Jane Hoop Elementary: The First (film)

Jane Hoop Elementary: The First is a 2000 superhero adventure film, released on the novel by Rita Christensen. Directed by James Calvin, it is the beginning in the popular Jane Hoop Elementary series. The story follows five young heroes in their first year as superheroes saving the world for the first time from evil. The film stars Blake Brown as Danny Gorden, and Ben Linkin and Amy Tammie as Alec Gutzwiller and Rebecca Henry, his best friends and teammates. It was followed by eight sequels with the first being Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape.

From Paramount Pictures, Christensen insisted that the entire cast be American, in keeping with the cultural integrity of the book and the film. Christensen also approved the screenplay, written by Brian Clark. It has been shoot between a year shooting, announced for them to released in the countries from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment, brought the film rights of the book in 1999. The film marked as the acting debut of country singer George Jones.

The film made alot of good critics and breaking box office records with ticket sales are over US$929 million worldwide, which is a box office success, becoming the 23rd most successful film of all-time and fifth highest-grossing Jane Hoop Elementary installment to date. It was also the highest-grossing 2000 film ever. It was nominated at the 2001 Kids' Choice Awards and won only one.

Plot

 * See also: Jane Hoop Elementary: The First

The First transported five young children into superheroes where a married couple Mayor James Watson and Miss. Bella Watson keep it for safety. Years later, Danny battle with Cory, Jaquille and Alec against Rebecca with the aliens. As it stop, Danny unlock her fist and kissed him and zoomed away hidding from the aliens. At the Jane Hoop Elementary Base with Mayor and Miss. Watson, Danny realizes that she is nervous because she is trying to find a real home after being tricked and lied to years after she was born. When Rebecca was at the hospital by the time she was born, she got kidnapped and transformed into an alien for adaption. SWAT Team, David, Maria and Michael and other teams helping along the gang.

Suddenly, Danny, Alec, Cory, Jaquille and Naudia starts to search for Rebecca as they saw her at the video store, let her to come with them for shelter. Salma Green, and friends Shego and Monkeyman became villains. The First has crashed on earth. Danny, Alec and Rebecca talked about The First, a Diamond-Stone, when provided finding brave children, and it's power to provided the children to have superpowers, when make a point to became superheroes, but the aliens are using it to destroy earth, and finding Rebecca.

Danny became leader of the new superheroes called Jane Hoop Elementary. Catwoman plans giving Rebecca a drink of Juice, within Catwoman putting friendship as a hate spell. Before Rebecca drinks the wrong cup, she drinks one with the potion inside causing her hating on her friends. Danny, Alec, Cory and Jaquille fights against Rebecca. And Mrs. Watson gives the gang an undo spell to restore Rebecca's goodness.

At Catwoman's Base, Rebecca's goodness has been rescored. It’s all for the gang to teamed up by saving the world and turning Rebecca back to normal since by sunset the power of the aliens medicine transforms her in her alien form since hurting her feelings since she change her mind then getting married with alien friend and little help with the kids from earth as Danny gives Rebecca her medicine turning back to human and lived in earth at the end. Later, While Danny, Alec, Cory, Jaquille and Naudia were form to battle against Catwoman, Shego, Monkeyman and Rebecca, Catwoman faces her revenge against the aliens taking Rebecca back in space, whom she would want too. Later, Alec makes Rebecca drinks out the undo spell turning her normal. After the spell and before the battle cuts, Catwoman trades them into her maze, must come through to save the world of Alien invaders attacking Cincinnati, Ohio and before a bomb could destroy Cincinnati and Catwoman whom plans also to help with aliens, and the aliens are taking away "The First" begins to destroy it, and taken away the gangs powers forever. The kids than used their ultimate power and to let the aliens to disappear and the world is saved, and remain as the first superheroes. Danny and the gang became superheroes, as Rebecca transform into a human. Danny was named as the chosen himself celebrating saving the world.

Cast

 * See also: List of Jane Hoop Elementary cast members

Christensen starts finding casting of the main heroes as Danny, Alec and Rebecca actors for cast which possible to announced on December 1999,[3] they were played by three young children, Brown, Linkin and Tammie.[3] Simpson, Dee and Blue also plays as children like, Naudia, Cory and Jaquille.[3] Richardson and Jones were cast[ed] as two married adults short Mayor and tall Miss. Watson.[3] Timer, Dee and Johnson were cast[ed] as the villains, Catwoman, Shego and Monkeyman.[3] The Jane Hoop children's adult were cast[ed] by unknown actors and actresses.[3] SWAT Teammates: theatrically characters, David, Maria and Michael were cast[ed] by Richards, Alder and Martinson and other unknown characters cast[ed] by unknown actors.[3] The other characters were including Aliens for make up, cast[ed] by these actors form in make up John Green, Will Watson and David Bambi and the allies to Jack Rowe and McKenzie Bradford as two students, they were cast[ed] by Charlie Anderson and Dan Williams.[3] All of these characters were cast[ed] by Rachel Willow and Prince Watson, as they were also staff asking, for the first time, casting staffs on December 1999.[3] Once, Watson saws Brown in the 1999 novel film, Fight Club.[3] All these character takes most places at the Doctor, City, Base, Ocean and Adventure.[3] Category of tag[lines] as "Children's Adventure", "Female Child", "Male Child" and "Children's fantasy", as to be for most children's film.[3] Also, these character, asking they will returned to the sequel for another year.[3]
 * Blake Brown as Danny Gorden: A Fair and brave boy [hero] wander, loving to save the world, after the flash of light from moon making it him to have super powers. On his 7th birthday [...his birthday is on 17 November],[3] he attends saving the world, later stopping thief stolen money from the bank, while Danny stopping him. Later, Danny finds his battle against Rebecca. Within help with his new friends, Alec, Cory and Jaquille and cousin Naudia. Fair much, Danny telling Rebecca to stay with them forever. In production, Calvin start asking Brown, after finding actors that could play the role for Danny on December 1999,[3] after filming of Fight Club in 1998,[3] based on the novel with Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter and Edward Norton.[3]Brown, starts reading his script for the character's help, reading is about Danny is the leader. Leading to a 2000 interview in Cincinnati, Ohio office on November 2000.[3] Within also audiences with Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Mike Myers as Shrek, William Moseley as Peter Pevensie, Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic in the film series, for the highest box office series.[3] Trey Woodson plays as Young Danny in the beginning.
 * Ben Linkin as Alec Gutzwiller: One of Danny's friend. However, he has his appearance with red hair, brighter brown eyes. Alec says with signed word [...Dude!]. In December 1999,[3] Calvin announcing Linkin, to be part of the character's appearance, actor has the same appearance, since the character's of Linkin first career in Hollywood.[3] At 8 years old, Linkin's hair starts to grow little longer, before growing older, he is the oldest of Brown and Tammie.[3] Eddie Murphy, James Franco, Rupert Grint, Orlando Bloom and Chris Evans were also cast for sidekick when Alec is a sidekick. Rupert Grint plays Ron Weasley, which is also as the tallest character and also as relationship to Harry and Hermione, but Danny and Rebecca's relationship. William Adams plays Young Alec in the beginning.
 * Amy Tammie as Rebecca Henry: A girl, blonde hair, as harmless [alien] and as human later, before drinks a hating spell not liking Danny Gorden by Catwoman, since she was kidnapped for 6 years in space with the aliens attack. Few years later, battling against the boys and Naudia. Casting, Tammie or Fanning, Tammie was cast[ed] while Fanning does not. In December 1999,[3] Tammie starts casting as Rebecca Henry, and does her interview for the character in Cincinnati, Ohio office on November 2000,[3] feeling embarrassed [on the big screen] that she had almost kissed Brown, which is Danny [but it was fake].[3] Emma Watson's character, Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series, also to be as beautiful and much bossy [...Rebecca was too harmless to be bossy] character [she was not embarrassed before it's real].[3] Brandi Earls plays Young Rebecca in the beginning.
 * Brandon Simpson as Cory Berning: One of Danny's friend and a best pal to Jaquille [...and others]. Simpsons reads his script of the character on September 2000 after casting in December 1999 reported to filming.[3] Simpson starts interview about characters on December 2000 with Brown, Tammie, Linkin, Dee and Timer at Cincinnati, Ohio office. It is also Simpson first career.[3] Terry Killerman plays Young Cory in the beginning.
 * Bloom Dee as Jaquille Short: One of Danny's friend and the oldest character of the gang. Dee says he had enjoy playing Jaquille one of Danny's friend but reads his script that Jaquille did not start fighting with Cory but only Rebecca and Alec. Dee starts a interview with Tammie, Linkin, Brown, Simpson and Timer at the Cincinnati, Ohio office on December 2000[3] after casting in December 1999.[3] It is also Dee's first career.[3] Joey Cook plays Young Jaquille in the beginning.
 * Barbara Blue as Naudia Gorden: Danny's youngest very improve cousin who lives with him and the others at the Jane Hoop Elementary base. She was one of Alec's crush [but] not Cory's as to know holding hands. Blue has completely only for two more sequel coming here. Blue really enjoys her character since for fourth film does not appears but Blue thinks that her character starts taking protection using her powers as well. Blue also starts after onto TV series, My Wife and Kids playing Kady Kyle Blue was cast[ed] as Naudia in December 1999.[3]
 * Natasha Richardson as Miss. Bella Watson: A secretary who lives with Mayor in his office from Danny and the gang in the Jane Hoop Elementary Base. Richardson says she would be enjoying as sub person living into the office where she lived. Richardson was casts as Miss. Watson in December 1999.[3]
 * George Jones as Mayor: Real name [is], James Watson. The president's officer of Cincinnati, Ohio lived at the Jane Hoop Elementary Base. Jones continues stop smoking and to contain working onto film series for Children. Jones was casts on December 1999 as Mayor.[3] The film marks as the acting debut of country singer George Jones.
 * Brooke Timer as Salma Green / Dr. Catwoman: A Evil cat and a queen born from Catland. She decides to make Rebecca joining with her at Catwoman's Base, as Catwoman uses to live. Catwoman's only family does not appears were Catman and Catgirl. As Casting, Timer was cast[ed] for Catwoman on December 1999, since Catwoman first written a character in 1991, reading scripts and starts interview with Brown, Linkin and Tammie.[3]
 * Rebecca Dee as Shego Dalma: One of Catwoman's friend. Dee was cast[ed] on December 1999 as Shego.[3]
 * Stephen Johnson as Shadow the Monkeyman: One of Catwoman's friend who helped with her defends working with Goldenman of evil. Johnson casts as Monkeyman on December 1999.[3]
 * Charlie Anderson as Jack Rowe: A Best pal of McKenzie Bradford as a unknown bully. Anderson casts as Jack in December 1999.[3]
 * Dan Williams as McKenzie Bradford: A Best pal of Jack Rowe as a unknown bully. Williams casts as McKenzie in December 1999.[3]
 * Nick Richards as David Johnson: A SWAT Teammate and a leader. Richards casts as in December 1999.[3]
 * Jessica Alder as Maria Dawns: A female SWAT Teammate and a second [fair] leader. Alder casts as in December 1999.[3]
 * Elliot Martinson as Michael Walker: A SWAT Teammate and a third [fair] leader. Martinson casts as in December 1999.[3]
 * Nova Lavender as Female Broadcaster: Appears on television broadcast filming the news. In the profile, she and Male Broadcaster starts meeting Jane Hoop Elementary interviewing with Mayor. Meanwhile, she defends attack of the aliens and Catwoman.
 * Dan Ryan as Male Broadcaster: Appears on television broadcast filming the news. In the profile, he and Female Broadcaster starts meeting with Jane Hoop Elementary interviewing with Mayor. Meanwhile, he defends attack of the aliens and Catwoman.
 * Donald McKnight as King Alien: A king of Space, who kidnaps Rebecca Henry in the beginning.
 * Jennifer Washington as Queen Alien: A queen of Space, who kidnaps Rebecca Henry in the beginning.

Development
In 1991, with the success of the book, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros. Warner Bros.] has rights to put up plans onto developing a film adaptation and said that it'll take 10 years to developed it into a film.[1] In 1994, while setting the film to release sometimes during the 1990s, have no search of young actors who are playing the children heroes in the film, as they decided to cancel the search, where they found with Bow Wow to play as Danny Gorden, Andrew Poje as Alec Gutzwiller, and Alexa Vega as Rebecca Henry,[1] but didn't put in a comfortable situation, as Warner Bros. canceled the movie.[1] After it been developed by Warner Bros., it decided to leave it empty. Until Paramount Pictures wants to develop. The film was now officially research and begins searching for child actors to play as Danny, Rebecca, Alec, Cory and Jaquille, and they found them.[1]

In 1995, producer Brian Clark searched Hollywood for a children's book that could be adapted into a well received film over 10 years.[3] He had planned to produce Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling,[3] but his plans fell through. Clark pitched the idea to Paramount Pictures, and the following year, Christensen sold the film rights to the company the rights to the first four Jane Hoop books and comics for a reported £1 million (US$60,000,000).[3] Todd and Jones then both pulled out of the running in February, and the choice was narrowed down to Clark himself, Calvin, Jones and Todd. Christensen's first choice director was herself, but Warner Bros chose Calvin, citing his work on other family films as influences for their decision.[3] Calvin pitched his vision of the film for two hours, stating that he wanted the Student scenes "to be bleak and dreary," but those set in the fantasy world "to be steeped in color, mood, and detail." He took inspiration from David Lean's adaptations of Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, wishing to use "that sort of darkness, that sort of edge, that quality to the cinematography," taking the colour designs from Oliver! and The Godfather.[3] Brian Clark was selected to write the screenplay for the film. He described adapting the book as "tough", as it did not "lend itself to adaptation as well as the next two books." Clark was sent a selection of synopses of books proposed as film adaptations, which he "almost never read", but Jane Hoop jumped out at him. He went out and bought the book, and became an instant fan of the series.[3] When speaking to Paramount Pictures, he stated that the film had to be English, and had to be true to the characters.[3] Clark was nervous when he first meet Christensen as he did not want he to think he was going to "[destroy] her baby."[3] Christensen admitted that she "was really ready to hate this Justin Freeman," but recalled her initial meeting with him: "The first time I met him, he said to me, 'You know who my favorite character is?'[3] And I thought, You're gonna say Alec. I know you're gonna say Alec. But he said 'Rebecca.' And I just kind of melted." Christensen received a large amount of creative control, being made an executive producer, an arrangement that he don't mind.

Filming
Basically, from the American series, starts to shoot filming in the American and some effects to be as a British film, first filming location starts at the Cincinnati's Hospital of Cincinnati, Kentucky, making the year timeline to set in 1993.[3] Releases of The First, Principal photography begins on November 19, 1999[3] in Cincinnati, Kentucky, where the scenes takes places for young Jane Hoop Kids as babies. Second scene, most takes place for the battle for Danny and Rebecca in Cincinnati, Ohio,[3] which located in Hamilton County, Ohio, USA, with year timeline throughout the entire film set in 1999.[3] Of the third scene, stays to the same location, as they did for the first and second shoot. There, if shooting of battling scene takes place from December 2000[3] to March 2001[3] of the second, third and fourth scene.[3] Catwoman's Base, where it was located on Ohio River, within also takes for first to fourth scene. The SWAT Center, located from Old Camp from other side of the Cincinnati's Bridge from the villages and shops, with Richards, Alder and Martinson take their location as the SWAT characters. A space scene, takes place, where built to create space flying from the Green Screen, where Tammie's character, flying to earth before Aliens raising for Rebecca as evil. Official, Paramount Pictues says to released that they thought if they would start filming until in New York City, but within, does not to be called "Cincinnati, Ohio", but there may pretend to calls it, but with it, filming into the real Cincinnati, Ohio. Schools, is a place like at the Heroes base, where scenes where Jones and Richardson takes places into. Filming, the title may nicknames as "Jane Hoop Elementary" or "Jane Hoop Elementary 1",[3] possible also nicknames for the book, album and score. With the differences, scenes shoots into the United States, filming takes twice takes over 24 hours, finishes for only couple of days ago. Tear to the Ohio river, scenes takes non place for the Jane Hoop Elementary gang floating above the ocean. Brown, is 4 inches tall,[3] much taller includes Dee,[3] 6 inches taller first.[3] Linkin is 4 inches taller than Brown[3] and Simpson 4 inches also,[3] but with Tammie and Blue 3 1/2 inches[3] together both were the smallest.[3] Tammie was built to be the smallest. The tracks location Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats.[3] The Tall Stacks festival annually celebrates this connection between Cincinnati and the Ohio River built a principal other location for Catwoman's Base on the other side of the river.[3] Fifth scene, filming resumes in Cincinnati, Ohio, this time, location between Ohio River and near behind Cincinnati Bridge. Sixth scene, the next finale filming on May 2001,[3] resumes again in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the seventh, eight, ninth, tenth and eleventh starts again as did for the sixth scene. Scene Twelve, will be the final shoot for filming and still locations in Cincinnati, Ohio near at Ohio River between the bridge and the city between battling scene once again as they did on November 2000[3] to March 2001.[3] Shooting warped on 14 May 2001[3] in Cincinnati, Ohio where ever when Rebecca become part of the Team with Danny, Alec and others and includes Richards, Alder and Martinson's character, visiting to Cincinnati, Ohio since the Time, flying of the SWAT Helicopter, painting a SWAT color. The film warped to released on May 5, 2000.[3]

Design and Efforts

 * Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: The First (soundtrack)

Jimmy Hart designed the film's costumes boss. He re-designed the Battle uniforms, having initially planned to use those shown on the cover of the American book, but deemed them "a mess."[3] As such, she dressed the hero part of the team players in "preppie sweaters, 20th century American US fencing breeches and arm guards." Production designer Stuart Craig built the sets at Cincinnati, Kentucky, including Base's Great Hall, basing it on many English cathedrals. Although originally asked to use an existing old street to film the Fantasy World scenes, Craig decided to built his own set, comprising Tudor, Georgian and Queen Anne architecture.[3] The leader was designer by Kevin Matthews.[3] He make Brown designs as a red sweater-t-shirt, while Ben in blue t-shirt, Simpson, Dee and Blue in white t-shirt, black t-shirt and yellow t-shirt within blue jean pants includes Blue in blue jean skirt.[3] Tammie designs as in pink t-shirt including pink jean skirt, also designs in a pink dress, of aliens' young princess. [3]Matthews also designs of Timer in Catwoman's black-suit, costume "half-parody of Comic's Catwoman". A motion of Tammie's skin was colored white, within was to be painted green that she was play as alien on the computer's work of color, shows motion of green skin on the screen.[3]

Soundtrack
Kim Dawson was selected to compose the film's score. Dawson starts to compared this film's soundtrack, between of the United States and United Kingdom. The soundtrack was released on November 7, 2001.[3] The main theme is "Fantasy's Theme" built to be as Jane Hoop Elementary's theme song, as does, some differently during the sequels.

Marketing
The film's teaser trailer was released on December 1999. A teaser poster debuts in the United States on February 15, 2000. On May 5, 2000, the film's full length trailer was released in theaters in front of the premiere of Mission: Impossible II on May 25, 2000. The full length trailer was released online the following day.

Theatrical release
The North American world premiere for the film was held in Los Angeles, California on October 30, 2000, two weeks ahead of the film's release. In the United Kingdom, it premiered on November 3, 2000, a week before the film's premiere on November 9, 2000. The film opened in theaters worldwide on November 8, 2000. In North America, the film's release date was set to November 10, 2000. Nationwide, it was released over 60 foreign countries.

Home media
Jane Hoop Elementary: The First was released on both VHS and two disc DVD on April 27, 2001. On December 24, 2007, the film was released on Blu Ray for the first time alongside the following films. Alongside its sequel, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape, both films were released on Ultimate Edition DVDs on June 29, 2010.

Critical reception

 * Main article: Critical response to the Jane Hoop Elementary films

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, garnering a 79% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes,[3] and a score of 64 out of 100 at Metacritic representing "generally favorable reviews". Roger Ebert called The First "a classic," particularly praising the visual effects used for the Battling scenes. Praise which was shared by both The Telegraph and Empire reviewers,[3] with Alan Morrison naming it the "stand-out sequence" of the film.[3] The sets, design, cinematography, effects and principal cast were all given praise from Kirk Honeycutt, although he deemed Kim Dawson's score "a great clanging, banging music box that simply will not shut up." [3]

Box office
Upon it's release, it set new box office records. On it's opening day, it grossed $31 million from 3,628 theaters, a new single-day record beating Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace ($28 million), which is later broken almost a year later to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ($32.3 million). In it's opening weekend, it made in a total of $81.2 million, the new record as the biggest opening weekend of all-time beating The Lost World: Jurassic Park ($72.1 million), which held the record for three years. It hold the record for nearly a year until Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ($90.2 million) was released.[3] The film also topped the weekend box office.[1] In Australia, it had a stunning $12.1 million in it's opening weekend, also new opening weekend record.

The film earned $929.2 million at the worldwide box office, with $311.8 million in the United States and $617.4 million elsewhere, which is the second largest movie of all-time behind Titanic, and the largest of 2000. As of 2012, it is currently the 23rd highest-grossing film of all-time and the fifth largest-grossing Hoop movie ever worldwide, but was still the highest-grossing Hoop film domestically to date.[1][1][1] It holds the record for ten and a half years until it was finally broken in 2011 by it's final installment Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 with $314.4 million. (final total is $379.1 million as of December 2011)

Accolades
The film has been received three Academy Award nominations: "Best Art Direction", "Best Costume Design", and "Best Original Score" for Kim Dawson although it did not win in any category.[3] The film was also nominated for seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for George Jones. The film nominated a Saturn Award for its costumes and was nominated for eight more. It won other awards from the Casting Society of America and the Costume Designers Guild. It was won for the AFI Film Award for its special effects and the Art Directors Guild Award for its production design.[3] It held in 2001 of 3 Oscars with Another 13 wins & 46 nominations.[3] The film was also nominated at the 2001 Kids' Choice Awards, and won for "Favorite Movie".[1]