intervention-based sex education. Every year, the bars raise upwards of $15,000 during a fun-filled day of beer, balls, barbeque, and sex ed facts.

Those who aren't playing beach volleyball are welcome to bask in the sun at Jeanne Mance Park too! You don't have to raise money to contribute: all you have to do is buy a hot dog and you'll be contributing to your community. 

• Kids are welcome too - facepainting and childcare are available!

"Youth already have a lot of knowledge. They just need to validate that knowledge, and build on it in an environment that feels safe". - Charlie Morin, Sense Project Coordinator

Who: The staff of 11 Montreal bars and restaurants and community members who want to support sex education for youth

Why: To support sex education for Montreal youth through a fun day of beach volleyball, games, face painting, and more!

When: Sunday, July 28th, 2019: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Where: Association Montreal Beach - Griffintown, on the canal

SOURCE: Head and Hands

Related Video:

The People's Moon to be Unveiled at Times Square & London Piccadilly This Saturday, July 20, the Day and Hour They Landed

Apollo 50th 1969-2019

This Saturday 20 July, The Aldrin Family Foundation will host a free family celebration with The People's Moon transforming New York's Times Square into Tranquillity base celebrating the 50th Anniversary of when humans first walked on the Moon taking over numerous screens. 

• The People's Moon will be shown simultaneously at London Piccadilly Lights, and in an exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where Apollo 11 launched in 1969.

In an enormous room in the New York Marriott Marquis the public will be able to 'Walk on the Moon', a 180 meter square boot print by UK artist Helen Marshall, and explore the educational Giant Moon Map and Giant Mars Map by the Aldrin Family Foundation. 

Printed and installed by UK printers Prolific Graphics, the photo mosaic is comprised of thousands of photographs submitted by public.

• The public can also participate from their armchairs and explore the online Moon photo mosaic made up of everybody's images.

QUOTES

"During this 50th Anniversary, we want to bring people together to share this moment - to look up at the Moon and have hope again. We all share that same Moon and it reminds us we're humans together on the same planet," says Christina Korp of the Aldrin Family Foundation.

"The People's Moon is an opportunity for the public to join all of the world's citizens to become a part of a living legacy time capsule," explained artist Helen Marshall, UK.

• An interactive legacy exhibit is also at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, co-created by artist Helen Marshall, Moondog Animation Studios and DesignShop.
• Historical sequences provided by Discovery Channel, Blue Aurora Media, and Stephen Slater. Screens and Space kindly donated by Times Square Alliance, Clear Channel, NASDAQ, Reuters, Champs, Landsec, Ocean Outdoor, Nickelodeon and Viacom.
• Thousands of photos were submitted by children from the New York Department of Education and AR patches from Astro Reality are featured in the giant floor mosaic.
• The House of Lords UK debated the impact of the Moon landings, led by Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, young people participated at the St Pauls Way Trust Summer Science School.
• Jannicke Mikkelsen, VR cinematographer showcased her Lunar Window at the Apollo 50th Gala.
• The People's Moon also screens at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore's Marina Bay, co-produced by Blue Aurora Media.

The People's Moon is co-created by British artist Helen Marshall of the People's Picture, and Christina Korp of the Aldrin Family Foundation USA

SOURCE: The People’s Moon

Lexus Helps Save the Universe in "Men in Black: International"

The 2020 Lexus RC F to star as the Men in Black agents’ vehicle of choice in Sony Pictures’ Men in Black: International

To complete their missions, the Men in Black need vehicles with the horsepower for high speed pursuits, the most advanced alien-fighting technology, and sophisticated styling befitting the most exclusive group of secret agents in the galaxy. Lexus is pleased to fill that role as the official vehicle of Sony Pictures' "Men in Black: International," slated to open in U.S. theaters June 14, 2019.

• The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.

Lexus vehicles are the official fleet of Men in Black agents globally in the film. The 2020 Lexus RC F stars as the Men in Black agents' vehicle of choice for their high velocity pursuits. The luxury sport coupe recently underwent an exciting change, making it faster, lighter and even more ready to transport the Men in Black as they save the universe. 

The Lexus RC F offers the best power-to-weight ratio in its class and the most powerful Lexus V8 to date, generating 472-horsepower – plus in the film it boasts some pretty amazing alien tech. The Lexus RX Hybrid and Lexus LX SUVs are also featured in film scenes with alien encounters.

"We've added some advanced capabilities to the RC F to assist the Men in Black agents, creating a truly one-of-a-kind alien-fighting machine," said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing. "We can't wait for moviegoers to see the RC F as they've never seen it before."

The collaboration between Lexus and Sony Pictures' "Men in Black: International" includes integration in the film, a co-branded TV spot, a custom Men in Black RC F and sponsorship of the film premiere.

"We're excited to collaborate with Lexus on this multi-tiered campaign in support of 'Men in Black: International,'" said Jeffrey Godsick, EVP, Brand Management and Global Partnerships, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. "The Lexus RC F sports coupe provides the perfect vehicle for our team of Men in Black agents, led by Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, as they protect the galaxy."

Men in Black International (2019)

About "Men in Black: International"

The film is directed by F. Gary Gray, and written by Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, based on the Malibu Comic by Lowell Cunningham. 

Produced by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, E. Bennet Walsh, Riyoko Tanaka, David Beaubaire, Barry Sonnenfeld, Edward Cheng, and Howard Chen. 

The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall, Laurent Bourgeois & Larry Bourgeois, with Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson. 

The Trailers:

SOURCE: Lexus

"POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" Comes to 7-Eleven with AR Experiences, Dollar Drinks and Exclusive Products

"POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" Comes to 7-Eleven with AR Experiences, Dollar Drinks and Exclusive Products

7-Eleven stores are teasing the highly anticipated theatrical release of the first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu," with dozens of exclusive movie-themed products, shareable photo filters and interactive augmented reality (AR) experiences in the 7-Eleven app.

For a limited time that includes the film's May 10th nationwide release date, the world's largest convenience retailer is also offering dollar drink deals to introduce its new mocha beverages and mystery-flavored Slurpee drink. A small cup of the new hot mocha, medium Cold Brew or medium Slurpee drink each cost only $1 at participating stores.

"'POKÉMON Detective Pikachu' is a great entertainment tie-in for 7-Eleven because it appeals to so many of our customers – kids, Gen Z, millennials," said Tarang Sethia, 7‑Eleven vice president of digital customer experience. "Millennials, who played the original videogame 20 years ago, are parents now and can enjoy the Pokémon phenomenon all over again with their kids. The entire Pokémon franchise launched as a videogame, making it the perfect vehicle to create experiences that maximize the new and growing AR capabilities in the 7-Eleven app."

Along with the unique and exciting AR games, "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" products will be available at participating 7-Eleven stores and can be delivered in select areas through 7NOW, the retailer's delivery platform. 

• Every Thursday during the promotion, 7-Eleven will unveil a free signature item that fans can order and have delivered directly to a chosen location.

Here's what to look for at 7-Eleven stores:

AR – Earning Free Stuff While Having Fun

7-Eleven has created a Ryme City Neighborhood Watch AR experience in its app, named for the movie's fictional setting, that includes a new "Find the Missing Pokémon" activity each week. Drawing from the movie storyline, each activity will fully immerse users in a unique story to find the missing Pokémon.

The quest to successfully find each Pokémon unlocks exclusive offers for free products. The free offers, in the order they can be earned, include a free pizza slice, four free mini tacos, free any-size cup of Hi-Hat Mocha or other hot beverage, and five free chicken wings.

A variety of 7Rewards bonus point offers run throughout the "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" promotion, and selfie snaps also earn 7Rewards points weekly when customers share via their social channels using the hashtag #7ElevenNHW.

Since 7-Eleven launched AR last year, customers have been seeking out its stores to play games or meet a surprise celebrity, character or athlete.

Mystery Slurpee Sweepstakes

The Mystery Slurpee Sweepstakes offers customers an opportunity to do a little sleuthing for a chance to win a year of FREE Slurpee drinks. 

The Instagram-based contest invites users to follow Slurpee on Instagram; post a photo, video or gif of themselves; guess the three flavors in the Mystery Slurpee drink; and include the required hashtags, #MysterySlurpee and #Sweepstakes in the caption.

Hi-Hat Mocha

Detective Pikachu really, really loves coffee. 7-Eleven customers love coffee a lot too – it's the retailer's No. 1-selling product. Named for a café featured prominently in the movie, the new Hi-Hat Mocha hot beverage blends a rich balance of chocolate and coffee flavors with steamed milk and is topped with frothy foam. In select stores, customers can add a pump of chocolate sauce or yellow and white sprinkles. 7-Eleven also carries a rich, chocolatey Mocha Cold Brew coffee drink.

Collectible Fan Fare

Colorful, limited-edition Slurpee bottles and straws feature Detective Pikachu and other movie characters – Psyduck, Ludicolo and Snubbull. Refillable, insulated coffee mugs also feature Detective Pikachu, Psyduck and Ludicolo.

Participating 7-Eleven stores will have a variety of Detective Pikachu merchandise for all ages, including an exclusive set of trading cards, trading card file, plush Pokémon characters, Pokémon Clip and Carry Pokéball belt and Pokéballs.

Moviegoers can visit their local movie theater opening weekend decked out in Ryme City wear to see Pokémon Detective Pikachu. Available in select 7-Eleven stores and online at amazon.com/7-eleven are Ryme City T-shirts, Hi-Hat Café and Detective Pikachu hats, wallets and key chains.

Sweet Endings

7-Eleven also created three 7-Select private brand chocolate bars to tie in to the movie. The "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" bar flavors are Bolt'n Banana Milk Chocolate, Roaring Raspberry Confection and Psyched-up Orange Milk Chocolate. The bars are available at participating stores while supplies last.

Other "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" sweet treats include a Create-a-Cookie Kit, vanilla cupcakes with yellow icing and sprinkles, as well as Pillsbury ready-to-bake cookies.

7-Eleven stores are teasing the highly anticipated theatrical release of the first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu,” with dozens of exclusive movie-themed products, shareable photo filters and interactive augmented reality (AR) experiences in the 7-Eleven app.

About the Movie:

"POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" stars Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu, the iconic face of the global Pokémon phenomenon—one of the world's most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and one of the most successful media franchises of all time. Fans everywhere can now experience a Pikachu on the big screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other. The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon, each with its own unique traits and personality. 

When ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, his son Tim wants to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry's former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Detective Pikachu, they join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. 

Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

"POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" also stars Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, Rita Ora, with Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy. 

The film is directed by Rob Letterman, from a screenplay by Dan Hernandez& Benji Samit and Rob Letterman and Derek Connolly, story by Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit and Nicole Perlman, based on the "Detective Pikachu" video game developed by Creatures Inc. 

It is produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Hidenaga Katakami and Don McGowan; with executive producers Joe Caracciolo, Jr., Ali Mendes, Tsunekazu Ishihara, Kenji Okubo, Toshio Miyahara, Hiro Matsuoka, Koji Ueda. Music is by Henry Jackman. 

SOURCE: 7-Eleven, Inc.

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, Reimagined for Las Vegas, to Open at MGM Grand in May

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition is set to launch at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in May and features a new spectacular, fully-immersive archery training experience, as well as new interactives, set decoration and costumes.

• The previous tour of the exhibition included New York, San Francisco, Louisville and Sydney, Australia.

The Hunger Games attraction is based on the world-renowned films from Lionsgate, which grossed over $3 billion at the worldwide box office. It celebrates the epic journey of Katniss Everdeen from her humble beginnings in District 12 to her rise as the Mockingjay. 

The thrilling experience features several inspirational galleries including the Hall of Justice, President Snow's Office, the Tribute Train, District 13, and an archery training experience set within a 60-foot wide interactive digital training lab, which is a climactic highlight of the exhibition and the first of its kind on the The Strip.

A dynamic exploration of the world of Panem, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition highlights iconic costumes, genuine props, and set recreations from Lionsgate's record-setting cinematic series in a visually stunning environment. 

The exhibition includes multiple exclusively-designed experiences such as hands-on interactives that invite visitors to engage with behind-the-scenes content and explore the technology that brought the beloved books by Suzanne Collins to life.

Showcasing nearly 30 original costumes worn by the cast, the Costume Gallery will include the most memorable pieces from The Hunger Games films including the Girl on Fire dress, the Mockingjay gown, Katniss' Mockingjay armor and pin, Peacekeeper armor and rebellion tactical gear, as well as Katniss' bow and arrows. 

• The exhibit's retail shop, Capitol Couture, will offer exclusive clothing and collectible items that celebrate the films.

"Cityneon and Victory Hill Exhibitions are thrilled to be working with Lionsgate to expand our portfolio of experiences in Las Vegas," said Welby Altidor, Group Chief Creative Officer of Cityneon Holdings and Victory Hill Exhibitions. "Our partnership to present The Hunger Games: The Exhibition allows international visitors and the local community another opportunity to experience the immersive exhibits we are known for worldwide, and we look forward to revealing additional projects we plan to bring to the Las Vegas Strip in the near future."

"After touring around the world, we're excited to partner with Cityneon and Victory Hill Exhibitions to bring an enhanced version of The Hunger Games: The Exhibition to Las Vegas," said Kirsten Taylor-Hall, Lionsgate Vice President of Global Live and Location Based Entertainment. "The additions of several major new elements, including an innovative archery experience and costumes on display from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 2, offer audiences an even more immersive opportunity to explore the world of the films."

Located at The District at MGM Grand, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition will be open daily. Entry to the exhibition includes a commemorative ticket and can be purchased at TheHungerGamesExhibition.com or at The Hunger Games: The Exhibition on site box office. Service fees are additional. Group rates will be available for parties of 10 or more.

SOURCE: Cityneon Holdings Limited

Monopoly Was Designed 100 Years Ago To Teach The Dangers Of Capitalism

Do not pass GO! Monopoly was designed by a progressive writer to teach players the dangers of wealth concentration. (Shutterstock)

Have you played Monopoly lately? Or maybe snakes and ladders? These board games are examples of 100-year-old games that many still play today.

But the way they are played today may not be teaching the lessons their designers hoped to share.

At the start of the 20th century, children were part of the regular workforce. They possessed few toys. When U.S. manufacturers created games, they built them to market to parents: to teach as well as to entertain.

Progressive writer Elizabeth Magie Phillips created Monopoly in 1904 to teach players about the dangers of wealth concentration. Originally called The Landlord’s Game, it celebrated the teachings of the anti-monopolist Henry George whose widely read book, Progress and Poverty, published in 1879, argued that governments did not have a right to tax labour. They only had a right to tax land.

Monopoly didn’t become a hit until the Depression. Its original message that all should benefit from wealth was transformed to its current version — where you crush opponents by accumulating wealth — by its second developer, an unemployed heating engineer named Charles Darrow. By the mid-1930s, orders for the game had become so extensive that employees of Parker Brothers stared piling the order forms in laundry baskets.

Gavitt’s Stock Exchange (1903), a precursor to the modern day card game Pit.(Strong Museum of Play, 109.11515)

Games with meaning

Many of the games in circulation today are more than a century old. Pitt (originally Gavitt’s Stock Exchange) was made during economic panics, railroad failures, speculation and anti-monopoly movements. Patented by Harry E. Gavitt in 1903, the game was designed (as the rulebook says), to reproduce the “excitement and confusion generally witnessed in stock and grain” exchanges.

Players work to gain a monopoly over an economic market. They gather all the copies of one product and inflate its value to reap substantial profits.

Monopoly and Pitt taught economics while Chutes and Ladders focused on morality.
Chutes and Ladders was inspired by games played in South Asia about 1,000 years ago. Many of these games had explicit Hindu religious themes. They had different names: Nepal (Nāgapāśa); Tibet (The Game of Liberation); and India (Jñāna Chaupār). A Buddhist monk, Sa-skya Pandita, created the Game of Liberation for his sick mother in the 13th century. He likely based it on earlier forms of the game he encountered as part of his pilgrimages.

In Nāgapāśa, players attempted to reach a realm of one of the Hindu gods. In the Game of Liberation, they aimed to reach nirvana.

British and American manufacturers stripped the game of its religion, but they kept its emphasis on morality and the game stayed much the same: moving upwards on the board represents good moral decisions; falling back is a punishment for poor choices.

Teaching tools

Toys and games offered a way for teachers and parents to prepare children for their adult lives. Parents used mechanical toys to teach engineering to boys. They used dolls to teach sewing, ingenuity, and household management to girls. It was one way to take complex ideas about society and translate them into forms children could understand.

Playing games could also be a way to learn history. During the the Philippine-American War, game designers created Merry War to teach children about the conflict.

Merry War: A Battle Game for Boys (1899) has U.S. and Filipino soldiers battle against one another. (Strong Museum of Play, 107.3631)

In 1899, a newspaper columnist in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote that “toy makers…are as watchful as politicians and scientists to keep abreast of the events of the day.”

Market changes

By the 1960s, manufacturers began to advertise directly to children, rather than to their parents. They emphasized the excitement of their products over their educational value.

At the same time, civil rights unrest, the rise of feminism and rapid technological innovation made the world seem unpredictable. How could you prepare your children for their adult lives when the future seemed so difficult to understand?

Today, lessons remain embedded in many board games, but they sit apart from games just for fun. Board games are no longer a key venue to transmit information across generations.

Yet for all that has changed, we still play these old games, even if we don’t remember their lessons.

About Today's Contributor:

Benjamin Hoy, Assistant Professor of History, University of Saskatchewan

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. 

Get Ugly With STXfilms' 'UglyDolls Factory' Custom Character Creator

UglyDolls - Movie Poster

To celebrate the upcoming release of STXfilms' star-studded animated feature film UglyDolls on May 3, 2019, the studio has launched the UglyDolls Factory, a custom tool for fans to design their very own UglyDoll characters. With dozens of unique features and accessories to choose from, the UglyDolls Factory has everything needed to create a special and perfectly imperfect addition to Uglyville.

Earlier this week, the film's star Kelly Clarkson kicked off the fun on Twitter with a one-day #WelcomeToUglyville activation. Thousands of fans were able to engage with @UglyDolls to share what made them unique, while a team of digital artists transformed them into a personalized UglyDoll character in a matter of minutes.

Now, with the launch of the UglyDolls Factory, anyone can log in and design a custom UglyDoll with just a few simple clicks. 

To reward the community for their creativity, a select number of fan-created characters from the UglyDolls Factory will be given the unprecedented opportunity to be featured on the big screen during the end credits of the UglyDolls film.

The UglyDolls film is directed by animation veteran Kelly Asbury and features an A-list cast of music superstars and global talent including Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Blake Shelton, Janelle Monáe, Wanda Sykes, Emma Roberts, Gabriel Iglesias, Bebe Rexha , Charli XCX, Lizzo, and Pitbull. 

⏩ Also headlining the cast is Wang Leehom, who is hailed as the king of pop in China.

More About The Movie:

(via STX Entertainment)

"Unconventionality rules in UglyDolls, STXfilms’ new animated musical adventure starring the acting and singing voices of Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton and Pitbull.   

The film is inspired by the unique and beloved global plush toy phenomenon launched in 2001.

In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities.  

The endearingly unique residents of Uglyville  occasionally look to the sky above the town, where a new UglyDoll will appear and be embraced by the community.

Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) loves her square-peg life in this round-hole town, but her curiosity about all things leads her to wonder if there’s something – anything – on the other side of the mountain which nestles Uglyville.  Moxy gathers a group of her closest friends and sets off to find what’s on the other side.  

They discover another world – Perfection – a town where more conventional dolls are trained in protocols before they graduate and are sent to the “real” world to find the love of a child.

In Perfection, Moxy and her crew are subject to the manipulations of Lou (Nick Jonas), the perfect doll in charge of training recruits.  

Here, the UglyDolls will confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most."

Created in 2001 as a plush toy line by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, the UglyDoll brand quickly gained a cult following around the world and in 2006, was named Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association. Beloved by children, teenagers and adults alike, UglyDoll characters are distinct for their endearingly "ugliness," in a wonderful "uglyverse" where differences are special and unique. 

SOURCE: STXfilms

Related Videos:

Madame Tussauds Orlando Reveals Two Exciting Additions to Justice League: A Call for Heroes

The Flash and Cyborg (Image via ScreenCrush

Madame Tussauds Orlando's action-packed Justice League: A Call for Heroes experience is growing at... err... lightning speed with the addition of, not one, but two new DC Super Heroes. 

⏩ On April 12, the all-star cast from the blockbuster film Justice League will finally be reunited with the debut of Madame Tussauds latest wax masterpieces: Ezra Miller as The Flash and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. 

Designed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC, each figure has been recreated to identically mirror the DC Super Heroes' appearance and costumes from the film, including authentic replica props, and each figure will also have its own thrilling mission for guests to complete inside the exclusive experience at Madame Tussauds Orlando.

• Half-man, half-robot, Cyborg's wax figure portrayal will be equally dynamic and interactive with his bionic pose! In the experience, guests must locate a hidden code and transmit it to Cyborg through a nearby keypad. Cyborg will then harness the power of technology to project a hologram revealing the location of the device Lex Luthor has used to wreak havoc on the city.

• Racing to join forces with Madame Tussauds' epic lineup of DC Super Heroes, The Flash will fight crime in an alleyway that features original artwork from the Justice League film. Positioned in his iconic running pose, guests will race alongside The Flash and see if they have what it takes to be a Super Hero at lightning speed! As they run in place a speedometer shows your speed as you run alongside The Flash.

"We are ecstatic that the Justice League: A Call for Heroes experience now unites the ENTIRE DC Super Hero cast!" said Madame Tussauds Orlando General Manager James Paulding. "With the two new heroes, guests will become totally immersed in the epic saga as they race alongside The Flash, harness Cyborg's power of technology and join the rest of the Justice League to save the world."

Justice League: A Call for Heroes (Image via LoupDargent.info)

Justice League: A Call for Heroes debuted exclusively inside Madame Tussauds Orlando and Sydney last year and continues to offer an unrivaled experience for fans of the iconic DC Super Heroes. 

 Part of a seismic shift within the Madame Tussauds brand, the experience features special effects that include a series of hands-on, interactive missions and a larger-than-life-set where fans can become the stars of their favorite stories. 

The attraction also marked the first-time-ever that super fans could get up close and personal with some of their favorite DC Super Heroes including Jason Momoa's Aquaman, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman, as they fight to save the world from Lex Luthor's evil corporation, LexCorp. 

Madame Tussauds Orlando is issuing a challenge to the bravest of Justice League fans (Image via LoupDargent.info)

⏩ For tickets and more information, please visit madametussauds.com/orlando.

SOURCE: Madame Tussauds

Related Stories:

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Announces New Aquaman Exhibit
• Madame Tussauds Orlando Reveals Jason Momoa as Aquaman!
• Royal Canadian Mint Launches Justice League Coin Collection at 2017 Central Canada Comic Con
• Who Cares About Batman Vs Superman? Wonder Woman Finally Steals The Show

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Announces New Aquaman Exhibit

Aquaman will be making a splash as the latest addition to DC Universe: The Exhibit. Fans will get a first-hand look at the intricate details etched in the armored suits of Aquaman, Mera and more.

⏩ Aquaman fans can get ready to immerse themselves in the world of the King of the Seven Seas with the all-new exhibit opening to the public on March 5, 2019. 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (WBSTH) guests can step into the realm of Atlantis in the new Aquaman exhibit at DC Universe: The Exhibit, one of the many stops on the Studio Tour. Joining the immensely popular Wonder Woman exhibit, guests of the Studio Tour can relive the iconic scenes straight from the set of DC's latest action-packed origin story, bringing them closer than ever to the entertainment they love.

Located on the first floor of the Warner Bros. Archive, guests will journey through the visually stunning underwater world of Atlantis brought to life on-screen by director James Wan in vivid detail. 

The exhibit will also feature recreated sets from the most memorable moments of the film, including the Sunken Galleon, where fans get up close to the authentic costumes worn by Willem Dafoe (Vulko) and Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry), and the Ring of Fire, reliving the thrill of the epic underwater battle between Aquaman (Momoa) and King Orm (Patrick Wilson). 

⏩ As an interactive photo op, fans can sit upon the Dead King's Throne seen in the film to become King or Queen of Atlantis.

Within the exhibit, guests will find various costumes worn by Momoa, showcasing the evolution from his human upbringing as Arthur Curry to his final ascendance as Aquaman, King of the Seven Seas. 

In addition, fans will see the real costumes and props belonging to Mera (Amber Heard), Arthur's mother Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), father Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison), the vengeful Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and King Orm (Patrick Wilson).

"Aquaman's roots run deep in the DC universe," said Gary Soloff, Director of Marketing, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. "His story has captivated fans across the world, and we're excited to bring the on-screen characters to life and provide guests the opportunity to dive deeper into Atlantean civilization."

Opening Spring 2019, the King of the Seven Seas will join DC Universe: The Exhibit with an all-new immersive and interactive display

In this action-packed, underwater spectacle, celebrated for becoming the highest-grossing DC movie ever made, director James Wan chronicles the adventures of an outcast trying to save worlds both above and below sea level. Through the Aquaman exhibit, fans can relive the story of cultural diversity, environmental advocacy and – in true superhero form – standing up for the greater good.

With the always evolving exhibits and experiences, WBSTH continues to offer its guests from around the world an intimate look at how Hollywood magic is made. 

Through behind-the-scenes tours and exclusive looks at costumes and props used in production, fans can get closer to some of their favorite films and TV shows such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Batman, Shameless, Casablanca, Wonder Woman and more.

SOURCE: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Related Stories:

• Regal Welcomes Aquaman Star Patrick Wilson to Knoxville
• Madame Tussauds Orlando Reveals Jason Momoa as Aquaman!
• Royal Canadian Mint Launches Justice League Coin Collection at 2017 Central Canada Comic Con

"Aquaman" (Image via LoupDargent.info)

America's First Jewish Escape Room - OneBefore, Launches in Brooklyn

The OneBefore Escape Room - Trying to Escape

Gamliel Beyderman, the Russian-born, Orthodox Jewish data scientist on a wild journey to launch America's first Jewish Escape Room finally opened the doors of his venue to the customers right before Chanukah even though their site OneBeforeEscape.com has been discussing the concept for months!

The Brooklyn location is in Midwood, a predominantly Orthodox neighborhood, even though the venue caters to anyone (Jewish or not) interested in all things Jewish. 

• No background in Jewish studies is necessary to complete the room. 
• The facility welcomes school trips and features a 35-person event space that doubles as a fine art gallery focused on the themes explored in the escape room.

After witnessing his teenage son's fascination with escape rooms to the point of building one on the basement of their home, Beyderman realized this medium can be a powerful educational tool to explain complex ideas - through play.

The escape room dramatizes the genealogical discoveries made by Dr. Jeffrey Mark Paull in his quest to illuminate his family's lost connection to noble past. Paull captured his experiences in a volume called "A Noble Heritage." The stranger-than-fiction, but true plot weaves genealogy, Jewish history, loving kindness, sacrifices and miracles.

In Beyderman's own words: "I was amazed that [Paull] restored every single ancestral link connecting himself to the Shpoler Zeide, Rabbi Pinchas Koritzer, Rashi, and ultimately King David. As Jews, we are surrounded and comforted by the stories of their mighty deeds, their Torah - every day. My idea was to take the visitors of our escape room right into those stories through the escape room puzzles." 

The visit continues in the Shpoler Zeide Gallery where each artwork is a story and a portal for meditation about the visitors' experience.

A second escape room at the same location is currently under construction. It promises to take the visitor on a journey to meet the legendary 18th century mystic, Rabbi Pinchas Koritzer. 

The room is an attempt to recreate a trip through the 20 generations of the Shapiro Rabbinic dynasty to find the greatest treasure of the Jewish people. The themes range from saving the manuscripts of Rabbi Pinchas from the flames of the Holocaust to the Jewish mystical numerology (gematria), to the heart-warming story of Rashi, the greatest Bible commentator of all time.

 The OneBefore Escape Room - "Happening Place"

OneBefore Escape is a part of the global escape room phenomenon, as well as an immersive museum of how technology allows us to trace our roots to the most illustrious leaders of the Jewish people. It is in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, near the numerous kosher restaurants, shops and steps from the subway.

SOURCE: OneBefore Escape

History in Motion: Iconic Cars from Hollywood will Parade Around Los Angeles on President's Day led by a Presidential Limo with a Special Guest

President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton

Celebrating Los Angeles' love of both the automobile and Hollywood, the Petersen Automotive Museum will host a parade on President's Day, February 18, 2019. Featuring iconic Hollywood cars, the parade will be a fun "thank you" to the people of Los Angeles for their unwavering support over the past quarter century.

Beginning at 10 a.m. in Playa Vista, the parade route will pass several of the city's landmarks including The Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

During the route, there will be one planned 20-minute stop at Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice, where viewers can take pictures with the parade cars. 

After the parade, the cars will return to the Petersen at around 1 p.m. and be displayed on the third floor of the museum parking garage.

Viewers positioned around the designated parade route will see the 1951 Chrysler Camera Car once owned by billionaire movie mogul Howard Hughes; the Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus from the 2006 American comedy-drama "Little Miss Sunshine;" the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible from the second installment of the Austin Powers franchise "The Spy Who Shagged Me;" the 2002 Jaguar XK-R Stunt Car that was the anti-hero car in the 2002 James Bond flick "Die Another Day;" the Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton, which belonged to President Dwight D. Eisenhower; the Honda S2000 from "2 Fast 2 Furious;" and other iconic Hollywood vehicles.

"The Petersen would not be what it is today without the steadfast support of the Los Angeles community," said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. "For 25 years, we have strived as an organization to captivate the hearts of Angelenos, igniting within them a passion for the automobile. Because Hollywood is such an important aspect of our community, the parade will serve as a fun tribute to the industry on which Los Angeles was built upon."

SOURCE: Petersen Automotive Museum

Related Stories:

• The US Presidential State Car
• Fast and Furious - Cars in Film
• Cars That Started On TV
• Cars That Were Bigger Stars in Movies