Michael Bay, Back with New "Transformers," "Ninja Turtles" Movies

Summer is the season of Michael Bay.

As much as anyone else, Bay — in movies like "Armageddon," ''Pearl Harbor" and "Transformers" — has shaped what the summer movie is: its quick-cutting bombast, its visual-effects flourish, its capacity for mass destruction.

This summer, he'll release "Transformers: Age of Extinction," the fourth film in the franchise, with a revamped cast led by Mark Wahlberg. The 49-year-old Bay, who also produces "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" later in the season, is well acquainted with the scale of the modern blockbuster.

"I've been doing these movies a long time," said Bay in a recent break from the editing suite. "When all is said and done maybe 3,500 people will have worked on this movie. It's one day at a time. You can't panic. My pep talk to everyone is: This is when the pro (expletive) starts and separates the men from the boys."

"Age of Extinction" subs out the sometimes combative Shia LaBeouf with an older, more established action star in Wahlberg. It's planned as the first of a redesigned "Transformers" trilogy.

Bay and Wahlberg first connected on last year's comic crime caper "Pain & Gain," a relatively low-budget project for Bay and one of his most critically acclaimed films.

Wahlberg has already vowed that "Age of Extinction" will be the biggest movie of the year. While optimistic, it's not out of the question. The last "Transformers" film, 2011's "Dark of the Moon," made more than $1.1 billion worldwide.

"It feels fresher with the cast," says Bay. "It's like when you get the new 'Batman' franchises, things get dressed up in a different way. I think the franchise still has a lot more to offer."

The Paramount Pictures release will also have a leg up on the box office in China. "Age of Extinction" is a co-production with two Chinese film companies. A month of shooting took place there, and several Chinese actors were cast through a televised reality show talent search.

Such is the global natural of the big-budget summer movie, a sprawling operation that takes a unique acuity to assemble.

"I don't write notes," says Bay. "I put the movie in my head."

"Transformers: Age of Extinction” opens across the Philippines on June 25, to be followed by “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on August 13. Both films are distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

“TRANFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” First Trailer

The first trailer has arrived for Michael Bay's fourth "Transformers" film, called “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDGqmxMZFI.



Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Kelsey Grammar and Sophia Myles lead the cast of this $165 million feature set for release in the Philippines June this year.

Synopsis: Four years after the catastrophic events in Chicago, Earth has mostly recovered from the great war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. But when Cade Yeager (Wahlberg), a struggling inventor, and his daughter, Tessa (Peltz) discover Optimus Prime, they bring down Decepticons, Autobots and the US government on them.

Now with the Decepticons plotting to destroy Earth once again, and a paranoid government official on his tail, Cade must join the Autobots, and Optimus Prime must align with the ancient Dinobots to save Earth.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” will be distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures.

“2 GUNS” Fires off Teaser Trailer

 Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg lead an all-star cast in Columbia Pictures' "2 Guns," an explosive action film that tracks two operatives from competing bureaus who are forced on the run together. But there is a big problem with their unique alliance: Neither knows that the other is an undercover federal agent.

            Catch the film's teaser trailer here.



            Synopsis: For the past 12 months, DEA agent Bobby Trench (Washington) and U.S. naval intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Wahlberg) have been reluctantly attached at the hip. Working undercover as members of a narcotics syndicate, each man distrusts his partner as much as the criminals they have both been tasked to take down.

            When their attempt to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel and recover millions goes haywire, Trench and Stigman are suddenly disavowed by their superiors. Now that everyone wants them in jail or in the ground, the only person they can count on is the other. Unfortunately for their pursuers, when good guys spend years pretending to be bad, they pick up a few tricks along the way.

            Opening across the Philippines in September 2013, “2 Guns” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

Mark Wahlberg Plays John Bennette in “TED”

Mark Wahlberg has played lethal hitmen, deadly snipers, intimidating cops, crusty sailors, hair-triggered soldiers and a championship boxer but in the new comedy "Ted," he plays a pot-head who ends up on the wrong side of a brawl with his best friend, a stuffed bear.

What was your best Christmas present? 
One Christmas, when I was a little boy, I got a brand new bike. I convinced my parents and my brother that I already knew how to ride a bike. It was a really cold Christmas morning in Boston. They took me outside with my new bike and I was so excited. I got on the bike and they started pushing me. So, I’m going down the hill riding the bike but I had never ridden a bike before and I didn’t know how to stop. I ended up going over the curb and crashing into the chimney of someone’s house. After that, my brother was nice enough to put training wheels on the bike and I learned to ride over the next few months.

What did you first think of the idea behind TED?
When I first heard the original concept they told me the story was about this guy and his teddy bear that comes to life and the teddy bear starts running around acting crazy. I thought it wasn’t for me. Then I read the script and completely forgot about the whole teddy bear aspect and just thought it was a great relationship and friendship story.

Do you have the same sense of humor as Seth MacFarlane (Director)? 
We have a similar sense of humor. His is a little more sophisticated and mine is more street.

What do you like about Seth?
Seth is the smartest and probably the funniest person I’ve ever met. He’s also a really likeable guy. Coming into the comedy world, aside from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, I’ve met a lot of people and some of them seem to have this kind of dark side to them, even though they appear to be very funny on TV or in movies. Seth is a very sweet, likeable guy and his humor comes from a nice place even though it might be offensive at times to certain people. He‘s not trying to offend. He just doesn‘t think there are any rules or boundaries.