Roger Craig Smith

Marvel's Avengers Assemble: Assembly Required - Clips

Marvel heroes Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Falcon - The Avengers' winged new member - are setting out on their latest missions to save the world for the universe's most formidable supervillains from Red Skull to M.O.D.O.K. However, evil becomes the least of their worries when they struggle to find common ground with each other and must first fight a bout of cabin fever if they want to have any hope in saving humanity. Can these heroes stand to live under one roof? Or will their own tensions and disagreements have catastrophic consequences?

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Planes Review

By Rich Cline

Good

Disney takes over Pixar's "World of Cars" with this spin-off that no-one really asked for (Cars 2 wasn't exactly a mega-hit). Indeed, this is an essentially disposable adventure, smiley and formulaic with a few minor thrills and a gentle sense of humour. Fortunately, the animation has some charm, as well as the occasional exhilarating moment. So kids are likely to enjoy it.

The protagonist is Dusty (voiced by Cook), a cropduster in rural America who dreams of racing against world champion Ripslinger (Smith) in the Wings Around the Globe race. So he gathers forklift Dottie (Hatcher) and fuel truck Chug (Garrett) as his pit crew, and convinces war veteran Skipper (Keach) to coach him. Despite being afraid of heights, he makes it into the final against Britain's Bulldog (Cleese), Mexico's Chupacabra (Alazraqui) and French-Canadian Rochelle (Louis-Deryfus). But as the race gets underway, Ripslinger and his henchmen continually sabotage the increasingly plucky Dusty.

The plot is so simple that this feels like one of Disney's straight-to-DVD sequels, complete with the deeply bland hero and ruthlessly evil villain. Fortunately, it's livened up by snappy dialog and a cast of offbeat characters that continually add deranged touches adult viewers will enjoy (such as a German forklift in lederhosen or a group of chanting Himalayan-monk tuktuks). There's not much else the strong voice cast can do with these characters. But the animators have a lot of fun with the settings as the race zooms to Europe, India, Nepal, China and Mexico, with whizzy race action that makes the 3D worthwhile for a change.

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Planes - Sneak Peek

Dusty is a super swift cropduster whose horsepower would be a force to be reckoned with for many aircrafts were he to compete with them for speed. However, there's just one problem; Dusty is terrified of heights. Cropdusting allows him to skim the ground as he flies so he never has to face to fears. But his dreams of contending at the legendary aviation races means he is desperate to reach the clouds and, with the help of his best friend Skipper - a former Navy plane - he looks set to finally conquer his anxieties. Alongside his tank truck coach Chug, he prepares for the flight of his life as he tackles the likes of the Great White North star Rochelle, the legendary Bulldog and the egotistical Ripslinger for a place among the worldwide aviation champions.

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Lightning McQueen's Aeroplane Incarnation Dusty Crophopper To Hit Theatres In 'Planes' (Pictures And Trailer)

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 02 April 2013

Dane Cook Stacy Keach Brad Garrett Cedric The Entertainer John Cleese Roger Craig Smith John Lasseter White Zombie Disney

The trailer for 'Cars' spin-off 'Planes' is now here with the movie set for cinematic release this summer.

Disney's Planes poster

Here is your first taster of the upcoming 'Cars' spin-off 'Planes'; an equally endearing animated movie about determination and achieving your dreams set to hit screens on August 16th 2013.

DisneyToon Studios brings us this fantastic new interpretation of the Pixar animated 2006 'Cars' movie and it's 2011 sequel 'Cars 2'. The teaser trailer gives away little about the plot, but introduces our soon-to-be favourite animated character of the year with the pounding drums of 'More Human Than Human' by heavy metal band White Zombie. 'Planes' has been directed by Klay Hall of 'King of the Hill', who is a huge aviation enthusiast - and with that you can guarantee not only rib-cracking humour, but remarkable accuracy. We see Dusty, a nervous cropdusting aircraft with a phobia of heights and the voice of Dane Cook, take on some of the biggest plane racing champions in the world as he vows to conquer his fears and fulfil his dream as a successful air racer despite formidable competition. Beside him are his friends Skipper, an old Navy Corsair voiced by Stacy Keach, and Chug, a fuel tanker who doesn't for a second doubt Dusty's capabilities and is played by Brad Garrett.

Continue reading: Lightning McQueen's Aeroplane Incarnation Dusty Crophopper To Hit Theatres In 'Planes' (Pictures And Trailer)

Planes - Teaser Trailer

Dusty may be a super speedy cropdusting aircraft but there's a reason why he spends his days skimming fields; he is terrified of flying. Nonetheless he is determined to conquer his phobia of heights and fulfil his dream of competing in the famous aviation races and with the help of his devoted friend Skipper, an introverted former Navy warplane, and a variety of supporters including his coach, tank truck Chug, he has all he needs to become a formidable racer like the Great White North star Rochelle, the legendary Bulldog and the highly arrogant but nevertheless impressive Ripslinger. Dusty knows that he must outstrip the cheating Ripslinger if he has any chance of becoming a worldwide champion, but with his sabotaging cohorts at his side, the challenge seems impossible.

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