Revenge of the Electric Car is the sequel of Paine’s earlier film, Who Killed the Electric Car? While Paine’s first film featured a more conventional good guys vs. bad guys storyline, his current entry works better because of its more traditional documentary structure.
The story follows the attempts by three automakers to bring a viable electriccar to market. Paine tags on a sidebar of sorts with his tale of Greg Abbott, a cheerful fellow who converts electric cars out of altruistic love for the technology. A panel discussion, within the film, develops various theories and predictions concerning the future of electric cars here and abroad. Revenge of the Electric-Car delivers a balanced smorgasbord of opinion on this hotly debated political subject. Whether you are an electric car advocate, owner, or know nothing about the topic, you will leave the theater with a grounding in the facts, and a feel for what the future holds.In a way, Revenge of the Electric Car is a triple, melded biography.
General Motors’ Bob Lutz is the progenitor of the compan The story of how the Volt came to be is fascinating, and likely what Paine was attempting to depict. GM is, in a way, the central player in this entire drama, having played the role of bad guy in Paine’s 2006 film. GM partisans, and Volt fans in particular, view this documentary as something of an apology on Paine’s part. There is much evidence to support that view, since GM comes out as a hero here, painted as a misunderstood fumbler rather than an evil force for its earlier efforts to produce, then quash, an electric–car prototype. Lutz gives a real world account of the enormous amounts of capital needed to bring a viable electric car to the world market.
Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn and Tesla’s Elon Musk round out the trio of electric innovators. Paine tells Ghosn’s story truthfully, walking us through his typical, workaholic day. Profit motivates Ghosn in a big way, but he does not come off as a selfless miser, rather as someone who will do anything to get electric cars onto the road. Ghosn’s leadership of Nissan and Renault is put forth as a prime example of the frightful amount of single-minded dedication it takes to revolutionize a gargantuan industry.
Elon Musk is the man who brought the Tesla Roadster to the world. He heads up Tesla Motors and is perhaps Paine’s most closely analyzed subject. Musk does not have the billions of dollars nor the hundreds of thousands of employees to manifest his automotive dreams. Though a wealthy man, he is a small fish in the ocean that is now the electric_car industry. His bringing the Roadster to market in 2009 will forever secure him a place in the pantheon. Paine microscopically surveys Musk’s environment of trauma, from his sinking marriage to international economic crises that stood in the way of the Roadster. Near-disasters, related to funding, production, and labor almost killed Musk’s dreams at least a dozen times along the way. But he prevailed.
The film’s most apt metaphor tells the story as well as its protagonists do. Early cellular telephones are compared to prototypical electric autos. With phones, however, the story is easier to follow because it played out much faster, and because the technology is not nearly as costly. From those early 1980?s bulky bag-phones, which almost no one could afford and that were a nightmare to recharge, to modern, ubiquitous, smart gadgets that do everything but our laundry, cell phones are an apt lesson that Paine wisely uses to his advantage.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Watch Carnage Movie Review
Movie: Carnage (2011)
Release Date: 25 November 2011 (USA)
Directors: Roman Polanski
Writers: Roman Polanski (screenplay), Yasmina Reza
Genres: Comedy | Drama
For those that enjoy films that give us glimpses into people’s lives and let us be passersby to their experiences, then Carnage is an absorbing feature. Liking this film doesn’t make one snooty at all, some of us just don’t always require direct plot nor overwhelmingly “beautiful” people to be entertained. Like the brilliant 2001 film Bug, it connects different people to one incident, and how their lives interconnect even if they don’t realize it’s happened. Watch Carnage Movie Online
In this case, it’s the death of a bull after a bullfight. The bull is butchered and the different parts go out to people in different European countries. That part is really incidental, as the main concern is how these folks’ lives interconnect and lives are lost, saved, secrets revealed, and friendships made. I confess I was slightly confused by some of the conversations and revelations, but that did not wreck the experience for me, it just meant I had to go back and view it again at some point to absorb the story better.
The actors in Carnage were quite refreshing to see, they seemed like real people instead of pristine mega-stars. I must disagree strongly with a reviewer here who kept insisting, for instance, that the naked people in the primal scream therapy scenes were all fat and not ones you’d want to see naked. Take a closer look at that scene, buddy. Different shapes and sizes. Look around you and you’ll see 99% of people are not beautiful models, and to just have naked beautiful models in the pool would have made the entire scene unbelievable. These were intended to be REAL people, and frankly it’s real people that I find to be more attractive instead of fit, shaved “hotties!” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder…I’m sure there are plenty who found the folks in the pool just fine — Clovis Cornilla as Alexis and ‘Mr. Beard’ seemed quite masculine indeed, and the women were beautiful each in their own way. Those that criticise how these actors look should take a good look in the mirror at themselves and wake up.
To View The Full HD : free movies online for free
My only discomfort with Carnage are the scenes of the bullfighting. I abhor any abuse of animals, and seeing the poor bulls being slowly killed to the delight of a crowd upset me. I don’t know for certain if the bullfighting scenes were real in the manner that the bulls were actually harmed, but I have to understand the fact that this was considered a sport in Spain and I try to focus on the stories of the characters’ lives.
Release Date: 25 November 2011 (USA)
Directors: Roman Polanski
Writers: Roman Polanski (screenplay), Yasmina Reza
Genres: Comedy | Drama
For those that enjoy films that give us glimpses into people’s lives and let us be passersby to their experiences, then Carnage is an absorbing feature. Liking this film doesn’t make one snooty at all, some of us just don’t always require direct plot nor overwhelmingly “beautiful” people to be entertained. Like the brilliant 2001 film Bug, it connects different people to one incident, and how their lives interconnect even if they don’t realize it’s happened. Watch Carnage Movie Online
In this case, it’s the death of a bull after a bullfight. The bull is butchered and the different parts go out to people in different European countries. That part is really incidental, as the main concern is how these folks’ lives interconnect and lives are lost, saved, secrets revealed, and friendships made. I confess I was slightly confused by some of the conversations and revelations, but that did not wreck the experience for me, it just meant I had to go back and view it again at some point to absorb the story better.
The actors in Carnage were quite refreshing to see, they seemed like real people instead of pristine mega-stars. I must disagree strongly with a reviewer here who kept insisting, for instance, that the naked people in the primal scream therapy scenes were all fat and not ones you’d want to see naked. Take a closer look at that scene, buddy. Different shapes and sizes. Look around you and you’ll see 99% of people are not beautiful models, and to just have naked beautiful models in the pool would have made the entire scene unbelievable. These were intended to be REAL people, and frankly it’s real people that I find to be more attractive instead of fit, shaved “hotties!” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder…I’m sure there are plenty who found the folks in the pool just fine — Clovis Cornilla as Alexis and ‘Mr. Beard’ seemed quite masculine indeed, and the women were beautiful each in their own way. Those that criticise how these actors look should take a good look in the mirror at themselves and wake up.
To View The Full HD : free movies online for free
My only discomfort with Carnage are the scenes of the bullfighting. I abhor any abuse of animals, and seeing the poor bulls being slowly killed to the delight of a crowd upset me. I don’t know for certain if the bullfighting scenes were real in the manner that the bulls were actually harmed, but I have to understand the fact that this was considered a sport in Spain and I try to focus on the stories of the characters’ lives.
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Movie New Year’s Eve – Review
There’s something magical about New Year’s Eve that makes the holiday something many people look forward to. It’s a day to forget about the past 364 days and forge a new path for the next year, to right what was wrong and move forward. Unfortunately New Year’s Eve will make you regret every single moment of the film’s running time and forge many resolutions to never see a film like this again.
Much like Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve is a multi-layer film revolving around a handful of storylines involving people getting ready to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. And in the midst of all the chaos of Times Square on the holiday two dozen actors come together to push through a remarkably convoluted storyline that manages to give everyone a happy ending by the end of the film’s two hour running time.
The problem is that the film follows such a remarkably boring and pedestrian plot to get to all of them. We’ve seen all of these plots before, from Jon Bon Jovi and Katherine Heigl as a couple formerly together and now seeing if they can try again to Robert De Niro as a dying cancer patient wanting to see the ball drop one more time, it’s the summation of every bad sitcom plot about the holiday from the past 20 years rolled into one. And one thought keeps popping up that’s hard to shake.
What did everyone in this film do to deserve to be in such a poor film?
When you think about the sheer talent involved in making the film, and the sheer amount of prestige award nominations and wins in film and the theatre as well as on television, a film like this with virtually no redeeming action becomes that much sadder to watch. It’s as if everyone opted to combine their talents into one film, knowing it would be a hit because of the subject and not the material, in order to do other projects.
The film’s redeeming quality is that Garry Marshall has pulled together a strong visual presence for the film. He captures the feel of Times Square in terms of the sheer mass of people and excitement in the air. If this was part of a documentary then he would have the beginnings of a strong visual presence to it. As it is he’s just crafted a perfectly acceptable film in terms of being a striking production but has absolutely nothing redeeming to it beyond it.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Blu-Ray Review: Ice Age
After three successful outings at the box office, our favorite prehistoric friends have finally come home to television with Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Special. The special premiered on Thanksgiving night on Fox but now you can add it to the Ice Age collection on Blu-ray.
Manny (Ray Romano), Ellie (Queen Latifah), and Peaches (Ciara Bravo) are decorating their home for the holidays when Sid (John Leguizamo) comes along and crashes their party. In a fit of frustration, Manny tells Sid that he’s going to be on Santa’s Naughty List, leaving Sid in tears. Ellie scolds Manny for his outburst and Manny doesn’t realize Peaches is listening in when he says Santa is just for kids anyway. In order to prove the existence of Santa, Peaches, Sid, and Crash (Sean William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck) set off to find the North Pole.
Manny, Ellie, and Diego (Denis Leary) frantically chase after them, and they arrive at the North Pole at almost the same time Peaches does. But due to another mishap at the North Pole, Santa is left stranded on Christmas Eve. Will the wise-cracking flying reindeer Prancer be able to help? Will Sid get on Santa’s nice list? Will Scrat ever catch that elusive acorn?
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Special is everything that we love about Ice Age, and everything that has helped transform it into such a successful franchise. The special is witty and clever, and has a unique spin on typical Christmas traditions with keeping the spirit of family. With a bite sized run time, this Blu-ray edition of the Christmas special is sure to become a tradition in every Ice Age loving household.There was something really beautiful about this Blu-ray. Maybe it’s the colors, maybe it’s just a beautiful transfer, but this is a great looking Blu-ray. The sound is fantastic too. I wasn’t expecting that from a made for TV Christmas special. The only extras on the disc are a preview of the new Ice Age movie being released in summer 2012 called Ice Age: Continental Drift and a Jingle Bells music video featuring all the characters.
Manny (Ray Romano), Ellie (Queen Latifah), and Peaches (Ciara Bravo) are decorating their home for the holidays when Sid (John Leguizamo) comes along and crashes their party. In a fit of frustration, Manny tells Sid that he’s going to be on Santa’s Naughty List, leaving Sid in tears. Ellie scolds Manny for his outburst and Manny doesn’t realize Peaches is listening in when he says Santa is just for kids anyway. In order to prove the existence of Santa, Peaches, Sid, and Crash (Sean William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck) set off to find the North Pole.
Manny, Ellie, and Diego (Denis Leary) frantically chase after them, and they arrive at the North Pole at almost the same time Peaches does. But due to another mishap at the North Pole, Santa is left stranded on Christmas Eve. Will the wise-cracking flying reindeer Prancer be able to help? Will Sid get on Santa’s nice list? Will Scrat ever catch that elusive acorn?
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Special is everything that we love about Ice Age, and everything that has helped transform it into such a successful franchise. The special is witty and clever, and has a unique spin on typical Christmas traditions with keeping the spirit of family. With a bite sized run time, this Blu-ray edition of the Christmas special is sure to become a tradition in every Ice Age loving household.There was something really beautiful about this Blu-ray. Maybe it’s the colors, maybe it’s just a beautiful transfer, but this is a great looking Blu-ray. The sound is fantastic too. I wasn’t expecting that from a made for TV Christmas special. The only extras on the disc are a preview of the new Ice Age movie being released in summer 2012 called Ice Age: Continental Drift and a Jingle Bells music video featuring all the characters.
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Skin I Live In – Review
Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In is many things. It’s a dark, twisted tale that pays homage to several works. It is also a beautiful nightmare, as colorful as it is perverse. The film contains what his audience expects: flashbacks and conflicted souls. It also contains objects and acts one associates with a B-grade feature: mad scientists, strange costumes, rape, kidnapping, and murder.
With his beautifully crafted nightmare Almodóvar is a confectionary chef making bloody popcorn, taking a dash of Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Eyes Without a Face, and Frankenstein, with Antonio Banderas in a role that would have undoubtedly have been played by Vincent Price a half century ago.
Banderas plays Dr. Robert Ledgard, a brilliant facial transplant surgeon who is as proficient with a scalpel as a tailor is with needle and thread. Much like Almodóvar’s muse Penelope Cruz, who is at her best when working with the Spanish director, Banderas shows more here than he has in his many years working in Hollywood. Outside of playing a mariachi with a killer guitar case (Desperado), and more recently providing the voice behind the feisty feline Puss in Boots (which is his Mask of Zorro character turned up nine lives), Banderas has been undervalued as a leading man, relegating his talents for lame suspense thrillers and senseless action movies.
Audiences outside of Banderas’ native Spain, at first, may look at him and think Zorro, and thus be easily distracted as to what he really is: a mad scientist. With conviction he gives a lecture to a group of contemporaries that he has perfected a synthetic skin to be used in the treatment of burn victims. However, the skin isn’t completely synthetic nor is it entirely human.
Even the doctor’s living quarters hints that he is a mad scientist. His mansion in Toldeo is opulently furnished, and with walls adorned with elegant painting of beautiful nudes. He has a surgical suite adjacent to the house that’s nowhere near as elegant, keeping the cold and sterile illusion in tact. And he has a basement that is the perfect holding cell for victims he looks to cut into.
As the film begins, the beautiful Vera (Elena Anaya) is in one of the mansion’s many rooms. She looks comfortable, carefully performing yoga in a flesh-colored body suit. The visual is quite unexpected and could be viewed as disturbing, but could be easily explained as being a compression suit she uses to reduce muscle fatigue from various yoga movements. Receiving breakfast through a dumbwaiter by the servants would make her appear spoiled, which she is not. For Vera is not a guest of Dr. Ledgard. She is his prisoner. He watches her on closed-circuit TV, able to zoom the camera in to get a closer look at her beautiful face.
The question regarding the doctor’s sanity is not just speculated; it’s answered as a descriptor from the residing housekeeper (Marisa Paredes) – because every mad scientist needs an assistant. She tells us that Robert has made alterations to Vera’s face, making her have a strong resemblance to his deceased wife, who suffered severe burns from a car accident. When she later takes her own life the doctor is stunned. The trauma of dealing with his wife’s passing transfers to rage when his daughter is later raped. But rather than be a simple tale of revenge, where the doctor tracks down the rapist and kills him, Almodóvar has something more sinister in store.
A subplot involving the housekeeper’s criminal son, Zeca (Roberto Álamo), who eludes authorities dressed as a tiger during Carnival, returning to the mansion to lay low triggers a series of violent events that I hinted as B-grade feature truisms. More importantly, the actions allow us to see into the past to events leading up to Robert Ledgrad’s fanatical obsession with his current project.
Who Vera is and why she’s being held against captive will be revealed in due course. But any more hints will have to wait. For this is a psychological horror feature that’s better to be recommended than it is to fully explain. Because to go too far with the explanation would undercut the film’s emotional impact when that last reveal finally occurs. Calling it a whopper would be an understatement.
With The Skin I Live In being the first Almodóvar I’ve watched in full, I can only base my conclusions from other critical writings of his work, and that’s to say that this isn’t a typical Almodóvar film. Much like Martin Scorsese sampled with psychological pulp fiction with last year’s Shutter Island, Almodóvar takes the skeleton of Thierry Jonquet’s novel Tarantula and expertly applies his cinematic stamp. This is a cleverly plotted thriller of a simple horror story with strong complexion. It doesn’t need a single nip or tuck.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Immortals – Review (2)
One of the beauties of a film by Tarsem Singh is that you’re guaranteed to get some impressive visuals in a film. Alongside Zack Snyder, Singh’s one of the best in the business at maximizing a film’s look. You can’t help but watch the man at work in his films as he never ceases to impress in his composition of shots, his use of scoring and how he designs a scene. And in terms of visually impressive films, Immortals is an even better put together film than either The Fall or The Cell.
The problem with it is that there’s nothing behind it.
Immortals is a grand epic set in ancient Greece following Theseus (Henry Cavill), caught up in the middle of a power struggle between man and gods. Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) is a king hell-bent on releasing ancient evils onto the world using the power of a magical bow of legend. Zeus (Luke Evans) has chosen him to prevent this but prevented the Gods from helping out; armed with a thief sidekick (Stephen Dorff) and a virginal prophet (Freida Pinto), it’s up to Theseus to lead humanity against Hyperion and thereby save the world from its destruction by a king gone mad.
And as a visually arresting spectacle, it’s hard to undersell Singh’s latest. This is a brilliantly put together film if you look at solely from an audio/visual perspective. There’s always something interesting happening and the film’s battle scenes are amongst some of the best of the year. Singh has outdone himself with this film but he also has a significantly larger budget, too, than he’s ever had so it’s easy to say he’s put it all on the screen. Considering he had slightly more than 1/3 of the budget Michael Bay did for the third Transformers film, to boot, he’s put together the year’s best film on a pure spectacle basis.
The problem is that he didn’t bring a good story alongside it.
This is a generic period action piece, a homeless man’s version of 300 at best. It makes sure to hit all the signature type moments and bring out some strong slow-motion piece but it’s odd to think that Tarsem Singh would make a similar film that Brett Ratner would in this situation. And that’s exactly what he’s done; he’s taken a 300 level type swords and sandals film, complete with the sort of cheesy lines of dialogue that could elevate themselves into excellence with the right tone, and just focused on the visual and not the emotional.
There’s no reason to care about any of the proceedings because none of the characters have anything besides quick archetypes used to necessarily move the story forward. The film, presented in 3D as well, has little emotional depth to it. The film’s big finale falls flat because we have no vested interest in any of the characters. It looks pretty but there’s nothing behind it to make it memorable after the moment has passed.
Monday, December 5, 2011
We Bought a Zoo – Review
Released a month a part this fall are two new films from celebrated writer-directors who haven’t made narrative films in more than five years. Alexander Payne’s The Descendants arrives seven years after his Oscar-winning Sideways and stars George Clooney. Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo arrives six years after the much-maligned Elizabethtown and stars Matt Damon. Other than the fact that both are headlined by Ocean’s Eleven co-stars, both films deal with losing matriarchs and the husbands who must come to terms while also trying to raise kids. Each handles the subject matter in distinct ways, but Crowe’s effort is likely to be more embraced this holiday season, as it is presented as a family film with a good message.
Good messages shouldn’t surprise those familiar with Crowe’s films. He knows the right heartstrings to pull and not be blatantly obvious about it. While he may have tipped his hand too far with Elizabethtown and the hard-churned emotional butter contained therein, when your resume includes Say Anything, Jerry Maguire, and Almost Famous, you’re allowed some leeway.
What’s interesting about We Bought a Zoo is that Crowe’s participation came after the initial screenplay was written by Aline Brosh McKenna (of The Devil Wears Prada fame). With the exception of Vanilla Sky, Crowe’s films have been original works. Yet, the characterization of Matt Damon’s Benjamin Mee seems sewn by the same cloth that went into creating aspiring journalist William Miller in his semi-autobiographical Almost Famous.
Benjamin Mee is a seasoned journalist – some might call him an adventure seeker – traveling the world to cover intriguing stories (flying into a hurricane; interacting with killer bees) at a time when getting smudged fingerprints from reading the newspaper was still the norm. Mee loves telling stories, whether in print or verbally to his precocious little 7-year-old daughter, Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones warming every parent’s heart), but the recent passing of his wife leaves him to reassess his life and what’s best for the children. The other kid in the picture is 13-year-old Dylan (Colin Ford), an aspiring artist and wordsmith like his father, but someone who stares at others like he’s been playing “Mad World” on his iPod for hours on end.
Dylan’s recent expulsion from school gives father Ben the needed motivation to uproot the family out of Los Angeles to a new home. During a house-hunting expedition, Benjamin and Rosie drive past numerous two-storeys which are nice to look at but don’t give off a “homey aura.” And in perfect Hollywood fashion, the Goldilocks fit doesn’t occur until they view the last house: an 18-acre estate in the country that doubles as a zoo. Rosie is jumping-for-joy excited and Benjamin, though hesitant at first, gives in to the idea of owning a zoo and living a new kind of adventure.
Such a decision doesn’t sit well with Benjamin’s older brother, Duncan (Thomas Haden Church), who wanted Benjamin to get back to living, shaking it up even, but not as far as him blowing his share of their father’s inheritance in restoring a ramshackle zoo that houses 200 animals, including lions and tigers and a bear. Oh my.
The idea of a family coming to possess a zoo sounds purely fictitious, until you learn that the story is indeed true. There really is a Benjamin Mee and his family did purchase a zoo. Helping Benjamin get the zoo back into working order is a crew of eclectic employees, including a head zookeeper, Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson doing her best to appear homely), Mr. MacReady (Angus Macfayden), the big and burly designer of zoo enclosures, and Robin (Almost Famous’ Patrick Fugit trading in a pad and pen for a capuchin monkey on his shoulder).
Almost from the start Benjamin is in over his head blowing through his inheritance. As responsibilities grow and he sinks further into debt, Benjamin comes to a crossroads in his life where he must either continue on with the future or allow himself to live in the past. Those familiar with Crowe’s earlier works know to expect at least one moment or scene that tips the balance allowing the protagonist reach his cathartic moment. For Say Anything you could point to John Cusack hoisting his boom box above his head with Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” blaring loudly. In Jerry Maguire, you have Tom Cruise exposing himself emotionally to Renee Zellweger in front of her and her girlfriends, when all it took was for him to say hello. In We Bought a Zoo the cathartic moment doesn’t come with a long speech or a dialogue-heavy exchange. It involves Matt Damon sitting alone on the kitchen floor, laptop resting on his lap. He’s trying to muster the strength needed to click through a collection of photos of his wife. The moment is teased scenes earlier but is not fulfilled until he sorts out the other big problem in his life, his relationship with son Dylan.
The narrative is not just about Benjamin’s emotional journey; there’s also a subplot about first love involving Lily (Elle Fanning), Kelly’s niece, who falls for Dylan, the mysterious boy from the big city. Their relationship is awkward, involving little verbal exchanges but not much interaction. It isn’t until Dylan has one of those “duh” moments where he decides to be brave and embrace the Green Acres relationship.
Cameron Crowe is at his best when telling stories that are emotional journeys for its characters. We Bought a Zoo is no different. Here Crowe is in vintage form. Having not read Mee’s memoir it’s difficult to gauge how faithful the screenplay is to the source material. The film depends less on its narrative structure and more on characters, specifically Matt Damon who is in just about every scene. Crowe does his best to keep the film from being maudlin or sitcomish (John Michael Higgins in a supporting role as an inspector doesn’t help matters), but is able to retain a charming quality throughout, even during its long second act.
We Bought a Zoo is another stellar family film in a year that’s had more than its fair share. Matt Damon excels in the role of a single dad dealing with loss and his co-stars are more than willing to take the journey with him. And you should to this holiday season.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – Review
Twilight is a phenomenon I don’t think I’ll ever understand. What began as a quartet of very successful, if poorly written novels, became a movie franchise where its sole purpose seemed to visually stimulate undersexed moms and frisky teens that fell in love with novels. It may be the biggest novel-to-screen adaptation since Harry Potter, but the two are farther apart when it comes to building audiences. There’s a reason why the Twilight films are so frontloaded and drop like stones in succeeding weeks; it can’t sustain viewership. Some women may be willing to exhale over and over again at vampire Edward’s hair or Jacob’s singular six-pack shot, but once it’s over they don’t come back for seconds.
Author Stephen King made an on-point comparison between the two franchises when he wrote, “Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend.”
In the case of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, the franchise now shows why it’s important for an 18-year-old girl to marry and sleep with her new husband, who just happens to a vampire.
With each successive release, the franchise has been a revolving door for directors. After Catherine Hardwicke was removed from the series, unable to commit to a quick turnaround and have New Moon ready for the following year, Summit Entertainment went with hired hands Chris Weitz, then David Slade. The sequels seemed to lose the gothic romanticism that Twilight instilled, but Slade’s Eclipse proved to be progressively better than the previous entries.
Coming on board this time is a director venturing far outside his cinematic wheelhouse, Bill Condon. He last directed once-announced Oscar host Eddie Murphy to his first and probably last Academy Award nomination in Dreamgirls. With Condon in the director’s chair he’ll also hold the distinction of being the only filmmaker to make it through two Twilight movies and avoid teeth punctures to the jugular.
The usual players are back, led by Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, Robert Pattison as Edward Cullen, and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. The rest of the Swans, Cullens, friends, and, um, Wolfpack are there as well, but they see their roles greatly diminished this time around. Bella’s dad (Billy Burke) adds some much needed comic relief with his little screen time, and Jasper, by far the most interesting character – living or dead – doesn’t say much.
We open on Bella and Edward taking the next steps in their relationship, marriage. Jacob, who was the other suitor in the romantic triangle is there as well, seemingly unable to know when to concede the loss and allow the once threesome be a twosome for good. For such a lavish affair, surprisingly it doesn’t last long. The honeymoon off the coast of Rio De Janeiro is even more elaborate, with romantic interludes and poses you’d see gracing trashy romance novels. Then the unthinkable happens: Bella is accidentally impregnated. And with such a development, Bella makes a statement that seems to sum up this entire franchise:
“I know it’s impossible, but…”
Of course, it’s impossible. The series has done its best to destroy the mythos of the vampire by having him go from exploding in direct sunlight to sparkling. Now they’re telling us that dead guys with Rigor Mortis “downstairs” can impregnate teenage girls. And to have the deed be done to bad emo, college rock music is a sad turn of events. At least take a page out of The Lost Boys soundtrack and have them knock boots to Gerald McCann’s “Cry Little Sister.”
What’s really disappointing with Breaking Dawn is that for the first time it looks like the series is regressing when it should be intensifying to a thrilling conclusion. We’ve come to expect wooden acting from the players involved, but you’d imagine that after three movies the familiar cast matched with strong direction the series would continue to progress to the ultimate finale. With Breaking Dawn – Part 1, however, audiences don’t even get a movie. It opens on a wedding and climaxes with a birth. The cliffhanger is only revealed if you stay and watch a short scene before the credits roll.
Films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy can get away with a cliffhanger, because they are part of a large literary work, with each release acting as a part of the epic narrative. Here, like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the decision to break the final novel up into two films was a pure financial windfall and nothing more.
In terms of the acting, Pattinson and Stewart are more aloof than ever. By now it’s trying in how to determine the difference between Stewart as Bella and Stewart as Stewart. Most of Pattinson’s performance is visual, as if director Bill Condon was giving him posing cues (“Okay, now give me brooding.”). Lautner has an increased role this time around, but sadly the additional screen time does not mean more ab shots. Instead, he has to make the best of his animal instincts as an actor.
If you have stuck with the Twilight series thus far my above observations will do little to sway you. Obviously this was more about a paycheck for Bill Condon – a check with a lot of extra zeroes is hard to turn down – and for some reason there’s a sense that his direction wasn’t all that different than Gus Van Sant on the set of Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season (as seen in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back). It’s just a sad turn of events, to see an acclaimed director go from making such features as Gods and Monsters and Kinsey to film something Brett Ratner could have churned out.
Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is stiff and lethargic. It never seems to strike the right balance of gothic and romance, and instead seems to give the impression that teenage pregnancy is okay if it’s with a vampire. To put it bluntly, this movie, like Edward on a hunger binge, bites hard.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Scarves Played An Important Roles in Fashionable Movies
Scarves and shawls have played bit roles in a number of Hollywood movies. Many movie characters have donned scarves and shawls to add flair of style in their appearance and at the same time igniting a fashion trend that appealed to many moviegoers. Here are just some of the most memorable movies that featured characters wearing scarves and shawls.
The Devil Wears Prada:
A movie about the fashion industry is not complete without lively characters projecting great fashion sense and what better way than the characters of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway donning scarves and shawls to inject a newfound style in their character.
Doctor Zhivago:
This classic movie shows fashion style that still exists today. The Russian inspired looks for both the women and men are cool, stylish, trendy and sexy. Julie Christie's character was added with a new spice when she wore scarves and shawls to compliment the fine fashion costume design of this timeless motion picture masterpiec.
Sex and the City:
A movie about four single ladies in New York who always look fashionable and attractive is not complete without the characters donning scarves and shawls especially in the cold weather of New York City. Carrie is known for being bold and dazzling at the same time, Samantha is the high class fashion goddess, Charlotte the ultra hot girl with urban appeal and Miranda is the corporate chic that completes the foursome. All of them do incorporate scarves and shawls as part of their wardrobes in the movie.
The Changeling:
Angelina Jolie plays the role of a mother who lost her child in the great depression era. The movie calls for a dramatic setting but the character's looks complimented by the use of scarves and shawls highlighted the fact that even in depressing times and in times of sadness, a true heroine still projects style and grace.
Breakfast at Tiffany's:
Women still look up to Audrey Hepburn's character in the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany due to her absolutely wonderful portrayal of a timeless beauty donned with grace and timeless style. She look wonderfully amazing wearing the best outfits in the history of motion picture while also using scarves and shawls as complimentary to the different kinds of wardrobes she used in this movie. The use of scarves and shawls has surely added that unique look in Audrey Hepburn's character making it one of the most popular female characters in motion picture history.
The Devil Wears Prada:
A movie about the fashion industry is not complete without lively characters projecting great fashion sense and what better way than the characters of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway donning scarves and shawls to inject a newfound style in their character.
Doctor Zhivago:
This classic movie shows fashion style that still exists today. The Russian inspired looks for both the women and men are cool, stylish, trendy and sexy. Julie Christie's character was added with a new spice when she wore scarves and shawls to compliment the fine fashion costume design of this timeless motion picture masterpiec.
Sex and the City:
A movie about four single ladies in New York who always look fashionable and attractive is not complete without the characters donning scarves and shawls especially in the cold weather of New York City. Carrie is known for being bold and dazzling at the same time, Samantha is the high class fashion goddess, Charlotte the ultra hot girl with urban appeal and Miranda is the corporate chic that completes the foursome. All of them do incorporate scarves and shawls as part of their wardrobes in the movie.
The Changeling:
Angelina Jolie plays the role of a mother who lost her child in the great depression era. The movie calls for a dramatic setting but the character's looks complimented by the use of scarves and shawls highlighted the fact that even in depressing times and in times of sadness, a true heroine still projects style and grace.
Breakfast at Tiffany's:
Women still look up to Audrey Hepburn's character in the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany due to her absolutely wonderful portrayal of a timeless beauty donned with grace and timeless style. She look wonderfully amazing wearing the best outfits in the history of motion picture while also using scarves and shawls as complimentary to the different kinds of wardrobes she used in this movie. The use of scarves and shawls has surely added that unique look in Audrey Hepburn's character making it one of the most popular female characters in motion picture history.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Alvin And The Chipmunks 2 Sucked
Last night I got into the Savoy Theater to see a musical comedy, which was great and did very good of it’s 1st Movie. “Alvin and the Chipmunks- 2” was incredibly unsuccessful of grabbing its audience.
One wrong thing that the movie importer did to support its unsuccessfulness was to bringing in 2 animated movies in a close time frame. When they are still screening AVATAR at the Liberty Cinema, they started screening Alvin at Savoy. Forgetting that the returning crowed from Avatar will be walking into Alvin, so they definitely are going to compare the two in their mind.
But I should mentioned that I really enjoyed the 1st movie and it was awesome, I think what went wrong in the 2nd movie is they removed Dave from the movie by hospitalizing him, and introduced someone else to take his place which I find not entertaining at all.
Honestly I never had a idea about this movie, when I took the DVD to my hand, I just had a idea that this going to be a just another candy movie, but to be honest I felt so guilty about feeling that way, coz this is a wonderful movie, I love this movie, and hats off for the Producer/Director Aamir Khan, that his investment became a creation that touches people’s heart about a forgotten subject on the society, as members of that society where people are trained and put into the race track of life, we forget everything in the middle and we just care about the winning that race, and when we are done, we push our children into the same race track forcing them to win.
how unfair, if you haven’t watch it..? watch it today.. that’s all I can comment, coz I do not want to go through the story,
A Child Labour
But one thing I should mention, if we don’t stop running this race for our children, the children we love so much, are going to hate us as they realize that their parents stole their childhood forever.
and there are so many innocents, waiting, praying and hoping that the help would reach them someday and they would be free.
One wrong thing that the movie importer did to support its unsuccessfulness was to bringing in 2 animated movies in a close time frame. When they are still screening AVATAR at the Liberty Cinema, they started screening Alvin at Savoy. Forgetting that the returning crowed from Avatar will be walking into Alvin, so they definitely are going to compare the two in their mind.
But I should mentioned that I really enjoyed the 1st movie and it was awesome, I think what went wrong in the 2nd movie is they removed Dave from the movie by hospitalizing him, and introduced someone else to take his place which I find not entertaining at all.
Honestly I never had a idea about this movie, when I took the DVD to my hand, I just had a idea that this going to be a just another candy movie, but to be honest I felt so guilty about feeling that way, coz this is a wonderful movie, I love this movie, and hats off for the Producer/Director Aamir Khan, that his investment became a creation that touches people’s heart about a forgotten subject on the society, as members of that society where people are trained and put into the race track of life, we forget everything in the middle and we just care about the winning that race, and when we are done, we push our children into the same race track forcing them to win.
how unfair, if you haven’t watch it..? watch it today.. that’s all I can comment, coz I do not want to go through the story,
A Child Labour
But one thing I should mention, if we don’t stop running this race for our children, the children we love so much, are going to hate us as they realize that their parents stole their childhood forever.
and there are so many innocents, waiting, praying and hoping that the help would reach them someday and they would be free.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Do You Know What are the best fashion movies ever
Some movies are light comedies which make you even more passionate about becoming a part of the fash-pack, others may push that aspiration far, far away.
With no further ado, here are 10 chic movies, which should be on every fashionista’s “to watch” list.
10. Head over Heels (2001)
Don’t be discouraged by reviewers who say this film was silly or banal – people tend to overanalyze the basics. Just sit back and laugh your heart out at the adventures of a regular girl who moves in four models. Amongst all the parties, plastic surgeries and dreamy outfits, Amanda (Monica Potter) is lured into a mystery…
9. Raising Helen (2004)
If you want to have a nice laugh with your girlfriends or an appropriate yet funny family movie – this is the one to choose. Follow the life of Helen (Kate Hudson), a fashion scene’s VIP , whose sister dies leaving her to raise three children, or would it be the children who are raising Helen?
8. Zoolander (2001)
Ever wished seeing Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Mila Jovovich in one movie? Then opt for Zoolander – incredibly goofy, dumb but oh-so hilarious! Just remember that “behind every political assassination… there is a male model”!
7. Funny Face (1957)
Indulge in this romantic take on fashion. Watch Audrey Hepburn marvel in a wide array of stunning costumes. This naïve and beautiful film takes us to fantasy Paris – where all you really need is pizzazz.
6. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The ultimate chick flick classic. Get a taste of what’s behind the glossy pages of fashion magazines, from editors from hell to wardrobes from heaven.
5. The September Issue (2009)
Although not at all a comedy, this documentary is no less entertaining. The film is a display of Anna Wintour and the rest of the Vogue team’s preparations for the September 2007 issue. Perhaps you won’t see any “devils in Prada” here, but you will certainly see all the hard work put into the production of a magazine.
4. Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)
Another brilliant documentary about one of fashion’s deities – Valentino. The film gets us one step closer to the emperor himself – Valentino. This sometimes sad and satiric piece is worth more than one view – it will get you thinking about the seriousness and absurdity of the fashion business.
3. Fashion (2008)
Now to the more sad and dramatic part of fashion. This innovative Bollywood flick will leave you glued to the screen, showing that no one is immune to what’s going on behind the runway stage. The story is based on a middle-class girl, who decides to be a model and who is adamant that her career will not change who she is. But of course, she is wrong.
2. Factory Girl (2006)
This movie is based on the life and times of a 60’s model and socialite Edie Sedgwick. Be inspired by the outfits and jewellery (who doesn’t like chandelier earrings?) that Edie is wearing and witness the rise and fall of the “poor little rich girl”.
1. Gia (1998)
Angelina Jolie portrays Gia Carangi, a late 70s supermodel, whose short life was destroyed by drug abuse. This movie will leave a bad taste in your mouth as it shows how cruel and destructive the fashion industry can really be.
Feel free to add more movies to the list in the comment section.
Inspired by the fashion movie list? Why not pop into HMV at The Bentall Centre and find these flicks on DVD?
With no further ado, here are 10 chic movies, which should be on every fashionista’s “to watch” list.
10. Head over Heels (2001)
Don’t be discouraged by reviewers who say this film was silly or banal – people tend to overanalyze the basics. Just sit back and laugh your heart out at the adventures of a regular girl who moves in four models. Amongst all the parties, plastic surgeries and dreamy outfits, Amanda (Monica Potter) is lured into a mystery…
9. Raising Helen (2004)
If you want to have a nice laugh with your girlfriends or an appropriate yet funny family movie – this is the one to choose. Follow the life of Helen (Kate Hudson), a fashion scene’s VIP , whose sister dies leaving her to raise three children, or would it be the children who are raising Helen?
8. Zoolander (2001)
Ever wished seeing Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Mila Jovovich in one movie? Then opt for Zoolander – incredibly goofy, dumb but oh-so hilarious! Just remember that “behind every political assassination… there is a male model”!
7. Funny Face (1957)
Indulge in this romantic take on fashion. Watch Audrey Hepburn marvel in a wide array of stunning costumes. This naïve and beautiful film takes us to fantasy Paris – where all you really need is pizzazz.
6. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The ultimate chick flick classic. Get a taste of what’s behind the glossy pages of fashion magazines, from editors from hell to wardrobes from heaven.
5. The September Issue (2009)
Although not at all a comedy, this documentary is no less entertaining. The film is a display of Anna Wintour and the rest of the Vogue team’s preparations for the September 2007 issue. Perhaps you won’t see any “devils in Prada” here, but you will certainly see all the hard work put into the production of a magazine.
4. Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)
Another brilliant documentary about one of fashion’s deities – Valentino. The film gets us one step closer to the emperor himself – Valentino. This sometimes sad and satiric piece is worth more than one view – it will get you thinking about the seriousness and absurdity of the fashion business.
3. Fashion (2008)
Now to the more sad and dramatic part of fashion. This innovative Bollywood flick will leave you glued to the screen, showing that no one is immune to what’s going on behind the runway stage. The story is based on a middle-class girl, who decides to be a model and who is adamant that her career will not change who she is. But of course, she is wrong.
2. Factory Girl (2006)
This movie is based on the life and times of a 60’s model and socialite Edie Sedgwick. Be inspired by the outfits and jewellery (who doesn’t like chandelier earrings?) that Edie is wearing and witness the rise and fall of the “poor little rich girl”.
1. Gia (1998)
Angelina Jolie portrays Gia Carangi, a late 70s supermodel, whose short life was destroyed by drug abuse. This movie will leave a bad taste in your mouth as it shows how cruel and destructive the fashion industry can really be.
Feel free to add more movies to the list in the comment section.
Inspired by the fashion movie list? Why not pop into HMV at The Bentall Centre and find these flicks on DVD?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Another Earth Movie Download
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Doesn't matter Wether you wanna watch movies online or want to free download Movies within a Click ! You can begin with this website, no matter which category of fans you belong to. We are ready to serve you with fast and qualitative movie downloads. Get instant access and have your favorite movies at your end to watch them whenever you want and that too by within minutes only.
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Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Fashion Movie Review
Fashion has been directed by Madhur Bhandarkar who is known for his realistic movies like Page 3, Chandni Bar and Corporate. Madhur Bhandarkar made the movie Fashion to expose the dark side of the fashion industry too. The movie went through a lot of controversies and the movie even received an “A” rating from the censor board. It was expected that the film would touch the sex, sleaze, drugs, compromise and all other negative aspects of the fashion industry. Many people in the fashion industry also felt that this pessimistic view of the industry might give a wrong impression to the masses about the industry.
But Madhur Bhandarkar has again showed brilliance in directing realistic cinema with absolute flawlessness. The story is about Meghna Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) who wants to become a supermodel and she walks the ramp for various designers and makes it to the top in the fashion industry. But she has to pay the price soon and her decline from the position starts very soon. She also meets a lot of people during this period especially Shonali Gujral (Kangana Ranaut) and Janet (Mugdha Godse). But she does is not ready to give up so easily. The storytelling, screenplay and cinematography are excellent in the movie. There is skin show in the movie to some extent but the script demads it and it is not unnecessary glamour and skin show as used by Bollywood filmmakers. There are some great situations in the movie like Shonali’s wardrobe malfunction and Janet marrying a famous gay designer (Samir Soni) even after knowing about the situation.
All the actresses in the movie have done absolute justice to their roles. Mugdha Godse is natural although she is a newcomer while Kangana Ranaut has performed brilliantly and might be in nominations for supporting actress award next year. But Priyanka Chopra stole the show with a career best performance. She is excellent throughout the movie more towards the second hour. She is not only gorgeous but has acted exceptionally well in the movie. The best scene according to me is the one when she falls in her own eyes and breaks down infront of the mirror.
But Madhur Bhandarkar has again showed brilliance in directing realistic cinema with absolute flawlessness. The story is about Meghna Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) who wants to become a supermodel and she walks the ramp for various designers and makes it to the top in the fashion industry. But she has to pay the price soon and her decline from the position starts very soon. She also meets a lot of people during this period especially Shonali Gujral (Kangana Ranaut) and Janet (Mugdha Godse). But she does is not ready to give up so easily. The storytelling, screenplay and cinematography are excellent in the movie. There is skin show in the movie to some extent but the script demads it and it is not unnecessary glamour and skin show as used by Bollywood filmmakers. There are some great situations in the movie like Shonali’s wardrobe malfunction and Janet marrying a famous gay designer (Samir Soni) even after knowing about the situation.
All the actresses in the movie have done absolute justice to their roles. Mugdha Godse is natural although she is a newcomer while Kangana Ranaut has performed brilliantly and might be in nominations for supporting actress award next year. But Priyanka Chopra stole the show with a career best performance. She is excellent throughout the movie more towards the second hour. She is not only gorgeous but has acted exceptionally well in the movie. The best scene according to me is the one when she falls in her own eyes and breaks down infront of the mirror.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Fashion Movies
well guys you know the fashion industry. some like it some don’t, well it doesn’t matter what I amgonna talk about is the new Hindi movie “Fashion”, I got a chance to watch it last day.. well honestly I’m not a hindi movie lover but I went for it. so I write what I feel about it.. first thing that I felt about the movie is it’s flow.. I don’t knw I felt that it’s out of it’s flow and the movie is so fast. the objective of the movie is no where it suppose to be. If you guys have seen the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” you will feel that this looks the same.. try it and see.But I like the costume design and the colors.
Fashionis a 2008 Indian film co-produced, co-written, and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. The film has a massive star cast which includes Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and newcomers Mugdha Godse and Arjan Bajwa. Based on the dark side of the world of fashion, the movie depicts it through the protagonist's eye. Kangana plays a former supermodel who faces downfall and comes to the streets; though the story resembles the biography of Geetanjali Nagpal, the director has denied that it is based on her life story. Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut won awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 2009 National Film Awards for their roles.
Aspiring model Meghna Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) expresses her wish to go to Mumbai and pursue her dream of becoming a supermodel. Against her dad's wishes, Meghna leaves her house with dreams in her eyes to strike it big in the modeling world but it is not a path of roses for her. She experiences some major difficulties in her initial days auditioning several times but being rejected. But she gets a good helping hand with an old acquaintance, Rohit (Ashwin Mushran), an aspiring gay designer who assists big shot designer Vinay Khosla (Harsh Chhaya).
She keeps bumping into another struggling model, Maanav (Arjan Bajwa) while making the rounds of modeling agencies for auditions.She visits Rahul Arora's fashion show where she comes face-to-face with reality of the major people in the industry including the reigning supermodel Shonali Gujral (Kangana Ranaut). She is mocked by the show choreographer Christine and is advised to visit hotshot photographer Kartik (Rohit Roy) for her portfolio. To pay Kartik's high fee she attends functions and even shoots for a lingerie advertisement, all the while mentored by another smalltime model Janet (Mugdha Godse). Subsequently, Meghana's lingerie pictures appear on the cover of a magazine found by her relatives. Meghna becomes good friends with Maanav and even starts sharing his apartment after she faces accommodation problems. Meghna is noticed by a top official Anisha Roy (Kitu Gidwani) of a major modeling agency Panache who brings her to her boss, Abhijit Sarin’s (Arbaaz Khan) notice. Abhijit gets impressed by her ambitious nature and go-getter attitude. Panache’s face is Shonali but though very successful, her drug abuse starts becoming a problem for her and subsequently for Panache.
Abhijit decides to terminate Shonali’s contract and ropes in Meghna as Panache's new face. Shonali warns Meghna that she will just lose herself as she did.An angered Meghna, unable to believe what happened, resorts to alcohol to relieve herself. She gets into a verbal fight with Janet, when she tells her that she's ruining herself and on the same night attends a rave party where under the influence of cocaine, she unknowingly ends up in bed with a black male bouncer. Later when she comes to her senses, she feels guilty of her act and realises how low she had fallen. She leaves Mumbai to return to her parents in Chandigarh.
Fashionis a 2008 Indian film co-produced, co-written, and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. The film has a massive star cast which includes Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and newcomers Mugdha Godse and Arjan Bajwa. Based on the dark side of the world of fashion, the movie depicts it through the protagonist's eye. Kangana plays a former supermodel who faces downfall and comes to the streets; though the story resembles the biography of Geetanjali Nagpal, the director has denied that it is based on her life story. Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut won awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 2009 National Film Awards for their roles.
Aspiring model Meghna Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) expresses her wish to go to Mumbai and pursue her dream of becoming a supermodel. Against her dad's wishes, Meghna leaves her house with dreams in her eyes to strike it big in the modeling world but it is not a path of roses for her. She experiences some major difficulties in her initial days auditioning several times but being rejected. But she gets a good helping hand with an old acquaintance, Rohit (Ashwin Mushran), an aspiring gay designer who assists big shot designer Vinay Khosla (Harsh Chhaya).
She keeps bumping into another struggling model, Maanav (Arjan Bajwa) while making the rounds of modeling agencies for auditions.She visits Rahul Arora's fashion show where she comes face-to-face with reality of the major people in the industry including the reigning supermodel Shonali Gujral (Kangana Ranaut). She is mocked by the show choreographer Christine and is advised to visit hotshot photographer Kartik (Rohit Roy) for her portfolio. To pay Kartik's high fee she attends functions and even shoots for a lingerie advertisement, all the while mentored by another smalltime model Janet (Mugdha Godse). Subsequently, Meghana's lingerie pictures appear on the cover of a magazine found by her relatives. Meghna becomes good friends with Maanav and even starts sharing his apartment after she faces accommodation problems. Meghna is noticed by a top official Anisha Roy (Kitu Gidwani) of a major modeling agency Panache who brings her to her boss, Abhijit Sarin’s (Arbaaz Khan) notice. Abhijit gets impressed by her ambitious nature and go-getter attitude. Panache’s face is Shonali but though very successful, her drug abuse starts becoming a problem for her and subsequently for Panache.
Abhijit decides to terminate Shonali’s contract and ropes in Meghna as Panache's new face. Shonali warns Meghna that she will just lose herself as she did.An angered Meghna, unable to believe what happened, resorts to alcohol to relieve herself. She gets into a verbal fight with Janet, when she tells her that she's ruining herself and on the same night attends a rave party where under the influence of cocaine, she unknowingly ends up in bed with a black male bouncer. Later when she comes to her senses, she feels guilty of her act and realises how low she had fallen. She leaves Mumbai to return to her parents in Chandigarh.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
New Clash of the Titans Sequel Set Photos from Tenerife, Spain
A new round of photos from Warner Bros’ sequel to Clash of the Titans — rumored to be titled Wrath of the Titans — have surfaced online, courtesy of the Spanish website Tumba Abierta. The pics are said to have been taken on the island of Tenerife in Spain, and show sets in the process of being constructed. Check out the photos below and click the link above for the full set.
The sequel, from director Jonathan Liebesman, will star Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Danny Huston, Edgar Ramirez, Bill Nighy, Toby Kebbell and Rosamund Pike.
Story summary: A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus-the demigod son of Zeus-is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.
While the first Clash of the Titans was critically panned by most, yours truly actually enjoyed the film. I certainly understood the origin of many of the criticisms — you could spot plot holes and character deficiencies — but I didn’t feel they were as egregious as others.
Moreover, I felt that the attacks on the film’s visual effects were unwarranted. I usually have a sharp eye for substandard VFX, but never once took umbrage with any of the imagery in Clash of the Titans.
Late last year, Sam Worthington responded to the widespread criticism of the first film, stating the sequel will be better than the original. He told Moviefone:
“I just think we can improve on it. I think the first one, we kind of let down some people. And yeah, I totally agree. The only point of doing a sequel is either the audience demands it or you believe you can better the first one. What we’re setting out to do with this one — the writers and the director and myself — is improve. I think I can act f***ing better, to be honest… Just take all the notes from people that I have been reading about on the ‘net and give them a movie they f***ing want. This one I want to kind of try to satisfy a lot more people.”
The sequel, from director Jonathan Liebesman, will star Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Danny Huston, Edgar Ramirez, Bill Nighy, Toby Kebbell and Rosamund Pike.
Story summary: A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus-the demigod son of Zeus-is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.
While the first Clash of the Titans was critically panned by most, yours truly actually enjoyed the film. I certainly understood the origin of many of the criticisms — you could spot plot holes and character deficiencies — but I didn’t feel they were as egregious as others.
Moreover, I felt that the attacks on the film’s visual effects were unwarranted. I usually have a sharp eye for substandard VFX, but never once took umbrage with any of the imagery in Clash of the Titans.
Late last year, Sam Worthington responded to the widespread criticism of the first film, stating the sequel will be better than the original. He told Moviefone:
“I just think we can improve on it. I think the first one, we kind of let down some people. And yeah, I totally agree. The only point of doing a sequel is either the audience demands it or you believe you can better the first one. What we’re setting out to do with this one — the writers and the director and myself — is improve. I think I can act f***ing better, to be honest… Just take all the notes from people that I have been reading about on the ‘net and give them a movie they f***ing want. This one I want to kind of try to satisfy a lot more people.”
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Paramount Reveals Super 8 Sneak Peeks with the Help of Twitter
Paramount and Twitter have announced special sneak peek screenings of JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg’s Super 8, set to happen tomorrow (Thursday, June 7). Below you’ll find the release with all the details of this anticipated film, which is fast gaining momentum as the talked about film of the summer.
Here’s the studio’s official blurb, in concert with Twitter:
Paramount Pictures and Twitter jointly announced today sneak preview showings of the movie SUPER 8 for 1-day only on Thursday, June 9th, in advance of the film’s scheduled nationwide release on Friday, June 10th. To promote the sneak previews, the companies have designated the hashtag #Super8Secret, which Paramount has also sponsored as a Promoted Trend, allowing Twitter’s global user base a direct link to buy tickets to the advanced previews. At select, participating theatres in the United States, SUPER 8 Sneak Preview moviegoers will be treated to a free popcorn (with a concession purchase) at each sneak preview show. Hosting movie sneak previews marks a first for Twitter. This promotion continues a key partnership between Paramount and Twitter on SUPER 8. The duo joined forces in March for the movie’s exclusive trailer premiere via Twitter, another exciting first for the site.
SUPER 8, from writer/director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg, will open exclusively tomorrow, June 9th, on over 300 screens nationwide, featuring all 239 IMAX playdates in the U.S. and Canada. Fans can go to Twitter.com/Super8Movie and use #Super8Secret to share information about the movie with friends. To be among the first to see SUPER 8, visit Super8-movie.com for tickets and show times.
“With SUPER 8, J.J. and Steven have created a really fun and engaging movie for all ages,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures. “We are excited to finally get it out into the marketplace and using this sneak preview promotion with Twitter to kick start the film’s release, is an unprecedented way to get people into theaters and talking about the movie.”
“Twitter is how we hear about new movies and share our tiny reviews before the credits finish rolling,” said Biz Stone, Twitter cofounder. “There are already millions of people talking about SUPER 8 on Twitter and Paramount gets that. Creating more excitement about the film with sneak previews and free popcorn is a smart way to make this film a global conversation even before it’s released.”
“Twitter has the incredible capability of spreading buzz in real-time, as well as fostering communal conversations that encapsulate large audiences in a matter of seconds. We believe these elements are key in promoting a movie like SUPER 8 that has such incredible playability and the potential for unlimited positive word of mouth,” said Amy Powell, Paramount’s Executive Vice President, Interactive Marketing Strategies & Film Production.
SUPER 8 is an Amblin Entertainment / Bad Robot production, directed by Abrams from his original script and produced by Steven Spielberg, Abrams and Bryan Burk. The film stars Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills. The movie takes place in the summer of 1979, where a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Here’s the studio’s official blurb, in concert with Twitter:
Paramount Pictures and Twitter jointly announced today sneak preview showings of the movie SUPER 8 for 1-day only on Thursday, June 9th, in advance of the film’s scheduled nationwide release on Friday, June 10th. To promote the sneak previews, the companies have designated the hashtag #Super8Secret, which Paramount has also sponsored as a Promoted Trend, allowing Twitter’s global user base a direct link to buy tickets to the advanced previews. At select, participating theatres in the United States, SUPER 8 Sneak Preview moviegoers will be treated to a free popcorn (with a concession purchase) at each sneak preview show. Hosting movie sneak previews marks a first for Twitter. This promotion continues a key partnership between Paramount and Twitter on SUPER 8. The duo joined forces in March for the movie’s exclusive trailer premiere via Twitter, another exciting first for the site.
SUPER 8, from writer/director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg, will open exclusively tomorrow, June 9th, on over 300 screens nationwide, featuring all 239 IMAX playdates in the U.S. and Canada. Fans can go to Twitter.com/Super8Movie and use #Super8Secret to share information about the movie with friends. To be among the first to see SUPER 8, visit Super8-movie.com for tickets and show times.
“With SUPER 8, J.J. and Steven have created a really fun and engaging movie for all ages,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures. “We are excited to finally get it out into the marketplace and using this sneak preview promotion with Twitter to kick start the film’s release, is an unprecedented way to get people into theaters and talking about the movie.”
“Twitter is how we hear about new movies and share our tiny reviews before the credits finish rolling,” said Biz Stone, Twitter cofounder. “There are already millions of people talking about SUPER 8 on Twitter and Paramount gets that. Creating more excitement about the film with sneak previews and free popcorn is a smart way to make this film a global conversation even before it’s released.”
“Twitter has the incredible capability of spreading buzz in real-time, as well as fostering communal conversations that encapsulate large audiences in a matter of seconds. We believe these elements are key in promoting a movie like SUPER 8 that has such incredible playability and the potential for unlimited positive word of mouth,” said Amy Powell, Paramount’s Executive Vice President, Interactive Marketing Strategies & Film Production.
SUPER 8 is an Amblin Entertainment / Bad Robot production, directed by Abrams from his original script and produced by Steven Spielberg, Abrams and Bryan Burk. The film stars Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills. The movie takes place in the summer of 1979, where a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
First Class; Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Since it seems as though TV spots and movie clips are showing up for X-Men: First Class, Transformers: Dark of the Moon andGreen Lantern almost faster than we can post them, we’ve decided to start amalgamating them into single posts from this point forward.
In the case of X-Men, it seems like we’re getting to see pretty much the whole movie via all these clips, and while many sequences are repetitive, each one also seems to contain new shots. A word to 20th Century Fox: you might want to save some of the action sequences for when we actually see the film in the theater; it’s becoming the visual equivalent of spoilers.That said, below you will find the latest seven (yes, seven) clips from First Class, courtesy of 20th Century Fox and via ComingSoon.
Story Synopsis: X-Men: First Class charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
In the case of X-Men, it seems like we’re getting to see pretty much the whole movie via all these clips, and while many sequences are repetitive, each one also seems to contain new shots. A word to 20th Century Fox: you might want to save some of the action sequences for when we actually see the film in the theater; it’s becoming the visual equivalent of spoilers.That said, below you will find the latest seven (yes, seven) clips from First Class, courtesy of 20th Century Fox and via ComingSoon.
Story Synopsis: X-Men: First Class charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
New TV Spot for Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams’ Super 8 Debuts
A lot of curiosity surrounds Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams’ forthcoming film Super 8. It’s understandable. Story details remains scarce, yet at the same time it’s been revealed that the story is a pastiche of several of the movies that made Spielberg so successful in the 1970s…with the additional benefit of JJ Abrams’ directorial signature.
Today Paramount Pictures has debuted a new TV spot for the film, which you can check out using the embedded player below.
Story synopsis: In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth — something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Super 8 stars Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills.
Today Paramount Pictures has debuted a new TV spot for the film, which you can check out using the embedded player below.
Story synopsis: In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth — something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Super 8 stars Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Green Lantern Debuts a 9th TV Spot
Warner Bros. Pictures has aired a ninth TV spot for Green Lantern. You can check it out using the player below, courtesy ofthemoviebox.net.
Plot Summary: In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
Directed by Martin Campbell, the film stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney, Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan.
Green Lantern arrives in both conventional and 3D theaters on June 17.
Plot Summary: In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
Directed by Martin Campbell, the film stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney, Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan.
Green Lantern arrives in both conventional and 3D theaters on June 17.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
New Writers Hired to Penn Author Marie Lu’s Futuristic Novel, Legend
CBS Films has hired up-and-coming writers Andrew Barrer and Gabe Ferrari to adapt Marie Lu’s forthcoming novel “Legend”, a futuristic Robin Hood-like tale set against two warring nations that inhabit what is now the United States.
According to Heat Vision, the company hopes to develop the project as a major young adult franchise, not unlike ‘The Twilight Saga’.
CBS has already hired Jonathan Levine to direct the adaptation, which is being produced by Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of ‘The Twilight Saga’ fame.
The novel, which has received positive early reviews, is being published by Putnam and is due out on November 29.
Story synopsis: Legend takes place in Los Angeles over a hundred years in the future, when North America is split into two warring nations. Legend focuses on Day, a fifteen-year old Robin Hood figure who happens to be the nation’s most wanted criminal, and June, a teenage prodigy who is hired to hunt him down. The pair are caught in a game of cat and mouse until an impossible truth about their totalitarian leaders forces them to work together.
Barrer and Ferrari wrote Die in a Gunfight, a Romeo and Juliet-like action project that made the 2010 Blacklist.
According to Heat Vision, the company hopes to develop the project as a major young adult franchise, not unlike ‘The Twilight Saga’.
CBS has already hired Jonathan Levine to direct the adaptation, which is being produced by Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of ‘The Twilight Saga’ fame.
The novel, which has received positive early reviews, is being published by Putnam and is due out on November 29.
Story synopsis: Legend takes place in Los Angeles over a hundred years in the future, when North America is split into two warring nations. Legend focuses on Day, a fifteen-year old Robin Hood figure who happens to be the nation’s most wanted criminal, and June, a teenage prodigy who is hired to hunt him down. The pair are caught in a game of cat and mouse until an impossible truth about their totalitarian leaders forces them to work together.
Barrer and Ferrari wrote Die in a Gunfight, a Romeo and Juliet-like action project that made the 2010 Blacklist.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Trailer Scares Up Korean Monsters in Sector 7
Drilling for oil has always been a dirty and dangerous job, but when the crew of a drilling rig encounter a vicious sea beasty, well, it’s not going to be a good day. While there are obvious comparisons to Bong Joon-ho’s The Host, we’ll have to admitSector 7 looks like a viable contender and a real corker. This summer we’ll see which Korean monster emerges victorious.
Check out the film’s official website for the new trailer. Looks like another compelling argument against the dependency on fossil fuels…
Story Synopsis: In Sector 7, an underwater oil field located south of Jeju Island, Hae-jun is working as a marine equipment manager on an oil prospecting ship called Eclipse. Joining the crew later is Jeong-man, a former colleague of Hae-jun’s father, assigned to Eclipse as captain. Though his job is to oversee the withdrawal of the ship, he suggests conducting some drilling one last time. After 3 weeks of preparation, Hae-jun takes new recruit underwater, but he sinks to the bottom of the sea when his equipment fails. Shortly after crew members begin to turn up dead, one by one, their bodies viciously mutilated. What the few survivors soon discover is a transparent underwater creature they encountered once before. The viral monster infiltrated the ship through the drilling pipe and has been feeding on the crew to survive. For Hae-jun and his colleagues, a fight for their lives begins.
Check out the film’s official website for the new trailer. Looks like another compelling argument against the dependency on fossil fuels…
Story Synopsis: In Sector 7, an underwater oil field located south of Jeju Island, Hae-jun is working as a marine equipment manager on an oil prospecting ship called Eclipse. Joining the crew later is Jeong-man, a former colleague of Hae-jun’s father, assigned to Eclipse as captain. Though his job is to oversee the withdrawal of the ship, he suggests conducting some drilling one last time. After 3 weeks of preparation, Hae-jun takes new recruit underwater, but he sinks to the bottom of the sea when his equipment fails. Shortly after crew members begin to turn up dead, one by one, their bodies viciously mutilated. What the few survivors soon discover is a transparent underwater creature they encountered once before. The viral monster infiltrated the ship through the drilling pipe and has been feeding on the crew to survive. For Hae-jun and his colleagues, a fight for their lives begins.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
DreamWorks Unveils International Poster for Real Steel
After already debuting the domestic poster for Real Steel, DreamWorks Pictures has today unveiled the international poster for the film (via heyyouguys.co.uk), which gives one a better look at the featured robots. You can check it out below.
Story Synopsis: A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, Real Steel stars Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.
Opening in conventional and IMAX theaters on October 7, the Shawn Levy-directed film stars Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo, Anthony Mackie and Kevin Durand.
Story Synopsis: A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, Real Steel stars Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.
Opening in conventional and IMAX theaters on October 7, the Shawn Levy-directed film stars Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo, Anthony Mackie and Kevin Durand.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Come Back Green Lantern, All Might be Forgiven
DC Comics’ Green Lantern character may come back in a sequel to the summer superhero flick despite that film’s underwhelming performance.
Speaking at New York Comic Con, DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns told his audience that Warner Brothers was hopeful of seeing the man with the lamp light up again despite the poor box office performance of The Green Lantern.
“[O]bviously, you want it to be as big asTitanic,” he is quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter. “I hope that the character gets another film, and it will be live-action again – I guarantee.”
The promise of a live-action film may be intended to allay fears that a straight-to-DVD ‘sequel’ might be spun off from the upcoming animated series on TW’s Cartoon Network.
The Green Lantern stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, who is recruited by the Green Lantern Corps to help defeat an enemy called Parallax. An extended cut with footage not seen in theaters was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Warner Home Video today.
Speaking at New York Comic Con, DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns told his audience that Warner Brothers was hopeful of seeing the man with the lamp light up again despite the poor box office performance of The Green Lantern.
“[O]bviously, you want it to be as big asTitanic,” he is quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter. “I hope that the character gets another film, and it will be live-action again – I guarantee.”
The promise of a live-action film may be intended to allay fears that a straight-to-DVD ‘sequel’ might be spun off from the upcoming animated series on TW’s Cartoon Network.
The Green Lantern stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, who is recruited by the Green Lantern Corps to help defeat an enemy called Parallax. An extended cut with footage not seen in theaters was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Warner Home Video today.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
New Posters for Steven Spielberg’s Adventures of Tintin Revealed
Both domestic and an international posters for Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, have debuted online today. You can check out both posters from the first installment in the franchise below.
Secret of the Unicorn stars Jamie Bell as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure.
Aso sarring are Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock, Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham, and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Thompson and Thompson.
Spielberg directed the first film, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 23, 2011.
The sequel will be directed by Peter Jackson, with a third installment being planned.
Secret of the Unicorn stars Jamie Bell as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure.
Aso sarring are Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock, Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham, and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Thompson and Thompson.
Spielberg directed the first film, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 23, 2011.
The sequel will be directed by Peter Jackson, with a third installment being planned.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Bond 23 May Show 007 to be of Scottish Blood
Prior to Daniel Craig taking on the role of British Secret Service agent 007, you could bank on the vast majority of James Bond fans voting for Scotsman Sean Connery as the actor whose interpretation they most enjoyed. Yet, even going as far back as David Niven, it seems that the character has often been interpreted as a suave Englishman. But what if Bond’s lineage is, in fact, Scottish?
That notion might become canon in the next (and officially the 23rd) Bond film. According to 411mania.com, the woman who owns Duntrune Castle near Lock Crinan in Argyll has claimed that the producers want to use the place in the movie, possibly as the home of Bond’s forebears.
“I think it is meant to be James Bond’s ancestral home – he will bring all the villains here,” Patricia Malcolm is quoted as saying. “I believe it’s mostly being filmed in China and Turkey. It looks as if they are going to construct the set and then blow it up. I think they are going to attack the castle from land and sea – there are going to a lot of bangs and explosions.”
The website says that the location will be in the film’s finale and that director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) has not yet started shooting the movie. All of these pieces of information are unconfirmed.
Media speculation is that the next Bond movie could be called Skyfall, a title that sounds a bit too much like Skyline for our liking. What do you think of it and of the idea that 007 could be Scottish? Is Bond a bonnie lad?
That notion might become canon in the next (and officially the 23rd) Bond film. According to 411mania.com, the woman who owns Duntrune Castle near Lock Crinan in Argyll has claimed that the producers want to use the place in the movie, possibly as the home of Bond’s forebears.
“I think it is meant to be James Bond’s ancestral home – he will bring all the villains here,” Patricia Malcolm is quoted as saying. “I believe it’s mostly being filmed in China and Turkey. It looks as if they are going to construct the set and then blow it up. I think they are going to attack the castle from land and sea – there are going to a lot of bangs and explosions.”
The website says that the location will be in the film’s finale and that director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) has not yet started shooting the movie. All of these pieces of information are unconfirmed.
Media speculation is that the next Bond movie could be called Skyfall, a title that sounds a bit too much like Skyline for our liking. What do you think of it and of the idea that 007 could be Scottish? Is Bond a bonnie lad?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Cowboys & Aliens DVD and Extended Blu-ray Specs
If you follow our Twitter feed (@CinemaSpy) you’ll know that a couple of days ago we promised you the specs for the December 6 Blu-ray and DVD release of Cowboys & Aliens.
Forgive our tardiness but our stagecoach was delayed a day by a washed out road and the 1G wi-fi at the nearest saloon was spotty at best. Hence, it’s taken us a bit longer than expected to reach the best Western (OK, bad joke). Anyway, here are the full details.
According to Universal, the Blu-ray combo pack release will include and extended edition of the John Favreau-directed sci-fi western while the DVD will have the theatrical version. As far as we can tell, the extended edition includes roughly 17 minutes of extra footage but we’ve no idea what that shows. As for Bonus Features, here’s the list:
Blu-ray and DVD
IGNITING THE SKY: THE MAKING OF COWBOYS & ALIENS —A comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the production that invites viewers on set to meet the filmmakers and cast as they create this one-of-a-kind action film. In revealing conversations, Jon Favreau, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, as well as stars Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde, share their insights about the movie. Also featured are visual-effects powerhouses Legacy Effects and ILM, which join forces once again to push the technological envelope beyond anything ever seen before on screen. It includes:
FINDING THE STORY — Cowboys & Aliens, based on the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, has been in development for over a decade. Filmmakers, writers and cast explain why this particular team of Hollywood heavyweights hit the right note to bring this to the big screen.
THE SCOPE OF THE SPECTACLE —A look at the team behind the camera for the film’s massive New Mexico shoot, as the stars ride horses, shoot guns, jump from explosions, and get yanked 80 feet in the air! Director Jon Favreau stages unforgettable action set-pieces as cameras capture every moment, while legendary stuntman and Cowboys & Aliens’ second unit director Terry Leonard brings a lifetime of experience to the big-screen stunts, from legendary moments in John Wayne classics to doubling for Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
OUTER-SPACE ICON — Take a closer look at the creation of a new, terrifying alien design from Legacy Effects and Industrial Light and Magic.
A CALL TO ACTION — A profile of prolific actor, writer and director Jon Favreau featuring on-set video diaries shot throughout the production.
ABSOLUTION — A look at the practical re-creation of a dusty Old West mining town, the town’s inhabitants and the amazing ensemble of actors who portray them, as well as an exclusive look at the film’s meticulous production and costume designs.
CONVERSATIONS WITH JON FAVREAU – Jon Favreau hosts candid interviews with cast and crew, including Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, Damon Lindelof
Blu-ray Combo-Pack cover art courtesy of Universal.U-CONTROL: Universal’s exclusive feature that lets the viewer access bonus materials without leaving the movie!
BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to access the latest trailers, exclusive content, and more!
pocket BLU™ App: The popular free pocket BLU™ app for smartphones is now even better with newly updated versions for iPad®, Android™ tablets, PC, and Macintosh computers, with features made especially to take advantage of the devices’ larger screens and high resolution displays.
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
UNIVERSAL’S SECOND SCREEN: an innovative and interactive viewing experience, that allows viewers to control, interact and explore Cowboys & Aliens with groundbreaking new features right on a networked tablet or computer, in synchronization with the movie on the television screen! While the movie plays, experience features such as:
Flick View: Interact with the movie, move content from the Tablet to the TV screen, and compare storyboards, animatics, and other executing content by “Flicking” them from on their tablet to their TV screen, simply by gesturing their fingers upwards on their tablets.
Scene Explorer: Viewers select various progressions of the same scene including storyboards, pre-visualizations and behind-the-scenes.
Behind the Scenes: Viewers get an all access look at the making of the film featuring interviews with cast and crew.
Storyboards: Viewers will be able to take a closer look at the storyboards created for some of the amazing sequences in the film.
3D Models: Viewers can take a look at the aliens and otherworldly gadgets in Cowboys & Aliens by the touch or swipe of their fingers. You can move the models in a 360 degree view, get tech specs and more.
Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Paul Dano, Noah Ringer, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown and Ana de la Reguera. The story takes place in 1873 and focuses on gunslinger Jake Lonergan’s (Daniel Craig) attempts to protect the remote town of Absolution from alien attacks while he tries to unravel the mystery of his lost memories. The film has a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch the trailer below.
Forgive our tardiness but our stagecoach was delayed a day by a washed out road and the 1G wi-fi at the nearest saloon was spotty at best. Hence, it’s taken us a bit longer than expected to reach the best Western (OK, bad joke). Anyway, here are the full details.
According to Universal, the Blu-ray combo pack release will include and extended edition of the John Favreau-directed sci-fi western while the DVD will have the theatrical version. As far as we can tell, the extended edition includes roughly 17 minutes of extra footage but we’ve no idea what that shows. As for Bonus Features, here’s the list:
Blu-ray and DVD
IGNITING THE SKY: THE MAKING OF COWBOYS & ALIENS —A comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the production that invites viewers on set to meet the filmmakers and cast as they create this one-of-a-kind action film. In revealing conversations, Jon Favreau, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, as well as stars Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde, share their insights about the movie. Also featured are visual-effects powerhouses Legacy Effects and ILM, which join forces once again to push the technological envelope beyond anything ever seen before on screen. It includes:
FINDING THE STORY — Cowboys & Aliens, based on the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, has been in development for over a decade. Filmmakers, writers and cast explain why this particular team of Hollywood heavyweights hit the right note to bring this to the big screen.
THE SCOPE OF THE SPECTACLE —A look at the team behind the camera for the film’s massive New Mexico shoot, as the stars ride horses, shoot guns, jump from explosions, and get yanked 80 feet in the air! Director Jon Favreau stages unforgettable action set-pieces as cameras capture every moment, while legendary stuntman and Cowboys & Aliens’ second unit director Terry Leonard brings a lifetime of experience to the big-screen stunts, from legendary moments in John Wayne classics to doubling for Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
OUTER-SPACE ICON — Take a closer look at the creation of a new, terrifying alien design from Legacy Effects and Industrial Light and Magic.
A CALL TO ACTION — A profile of prolific actor, writer and director Jon Favreau featuring on-set video diaries shot throughout the production.
ABSOLUTION — A look at the practical re-creation of a dusty Old West mining town, the town’s inhabitants and the amazing ensemble of actors who portray them, as well as an exclusive look at the film’s meticulous production and costume designs.
CONVERSATIONS WITH JON FAVREAU – Jon Favreau hosts candid interviews with cast and crew, including Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, Damon Lindelof
Blu-ray Combo-Pack cover art courtesy of Universal.U-CONTROL: Universal’s exclusive feature that lets the viewer access bonus materials without leaving the movie!
BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to access the latest trailers, exclusive content, and more!
pocket BLU™ App: The popular free pocket BLU™ app for smartphones is now even better with newly updated versions for iPad®, Android™ tablets, PC, and Macintosh computers, with features made especially to take advantage of the devices’ larger screens and high resolution displays.
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
UNIVERSAL’S SECOND SCREEN: an innovative and interactive viewing experience, that allows viewers to control, interact and explore Cowboys & Aliens with groundbreaking new features right on a networked tablet or computer, in synchronization with the movie on the television screen! While the movie plays, experience features such as:
Flick View: Interact with the movie, move content from the Tablet to the TV screen, and compare storyboards, animatics, and other executing content by “Flicking” them from on their tablet to their TV screen, simply by gesturing their fingers upwards on their tablets.
Scene Explorer: Viewers select various progressions of the same scene including storyboards, pre-visualizations and behind-the-scenes.
Behind the Scenes: Viewers get an all access look at the making of the film featuring interviews with cast and crew.
Storyboards: Viewers will be able to take a closer look at the storyboards created for some of the amazing sequences in the film.
3D Models: Viewers can take a look at the aliens and otherworldly gadgets in Cowboys & Aliens by the touch or swipe of their fingers. You can move the models in a 360 degree view, get tech specs and more.
Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Paul Dano, Noah Ringer, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown and Ana de la Reguera. The story takes place in 1873 and focuses on gunslinger Jake Lonergan’s (Daniel Craig) attempts to protect the remote town of Absolution from alien attacks while he tries to unravel the mystery of his lost memories. The film has a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch the trailer below.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Leonardo DiCaprio May be Circling Villain Role for Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained
Last month it was revealed that Will Smith is the front runner to star in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, a story about the revenge of a slave on his former master. Tarantino has previously expressed that his take on the material is“to do movies that deal with America’s horrible past with slavery and stuff but do them like spaghetti westerns, not like big issue movies…”
While Smith is still rumored for the title tole, today comes word from Creative Screenwriting magazine Senior Editor Jeff Goldsmith that Leonardo Dicaprio is in talks to play the evil plantation owner. Variety’s Jeff Sneider heard the same rumor, but neither he or the trade have yet confirmed the rumor.
Tarantino regulars Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz are in talks to play Stephen, a wise, proud house slave, and a German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz, respectively.
In the story, a freed slave seeks to reunite with his slave wife, a journey that will see him team with a German bounty hunter to take down an evil plantation owner named Monsieur Calvin Candie.
Meanwhile, Idris Elba (Thor) is rumored to be in talks to play a role in the film
The plan is to begin filming in the fall.
Tarantino’s idea to mix his pulp style with the historical period motif will be an interesting experiment, but no less strange than the current trend which sees historical characters battling mythological creatures, i.e. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer. It will be interesting to see what the filmmaker comes up with.
While Smith is still rumored for the title tole, today comes word from Creative Screenwriting magazine Senior Editor Jeff Goldsmith that Leonardo Dicaprio is in talks to play the evil plantation owner. Variety’s Jeff Sneider heard the same rumor, but neither he or the trade have yet confirmed the rumor.
Tarantino regulars Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz are in talks to play Stephen, a wise, proud house slave, and a German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz, respectively.
In the story, a freed slave seeks to reunite with his slave wife, a journey that will see him team with a German bounty hunter to take down an evil plantation owner named Monsieur Calvin Candie.
Meanwhile, Idris Elba (Thor) is rumored to be in talks to play a role in the film
The plan is to begin filming in the fall.
Tarantino’s idea to mix his pulp style with the historical period motif will be an interesting experiment, but no less strange than the current trend which sees historical characters battling mythological creatures, i.e. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer. It will be interesting to see what the filmmaker comes up with.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Warner Announces TWO Complete Harry Potter Film Sets for Blu-ray/DVD
Warner Home Video has announced that it is going to release two sets of all eight Harry Potter movies on Blu-ray and DVD. One will be on shelves in time for Christmas and another will be out next year.
Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 11. Unsurprisingly it includes all eight movies from the film franchise: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The press announcement didn’t say whether the 3D movies will be released on Blu-ray 3D in this set.
Presumably each film will be on its own disc and there will be no extra discs of special features in this set because the release will have 8-discs. It sounds like there will be at least one new extra, though. WHV will also release the first six films individually as Ultimate Editions and each will include a new chapter of the documentary series ‘Creating the World of Harry Potter.’ Hence, if you bought these films already, Warner is hoping you’ll give in to your consumerist urges and buy them all over again.
Be warned, though, those Ultimate Editions might not be so ultimate after all. According to WHV, hard-core fans will be “pleased” to known that they might want to get in line again for a third copy of each film in 2012. The distributor plans to release a “comprehensive Harry Potter film collection, with even more extras and collectible premiums” sometime next year.
Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 11. Unsurprisingly it includes all eight movies from the film franchise: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The press announcement didn’t say whether the 3D movies will be released on Blu-ray 3D in this set.
Presumably each film will be on its own disc and there will be no extra discs of special features in this set because the release will have 8-discs. It sounds like there will be at least one new extra, though. WHV will also release the first six films individually as Ultimate Editions and each will include a new chapter of the documentary series ‘Creating the World of Harry Potter.’ Hence, if you bought these films already, Warner is hoping you’ll give in to your consumerist urges and buy them all over again.
Be warned, though, those Ultimate Editions might not be so ultimate after all. According to WHV, hard-core fans will be “pleased” to known that they might want to get in line again for a third copy of each film in 2012. The distributor plans to release a “comprehensive Harry Potter film collection, with even more extras and collectible premiums” sometime next year.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
It Seems Russell Brand Can Get Into Canada After All
Turns out that we don’t have Canadian customs officials to thanks for keeping controversial Brit comedian and actor Russell Brand out out of the land of poutine and toques after all. Apparently his plane into Ontario never even left the ground.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the star of Get Him to the Greek and the inferior remake of the Dudley Moore ’80s comedy Arthur set off a lot of chatter among his Canuck fans this weekend when he tweeted that he would be late for a stand-up show at the Casino Rama north of Toronto.
“HELP! I’m gonna be late for Casino Rama show unless someone can force Canadian customs officials to let us land in Orillia!” he said.
That, it seems, was interpreted by some to mean that he was the subject of the customs officials’ objections.
Rumors to that effect weren’t killed by a subsequent statement issued by the casino:
“Casino Rama regrets to announce that this evening’s Russell Brand show has been postponed due to a travel issue being experienced by the artist”
Then they were fueled by another tweet from Brand, a.k.a. @rustyrockets:
“I’m sorry. I can’t enter Canada. We must abolish the borders between our nations AND our minds.”
Alas, some Canadians may be disappointed to discover that there appears to be no legal objection preventing Brand setting foot on their soil. Apparently the comedian was trying to be funny.
“Ok all, let’s be clear, @rustyrockets is still in Cali[fornia], he never left, he has no immigration or border issue, it was a tech issue with plane!,” Casino Rama has reportedly since acknowledged on its Twitter account.
A spokeswoman for the casino, Jenna Hunter, has also said that she thought Brand was trying to be ‘witty.’ To paraphrase Borat, a character played by another British comic-turned-film actor, very funny… not.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the star of Get Him to the Greek and the inferior remake of the Dudley Moore ’80s comedy Arthur set off a lot of chatter among his Canuck fans this weekend when he tweeted that he would be late for a stand-up show at the Casino Rama north of Toronto.
“HELP! I’m gonna be late for Casino Rama show unless someone can force Canadian customs officials to let us land in Orillia!” he said.
That, it seems, was interpreted by some to mean that he was the subject of the customs officials’ objections.
Rumors to that effect weren’t killed by a subsequent statement issued by the casino:
“Casino Rama regrets to announce that this evening’s Russell Brand show has been postponed due to a travel issue being experienced by the artist”
Then they were fueled by another tweet from Brand, a.k.a. @rustyrockets:
“I’m sorry. I can’t enter Canada. We must abolish the borders between our nations AND our minds.”
Alas, some Canadians may be disappointed to discover that there appears to be no legal objection preventing Brand setting foot on their soil. Apparently the comedian was trying to be funny.
“Ok all, let’s be clear, @rustyrockets is still in Cali[fornia], he never left, he has no immigration or border issue, it was a tech issue with plane!,” Casino Rama has reportedly since acknowledged on its Twitter account.
A spokeswoman for the casino, Jenna Hunter, has also said that she thought Brand was trying to be ‘witty.’ To paraphrase Borat, a character played by another British comic-turned-film actor, very funny… not.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Tim Burton Seeks Ethereal Tone for Dark Shadows
One of the projects yours truly is chomping at the bit to see when it’s released in theaters is Tim Burton’s remake of Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. While I can take Burton or leave him, his work on films like Sleepy Hollow, I believe, could lend a contemporary Dark Shadows the sort of quality that renders it timeless.
Here’s hoping, anyway.
Meanwhile, TheWrap caught up to Burton at the LACMA, which has begun hosting a Tim Burton exhibit in Los Angeles — showcasing props, early writings and artwork from the filmmaker — and had an opportunity to ask him about how filming on Dark Shadows was progressing.
Here’s what Burton said:
“I’m just starting, and it’s a weird tone and it’s a lot of actors and, you know, we’re not starting with the simple stuff; we’re sort of getting right in there. You like to kind of sneak up on it a little bit, but this one we just kind of slammed right into it. [asked if it will have a soap opera quality] Yes, I don’t know. I’m early into it because it’s a funny tone, and that’s part of what the vibe of the show is, and there’s something about it that we want to get. But when you look at it, it’s pretty bad. I’m hoping that it will be — it’s early days, let’s put it — I’m very intrigued by the tone. It’s a real ethereal tone we’re trying to go for and I don’t know yet.”
The filmmaker mentioned that he’s not shooting the film in 3D. So right away, there’s that to take away as a positive.
Dark Shadows also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz and Gulliver McGrath. It’s a cast that certainly fills one with anticipation at the possibilities.
Here’s hoping, anyway.
Meanwhile, TheWrap caught up to Burton at the LACMA, which has begun hosting a Tim Burton exhibit in Los Angeles — showcasing props, early writings and artwork from the filmmaker — and had an opportunity to ask him about how filming on Dark Shadows was progressing.
Here’s what Burton said:
“I’m just starting, and it’s a weird tone and it’s a lot of actors and, you know, we’re not starting with the simple stuff; we’re sort of getting right in there. You like to kind of sneak up on it a little bit, but this one we just kind of slammed right into it. [asked if it will have a soap opera quality] Yes, I don’t know. I’m early into it because it’s a funny tone, and that’s part of what the vibe of the show is, and there’s something about it that we want to get. But when you look at it, it’s pretty bad. I’m hoping that it will be — it’s early days, let’s put it — I’m very intrigued by the tone. It’s a real ethereal tone we’re trying to go for and I don’t know yet.”
The filmmaker mentioned that he’s not shooting the film in 3D. So right away, there’s that to take away as a positive.
Dark Shadows also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz and Gulliver McGrath. It’s a cast that certainly fills one with anticipation at the possibilities.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
X-Men First Class Touted as Marvel’s Casino Royale
Watching all the early teasers, trailers and clips for X-Men: First Class, we’ve often remarked that the film feels different; special in some way. It takes a period of history from which much of today’s culture, fashion, art and architecture has begun to borrow — the 1960s — and sets its story in that era. Even more interestingly, at the most politically-charged moment in that era’s history: the Cuban Missile Crisis.
So what happens when you mix X-Men with a little of Gerry Anderson’s Fab Future, a bit of Carnaby Street…and throw in some crazy Khrushchev for good measure? According to an increasing number of critics: a helluva film.
According to THR critic Todd McCarthy:“roughly the first half of this massive and very well-cast origins extravaganza is arguably the best hour of Marvel Comics-derived filmmaking among the torrent of it that’s cascaded across screens in recent years.” McCarthy even goes as far as to draw a comparison to Casino Royale, suggesting that X-Men: First Class has done for the Marvel franchise what the reborn Bond film did for the 007 franchise back in 2006.
He’s not the only one. Garth over at Dark Horizons calls the film “not just the best of the series but the best adaptation of a Marvel title yet.”
Variety, meanwhile, says the movie reclaims “much of the pop-operatic grandeur and insouciant wit so evident in the series’ first two installments”, extolling director Matthew Vaughn’s skills at blending style and substance into a ‘mainstream movie’: “…[Vaughn] manages to invest this unabashedly commercial product with a unique stylistic identity…”
CinemaSpy’s review of X-Men: First Class will appear on Thursday. Meanwhile, if you missed it — and even if you didn’t — give the official international trailer below a viewing.
So what happens when you mix X-Men with a little of Gerry Anderson’s Fab Future, a bit of Carnaby Street…and throw in some crazy Khrushchev for good measure? According to an increasing number of critics: a helluva film.
According to THR critic Todd McCarthy:“roughly the first half of this massive and very well-cast origins extravaganza is arguably the best hour of Marvel Comics-derived filmmaking among the torrent of it that’s cascaded across screens in recent years.” McCarthy even goes as far as to draw a comparison to Casino Royale, suggesting that X-Men: First Class has done for the Marvel franchise what the reborn Bond film did for the 007 franchise back in 2006.
He’s not the only one. Garth over at Dark Horizons calls the film “not just the best of the series but the best adaptation of a Marvel title yet.”
Variety, meanwhile, says the movie reclaims “much of the pop-operatic grandeur and insouciant wit so evident in the series’ first two installments”, extolling director Matthew Vaughn’s skills at blending style and substance into a ‘mainstream movie’: “…[Vaughn] manages to invest this unabashedly commercial product with a unique stylistic identity…”
CinemaSpy’s review of X-Men: First Class will appear on Thursday. Meanwhile, if you missed it — and even if you didn’t — give the official international trailer below a viewing.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Al Pacino’s New Fascination with Aging Rock Stars
Al Pacino seems to be gravitating towards playing rock stars these days. The actor is set to star as Phil Spector in an upcoming film for HBO directed by David Mamet. But that’s not all. According to Variety, he’s also close to toplining a new dramedy from writer Dan Fogelman (Cars) entitledImagine.
According to the trade, the story sees Pacino’s character discovering that he has an adult son after reading a never-opened letter from John Lennon. Steve Carrell was originally set to play the son, but he has since dropped out of the project as an actor, though he remains onboard as a producer.
The film marks the directorial debut of Fogelman.
Pacino will next be seen in the John Gotti biopic, Gotti: Three Generations.
Can you picture Al Pacino playing an aging rock star in a dramedy? Oddly enough, it seems to us like the sort of role to which the actor might just be well-suited, given his historical penchant for traditionally playing larger-than-life characters. Besides, he needs a new trademark line with which we can lampoon him moving forward. “Hoo-ah” is so 20th century.
According to the trade, the story sees Pacino’s character discovering that he has an adult son after reading a never-opened letter from John Lennon. Steve Carrell was originally set to play the son, but he has since dropped out of the project as an actor, though he remains onboard as a producer.
The film marks the directorial debut of Fogelman.
Pacino will next be seen in the John Gotti biopic, Gotti: Three Generations.
Can you picture Al Pacino playing an aging rock star in a dramedy? Oddly enough, it seems to us like the sort of role to which the actor might just be well-suited, given his historical penchant for traditionally playing larger-than-life characters. Besides, he needs a new trademark line with which we can lampoon him moving forward. “Hoo-ah” is so 20th century.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Footloose Sneak Peeks This Friday
Paramount Pictures wants everyone to get Footloose and they're making it easier for some fortunate fans to do so by setting up a night of free screenings. The studio's hosting a 'Footloose Friday' event on September 30th at 26 theaters in the US and Canada. There's no charge to attend the screening, but you have to visit for ticketing information.
And, here's the deal about Footloose. I wasn't behind the idea of a remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon dance film when it was announced, and never bought into the idea of a new version of the '80s film. However, I've actually seen the movie (which I readily admit I wasn't looking forward to) and it was reallyentertaining. Director Craig Brewer did a great job of sticking with what made the first film fun (including keeping a few of the hit songs) and Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough are terrific in the lead roles. Now, I'm not saying Footloose fans are going to forget Kevin Bacon and the first film altogether after seeing this new version, but it's great that this newFootloose doesn't besmirch our memories of the original film. The new Footloose is just plain fun, which is all you can ask of a Footloose remake.
Anyway, the cities hosting 'Footloose Friday' screenings are:
Atlanta (Regal Town Center); Boston (Regal Fenway); Chicago (Regal Webster Place); Cleveland (Regal Crocker Park); Dallas (Rave Ridgemar); Denver (Regal UA Pavilions); Detroit (MJR Partridge Creek); Houston (Regal Edwards Marq*E); Kansas City (AMC Barrywoods); Los Angeles (AMC Century City and AMC Burbank 16); Miami (AMC Sunset Place); Minneapolis (AMC Southdale); New York (Regal Union Square); Orlando (Regal Winter Park); Philadelphia (Regal King of Prussia); Phoenix (Harkins Tempe Marketplace); Sacramento (Century Roseville); Salt Lake City (Gateway Megaplex); San Diego (Regal Mira Mesa); San Francisco (AMC Metreon); Seattle (Regal Meridien); St. Louis (Wehrenberg Ronnies); Tampa (AMC Veterans); Toronto (Cineplex Odeon Varsity Theatre); and Washington DC (Regal Majestic)
And, here's the deal about Footloose. I wasn't behind the idea of a remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon dance film when it was announced, and never bought into the idea of a new version of the '80s film. However, I've actually seen the movie (which I readily admit I wasn't looking forward to) and it was reallyentertaining. Director Craig Brewer did a great job of sticking with what made the first film fun (including keeping a few of the hit songs) and Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough are terrific in the lead roles. Now, I'm not saying Footloose fans are going to forget Kevin Bacon and the first film altogether after seeing this new version, but it's great that this newFootloose doesn't besmirch our memories of the original film. The new Footloose is just plain fun, which is all you can ask of a Footloose remake.
Anyway, the cities hosting 'Footloose Friday' screenings are:
Atlanta (Regal Town Center); Boston (Regal Fenway); Chicago (Regal Webster Place); Cleveland (Regal Crocker Park); Dallas (Rave Ridgemar); Denver (Regal UA Pavilions); Detroit (MJR Partridge Creek); Houston (Regal Edwards Marq*E); Kansas City (AMC Barrywoods); Los Angeles (AMC Century City and AMC Burbank 16); Miami (AMC Sunset Place); Minneapolis (AMC Southdale); New York (Regal Union Square); Orlando (Regal Winter Park); Philadelphia (Regal King of Prussia); Phoenix (Harkins Tempe Marketplace); Sacramento (Century Roseville); Salt Lake City (Gateway Megaplex); San Diego (Regal Mira Mesa); San Francisco (AMC Metreon); Seattle (Regal Meridien); St. Louis (Wehrenberg Ronnies); Tampa (AMC Veterans); Toronto (Cineplex Odeon Varsity Theatre); and Washington DC (Regal Majestic)
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