Jane Hoop Elementary (film series)

Jane Hoop Elementary are a series of eight superhero adventure films distributed by Paramount Pictures, based on the novels by Rita Christensen. When they are completed, they will contain all eight of the films in eleven years, due to the final book being split into two parts beginning with Jane Hoop Elementary: The First (2000) and concluded with Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 (2011).

The franchise are distributed by Paramount Pictures. Derek Todd and Drake Jones become producers for all eight films, but each films get different directors. Steven Spielberg directs the first two films, Francis Lawerence directs the third film, Chris Weitz directs the fourth film, and Gary Ross directs the final four films. Brian Clark is the screenwriter for all eight films. It stars Blake Brown, Amy Tammie and Ben Linkin as the three leading characters Danny Gorden, Rebecca Henry and Alec Gutzwiller. The series is the second highest-grossing film series of all-time behind Harry Potter, grossing over $7.660 billion worldwide.

The film adaptation of the seventh and final installment, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush is divided into two seperated feature-length films. The seventh film: Part 1 is released November 12, 2010 and eighth and final film: Part 2 on July 8, 2011.

Origins
In 1996, right after the book was released, [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 1997, while setting the film to release in fall 1998, but there were no search of young actors who are playing the children heroes in the film, as they decided to cancel the search, so Warner Bros. canceled the deal and Christensen became disappointed about the report. Meanwhile, Christensen has been working on her project for two years, and told Paramount Pictures to develop the book to become a film. 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] Blake Brown, Ben Linkin and Amy Tammie. Linkin and Tammie both made their acting debuts.

In January 1999, writer Brian Clark searched Hollywood for a children's book that could be adapted into a well received film over 10 years.[3] 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 Paramount chose Calvin, citing his work on other family films as influences for their decision.[3]

Clark admits that he is very nervous about making a very successful book into a movie, because he has never been a film writer before, and has spend most of his life writing small films. Christensen praises that Clark will do good becoming a film writer, and Clark express his interest saying: "I'll do it! I know I can!" Christensen joins Clark by writing the film, as Christensen is wating the film to be very loveable and childlike for her fans, since they read the books. She also hopes that this film will feel like that the book itself has become to life, so that young children could feel like that they want to become superheroes like the characters from Jane Hoop Elementary were. Two producers, Derek Todd and Drake Jones, have intersted in producing the film, and Christensen express their interest stating: "these two handsome guys are a match! And I love them." Todd, Jones, Chirstensen and Clark had a meeting with the studio Paramount Pictures for over 2 hours about wanting to make a big budget movie. Christensen was very nervous about it.

Meanwhile, James Cameron has previously been choosen to become film director for the first film. However, his place has been turned down as he is in the works of director another film, due to schedule conflicts. Other films that are included in the list for Christensen are Bryan Singer, Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, Gore Verbinski, James Calvin, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, J. J. Abrams, Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, Brett Ratner and Michael Bay. Christen has choosen Singer, Nolan, Calvin, Spielberg and Lucas as her top five for being a film director. In July 1999, it was announced that Calvin will be directing the film, and Christensen also has choosen him as her number one choose, after seeing his name when he directed films like Batman & Robin in 1997 and Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998.

Before Calvin was choosen, he read the Jane Hoop Elementary books to his children, who wants Calvin to read them a bedtime story. Afterwards, he gained expression and finishes up reading the book to himself, and told his wife that "this is the most perfect book I have ever read to the kids. I heard that they are making a movie, and I hope that I should be the lucky one to be a director." Indeed, Calvin is very excited to meet up with Christensen, after she choosen Calvin as film director. He told Christensen: "You make my kids feel like that they also want to be superheroes like them, and I feel like, when I was a kid, I always want to be a superhero and make the world safe from evil." Christenen got the goosbumps what Calvin told her about it, and she is looking foward to have him as director.

After three more books were released, Calvin told Christensen: "If we are making two more films, I will be directing all three of them, and I will let make my kids to go to the movies and see them. They loved the books, so they also should love the movies." Calvin wants each films to be much darker and edgier than the first film, because the characters are getting older, same thing for Christensen, stating: "If I keep making books in years, I will be making the characters older. If I was making movies, I will do the same things, because I can't see characters staying as young kids forever, and I don't want anyone else playing the characters, because I have a feeling that I could have critisms about different actors playing characters."

Production
Filming for the franchise took place in Cincinnati, OH. It took place in November 1999 until December 2010, 11 years of filming the series.

Director
After finishing Jane Hoop Elementary: The First, Calvin states that he enjoyed directing the film and would love to continue directing the entire franchise. As for Paramount, the studio accepts him returning for the sequel Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape. But in 2002, he was asked by Warner Bros. to direct The Last Samurai, but says that he would love to but, he don't want to be stuck in a tight "schedule fit" as he was signed to film all of the Jane Hoop Elementary films. Instead, Edward Zwick takes over.

As the film series goes on, by the time he starts filming the fourth installment, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball, he wants to make the film more darken than much family-friendly because of the books grow much mature and much more serious than a sweet and friendly. He also darkens Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power and Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland.

By the time he directs a two-part series finale, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush, he told staff and crew that both parts wants to become more like an teenage-adult movie rather than a family-friendly because he realizes that the final book was the darkest and scariest Jane Hoop Elementary book ever. He also wants it to be more emotional than the rest of the films.

Cast members

 * Main article: List of Jane Hoop Elementary cast members

Director of all the film franchise James Calvin took two years to search for todler child actors to play as the roles of Danny, Rebecca and Alec. He finally start asking Brown, after finding actors that could play the role for Danny on December 1999,[1] after seen him filming of Fight Club in 1998, based on the novel with Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter and Edward Norton.[1] Brown, starts reading his script for the character's help, reading is about Danny is the leader.[1] Leading to a 2000 interview in Cincinnati, Ohio office on November 2000.[1][1] Tammie was cast[ed] while Fanning does not. In December 1998, Tammie starts casting as Rebecca Henry, and does her interview for the character in Cincinnati, Ohio office on November 1999,[1] feeling embarrassed [on the big screen] that she had almost kissed Brown, which is Danny [but it was fake].[1] [1] Calvin announcing Alec Gutzwiller to Linkin, to be part of the character's appearance, actor has the same appearance, since the character's.[1] At 8 years old, Linkin's hair starts to grow little longer, before growing older, he is the oldest of Brown and Tammie.[1][1][1]

Aside the three actors, the other actors were Brandon Simpson, Bloom Dee, Jason Foster and Barbara Blue.[1] Also with Miranda Richardson, Arthur Walters, George Jones, Barbara Timer, Rebecca Dee, Stephen Johnson.[1] They were also starring with guess stars, Nick Richards, Jessica Alder, Elliot Martinson, Keira Knightley, Lisa Dee, Michael Shanks, Jami Gertz, Tim Allen, Dakota Fanning, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Emma Watson.[1]

Final Filming
Filming for franchises and both parts of the final film wrapped up on June 25, 2010, ending ten years of work of the entire film franchise.[1] Blake Brown, Amy Tammie and Ben Linkin started filming on the last day.[1] The film is shot for a year and a half from January, 2009 to June, 2010.[1]

Soundtrack

 * Main article: Music of the Jane Hoop Elementary films

All eight soundtracks have different composers. New Zealand composerGraeme Revell composed the first three films, The First (2000), The Cyber Escape (2001) and Goldenman's Revenge (2003). Danny Elfman composes The Magic Ball (2005) and Morphin the Power (2007). Danny Newman composes Turbo of Catland (2009). And finally, James Newton Howard composes The Final Rush - Part 1 (2010) and The Final Rush - Part 2 (2011).

Jane Hoop Elementary: The First (2000)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: The First (film)

Danny, Alec, Rebecca, Cory and Jaquille has begin the adventure. Five children are starting their first day at elementary school in kindergarten, where they are being taken into the mysterious building, known to be the home of the Mayor's dorm appartment for young children for shelter called Jane Hoop Elementary, named after the kids' elementary school they attend. This is due to the fact that they gained powers from The First since they were all little, and did not know it, and have not used them ever since. Now that the kids have powers, they could use them to save the world and fight against their first enemey, Dr. Catwoman.

Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape (2001)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape (film)

Danny and his friend experience the world inside the video game where Catwoman hacks up the entire game which causes for it to transform into a dangerous world which lead her to use it to attack the game world teleporting to the real world. They also experience that Danny's longtime friend Kirk Waters has gone missing and trapped into the game forever.

Jane Hoop Elementary: Goldenman's Revenge (2003)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: Goldenman's Revenge (film)

Danny wins his first award, meanwhile, Catwoman, Shego and Monkeyman sneaks into the Base, starts to stole the Golden Trophy. Catwoman transforms a trophy into a man cover in gold, Goldenman. Meanwhile Mayor, Miss. Watson and SWAT finds out Goldenman is a godfather, meanwhile Cory, Jaquille and Naudia were kidnapped. Miss. Watson finds he is Danny's, Danny and Rebecca were right to make him break out of prison as a hero.

Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball (2005)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball (film)

Danny, Alec, Rebecca and the gang discovers that the mysterious ball, entitled The Magic Ball, could perform anything magical after each person performs at least three wishes. Although, Catwoman hears about it and is threaten to use to take over the world and tear Danny's friendship apart.

Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power (2007)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power (film)

Dr. Catwoman calls on letting new friend, who was Goldenman's enemy brother-in-law Evan, in green egg was unearthed unleashed. Danny, Alec, Rebecca, Cory and Jaquille went off getting their new powers and save world. The gang has traveled to the lost forest-island, Morphin the Power, which they already went two times. They were search for the "Crystal Power" to help Goldenman, and have new powers to rescue the world, Alice saves all parents.

Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland (2009)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland (film)

Danny was troubled by Catgirl, in which could cause to end his relationship with his team from Jane Hoop Elementary is by joining the dark side. Alec, Rebecca, Cory and Jaquille were caught on a time, don't remember Danny was on a spell. Meanwhile, Danny gets kidnapped while Rebecca, Alec and Alice were on a rescue, but they were also kidnapped, even Blaze was kidnapped. They and the Jane Hoop members rescues into lost island Catland at Catwoman's home. Danny accrues takes off the wedding from Catgirl goes back with friends.

Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 1 (2010)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 1

Catwoman raises her army and releases the dangerous Final Rush, Danny, Rebecca and Alec goes on a hunt to find three powerful objects to give them the most ultimate superpower that is powerful enough to destroy it. In Part 2,

Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 (2011)

 * ''Main article: Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2

After the Crystal Power shatters into three pieces and disappears, Danny, Rebecca and Alec will have to go to three different places to search all three pieces before Catwoman finds them as they prepare for the final battle against Catwoman and her army.

Marketing
All of these video games were based onto the film franchise with the same name.
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: The First video game - November 8, 2000
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape video game - November 7, 2001
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: Goldenman's Revenge video game - November 12, 2003
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball video game - November 9, 2005
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power video game - June 29, 2007
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland video game - June 24, 2009
 * Jane Hoop Elemnentary: The Final Rush - Part 1 video game - November 10, 2010
 * Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 video game - June 30, 2011

Release
After the release of the fourth book, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball in July 2000, Jane Hoop Elementary: The First was released on November 10, 2000. It broked box office records grossing $82 million alone during its opening weekend premiere. It than ranked as the number one film of 2000 worldwide with $969 million. With the success of the first film, Paramount Pictures greenlighted sequels, and they became more popularity at the critics and fans, and less demand at the box office domestically, internationally and worldwide.

The fifth film Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power was released worldwide on July 4, 2007. The sixth film Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland was released worldwide on July 8, 2009. The final book Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush was split into two theatrical parts: Part 1 was released on November 12, 2010, and Part 2 released on July 8, 2011, eight months after Part 1. Part 1 is originally going to be released in 3D, but Paramount Picutres anonunced that it will only be shown in 2D and IMAX formats, due to the 3D effects not found. Part 2, however, will be released in both 2D and 3D formats. It was later reported that both parts will not be in 3D at all, and both are yet to release in regular and IMAX theaters all together. Although, the planned for releasing Part 2 in 3D is still in development. Part 1 surprised The First at the international box office, while Part 2 surprised The First, domestically and worldwide, and also Part 1 internationally.

The longest film in the franchise is the second, The Cyber Escape at 158 minutes, while the shortest film in the franchise is the eighth and final film, The Final Rush: Part 2 at 128 minutes.

Home media
The completed series were released on December 23, 2011, alongside the release of the final installment, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2.

Critical responses

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

All of the films were a financial success, marking them as a major Hollowood tent-poles akin to Harry Potter, James Bond, Wars, Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean''. Fans are divided throughout the release of each films, about it's appperances and changes as well as new comers and some new writers. Fans are also divided up with their reaction of the same film director James Calvin for all of them. Author Rita Christensen states that The Final Rush is her favorite book so far.

Box office
The films became the second highest-grossing film series of all-time behind Harry Potter. The highest-grossing film domestically, internationally and worldwide in the franchise is Jane Hoop Elementary: The First. All of them are being overtaken by the concluding film, The Final Rush: Part 2. The lowest grossing film in the series is Goldenman's Revenge, domestically, overseas and worldwide, while the lowest opening in the series is The Cyber Escape.

No. of Movie Theaters
Most Jane Hoop Elementary films in the franchise were also released into various of IMAX and 3D theaters. The first film that is ever in the franchise to be in IMAX is the third installment Goldenman's Revenge as the franchise's conclusion The Final Rush - Part 2 is the first film ever in the franchise to be in 3D. Although, The Final Rush - Part 1 is originally planning for 3D release, but the plans were scrapped as it was instead released in regular and IMAX theaters.

Accolades
Jane Hoop Elementary: The First and Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape are the only films in the franchise to won the Kids Choice Awards. The rest did not win any awards. However, Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 1 and Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 both won the award, but with a different category.