Incredibly similar

It's no secret The Incredibles is probably one of my favourite animated movies of all time. Well, it's definitely in the top three . . . .depending on the street. It has recently come to my attention that a very similar super-hero themed animated film is in the works from DreamWorks studio. To be titled Master Mind it's about a super villain who finds himself without a purpose in life after he finally succeeds in killing his heroic nemesis. So-hot-right-now comedy favourites Tina Fey, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr have signed on to voice some of the main characters. If you ask me, which since you are reading this I'm assuming you are, Master Mind reeks of crushing unoriginality. Pixar was the mastermind behind The Incredibles which was a hit at the box office and critically applauded (it scored an amazing 97% on Rotten Tomatoes). It seems blatantly obvious that DreamWorks are once again trying to soc a one-two punch to main rivals by adapting their original idea. Sigh. Both these studios are extremely talented and house some of the most creative graphic artists in the world so I wish they would stop trying to out-do each other and instead concentrate on doing what they do best; bring beautiful, unique, animated films to the big screen. 

A brief history of classic copy-cat syndrome in the animation realm  

Nemo VS  A Shark Tale

Madagascar VS The Wild

Shrek VS Happily N'Ever After 

Flushed Away VS Rataouille

Antz VS A Bugs Life

 - and now -

The Incredibles VS Master Mind

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Kirk Hilarious

You know, until I watched the press interviews on the promotional trial for Ironman, I didn't realise Robert Downey Jr was funny. I thought he was one of those Russel Crowe-types who is always serious and focused intently on the character, film and begrudgingly making it through any media commitments he has to do. However,  in the months before Tropic Thunder's released videos of Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr sparring. Funny as Stiller is, Downey Jr was hilarious. The following video was posted on Empire Magazine's website a few hours ago and it looks at Downey Jr's transformation in to Kirk Lazarus for Tropic Thunder. Note the clips where Downey Jr is talking to the camera they made me rarf and rarf and rarf. 

Watch the video here.

While you're at it you should check out this genuis marketing ploy created by the execs behind Tropic Thunder. They've created an official website for the fictional character of Kirk Lazarus. Visit it here and pay particular attention to the very creative biography. Rarf-tastic.

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