The missing piece: Star Wars' R2-D2 originally a key character in Lego Movie

Directors say they included the droid into their animation, but were refused permission to use him by Star Wars franchise owner Disney

The Lego Movie featured many established characters, including Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. Photograph: Allstar/Warner Bros/Sportsphoto Ltd

The Lego Movie might have featured Star Wars’ R2-D2 in a key role, but for the rights holders’ refusal to allow the diminutive droid to take part, according to the film’s directors.
Speaking to Yahoo! Movies, Phil Lord and Chris Miller revealed that Luke Skywalker’s loyal aide was a “Batman-level” supporting character in early drafts of the film, which took $468m at the global box office earlier this year after unexpectedly glowing reviews. The toy version of Batman eventually played a notable role in the storyline, which centres on an ordinary Lego construction worker who discovers that the world around him is being manipulated by mysterious forces.

Miller said he and Lord initially wrote the film without considering the copyright issues relating to specific properties. Batman is owned by The Lego Movie’s studio, Warner Bros, but R2-D2 is now a Disney-owned character following the studio’s $4bn purchase of all rights to Star Wars in October 2012.

“A kid doesn’t have lawyers that won’t allow the toys to play together,” said Miller. “Part of the appeal for us was that Roger Rabbit thing, that you can get these characters together that you couldn’t get in any other type of movie. Watching my own son play, he does put Batman on the Millennium Falcon and there’s no one saying they take place in completely different times and galaxies.”

Lord added: “We figured we could get R2-D2 because his voice wasn’t a human being.”

Lord and Miller were, however, able to briefly include Star Wars stalwarts Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, C-3PO and the Millennium Falcon spacecraft in The Lego Movie. The writer-director team revealed they are about to start writing the sequel, with the film expected to be released in 2018. The likelihood of the presence of a certain vertically challenged astromech droid has not yet been confirmed.

The List Of The Top Hollywood Action Movies 2012

The year 2012 is on the verge of its completion and it has already delivered a great wide bunch of awesome movies. If we titled the year 2012 as the year of action movies, it wouldn't be wrong at all, not even a bit. It has produced some of the most memorable action movies of this era with an elephantine amount of bucks pouring in throughout the year.

2012 is also the year of superhero movies, it unveiled some of the greatest superhero movies featuring some of the greatest stars of Hollywood. The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider Man and a couple of others whipped the movie audiences to the cinema theatres which brought loads of dollars of business to Hollywood.

The list of top Hollywood action movies 2012 is solely based on my ratings and likes, you may have another favourite movie of a specific number so bear it in your mind that this is not intended to negate your judgement with respect to movies.

8. The Hunger Games [2012]

Welly welly well, no other movie has surprised critics and audiences alike more than The Hunger Games. It was expected to be an average movie with an average action and an average box office business. But surprisingly, The Hunger Games shattered the average-expectations and popped out as a big movie in terms of concept, execution and box office business. Don't miss this one.

7. Taken 2 [2012]

In Taken his daughter was abducted, in Taken 2 his wife's in danger which compels him to do one thing that he does best - k!ll. Watch Liam Neeson in this non-stop thriller which gives you great action sequences and nerve-shredding entertainment.

6. Total Recall [2012]

Actor Colin Farrell does not do many action movies in a year but when he does, he does it with brain and brawn. Total Recall features outstanding sci-fi pompous action entertainment which never gets boring throughout the movie. If you haven't watched this one yet, go get your DVD now!

5. The Amazing Spider Man [2012]

Okay, let's admit it - The Amazing Spider Man has not lived up to the expectations that one had out of it. The hype was great, the anticipation was awesome, the star cast looked compelling but the movie turned out to be an average spider-man flick. But, this young spider-man looks promising and vibrant nevertheless.

4. Looper [2012]

Oh boy, this young man keeps on impressing people in every movie. Yes, I'm talking about Joseph Gordon-Levitt - in Looper, a futuristic sci-fi actioner, Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a remarkable job a future assassin who assassinates his preys by going back in time. In combination with one of the greatest action stars Bruce Willis, this movies's got sense, action, romance, relationship drama and loads of entertainment.

3. Skyfall [2012]

Skyfall has been in news for the past 3-4 years since the last Bond movie was released. The 23rd instalment of James Bond series, this spy-flick is a vivid blockbuster. Tons of action, compelling story, gripping dialogues and multi-dimensional screenplay makes this bond movie a must watch this year.

2. The Avengers [2012]

What happens when all the superheroes come together in a single movie for a final showdown? A blockbuster happens. The Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow in the same movie provides an actor with ear-popping action. You cannot afford to miss this awesome superhero blockbuster.

1. The Dark Knight Rises [2012]

I reckon I don't need to term this movie as number one movie of 2012 right? Similarly, I don't need to crown The Dark Knight Rises as the best action movies of 2012. Christopher Nolan concludes The Dark Knight franchise with a solid bang. If you haven't watched this Batman blockbuster, you're not a movie fan - there, I said it. Period.

The Discussion About 3D Film

Although the 1950s are most often considered the 3D movie decade, the first feature length 3D film, "The Power of Love," was made in 1922. Since that time the use of 3D technology in theaters and on television has drifted in and out of mainstream popularity.

Believe it or not, there are lots of movie lovers around the world, that still would be better off watching a usual DVD, or even a VHS, instead of going to a 3D theater for the latest blockbuster.

3D still has specific problems that need to be seen in advance, so that a filmmaker would be able to do the film as intended, and the viewer will get the maximum out of the shown content.

The latest 3D Film Festival in Los Angeles had experts discussing a lot of issues regarding the 3D, some of which were really interesting. Some practical advices were given as well. For proper distribution of a 3D film, you need both a good idea and something that people would want to see in 3D. In other words, if there's no "hook", there is no economic incentives yet to go the extra mile, and pay more money.

It was noted, that 3D at the Hollywood level is always director driven. In a nutshell, there are two approaches, either the directors think of 3D as integral to the story, or an afterthought.

Speaking of technical aspects – most theaters still project 3D too dark. According to the 3D discussion panel, the optional way to watch is at a whopping 14 foot lamberts of brightness. The average, for a good theater is 4.5 foot lamberts and many theaters are well below.

The panel experts recommended that while shooting 3D, it would be better to have at least a 42-inch monitor on set, to be able to watch playbacks. 3D scales down too well, you won't see problems for big screens unless you have a big monitor.

Here Is A List Of The Best Adventure Movies

If you're in the mood for a film that gets the adrenaline pumping, why not opt for an action-packed adventure movies? Here are five of the best choices to you're your next movie night as heart-poundingly fun as possible:

King Kong (1933)

No list of adventure films would be complete without this classic of the genre. "King Kong" follows the adventures of a film crew who goes to a tropical island to finish the shooting of a film. While on the island, they encounter a massive gorilla who develops a passion for the film's female star (played by Fay Wray), and the movie follows the crew as they struggle to save her and themselves from the gorilla's brutal will.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

This epic adventure film, directed by David Lean, tells the story of a real-life man named Thomas Edward Lawrence – an individual who led a guerilla army to triumph in the Arabian desert (during the Arab revolt against the Turks in World War I). The movie is packed with sweeping visuals and action-packed scenes as Lawrence forges ahead, eventually helping the British bring down the Ottoman Empire.

North by Northwest (1959)

This Hithcock classic combines intrigue with adventures when a New York ad executive gets mistaken as a government agent. He flees across the country while being ferociously pursued by a group of foreign spies, and the film brings viewers on a harrowing journey as he struggles to outsmart the spies and survive. The movie includes a romantic thread along with the ample amounts of adventure, so the movie appeals on many levels.

Goldfinger (1964)

This James Bond classic, directed by Gary Hamilton, follows Bond as he untangles gold magnate Auric Goldfinger's plot to infiltrate the Fort Knox gold reserve. The goal of Goldfinger and his henchmen is nothing less than to obliterate the world economy. Bond's mission to stop their plot and save the world brings up against many obstacles – and the fun is in watching him maneuver his way forward despite the tangles placed in his path.

Top Gun (1986)

This film, staring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, follows the students of a top US flying school that are working toward becoming advanced fighter pilots. As they compete to be the best in the class, the main character Maverick combines his sky adventures with earthly pursuit of a female instructor in the flight school.

There Are The Right 5 Online Movie Streaming Sites

You may have been good when you were young or used to get a student discount, but now when you need to shell out for an adult ticket both for you and your girlfriend it doesn't seem so cheap, does it? Wouldn't it be cool if you could get the flexibility of enjoying DVD's without the need to pay so much or even having to head out to the store. It needn't be a mere dream. If you like the concept of paying less but getting more then take a look at these Online Movie Streaming Sites:

1. Netflix - standard in online movie access, high video quality (not HD yet), discount rates.

Netflix started life mailing out Videos to members, but now are the alpha male of online movie streaming in America. Netflix has a solid focus on providing a good streaming service and ensuring new content is regularly put into their online library of movies and TV shows. They understand the potential and major benefits movie streaming rentals and are market leaders in getting it to the front of the new movie revolution.

2. Blockbuster - Most likely too little and too late.

Though Blockbuster in their current form isn't departed yet, very few expect them to live on for much more time. They are producing a major effort to join the online movie streaming get together, but just like Netflix are yet to provide HD titles. It is difficult to say what's going to become of Blockbuster, their emphasis remains on the physical media, but their online catalogue of streamed content is growing weekly.

3. VUDU - Opportunity to obtain the newest releases in high definition.

VUDU is aimed more at occasional movie viewers than those who want to undertake regular movie marathons. The appeal with VUDU is that you only pay for what you see and there is no contract tying you into their service.

4. Hulu Plus - View your favorite television shows when you wish.

Another online movie streaming site that has been established for a while is Hulu, who made their name streaming re-runs of good old TV programs. Hulu is somewhat unlike any other services in that their focus is a lot more on television programming.
If you sign up for Hulu you're subscribing more for the library of television shows than anything else. It's the ideal service for people who want to watch several hours of old TV re-runs regularly. It can work great together with VUDU to provide you with a good selection of viewing options without having to pay for satellite tv.

5. Amazon Prime Streaming - a bit more costly compared to the others but maybe worth a go for frequent Amazon customers.

Bearing that in mind, you can still find free movies and TV shows available, that are older and in all probability ones you've viewed several times over on your local TV stations. Additionally they provide a free trial for 1 month, so you can always test it out and if you’re dissatisfied within 30 days, just cancel.