Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power (film)

Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power is a 2007 superhero adventure film, based on the novel by Rita Christensen. The film, which is the fifth installment in the Jane Hoop Elementary film franchise, is directed by Gary Ross, written by Brian Clark and produced by Derek Todd and Drake Jones, and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. The story follows five young heroes in their fifth year as superheroes met Goldenman's evil brother-in-law Evan, who joined Catwoman's side to take over the world, and has destroyed their superpowers and now are on a journey to the mysterious island Morphin the Power to get them restored. The film stars Blake Brown, Ben Linkin, Amy Tammie, Brandon Simpson and Bloom Dee as young children, now teenagers, as superheroes. It is a sequel to Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball and was followed by Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland.

Principal Photography for the movie has began between May 2006 to November 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio for the Jane Hoop Elementary Base, Catwoman's Base and the fantasy world. The film's production budget was reported to $200 million, making it the franchise's most expensive film ever, until 2009's Turbo of Catland ($250 million).

Morphin the Power has gained critical population and a commercial success earning $330 million during it's first worldwide five-day opening,[3] the sixth biggest worldwide opening of all-time as well as 2007's fourth biggest worldwide opening yet. With a total to nearly $950 million worldwide, it stands as the 26th highest grossing film of all time, and was 2007's second most successful film ever after Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Plot

 * See also: Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power

The Green Egg fell to earth and was taken to the museum. Dr. Catwoman, Shego and Monkeyman investigated the egg, releasing the creature inside, Evan, remembering his brother-in-law Goldenman, after 1600 years of their fight, and Catwoman orders Evan to destroy him joining her side. Meanwhile, now teenage heroes, Danny Gorden, Rebecca Henry, Alec Gutzwiller, Cory Berning, and Jaquille Short, were called to the emergency to search for Evan, when Danny thinking that Evan is his second godfather, which he's not, because he don't have the same power. They head to the Museum and spot the egg is hatched. Meanwhile, Danny discovers Bella's secret that she was bullied by Catwoman, alongside Shego and an unnamed girl. Danny become curious wanting to know the girl's name who bullied Bella. Meanwhile, the heroes met Evan and he created their clones from behind their back. When leaving them fighting with their clones, they began to lose their powers. Evan, along with Catwoman and friends, entered the Jane Hoop Elementary Base destroying it. Evan stabbed Goldenman in the stomach where he is dying losing his power. As a result, Goldenman quests the heroes to Morphin the Power and retrieve the Crystal Power. It have with The Mighty Power until he order them that the forest is too dangerous.

Meanwhile, Evan is planning to start to kill all of the children's parents when putting a drinking potion to turn them into zombies comparing a drink for Evan's Thirsty Drink. Alice's dad Don Kingston drinks it, and tricked him of being thirsty and became possessed along with other parents and adults. Alice spots that all of the parents are being possessed by Evan after tricking them on selling Evan's energy drink. She warned the children of Cincinnati to realize that Evan plans on killing all of their parents. As Alice, Jack, McKenzie and the children leads them to the construction site where Evan directed the adults to fall into the ocean and drown, till they were back to normal by the water holes. Meanwhile, the heroes got to Morphin the Power, they are assisted by Dacia, upon the kids new classic powers based on the five new powers within "The Crystal Power", Dacia directs them on their own stating that only chosen ones are ofter to journey among to themselves without any assistances. When the statues are finally destroyed, the Power Light is bestowed upon them and they become the Jane Hoop heroes once more. They reached to Power Light and got their powers restored returned to Cincinnati with The Crystal Power.

Back in Cincinnati, as Catwoman orders Danny to give her the Crystal Power otherwise she will let her kill his friends, he gave it to him and puts them behind bars. Danny, Rebecca, Alec, Cory and Jaquille still have a chance not to give up and they still have their powers to fight. The team escapes and head outside for a final battle against Evan and the Clones. They battled over the Crystal Power until they grow into a giant size robot transporting inside Evan's body when Jane Hoop Elementary defeated them with the meteor. After the villains' defeat, The Dangerous Comets had already entered to earth and is just minutes on the world begins to despair. Danny used the Crystal Power to stop it from falling and disappeared. After the world is safe, Danny gets into a small fight against Catwoman. Before she can attack him one last time, she escapes from being captured by the police. As the gang reached back to the Base, they found out that they are too late to rescue Goldenman, where he has dyed and lost his powers. However the gang used their powers to bring back Goldman and rebuild the Base. In the meantime, Danny and Rebecca shared their first kiss.

Meanwhile, while congratulating her for saving the parents, Danny questioned Alice about her mother. She told him that she is murdered when she was only one years old, and the suspect of the murder was unknown. Meanwhile, Goldenman and Danny talks that they would defend themselves that they were almost being killed with Goldenman again tells the idea of Evan coming after him. He states that some of the people he trusted can sometimes would never be forgiven after doing mean things to that person who was expected to be loved and forgotten. Meanwhile, Danny tells to his friends that Catwoman won't take care of happyness and true heart of what something is abandoned, as they all decided to take a break from protecting the world. As for Danny, thinking that Catwoman is really gone and never coming back, he decides that he is going to retire realizing that she actually quit taking over the world.

Cast

 * See also: List of Jane Hoop Elementary cast members


 * Blake Brown as Danny Gorden, the protagonist and leader of the heroes.
 * Ben Linkin as Alec Gutzwiller, Danny's best friend and his sidekick of the heroes.
 * Amy Tammie as Rebecca Henry, Danny's other best friend, later girlfriend, sidekick and only female of the heroes.
 * Brandon Simpson as Cory Berning, Danny's other best friend and backup for the heroes.
 * Bloom Dee as Jaquille Short, Danny's other best friend and backup for the heroes.
 * Barbara Blue as Naudia Gorden, Danny's cousin, Alec's love interest, and mentor of the heroes.
 * Arthur Walters as Goldenman, Danny's godfather, mentor of the heroes and protector of the heroes' super abilities.
 * George Jones as James Watson, the mayor of Cincinnati and mentor of the heroes.
 * Natasha Richardson as Miss. Bella Watson, Mayor's wife and mentor of the heroes.
 * Brooke Timer as Dr. Catwoman, the enemy of Jane Hoop Elementary.
 * Rebecca Dee as Shego Dalma, Catwoman's best friend and assistant.
 * Stephen Johnson as Shadow the Monkeyman, Catwoman's other best friend and assistant.
 * Tim Allen as Evan, Goldenman's evil brother-in-law.
 * Jennette McCurdy as Catgirl, Catwoman's daughter, who has escaped from prison.

Casting
Casting of Morphin the Power begins on May 2005, six months before The Magic Ball was released. Brown was among the first to be announced that he would be returning as Danny. Many other actors and actresses also announced to be returning as their characters for this film includes Linkin, Tammie, George Jones, Richardson, Walters, Timer and Blue. Jennette McCurdy caught the role of Catgirl including leaving better for Emily Osment[1], Taylor Momsen[1] and AnnaSophia Robb[1] after McCurdy expiring of Rebecca Henry withdraws,[1] Catwoman's daughter.[1] One by one, McCurdy beats over 7,000 girls which includes Miley Cyrus,[1][1] who would later cast as Heather Woods for The Final Rush - Part 1 (2010) and The Final Rush - Part 2 (2011).[1] McCurdy has been cast as Catgirl on November 2005, which she begins by July 2006.[1]

The new characters has been announced Jason Foster, Lisa Black, Michael Shanks, Jami Gertz, Tim Allen and Flex Alexander as Robert Foster, Alice Kingston, David Kingston, Dacia and Evan.[3] Lisa Black beat over 15,000 other girls at the open casting when she won the role of Alice Kingston. Tim Allen, who played Evan briefly from the third film, Goldenman's Revenge was announced that he would reprise his role in a much bigger role for Morphin the Power. Actress Amanda Bynes is chosen to play as teenage Catwoman, but producers says that she is too tall to play as the character, who stands at 5"8 feet. However, Daniella Monet replaces the actress to play as teenage Catwoman, who stands at 5"1 feet.

Production
While filming The Magic Ball in summer 2004 and than releasing on November 11, 2005, the fifth installment was reportedly greenlight and confirmed to be released. It was reported just 9 months before The Magic Ball was released in theaters.[3]

Rehearsals of Morphin the Power begins on April 15, 2006.[3] Before filming Barbara Timer begins training at the gym before reprising her role because she thinks that Catwoman has a toned body. Timer eventually lost 15 pounds for her role of Dr. Catwoman for a month.[3] The film has earned a budget out of $200 million,[3] a bigger budget than its predecessor The Magic Ball, which earned $150 million. It was by far the most expensive film in the franchise yet. After wrapping up pre-production since May 2005, filming began on May 4, 2006 and wrapped on November 1, 2006.[1]

Gary Ross was chosen as director of Morphin the Power after Chris Weitz's offers was turned down. Derek Todd and Drake Jones returns as film producers, and Brian Clark returns as film writer.

Effort
Jerry Peterson was the visual effects supervisor. Joe Richards was the special effects supervisor, and Josh Bloom was the creatures special effects supervisor. The film required over 1,400 visual effects shots, created more than 950 of them. Working for six months on previously starting in September 2005[3] be taking places in the dumpster, in space, City and The Park, and building the ruins of work starting creating as "The Second Power", when "The Third Power" was build a giant Tomb, for "The Crystal Power", both of them spending two weeks created the whole thing by April 2006.[3]

"The Jane Hoop Elementary Base", was created with a bad breakdown, the windows were shattered. A wires were created when the Jane Hoop Elementary Gang are falling from a time travel. And damaging shatters of all glasses from window of the Cincinnati, Ohio buildings. A final shot of the film is a midnight closing for Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, the police unlocks the door, letting filming shoot. As hatching the egg, pulls around the egg when opening, Allen is inside in a "Green Costume".

In October 2006, the Giant Robot was build as for it was originally going to be made of scratch. The scene where The clones transforms inside of Evan’s body and grow into a gigantic size, where actually been made out of scratch and buiding, but which is not they were actually going to made. It’ll take months to build up a giant monster. Instead of that, they’ll be start to make a design of a giant monster of the transformation of The Jane Hoop Elementary clones and Evan.

Setting
Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power was set around summer 2007 to spring 2008, two years after the events of the fourth film, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball, which was set in around summer and fall 2005. This makes Danny and his friends now teenagers. Christensen believes that the character she has created wants them to be all grown up because they have spend years of seeing themselves grown and has hit puberty, in the affect for seeing them become much more tougher superheroes like they were before when they were younger. Once they start growing, they have become more stronger than ever. It also was set as the time where characters has been away from Cincinnati for months in a search to find their new powers.

Despite that the characters has officially become teenagers, who all are 13-14 years old, Danny, Alec, Cory and Jaquille have all have grown into adult bodies with their body muscles developing, and Rebecca has grown out of her bangs, and fully has even longer hair like never before. Actress Amy Tammie no longer wears a wig in the film because she finally has long hair, and is happy that she will no longer be wearing her Rebecca Henry blonde long hair.

Filming
Filming takes over seven months and over hundred days to complete. All of these location of the film were shot. There were the new locations in the film is Morphin the Power, which was founded in two preceding films. Cincinnati, OH is the main location where the film was shot including Jane Hoop Elementary and Catwoman's Base.

The beginning of the film was shot inside of Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, when the museum was closed, Catwoman, Shego and Monkeyman sneaks inside, within the police took the "Green Egg" to the museum.[3] The Forest, called Morphin the Power, was located at located in Oakwood, Missouri taking place from July 2006[3] to September 2006,[3] 2 months.[3]

The action sequences scenes for the film such as the fight against monster rocks, and a gigantic monster were shot from the green screen. As a result, the background scene for the final battle in the film was dramatically shot on green screen, as most shots were filmed at the city of Cincinnati.

Music
Danny Elfman, who composted Spider-Man, announces that he will be back to compose the songs for the fourth film of the popular Jane Hoop Elementary film series. This is Elfman's last time composing the Jane Hoop Elementary films. He is since replaced by Danny Newman for the following film. The soundtrack was released one day before the film's theatrical release in theaters on July 3, 2007.

Marketing
A teaser trailer was first released in December 13, 2006 on AOL and included in theaters attached from another Paramount film Charlotte's Web .[3] Action figures are included for McDonalds as well as a design for a Kid's Meal box and a drinking cup. The film's theatrical poster was released in stores and on April 14, 2007, featuring Danny, Rebecca, Alec, Cory and Jaquille.[3] Character posters were released in stores on May 15, 2007, featuring Danny, Rebecca, Alec, Catwoman, Goldenman and two new characters Evan and Alice.

In support of the film, a video game with a same ttle was released in June 29 on X-Box, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, GameCube and Wii. The action figures were showed from different main stores at Wal-Wart, Biggs and also having collections for Jane Hoop kids.

On June 14, 2007, the film's full length trailer was released online, before it was release the following day before the premiere of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in theaters, one month before the film's theatrical release. An IMAX version of the trailer for the film was released during the release of Transformers on June 27, 2007, about a week before the film's release, so that they can show a display of the film being released in IMAX theaters as well.

Theatrical release
Morphin the Power had a worldwide theatrical release all around the world starting on July 4, 2007 with the United States release. It's international release is set for July 5, 2007, a day after the film's domestically release, which includes United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Italy and Germany. Domestically in theaters, it played in 4,231 theaters and 92 IMAX screens. It was the third widest theatrical release for a movie behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (4,362 theaters) and Spider-Man 3 (4,252 theaters), and the widest Jane Hoop Elementary film yet, until Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland (4,330 theaters). It was also the third Jane Hoop Elementary film to have a IMAX release, after Goldenman's Revenge (2003) and The Magic Ball (2005). Thus, the film was not shot with IMAX cameras. It has been converted and is planned for a theatrical IMAX release in theaters, like other films this year such as Spider-Man, Transformers and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Like The Magic Ball, the film has the exact same situation about the film's MPPA rating, despite it's dark humor and violence. Despite that characters have grown as teenagers, and the films are getting older, Morphin the Power was originally set to be rated PG-13 for domestic violences including some bloody scenes, but the bloody scenes has been cut from the film, and the film's rating has been changed to PG. Screenwriter Brian Clark got devastated about the film's cut that the scenes is part of the character's growing up, and they can now handle of being more of teenagers and are no longer young children anymore. The PG-13 rating has since been first used for the seventh installment, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 1 (2010). Christensen says that characters has now grown up and are more mature now. She wants the final book to be PG-13 because of scary scenes that are not suitable for children and even stronger inappropriate cursing are used more often. The eighth and final installment, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 (2011) was also rated PG-13 as well.

While the film is in production in 2005, it's release date is originally set for November 9, 2007, which is the exact same date as the release of the second film, The Cyber Escape, but the film has pushed foward by four months early July 6, 2007. In February 2007, five months before the film's release, it had an earlier July 4, 2007 release. This is the first Hoop film in the franchise to be released on a Wednesday and to be released in the summer time besides in November, like the first four films.

The United States world premiere was held in New York City on June 24, 2007.[3] The setting from the film were included at the film's world premiere including Catwoman's robots Since the Virginia Tech massacre has passed, Blake Brown, Ben Linkin, Amy Tammie, Rita Christensen and director Gary Ross makes an emotional speech about the shooting. Brown states that at first he was not confortable about attending the premiere because of the shooting, but he eventually got it overwith and is confortable about attending an event. Also, Linkin and Tammie also don't feel comfortable, but they manage to keep the events going, and do not want to disappoint fans is by canceling the U.S. world premiere for Morphin the Power. In the United Kingdom, the film's world premiere is held on June 29, 2007, just five days after the world premiere in the U.S.

Running 130 minutes (2 hours and 10 minutes), Morphin the Power was previously the shortest film in the series, until 2011, when The Final Rush - Part 2 overtook it to 125 minutes (2 hours and 5 minutes).

Home media
A 1 disk and 2 disk edition film was released on DVD in December 12, 2007 (Australia), December 10, 2007 (United Kingdom) and December 24, 2007 (United States and Canada). The HD DVD and Blu-ray were contain additional features be the same, as well continues to release more Hoop film DVD release soon only in the United States and Australia at all time, but only releases in United Kingdom by one-disk, two-disk and Blue-ray. It reprsents a sneak peek for the following film, Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland.

The film brought both biggest units sold and sales revenues of the year with 9.1 million and $168,110,489, respectively. Although, it only became the third biggest sales revenues of the year with $254,050,409 to date behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Transformers. Also, it, however, has sold 15.11 million copies units marking it the second best-selling DVD of 2007 behind only Transformers. On April 24, 2012, the Ultimate Edition for the film will be released alongside Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland.

Critical reception
Morphin the Power gained very postive reviews by critics, with most of them calling it by far as the best Hoop film yet. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 80% score based from 257 viewers (89% of Top Critics of 14 viewers), giving it a "fresh" rating. It was grade B+ Yahoo! Movies, which made it very positive. Metacritics ranked it 68% within 21 viewers reported it, which made it the second lowest-rated Hoop film to date. The Times's Mark Johnson praises on the film's acting, plot summary, and background. He also praises on the performances for both Tim Allen and Jennette McCurdy stating: "Tim and Jennette did extremely well in the film." Harry Sharp Davis of Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review stating that Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power is one of the feel good movies of the summer and yet the darkest chapter I have ever seen yet, maybe. David Harrison of The New York Times gave the film a mixed review. He gave half positive feedback stating the film is the most perfect Jane Hoop Elementary chapter yet, and the most anticipated storyline yet, but criticizing about the film's MPPA rating, despite that most scenes are too dark for young children stating the film should have gotten a PG-13 rating, but instead it have given it PG.

Director of the film Gary Ross gave the film a positive review as well reveals that Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power is one of his most anticipated project in his career yet, and become thrilled that he is directing his very first big budgeted film. He had no idea that he could be talented as he compares himself to other directors from the film series, Steven Spielberg, Francis Lawerence and Chris Weitz. While he does that, he is unsure if he would be as good as them, but he tried his best and Christensen told him that he did a "wonderful" job, and said she could have him back as director for the next film (2009).

Us Magazine publisher Christopher Gregory gave the film a positive review stating that Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power is the darkest and scariest Jane Hoop Elementary chapter yet featuring with many scary creatures and monsters. He praises on Brown, Linkin, Tammie, Simpson and Dee's performances of playing the evil doubles of themselves, the Jane Hoop Elementary clones, perfectly stating "What they have done is very outstanding. It's like that they are seeing themselves on a mirror". Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power is ranked as one of 2007's biggest movies ever as well as being the most anticipated films of that year, alongside Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Transformers and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Box office
The film opened to a five-day worldwide total of $329 million, the third biggest worldwide opening to date behind Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 and Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland, ninth largest opening for a movie of all-time and the fourth biggest worldwide opening of 2007 behind Spider-Man 3 ($381 million), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End ($344 million) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ($332 million).[3] There were lot of tickets selling across countries, where, lot of countries are going to sell out, but there are only 11 countries still are selling. It grossed a record $10 million by midnight opening, until it was closely behind Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ($11 million). The movie also had a massive international opening of $195 million, placing it as the biggest opening to date (now third behind The Final Rush - Part 2, $289 million, and Turbo of Catland, $222 million), third largest opening overseas of the year behind Spider-Man 3 ($230 million) and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End ($216 million), and 3rd of all-time.

The film grossed an additional $33.5 million in post-midnight screenings, bringing its total to $43.5 million for the film's gross during it's theatrical opening day release. This made it the biggest-grossing Wednesday opening debut of all-time, as well as the fifth biggest single day gross of all-time at that time.[1] Back in 2004, Spider-Man 2 previously held the record from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($34.5 million) as the biggest Wednesday single day gross with $40.4 million, which is also a single day record, thus Morphin outpace the film on Wednesday by $1.1 million, but not an opening day record, which is held by Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ($50 million) in 2005. One week later, Morphin's Wednesday gross record is broken to Order of the Phoenix ($44.2 million). Morphin grossed a total of $134.6 million during it's five-day debut, which is one of the biggest five-day opening weekend ever. Also, the following day, it made $148.5 million during it's ultimate six-day Independence Day opening weekend debut. That made it the sixth biggest six-day weekend debut in history.

Morphin's domestic gross is at $292.8 million, making it the fifth highest-grossing 2007 film in the United States.[3] With $657.1 million overseas, which was the fifth higher-grosser in history, brings it's worldwide total to $949.9 million making it the second highest-grossing film of the year closely behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End ($963.4 million). It was also the sixth highest-grossing film in history at the time and the second highest-grossing Jane Hoop Elementary film behind The First ($969.2 million). The film, however, is the year's highest-grossing film overseas surprising At World's End ($654 million) by only $3.1 million. As of 2013, Morphin the Power is currently the 26th highest-grossing film worldwide of all-time, and the fourth highest-grossing Jane Hoop Elementary film behind The Final Rush - Part 2 ($1.329 billion), The First ($969.2 million) and The Final Rush - Part 1 ($962.5 million)[3][3][1] In the United Kingdom, Morphin the Power grossed £19 million (US$33.1 million) in it's opening weekend at the UK box office. It than grossed £40.2 million (US$88 million) making it the year's second highest-grossing film behind Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ($101 million). In Australia, it grossed $15.6 million in it's opening weekend. It than grossed $40 million making it the year's highest-grossing film.

Accolades
Before it was released, Morphin the Power won the 2007 MTV Movie Awards for "Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet". On August 26, 2007, the film was nominated for the Teen Choice Awards beaten by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

On Jauary 8, 2008, the film was nominated for two categories: "Favorite Family Movie", "Favorite Movie" and "Favorite Movie Drama" at the 34th People's Choice Awards. The film won the award for "Favorite Movie" beating Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, but was beaten by Shrek the Third for "Favorite Family Movie" and by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix "Favorite Movie Drama". On March 9, 2008, Morphin the Power was nominated by voters in a foreign country at the 13th Empire Awards for "Best Film". It got beaten by The Bourne Ultimatum. March 29, 2008, Morphin the Power was nominated at Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards for "Favorite Movie". But it was beaten by Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was the third time for the film in the franchise not to win the Kids Choice Awards.

On June 1, 2008, almost a year after the film's release, Morphin the Power was again nominated at the MTV Movie Awards at this time for two categories - "Best Movie" and "Best Villain". Both did not win any awards. "Best Movie" goes to Transformers, and "Best Villain" goes to Johnny Depp's character from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.