tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19664086130549040702024-03-13T10:52:19.641-04:00Yet Another Movie BlogWe're really obsessed with film!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-66309347346329762652014-01-16T22:15:00.004-05:002014-01-16T22:23:43.022-05:002014 Critics' Choice Award Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wow. It's been a busy day with the Oscar nominations earlier today and the 19th Critics' Choice Awards at night, but we've got you covered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Oscar favorites in <i>12 Years a Slave</i>, <i>Gravity</i>, <i>American Hustle</i>, and the actors of <i>Dallas Buyers Club </i>continue to gain momentum going forward. Leo also scoops up a Best Actor in a Comedy which further muddies the Best Actor in a Leading Role category for the Academy Awards. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the full list of winners via <a href="http://www.indiewire.com/article/2014-critics-choice-award-winners" target="_blank">IndieWire</a> (winners in Bold):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST PICTURE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Captain Phillips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dallas Buyers Club</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gravity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Inside Llewyn Davis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nebraska</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saving Mr. Banks</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>12 Years a Slave</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wolf of Wall Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTOR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christian Bale – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bruce Dern – Nebraska</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Robert Redford – All Is Lost</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTRESS</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sandra Bullock – Gravity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Judi Dench – Philomena</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brie Larson – Short Term 12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Meryl Streep – August: Osage County</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daniel Bruhl – Rush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bradley Cooper – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">James Gandolfini – Enough Said</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scarlett Johansson – Her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Julia Roberts – August: Osage County</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">June Squibb – Nebraska</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Asa Butterfield – Ender’s Game</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Adele Exarchopoulos – Blue Is the Warmest Color</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Liam James – The Way Way Back</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sophie Nelisse – The Book Thief</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tye Sheridan – Mud</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>American Hustle</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">August: Osage County</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lee Daniels’ The Butler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nebraska</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wolf of Wall Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST DIRECTOR</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spike Jonze – Her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">David O. Russell – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eric Singer and David O. Russell – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Spike Jonze – Her</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joel Coen & Ethan Coen – Inside Llewyn Davis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bob Nelson – Nebraska</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tracy Letts – August: Osage County</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke – Before Midnight</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Billy Ray – Captain Phillips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope – Philomena</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Terence Winter – The Wolf of Wall Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Emmanuel Lubezki – Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bruno Delbonnel – Inside Llewyn Davis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Phedon Papamichael – Nebraska</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Roger Deakins – Prisoners</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sean Bobbitt – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ART DIRECTION</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Andy Nicholson (Production Designer), Rosie Goodwin (Set Decorator) – Gravity</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Catherine Martin (Production Designer), Beverley Dunn (Set Decorator) – The Great Gatsby</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">K.K. Barrett (Production Designer), Gene Serdena (Set Decorator) – Her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dan Hennah (Production Designer), Ra Vincent (Set Decorator) – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam Stockhausen (Production Designer), Alice Baker (Set Decorator) – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST EDITING</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christopher Rouse – Captain Phillips</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger – Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill – Rush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe Walker – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thelma Schoonmaker – The Wolf of Wall Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST COSTUME DESIGN</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Michael Wilkinson – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Catherine Martin – The Great Gatsby</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bob Buck, Lesley Burkes-Harding, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daniel Orlandi – Saving Mr. Banks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Patricia Norris – 12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST MAKEUP</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>American Hustle</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lee Daniels’ The Butler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12 Years a Slave</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST VISUAL EFFECTS</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Iron Man 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pacific Rim</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Star Trek into Darkness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ANIMATED FEATURE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Croods</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Despicable Me 2</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Frozen</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monsters University</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wind Rises</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTION MOVIE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Iron Man 3</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lone Survivor</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Star Trek into Darkness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Henry Cavill – Man of Steel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Robert Downey Jr. – Iron Man 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brad Pitt – World War Z</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mark Wahlberg – Lone Survivor</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sandra Bullock – Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Evangeline Lilly – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gwyneth Paltrow – Iron Man 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST COMEDY</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>American Hustle</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enough Said</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Heat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This Is the End</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Way Way Back</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The World’s End</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christian Bale – American Hustle</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">James Gandolfini – Enough Said</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Simon Pegg – The World’s End</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam Rockwell – The Way Way Back</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Amy Adams – American Hustle</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sandra Bullock – The Heat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Greta Gerwig – Frances Ha</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Enough Said</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Melissa McCarthy – The Heat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Conjuring</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Star Trek into Darkness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">World War Z</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Blue Is the Warmest Color</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Great Beauty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hunt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Past</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wadjda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Act of Killing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Blackfish</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stories We Tell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tim’s Vermeer</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>20 Feet from Stardom</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST SONG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Atlas – Coldplay – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy – Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Let It Go – Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez – Frozen</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ordinary Love – U2 – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please Mr. Kennedy – Justin Timberlake/Oscar Isaac/Adam Driver – Inside Llewyn Davis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Rey – The Great Gatsby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BEST SCORE</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Steven Price – Gravity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Arcade Fire – Her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thomas Newman – Saving Mr. Banks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hans Zimmer – 12 Years a Slave</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-64461013977565294752014-01-16T19:46:00.003-05:002014-01-16T21:25:15.300-05:00Knee-Jerk 2014 Oscar Predictions <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Probably </i>12 Years a Slave<i>. Probably.</i></td></tr>
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As I'm writing a more in-depth look at each of the six major categories, I thought it'd be a fun idea to give incredibly premature predictions for each nominated group. These predictions will inevitably change as the March 2 ceremony gets closer, but I couldn't resist throwing my hat into the prediction ring. I'll give a quick explanation of my picks, but again, I'll have a more "official" final prediction closer to the actual Academy Award show. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D42Hw3rQ3Uo/Uth8w7_qdxI/AAAAAAAAA8o/UTyTssKy2Zk/s1600/12YearsASlave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D42Hw3rQ3Uo/Uth8w7_qdxI/AAAAAAAAA8o/UTyTssKy2Zk/s1600/12YearsASlave.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
BEST PICTURE<br />
<br />
Who Should Win: <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
Who Will Win: <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
<br />
Such a powerful film. No doubt it faces stiff competition from <i>American Hustle</i> and <i>Gravity</i>, but <i>12 Years </i>is a safe pick for now.<br />
<br />
BEST DIRECTOR<br />
<br />
Who Should Win: David O. Russell<br />
Who Will Win: Steve McQueen<br />
<br />
I'd be very surprised if the Best Picture and Best Director weren't tied together this year, unlike last year with that <i>Argo </i>fiasco (still mad about the Affleck snub). If the decision is split, Russell would be most likely to win, but I'm really hoping that Spike Jonze gets a write-in win, 'cause that's totally a thing (it's not). <br />
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BEST ACTOR<br />
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Who Should Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor<br />
Who Will Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor<br />
<br />
Yes, there is a <i>12 Years a Slave </i>theme going, and as much as I want to give some Oscar hardware to Leo, not this year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8UJCqSekcUY/Uth9DYd0ApI/AAAAAAAAA8w/ZRwkSZ95rR4/s1600/Amy+Adams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8UJCqSekcUY/Uth9DYd0ApI/AAAAAAAAA8w/ZRwkSZ95rR4/s1600/Amy+Adams.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
BEST ACTRESS<br />
<br />
Who Should Win: Sandra Bullock<br />
Who Will Win: Amy Adams<br />
<br />
Amy Adams deserves an award for having such an awesome year for being in a blockbuster, an indy flick, and an Oscar heavyweight (<i>Man of Steel</i>, <i>Her</i>, and <i>American Hustle</i> respectively). Bullock gave an incredible performance, enough to get her the Critics' Choice for Best Actress in an Action Movie, but she won for <i>The Blind Side </i>somehow, so karma. Blanchett won the Globe and <i>Blue Jasmine </i>could get some steam going into the award circuit, but Adams is a safe pick for now, as she also won a Globe and also took home a Critics' Choice Award. <br />
<br />
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR<br />
<br />
Who Should Win: Michael Fassbender<br />
Who Will Win: Jared Leto<br />
<br />
Honestly, every year this category is such a crapshoot, and this year is no different. I'll go with Leto, as his role as a transgender in <i>Dallas Buyers Club </i>earned him a Globe and a Critics' Choice Award. I love Fassbender in <i>12 Years</i>, but I doubt he'll get much love with Leto and Jonah Hill (<i>The Wolf of Wall Street</i>) getting a lot of Oscar buzz. A potential dark horse is Barkhad Abdi (<i>Captain Phillips</i>), as his counterpart in Tom Hanks was totally snubbed. If there was a year for this newcomer to win the Supporting statue, it would be this one. <br />
<br />
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS<br />
<br />
Who Should Win: Lupita Nyong'o<br />
Who Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence<br />
<br />
I wouldn't be surprised if Lawrence wins back-to-back Academy Awards. It doesn't happen very often, but she would be the one to pull it off. No one really stands out in this field, but the biggest dark horse is Nyong'o, who gave an emotional performance in the obviously highly critically acclaimed <i>12 Years a Slave</i>. She also earned a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress.<br />
<br />
So there you have it. My way-too-early predictions. Again, these will change once the other award shows start distributing their respective hardware, but for now, I'll just leave this right here.<br />
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A full list of nominees can be found here... <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-oscar-nominations.html" target="_blank">2014 Oscar Nominees </a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-72483295175521224922014-01-16T12:45:00.001-05:002014-01-16T20:31:44.345-05:002014 Oscar Nominations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mK3ABFEmBFY/TrQfuqN0fGI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/sVkXjhqkLro/s1600/oscar-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mK3ABFEmBFY/TrQfuqN0fGI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/sVkXjhqkLro/s1600/oscar-2012.jpg" height="350" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>woo.</i></td></tr>
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Ho hum. No real big surprises here.<br />
<br />
<i>American Hustle </i>and <i>Gravity </i>lead the talented group with 10 nominations, followed closely by <i>12 Years a Slave</i>'s 9 Oscar nods. <i>Philomena </i>is the biggest surprise nomination with its Best Picture nod. This year the category boasts 9 amazing films, yet none of them are the Coen Brothers' <i>Inside Llewyn Davis</i>.<br />
<br />
It seems the Golden Globes had a bit of an impact here, with <i>Dallas Buyers Club</i> grabbing nominations for Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, and a Best Picture spot. Since the Oscars are not separated into Drama and Comedy categories as the Globes are, Globe winners in the Best Actor (McConaughey and Leonardo DiCaprio) and Best Actress (Cate Blanchett and Amy Adams) enter an incredibly talented pool of actors and actresses. Yes, Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson were both snubbed for <i>Captain Phillips </i>and <i>Saving Mr. Banks </i>respectively, as was Robert Redford (<i>All is Lost</i>), but it's nice to see Sally Hawkins for <i>Blue Jasmine</i> make the cut, as I am still upset she was snubbed in '08 for <i>Happy-Go-Lucky</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhfUQPE-Lak/UtgabNtkpuI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/jyWj4lVihxw/s1600/Scarlett-Johansson-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhfUQPE-Lak/UtgabNtkpuI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/jyWj4lVihxw/s1600/Scarlett-Johansson-image.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I totally didn't just mention ScarJo<br />to post a pic of her. </i></td></tr>
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Side note: Meryl Streep gets a nomination (shocker). It is her 18th of her career.<br />
Second side note: Scarlett Johansson does not receive a nomination for playing <strike>Siri</strike> Samantha, a voice-only role, despite the clamoring for her to be included. Personally, I would have loved for her to have been nominated, as it would have been a big step for non-physical/voice-only roles to be included in the Oscars. <br />
<br />
The Directors Guild of America also closely mirrors the Best Director nominations with the exception of Alexander Payne (<i>Nebraska</i>) being nominated in place of DGA nominated Paul Greengrass (<i>Captain Phillips</i>). I doubt anyone is seriously angered over Greengrass or Spike Jonze (<i>Her</i>) being snubbed as the masses were when Ben Affleck was left off the ballot last year.<br />
<br />
Honestly, all the technical award categories might as well celebrate their nominations and be proud of that, as <i>Gravity </i>will inevitably sweep those. <br />
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Voting goes from February 14 to February 25 with the final announcements coming at the 86th Academy Awards Ceremony held March 2 at 7 pm aired on ABC. Ellen DeGeneres hosts what will be a "hero" theme to the festivities (Chris Hemsworth aka Thor announced the nominees), as the Oscars continue to hopelessly pander to younger audiences. <br />
<br />
THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES:<br />
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BEST PICTURE<br />
<br />
<i>12 Years a Slave<br />American Hustle<br />Captain Phillips<br />Dallas Buyers Club<br />Gravity<br />Her<br /> Nebraska<br /> Philomena<br /> The Wolf of Wall Street</i><br />
<br />
BEST DIRECTOR <br />
<br />
David O. Russell, <i>American Hustle</i><br />
Alfonso Cuaron, <i>Gravity</i><br />
Alexander Payne, <i>Nebraska</i><br />
Steve McQueen, <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
Martin Scorsese, <i>The Wolf of Wall Street</i><br />
<br />
BEST ACTOR <br />
<br />
Christian Bale, <i>American</i> <i>Hustle</i><br />
Bruce Dern, <i>Nebraska</i><br />
Leonardo DiCaprio, <i>The Wolf of Wall Street</i><br />
Chiwetel Ejiofor, <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
Matthew McConaughey, <i>Dallas Buyers Club</i><br />
<br />
BEST ACTRESS <br />
<br />
Amy Adams, <i>American</i> <i>Hustle</i><br />
Cate Blanchett, <i>Blue</i> <i>Jasmine</i><br />
Sandra Bullock, <i>Gravity</i><br />
Judi Dench, <i>Philomena</i><br />
Meryl Streep, <i>August: Osage County</i><br />
<br />
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY <br />
<br />
<i>American</i> <i>Hustle</i> – Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell<br />
<i>Blue</i> <i>Jasmine</i> – Written by Woody Allen<br />
<i>Her</i> – Written by Spike Jonze<br />
<i>Nebraska</i> – Written by Bob Nelson<br />
<i>Dallas Buyers Club</i> – Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack <br />
<br />
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY <br />
<br />
<i>Before</i> <i>Midnight</i> – Written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke<br />
<i>Captain</i> <i>Phillips</i> – Screenplay by Billy Ray<br />
<i>Philomena</i> – Screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope<br />
<i>12 Years a Slave </i>– Screenplay by John Ridley<br />
<i>The Wolf of Wall Street</i> – Screenplay by Terence Winter <br />
<br />
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS <br />
<br />
Lupita Nyong’o, <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
Jennifer Lawrence, <i>American</i> <i>Hustle</i><br />
June Squibb, <i>Nebraska</i><br />
Julia Roberts, <i>August: Osage County</i><br />
Sally Hawkins, <i>Blue Jasmine</i><br />
<br />
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR <br />
<br />
Barkhad Abdi, <i>Captain Phillips</i><br />
Bradley Cooper, <i>American Hustle</i><br />
Michael Fassbender, <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
Jonah Hill, <i>The Wolf of Wall Street</i><br />
Jared Leto, <i>Dallas Buyers Club</i><br />
<br />
BEST ANIMATED FILM <br />
<br />
<i>The Croods</i><br />
<i>Despicable Me 2</i><br />
<i>Ernest & Celestine</i><br />
<i>Frozen</i><br />
<i>The Wind Rises</i><br />
<br />
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY <br />
<br />
<i>The Grandmaster</i><br />
<i>Gravity</i><br />
<i>Inside Llewyn Davis</i><br />
<i>Nebraska</i><br />
<i>Prisoners</i><br />
<br />
BEST COSTUME DESIGN <br />
<br />
Michael Wilkinson, <i>American Hustle</i><br />
William Chang Suk Ping, <i>The Grandmaster</i><br />
Catherine Martin, <i>The Great Gatsby</i><br />
Michael O’Connor, <i>The Invisible Woman</i><br />
Patricia Norris, <i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
<br />
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE <br />
<br />
<i>The Act of Killing</i> – Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen<br />
<i>Cutie and the Boxer</i> – Zachary Heinzerling and Lydia Dean Pilcher<br />
<i>Dirty Wars </i>– Richard Rowley and Jeremy Scahill<br />
<i>The Square</i> – Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer<br />
<i>20 Feet from Stardom </i>– Nominees to be determined<br />
<br />
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT <br />
<br />
<i>Cave Digger</i> – Jeffrey Karoff<br />
<i>Facing Fear –</i> Jason Cohen<br />
<i>Karama Has No Walls</i> – Sara Ishaq<br />
<i>The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life </i>– Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed<br />
<i>Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall</i> – Edgar Barens<br />
<br />
BEST FILM EDITING <br />
<br />
<i>American Hustle </i>– Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten<br />
<i>Captain Phillips</i> – Christopher Rouse<br />
<i>Dallas Buyers Club </i>– John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa<br />
<i>Gravity</i> – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger<br />
<i>12 Years a Slave </i>– Joe Walker<br />
<br />
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM <br />
<br />
<i>The Broken Circle Breakdown –</i> Belgium<br />
<i>The Great Beauty</i> – Italy<br />
<i>The Hunt</i> – Denmark<br />
<i>The Missing Picture </i>– Cambodia<br />
<i>Omar</i> – Palestine<br />
<br />
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING <br />
<br />
<i>Dallas Buyers Club </i>– Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews<br />
<i>Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa</i> – Stephen Prouty<br />
<i>The</i> <i>Lone</i> <i>Ranger</i> – Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny<br />
<br />
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE <br />
<br />
John Williams, <i>The Book Thief</i><br />
Steven Price, <i>Gravity</i><br />
William Butler and Owen Pallett, <i>Her</i><br />
Alexandre Desplat, <i>Philomena</i><br />
Thomas Newman, <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i><br />
<br />
BEST ORIGINAL SONG <br />
<br />
<i>Alone Yet Not Alone</i> from <i>Alone Yet Not Alone</i><br />
Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel <br />
<br />
<i>Happy</i> from <i>Despicable</i> <i>Me 2</i><br />
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams <br />
<br />
<i>Let It Go </i>from <i>Frozen</i><br />
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez <br />
<br />
<i>The Moon Song</i> from <i>Her</i><br />
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze <br />
<br />
<i>Ordinary Love </i>from <i>Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom</i><br />
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson <br />
<br />
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN <br />
<br />
<i>American Hustle</i><br />
Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler <br />
<br />
<i>Gravity</i><br />
Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard <br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Great Gatsby</i><br />
Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn <br />
<br />
<i>Her</i><br />
Production Design: K.K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena <br />
<br />
<i>12 Years a Slave</i><br />
Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker <br />
<br />
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM <br />
<br />
<i>Feral</i> – Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden<br />
<i>Get a Horse!</i> – Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim<br />
<i>Mr. Hublot </i>– Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares<br />
<i>Possessions</i> – Shuhei Morita<br />
<i>Room on the Broom</i> – Max Lang and Jan Lachauer<br />
<br />
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM <br />
<br />
<i>Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me) </i>– Esteban Crespo<br />
<i>Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything) </i>– Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras<br />
<i>Helium</i> – Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson<br />
<i>Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)</i> – Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari<br />
<i>The Voorman Problem </i>– Mark Gill and Baldwin Li<br />
<br />
BEST SOUND EDITING <br />
<br />
<i>All Is Lost</i> – Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns<br />
<i>Captain</i> <i>Phillips</i> – Oliver Tarney<br />
<i>Gravity</i> – Glenn Freemantle<br />
<i>The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug –</i> Brent Burge<br />
<i>Lone Survivor </i>– Wylie Stateman<br />
<br />
BEST SOUND MIXING <br />
<br />
<i>Captain Phillips</i> – Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro<br />
<i>Gravity</i> – Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro<br />
<i>The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug </i>– Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson<br />
<i>Inside Llewyn Davis </i>– Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland<br />
<i>Lone Survivor </i>– Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow<br />
<br />
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS <br />
<br />
<i>Gravity</i> – Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould<br />
<i>The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</i> – Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds<br />
<i>Iron Man 3 </i>– Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick<br />
<i>The Lone Ranger</i> – Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier<br />
<i>Star Trek Into Darkness </i>– Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton<br />
<br />
<a href="http://variety.com/2014/film/news/2014-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1201058756/" target="_blank">Source: Variety </a><br />
<br />
Hopefully, I'll be able to break down the 6 major categories and give you all my Oscar predictions, but for now, just be amazed by the fact that <i>The Lone Ranger</i> will be mentioned at the Academy Awards. Like what.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-45470366862297148492013-06-25T08:30:00.000-04:002013-07-19T10:06:06.389-04:00Jeff Robinov Follows Bruce Rosenblum Out the Door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjVRa3xfKUQ/UU0EAqGS42I/AAAAAAAAA1c/QmigaW4vArE/s1600/Warner_Bros.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjVRa3xfKUQ/UU0EAqGS42I/AAAAAAAAA1c/QmigaW4vArE/s640/Warner_Bros.png" width="560" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CK5qoa-Zks/UckdywGo1qI/AAAAAAAAA68/DoLWX8g03pY/s1600/jeff-robinov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CK5qoa-Zks/UckdywGo1qI/AAAAAAAAA68/DoLWX8g03pY/s1600/jeff-robinov.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There needs to be a "Hey Girl" meme with<br />Jeff Robinov. Get on it Internet.</i></td></tr>
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It's been a rough year for Warner Bros. After some pretty risky film investments and a changing of the guard, WB Movie President, Jeff Robinov, is leaving the studio. Robinov's departure follows closely on that of his former colleague, Bruce Rosenblum, the then-President of Warner's Television Group. In the spring, we <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/warner-brothers-rough-2013-start.html" target="_blank">covered Warner Bros.' pretty rough start</a> and murky future, and it looks like the studio is definitely reeling a bit.<br />
<br />
Even though <i>Man of Steel</i> (a personal triumph for Robinov) stormed the box office to a tune of over $200 million, and it already has a multiple movie contract with the studio, Robinov's resignation definitely raises eyebrows about the attitude inside the organization. Many expected either Robinov or Rosenblum to take over for outgoing chairman, Barry Meyer, but instead CEO Jeff Bewkes chose Kevin Tsujihara. While Robinov was initially supportive of Bewkes decision, there are many reports that the relationship between Robinov and Bewkes and Robinov and Tsujihara have soured considerably. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7g9qUYAraes/Uckd4w24sNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/WiarSyunzzQ/s1600/Kroll_Silverman-Emmerich_Warner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7g9qUYAraes/Uckd4w24sNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/WiarSyunzzQ/s640/Kroll_Silverman-Emmerich_Warner.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(Left to Right) Kroll, Silverman, Emmerich</i></td></tr>
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It does not look like Robinov's position will be filled. Rather, similarly to what the studio did with Rosenblum's departure, Robinov will be replaced by a trio of production president Greg Silverman, marketing chief Sue Kroll, and New Line chief Toby Emmerich. All three will report directly to Tsujihara. <br />
<br />
While this will hurt Warner Bros. Film unit, it was not necessarily unexpected. Ever since Meyer's spot was up-for-grabs between Robinov, Rosenblum, and Tsujihara, the three men have not exactly been close. It would have been almost impossible for the studio to retain whomever did not take over for Meyer.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-15183116331754611102013-06-24T23:26:00.000-04:002013-06-24T23:31:26.845-04:00The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Dumps Mary Jane and Other Spidey News<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s_faEEtMZfU/UckLBLijaVI/AAAAAAAAA6A/GaXVRvxAE5Y/s1600/Amazing_Spider_Man_2_Cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spider-Man 2 Cast" border="0" height="380" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s_faEEtMZfU/UckLBLijaVI/AAAAAAAAA6A/GaXVRvxAE5Y/s640/Amazing_Spider_Man_2_Cast.png" title="A-Listers" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Photoshop Skills.</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra0wljfjcWo/UckM32gD2NI/AAAAAAAAA6s/KqVgJpL--Ks/s1600/Shailene-Woodley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mary Jane Watson" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra0wljfjcWo/UckM32gD2NI/AAAAAAAAA6s/KqVgJpL--Ks/s1600/Shailene-Woodley.jpg" title="Shailene Woodley" /></a></div>
Well, it looks like the <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-amazing-spider-man-2-list-cast.html" target="_blank">ever-growing cast</a> of Marc Webb's webslinging sequel may have just shrunk a bit. Unfortunately for her, Shailene Woodley's filming schedule just freed itself up considerably. The startlet's role of Mary Jane Watson is chopped after a few days of shooting. Webb stated, "I made a creative decision to streamline the story and focus on Peter and Gwen and their relationship." Any speculation of a potential love triangle between Spidey, Gwen, and MJ can be laid to rest for at least one more <i>Spider-Man</i> film. [Also, Spoilers:<span style="background-color: white;">Gwen Stacey's death. Whoops, Spoilers.</span>] While Webb was quick to heap praise on Woodley's talents, it remains in doubt that <i>The Descendents </i>actress will return.<br />
<br />
Let the speculation for the recast begin!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zS_YJcZ-fyE/UU89cW5qwKI/AAAAAAAAA40/ff85S0pY9TU/s1600/Black-Cat_Spider-Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Cat" border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zS_YJcZ-fyE/UU89cW5qwKI/AAAAAAAAA40/ff85S0pY9TU/s320/Black-Cat_Spider-Man.jpg" title="Felicity Jones" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spiders are not necessarily monogamous. </i></td></tr>
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Even though one character gets the boot, Felicity Jones may have let the proverbial cat out of the bag when describing her character. Jones says, "It's TOP secret. I can tell you that she's sort of on the baddie's side, but I can't explain much more than that." In the last article on <i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>we discussed the possibility of Jones playing Black Cat, and it looks as if that rumor may turn out to be true. Fellow film blogs are blowing up at this news as well. It seems as though the people are getting Jones to be Black Cat by sheer willpower. Which, in fact, is a pretty lame superpower.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IY8Yr9kNx-w/UckL8HJDGTI/AAAAAAAAA6c/KE2DzO75tGA/s1600/Sarah-Gadon-the-Amazing-Spider-Man-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mystery Character" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IY8Yr9kNx-w/UckL8HJDGTI/AAAAAAAAA6c/KE2DzO75tGA/s200/Sarah-Gadon-the-Amazing-Spider-Man-2.jpg" title="Sarah Gadon" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I can picture this in red.</i></td></tr>
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While starlet Shailene Woodley will most likely leave the franchise, <i>Spider-Man </i>gets another fast-rising young actress, Sarah Gadon. Gadon has collaborated with the great-but-not-good-enough-for-the-Academy David Cronenberg in two of his films, <i>A Dangerous Method </i>and <i>Cosmopolis. </i>When the news broke that Gadon would be joining the webslinging franchise, webheads were immediately convinced that she was Woodley's replacement for the Mary Jane role.<br />
<br />
However, Gadon would take to Twitter and quickly dispel that rumor.<br />
<br />
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
To all those a twitter, I will not be playing MJ in Spider-Man. I have a role in the film, but it is not that one :)<br />
— Sarah Gadon (@SarahGadon) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahGadon/statuses/348219630403321857">June 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center>
So there's that.<br />
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<i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>will swing into theaters May 2, 2014 with a third and fourth installment already planned. Let's hope no one gets sick of superhero films in the near future... Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-74021455257908601982013-03-27T09:08:00.002-04:002013-06-21T23:24:43.315-04:00New Wolverine Trailer<div style="text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-12986005374614214412013-03-25T10:30:00.000-04:002013-03-25T13:46:06.948-04:00Monday Morning Link Round-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's check out the big movie news stories that happened in the last week! These links will be from a whole host of sources. All of these blogs are excellent, and if you don't already, you should follow them! Plus, this link round-up makes my Monday's way lighter...<br />
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I will probably end up doing this every week, regardless of how many blog posts I get to. I'm hoping to regularly post movie news, even though I'm also juggling (real life) work and college. I realize that I probably only have a max of 6 faithful viewers, but I like to use this blog as a creative outlet. Sure the writing style is pretty lax, but I just like to have fun with it! <br />
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If you're interested in Guest Writing for Yet Another Movie Blog, <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2010/08/guest-writing-options.html" target="_blank">click here!</a> It would be awesome to get new perspectives on movies and even a review or two each week (seriously! I do NOT have time to watch movies... let alone write a review! Plus, I'm awful at reviewing movies).<br />
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Don't forget to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Yet-Another-Movie-Blog/117994494914318?ref=ts" target="_blank">Like us on Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/yetanomovblo" target="_blank">Follow on Twitter</a>, and we're with the Google employees on <a href="https://plus.google.com/b/113514431822704788944/" target="_blank">Google+</a>, too! Feel free to shoot YAMB an email at <a href="mailto:yetanothermovieblog@gmail.com" target="_blank" title="">yetanothermovieblog@gmail.com</a>.<br />
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Treat this kind of like an <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/search/label/Open%20Thread" target="_blank">Open Thread</a> that we used to do, and sound off on what you'd movies you're interested in! <br />
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All right, link time! <br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/j-j-abrams-talks-star-wars-episode-vii-there-are-infinitely-more-questions-than-answers-right-now/" target="_blank">J.J. Abrams dishes on the some <i>Star Wars VII </i>rumors</a><br />
via <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/" target="_blank">/Film </a><br />
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<a href="http://screenrant.com/green-lantern-2-actors-justice-league-movie/" target="_blank">With rumors that Ryan Reynolds may drop out of a <i>Justice League Film, </i>here are 6 possible replacement choices</a><br />
via <a href="http://screenrant.com/" target="_blank">ScreenRant</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/23/10-reasons-why-star-wars-obi-wan-kenobi-is-a-serial-jerk" target="_blank">Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Jerk. No really. </a><br />
via <a href="http://www.ign.com/" target="_blank">IGN </a><br />
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<a href="http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3655&p=.htm" target="_blank">How did the latest releases, like <i>Olympus Falls </i>and <i>The Croods</i> fair on Friday?</a><br />
via <a href="http://boxofficemojo.com/" target="_blank">Box Office Mojo</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/882294/rebel-wilson-brings-you-the-movie-awards-best-picture-nominations.jhtml" target="_blank">Rebel Wilson unveils the MTV Movie Award nominees as only she can</a><br />
via <a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/" target="_blank">MTV</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_20310_the-5-most-ridiculous-movie-character-overreactions.html" target="_blank">Some movie characters tend to overreact...</a><br />
via <a href="http://www.cracked.com/" target="_blank">Cracked</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6879066/disney-princess-spring-breakers-trailer" target="_blank">A really clever <i>Spring Breakers </i>parody with Disney Princesses</a><br />
via <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/" target="_blank">CollegeHumor</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/22/robert-redford-in-talks-for-captain-america-the-winter-soldier" target="_blank">A huge HUGE star may be signing on to join Chris Evans in <i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i></a><br />
via <a href="http://ign.com/" target="_blank">IGN</a><br />
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<a href="http://variety.com/2013/film/news/judge-superman-rights-transferred-to-dc-comics-in-2001-agreement-1200327258/" target="_blank">Judge sides with Warner Bros. in <i>Superman </i>dispute</a><i><a href="http://variety.com/2013/film/news/judge-superman-rights-transferred-to-dc-comics-in-2001-agreement-1200327258/" target="_blank"> </a></i><br />
via <a href="http://variety.com/" target="_blank">Variety</a><br />
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Well there you have it! Hopefully, you were able to spend some time with Akira Kurosawa films which were free this weekend on Hulu to celebrate his birthday. If not, well, his films are definitely worth every penny spent! <br />
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Don't forget to check out these YAMB articles from the past week:<br />
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<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/nina-dobrev-as-lara-croft.html" target="_blank">Nina Dobrev eyes Lara Croft role</a><br />
<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/deadpool-might-be-in-dev-limbo.html" target="_blank">A possible <i>Deadpool </i>film may be stuck in developmental hell </a><br />
<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/emma-watson-denies-fifty-shades-of-grey.html" target="_blank">Emma Watson denies those pesky <i>Fifty Shades of Grey </i>rumors</a><br />
<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/veronica-mars-and-power-of-kickstarter.html" target="_blank">The Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign and what it could mean for other long cancelled TV shows</a><br />
<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/warner-brothers-rough-2013-start.html" target="_blank">Warner Bros. is off to a slow start to 2013</a><br />
<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/proof-that-cinema-gods-hate-us-michael.html" target="_blank">Sounding off on Michael Bay's <i>Ninja Turtles </i>project</a><br />
<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-amazing-spider-man-2-list-cast.html" target="_blank"><i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>and its ever growing A-list cast</a><br />
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What are some blogs that you all follow? Let me know in the comments below!<br />
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As a bonus, here's the epic trailer from <i>Star Trek: Into Darkness</i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-33638446093944399462013-03-24T09:00:00.000-04:002013-06-30T14:58:30.717-04:00The Amazing Spider-Man 2 A-List Cast Keeps Growing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k17E_WUuPoc/UU5biFL3lFI/AAAAAAAAA3I/R654adqTapE/s1600/The_Amazing_Spider-Man_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New Suit, The Amazing Spider-Man 2" border="0" height="306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k17E_WUuPoc/UU5biFL3lFI/AAAAAAAAA3I/R654adqTapE/s640/The_Amazing_Spider-Man_2.jpg" title="The Amazing Spider-Man 2: New Design" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing Spider-Man 2, <i>complete with new suit.</i></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aE2GwoP_Y7w/UU5ccL-eZgI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/5d_gl7SPw8Y/s1600/Emma_Stone_Spider_Man.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gwen Stacy" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aE2GwoP_Y7w/UU5ccL-eZgI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/5d_gl7SPw8Y/s320/Emma_Stone_Spider_Man.png" title="Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This post requires more Emma Stone.</i></td></tr>
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UPDATE: <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-amazing-spider-man-2-dumps-mary.html" target="_blank">Mary Jane Watson's scenes cut from <i>Amazing Spider-Man 2</i>. Shailene Woodley no longer involved. </a><br />
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If you want to know who are the hot, rising stars in young Hollywood, look no further than the ever growing cast of <i>The Amazing Spider-Man </i>sequel. The rebooted franchise already boasts top young talent in Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, but that talent list keeps on growing with the additions of Dane DeHaan, Shailene Woodley, and Felicity Jones. To top it off, Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, and Paul Giamatti have signed on to the Marc Webb directed film with Sally Field and Martin Sheen set to return. However, with such an elite ensemble, there is a fear that <i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>could become weighed down by an influx of stars and their respective storylines. <br />
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While true to the comics, Webb's first film took a different approach than Sam Raimi's Spidey trilogy by choosing Gwen Stacy to be the one true love of Peter Parker. However, things may be changing in Parker's life with the introduction of Mary Jane Watson, to be played by Shailene Woodley (<i>The Descendents</i>).<br />
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Now the next paragraph may contain spoilers, so <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-amazing-spider-man-2-list-cast.html#spoilerend">click here</a> if you don't want to be spoiled.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVgDT6duKxQ/UU5b3XIDoJI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/OMFjU9MLktU/s1600/Amazing_Spider_Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Spider-Man" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVgDT6duKxQ/UU5b3XIDoJI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/OMFjU9MLktU/s200/Amazing_Spider_Man.jpg" title="Spider-Man" width="196" /></a></div>
Okay, don't get mad at me for spoiling this. Now, most Spidey fans know that Gwen Stacey ends up kicking the bucket, which is why Peter ends up hooking up with MJ. However, Gwen ends up dying when Spider-Man fails to save her when she is tossed off a bridge by Green Goblin. Well, sort of. Spider-Man is able to catch her with his web, but Peter is not sure if the whiplash snapped her neck or she was dead before he caught her. Obviously, this is a huge moment in comic book history, and one that any comic book fan should read.<br />
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Now, this is where Mary Jane comes into the picture. MJ was a close friend to Gwen, and Gwen's death brings Peter and Mary Jane closer together. After grieving the loss of their mutual friend, the two begin a blossoming relationship that ends up with Peter and MJ getting married. So at least two of them get a happily ever after (sorry, Gwen). <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcWcr_Cn08Q/UU837Mx_5qI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/zD5rLroFQvA/s1600/Mary_Jane_vs_Gwen_Stacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mary Jane Watson vs. Gwen Stacy" border="0" height="308" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcWcr_Cn08Q/UU837Mx_5qI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/zD5rLroFQvA/s640/Mary_Jane_vs_Gwen_Stacy.jpg" title="Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Peter Parker: Giving hope to socially inept nerds since 1962</i></td></tr>
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It remains to be seen if Emma Stone's Gwen Stacey will meet her demise in this film, but since Shailene Woodley's Mary Jane wasn't in the last film, the most likely scenario will have Gwen being killed off in a third installment. Other reasons that this will be the case is that the main villains in <i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>will not be Green Goblin, but rather Electro and The Rhino.<br />
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Okay, spoilers semi-over.</div>
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To recap a bit without spoiling, Mary Jane and Gwen are close friends in the comics. However, a romance between Peter and Mary Jane seems unlikely to begin until the third film for reasons that would be spoilers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SgU6RP-iLE/UU5lLZgzJ1I/AAAAAAAAA3w/lbI1jFxd17o/s1600/Amazing_Spider_Man_2_Cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Amazing Spider-Man All-Star Cast" border="0" height="364" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SgU6RP-iLE/UU5lLZgzJ1I/AAAAAAAAA3w/lbI1jFxd17o/s640/Amazing_Spider_Man_2_Cast.jpg" title="The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Cast" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Top Left to Right: Stone, Garfield, Woodley, DeHaan<br />Bottom Left to Right: Foxx, Jones, Giamatti, Cooper</i></td></tr>
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Also in the spoiler section, it was noted that the main villains would be Electro and The Rhino. Electro will be portrayed by Jamie Foxx, while Paul Giamatti will be rampaging as The Rhino. Foxx has mentioned that Max Dillon (Electro) will have quite a different origin story than the comic books. In an <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1699031/amazing-spider-man-2-villian-electro.jhtml" target="_blank">MTV interview</a>, Foxx said:<br />
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"You'll see that in his whole life, no one is talking to him. People have stolen his ideas at the big company. He's a nobody. At a certain point, Spider-Man bumps into him and says, 'You're my guy. You're my eyes and ears on the street.' And he says his name - no one has ever said [Max] Dillon's name. He goes, 'Wow' and, when Spider-Man leaves, he sort of thinks that, 'I am Spider-Man's partner!' He's cutting out Spider-Man's face and pasting it on all his boards..."</blockquote>
Foxx also stated that the suit will most definitely not be like the one in the comics, calling it "new age." While Electro is a bit of a campy villain, expect Webb and crew to make the villain seem realistic and fitting within the universe created. After all, Webb did make Dr. Curt Connor, aka Lizard, come alive and look not half bad. The real challenge will be Giamatti's Rhino.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gIC4NTyxlzg/UU87MTmqyQI/AAAAAAAAA4g/IJ42P3Rr1f0/s1600/Electro_Rhino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Electro and Rhino" border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gIC4NTyxlzg/UU87MTmqyQI/AAAAAAAAA4g/IJ42P3Rr1f0/s320/Electro_Rhino.jpg" title="Electro and Rhino" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Electro and Rhino wreaking havoc.</i></td></tr>
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If you thought the Lizard was pretty "far out" there, The Rhino is a bit more so. Aleksei Sytsevich is a science experiment gone wrong. His skin became super hardened that helped increase his strength and speed. Because science. Rhino also wears a suit that further aids his super-strength, and it features a horn-like spike, which explains the name. While the concept may seem similar to Connor's Lizard, Sytsevich is notorious for being one of the dim-wittiest villain in the Spider-Man comics. While I don't doubt Giamatti's acting skills one bit, I am a bit apprehensive when it comes to what exactly Rhino will end up looking like. The villainy doesn't end with these two either.<br />
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As fans of the Raimi trilogy will know, Norman Osborn is a man up to no good. Chris Cooper is booked to play the President of Oscorp. It has yet to be known if Cooper's version of Osborn will feature his villainous alter-ego, Green Goblin. Cooper's Osborn is most likely saving his villainy for the third film. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7oasFWvF04/UU5mEbCLCFI/AAAAAAAAA34/Yw96KaZXPQk/s1600/spider_man_rogue_gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spider-Man Enemies" border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7oasFWvF04/UU5mEbCLCFI/AAAAAAAAA34/Yw96KaZXPQk/s640/spider_man_rogue_gallery.jpg" title="Spider-Man Villains" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spider-Man's Rogue Gallery</i></td></tr>
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If two villains seem like a lot, well, Webb keeps on dropping subtle hints that Venom may be making an appearance as well. However, this Venom may not be attached to Eddie Brock, as seen in <i>Spidey 3</i>, but rather, as Norman Osborn's son, Harry. When looking for an ideal candidate for Harry, Sony said they wanted an actor with "athleticism and good looks." Enter Dane DeHaan, who can be seen in the underrated <i>Chronicle, </i>Oscar winning film, <i>Lincoln</i>, and <i>Lawless. </i>DeHaan definitely has the looks and acting chops to pull off the role. He is also bulking up to pull off the athletic look.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0i3NwzdwWU/UU5mrz0SKKI/AAAAAAAAA4A/XSwlZ9F5Izc/s1600/Venom_Amazing_Spider_Man_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Venom" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0i3NwzdwWU/UU5mrz0SKKI/AAAAAAAAA4A/XSwlZ9F5Izc/s320/Venom_Amazing_Spider_Man_2.png" title="Harry Osborn Venom" width="235" /></a></div>
Webb has teased various pictures via Twitter that Venom may make an appearance with Harry being the alter-ego. A recent picture of yet another Spidey suit may be further evidence of a possible Venom introduction.<br />
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While <i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>will feature the classic comic book suit design (fanboys gave a collective sigh of relief), the suit from the first <i>Amazing </i>installment will still be present (fanboys are now sharpening their pitchforks). The reason for the switch to the classic design is yet to be known, although it is quite feasible that instead of the first suit becoming damaged by Venom, it could well be shredded by any of the many nemesis Spidey will face.<br />
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With Lizard in the last film and the introductions of Electro and Rhino, Webb may be gearing up for a Sinister Six party. If a Doctor Octopus is mentioned in the film, this will most likely be the case. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZWfA7EH7JQ/UU5gzzYkU_I/AAAAAAAAA3g/sZMCBTpEUtQ/s1600/Ravencroft_Institute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ravencroft" border="0" height="372" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZWfA7EH7JQ/UU5gzzYkU_I/AAAAAAAAA3g/sZMCBTpEUtQ/s640/Ravencroft_Institute.jpg" title="Ravencroft Institute" width="560" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVO4F7EBKsA/UU5hDNBy5-I/AAAAAAAAA3o/mh-l8FEDUJk/s1600/Colm_Feore_Ravencroft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ravencroft" border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVO4F7EBKsA/UU5hDNBy5-I/AAAAAAAAA3o/mh-l8FEDUJk/s320/Colm_Feore_Ravencroft.jpg" title="Ravencroft Institute" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>said photo to the right.</i></td></tr>
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Hopefully, Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man will be ready for the onslaught of villains he will face in this film (Electro and Rhino) and the next (possibly Green Goblin and Venom) and beyond (Sinister Six, perhaps?). There is potential for many more super-villains, as Webb tweeted a picture of The Ravencroft Institute and recently released photos show the institute. The Institute holds some of the most dangerous criminals that Spider-Man faces (Ravencroft is the equivalent to Arkham Asylum or Blackgate Penitentiary in the DC Universe). Colm Feore also appears in the photo to the right in an unspecified role.<br />
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Spider-Man will need all the help he can get, and perhaps his crusade has spawned more like-minded crime fighters. While still in the shadowy depths of the rumor pool, Felicity Jone's character has been tied to Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat (I would defend the role and say that it's different from Catwoman, but for the sake of time, yeah, it's a Spider-Man version of Catwoman). While Jones' role is still undefined, whomever she plays will most likely be more than a bit role, as she is a rising star in the industry. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zS_YJcZ-fyE/UU89cW5qwKI/AAAAAAAAA4w/E2uBarB5Ny0/s1600/Black-Cat_Spider-Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Felicity Jones as Black Cat" border="0" height="408" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zS_YJcZ-fyE/UU89cW5qwKI/AAAAAAAAA4w/E2uBarB5Ny0/s640/Black-Cat_Spider-Man.jpg" title="Felicity Jones and Black Cat" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wow. Spidey gets around.</i></td></tr>
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But wait there's more! The latest tagline attached to <i>AS2 </i>is "High School Graduation Can't Come Soon Enough." Even though Spidey will be battling villains, perhaps Peter Parker will have to juggle his web-slinging and book studying along with an ever growing social circle. <a href="http://latino-review.com/2013/03/13/tax-incentives-encourage-amazing-spider-man-2-shot-exclusively-nyc/" target="_blank">Rumors also mention</a> that Pete may be entering college, as well. College scouting, villains running amok, love life, and being a brilliant student will sure make life pretty stressful for Peter Parker and his alter-ego Spider-Man. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb_80CG41yI/UU8_VVouG5I/AAAAAAAAA5A/G4WygF81SPA/s1600/Emma_Stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Emma Stone" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb_80CG41yI/UU8_VVouG5I/AAAAAAAAA5A/G4WygF81SPA/s1600/Emma_Stone.jpg" title="Emma Stone" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One more Emma Stone pic is necessary.</i></td></tr>
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Even though the casting may be overwhelming and seem crowded, Webb's <i>Spider-Man </i>has a much different tone than super-hero film counterparts, Batman and the Avengers. Not overly gritty and realistic, the introduction of a wide range of villains and characters may actually work well. It did not work to have more than one villain in <i>Spidey 3</i> and undoubtedly fans are having sick premonitions of history repeating itself. However, as someone who will always be skeptical of the hastily rebooted franchise, I expect a fun web-slinging film with some excellent talent. <br />
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<i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>will be swinging into theaters May 2, 2014, and like its predecessor, the sequel will be available in 3D. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-67333102226444606692013-03-23T12:18:00.001-04:002013-03-25T09:17:51.040-04:00Proof that the Cinema Gods Hate Us: Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfJNwZwy8Xw/UU3UKxweLyI/AAAAAAAAA2I/GTDpdR4fZ6Y/s1600/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="TMNT" border="0" height="350" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfJNwZwy8Xw/UU3UKxweLyI/AAAAAAAAA2I/GTDpdR4fZ6Y/s640/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles.jpg" title="Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the coolest thing about this post.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtmuYAVi8fM/UU3UffBRLvI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/KkFYF4kjSA0/s1600/MichaelBay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Michael Bay" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtmuYAVi8fM/UU3UffBRLvI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/KkFYF4kjSA0/s1600/MichaelBay.jpg" title="Michael Bay" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ruining your childhood since forever.</i></td></tr>
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Yes. Let this soak in for a hot sec. Michael Bay is producting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action/CG mix. To top it off, Bay has tapped Jonathan Liebesman to direct. Leibesman has previously directed critically acclaimed films such as <i>Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, Battle: Los Angeles</i>, and <i>Wrath of the Titans</i>. Oh wait. Those weren't critically acclaimed. They were just bloated, CGI-infested excuses for movies. So Liebs and Bay are a match made in heaven. If heaven was full of crappy VFX and explosions. The only redemptive quality of this project are writing duo Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, both of which worked on the script to <i>Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol</i>, which wasn't terrible. <br />
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Obviously, the news that Bay is producing a TMNT film reboot has caused quite a frenzy amongst fanboys of the pizza-loving, sewer dwelling reptiles. To further rub salt in fanboy wounds, Bay has renamed the film to simply, <i>Ninja Turtles</i>. Why? Well, they're not really "mutant" anymore. According to Bay, these turtles will be from space. So Teenage Alien Ninja Turtles. TANT. One letter away from what this project actually is to the film world. Cowabunga. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqgI8am-cLE/UU3Upw6YtzI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Ibb-J9g-UqU/s1600/NinjaTurtlesDoomed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="TMNT Movie" border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqgI8am-cLE/UU3Upw6YtzI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Ibb-J9g-UqU/s640/NinjaTurtlesDoomed.jpg" title="TMNT" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Remember when this was a thing?</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3DOBaKjKVoY/UU3VAnz7SxI/AAAAAAAAA2g/jXUxJ1a-VdI/s1600/Megan-Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Megan Fox" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3DOBaKjKVoY/UU3VAnz7SxI/AAAAAAAAA2g/jXUxJ1a-VdI/s200/Megan-Fox.jpg" title="Megan Fox" width="143" /></a>Two cast members have actually allowed themselves to be attached to this pathetic project. Since a Bay "film" needs at least seven butt-tracking shots of a scantily clad girl, Megan Fox has been signed on to lend her, um, talents. She is going to be playing April O'Neil. This casting choice is especially interesting, as Fox was reportedly fired from <i>Transformers </i>for likening Bay to Hitler. So that's a thing. However, Bay wrote on his blog "TMNT: we are bringing Megan Fox back into the family!", which is further proof that working with Bay is less like Hitler and more like a really crappy Corleone mafia thing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdftrR43qX8/UU3VGh2En4I/AAAAAAAAA2o/xwsXIwotZbo/s1600/AlanRitchson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alan Ritchson SHIRTLESS" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdftrR43qX8/UU3VGh2En4I/AAAAAAAAA2o/xwsXIwotZbo/s320/AlanRitchson.jpg" title="Alan Ritchson" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Actually there are no not shirtless <br />pics of him on the Internet.</i></td></tr>
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Since this is a Michael Bay film, pretty people need to be in abundance (excluding Shia LeBeouf). Alan Ritchson has been cast as Raphael, the red bandana'd, dual-wielding sai turtle guy with the temper. Personally, the guy should play Casey Jones. Just imagine him and Fox awkwardly flirting. Ritchson will be coming to work on <i>Ninja Turtles </i>after <i>Catching Fire </i>where he plays District 1 tribute, Gloss. The former Abercrombie model Ritchson was also Aquaman in <i>Smallville</i>, so a step from hunky Aquaman to hunky Gloss to mo-capped turtle is kinda amusing. And yes, the turtles will be motion captured CGI. Will it end up as awesome as <i>The Avengers </i>Hulk? Don't make me laugh. At least it won't be actual turtle suits. Then again, the movie would be so bad it would be good. <br />
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Look, I get that making a kid's TV show turned Hollywood blockbuster that's not underwhelming to critics is difficult. Bay's track record seems to show he cares not what critics think. Still, making a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action film sounds like a horrible idea. How does one make four talking reptiles acting like pubescent humans look not like a train wreck? Oh, right. Leave it to the guy who made <a href="http://www.scifiscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/transformers_racist_robots.jpg" target="_blank">these guys</a> to think that this is a feasible task.<br />
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$125 million later and a trail of fanboy tears, it looks like this project is actually happening<i>. Ninja Turtles </i>has had its fair share of production problems, and after multiple delays and scheduling changes, Bay's 'slosion porno will hit theaters in May of 2014. So. Yay?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-47062190260639571362013-03-22T21:36:00.000-04:002013-06-25T08:35:49.940-04:00Warner Brothers' Rough 2013 Start<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjVRa3xfKUQ/UU0EAqGS42I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/XsT5w-0V_B4/s1600/Warner_Bros.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Logo" border="0" height="313" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjVRa3xfKUQ/UU0EAqGS42I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/XsT5w-0V_B4/s640/Warner_Bros.png" title="Warner Bros Logo" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ax6gnZp2fOQ/UU0Ei3Y781I/AAAAAAAAA1g/nv81q53rb2I/s1600/theNotSoIncredibleBurtWonderstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ax6gnZp2fOQ/UU0Ei3Y781I/AAAAAAAAA1g/nv81q53rb2I/s200/theNotSoIncredibleBurtWonderstone.jpg" title="The Not So Incredible Burt Wonderstone" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And we act surprised <br />that this flopped?</i></td></tr>
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<b>UPDATE: <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/06/jeff-robinov-leaving-warner-bros.html" target="_blank">Jeff Robinov and Bruce Rosenblum have left the studio</a></b><a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/06/jeff-robinov-leaving-warner-bros.html" target="_blank"> </a><br />
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While the multi-billion dollar corporation isn't necessarily stressing out just yet, Warner Bros. should be a bit concerned over the recent under-performing flicks they have released. Even with an all-star cast, <i>Gangster Squad </i>had a disappointing release and theatrical run. Warner was hoping to tap into the male audience with its release of Sly Stallone's <i>Bullet to the Head</i>, but it looks like there is a serious disinterest in the macho man style films these days. Fantasy film<i> Beautiful Creatures </i>didn't live up to expectations either, even though it boasted a solid cast. Recently, <i>Jack the Giant Slayer </i>stumbled at the box office, and <i>The Incredible Burt Wonderstone </i>failed to light up the box office, even with a trifecta of Steve Carell, Jim Carey, and Steve Buscemi. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5FaA6drO5M/UU0HV_NN5iI/AAAAAAAAA14/W26uHRho0Mc/s1600/ChrisNolan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5FaA6drO5M/UU0HV_NN5iI/AAAAAAAAA14/W26uHRho0Mc/s200/ChrisNolan.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Help with a </i>JLA <i>film. <br />PLEASE!</i></td></tr>
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In a recent statement to <i>The Times</i>, Jeff Robinov, President of the WB Picture Group, expressed his disappointment with Warner's dismal box office return. However, Robinov doesn't seem too concerned with the slow start, as "...the last three or four months of the year looks incredibly strong." Even though the summer to winter lineup looks good, Warner Bros. easy money years seem to have passed.<br />
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In the past, Warner Bros. could bank on Nolan's <i>Batman</i> trilogy and the <i>Harry Potter </i>franchise to rake in the cash. However, this year features no <i>Potter </i>film or sure-fire successful superhero film for the studio. <br />
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When taking over in the beginning of March, freshly minted CEO Kevin Tsujihara was probably hoping for a bit better in terms of box office success. However, like Robinov, Tsujihara doesn't seem too fazed by the slow start. Some outside concerns about the studio's future remain, though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O_uJoEGsSPw/UU0E4P9dCRI/AAAAAAAAA1s/9SI6kuTAMB0/s1600/ManofSteel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Superman Man of Steel" border="0" height="375" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O_uJoEGsSPw/UU0E4P9dCRI/AAAAAAAAA1s/9SI6kuTAMB0/s640/ManofSteel.jpg" title="Zack Snyder's Man of Steel" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There's no way Zack Snyder can mess this up. Right? right...?</i></td></tr>
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Even though Robinov has gone on record saying that he won't leave the studio, there is some speculation on whether or not he will stay. Robinov and President of Warner's TV Group, Bruce Rosenblum, were passed up for the CEO spot in favor of Tsujihara. Obviously, both were miffed at the snub. Rosenblum stated that he was "disappointed" at not getting the position, but that's an obvious. Robinov would have been exceptional in the role, as he is well know in the industry for nurturing relationships with directors and a-listers. However, Tsujihara brings a lot of experience in the ever changing digital distribution in the industry. Both Robinov and Rosenblum are still at Warner, and both have been supportive of Tsujihara's efforts in the company.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7ucUtr9cso/UU0FgWzC3pI/AAAAAAAAA1w/uTMFcJvlie8/s1600/KevinTsujihara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kevin Tsuijihara Burt Wonderstone" border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7ucUtr9cso/UU0FgWzC3pI/AAAAAAAAA1w/uTMFcJvlie8/s320/KevinTsujihara.jpg" title="Kevin Tsujihara" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Most likely, Tsujihara at the </i>Burt Wonderstone <i>premiere.</i></td></tr>
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Robinov praised Tsujihara saying that "Kevin knows the economics [of the industry]." Tsujihara was influential in bringing in the blockbuster <i>The Hobbit</i> and staving off a brewing labor dispute in New Zealand.<br />
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Drastic changes are doubtful to come, and it looks as if Tsujihara should be just fine in the CEO slot. However, we have seen studios give top execs the boot for backing poorly received films (Disney's Rich Ross and Tom Rothman of 20th Century Fox). Warner Bros. does have a hopeful summer to winter film lineup, but outside <i>The Hobbit</i>, there is not really a sure-fire franchise bet.<br />
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After this summer's <i>The Hangover, Pt. III</i>, it looks as if that franchise will stop at three (here's to hoping). In another risky undertaking, Warner backed Baz Lurhman's <i>The Great Gatsby </i>adaption. While it boasts an amazing cast, with a summer release, it better be a blockbuster because it stands little chance to make a strong run during the award season. Zack Snyder's <i>Man of Steel </i>could really be a giant step for Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. This would make both companies feel much better at going forward in a <i>Justice League of America </i>film franchise, with solo superhero flicks from the DC Universe.<br />
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Even though Warner Brothers has been slow out of the gate, their box office returns should start picking up. Again, it does not have <i>Batman </i>or <i>Harry Potter </i>to fall back onto when times get tough. They could have a potentially huge franchise in the <i>Justice League</i>. However, if <i>Man of Steel </i>doesn't wow critics and audiences, it may put the usually stable company a little on edge.<br />
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In the meantime, enjoy this epic trailer of <i>Man of Steel</i>. Lookin' good so far... <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-19352321661960791412013-03-21T09:00:00.000-04:002013-03-22T18:14:13.528-04:00Veronica Mars and the Power of Kickstarter<div style="text-align: center;">
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A recent <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project?ref=live">Kickstarter campaign</a> for a movie based on the formerly popular show, <i>Veronica Mars</i>, received an inordinate amount of money. The Kickstarter raised well over the target $2 million in under 12 hours, a Kickstarter record. Needless to say, the film will be going into production soon, and is set for a limited release in 2014.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TbtaVV6Vjjo/UUfPJUT92pI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/7vCXcPG_yPY/s1600/Veronica+Mars+Cast_NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Veronica Mars Cast " border="0" height="385" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TbtaVV6Vjjo/UUfPJUT92pI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/7vCXcPG_yPY/s640/Veronica+Mars+Cast_NEW.jpg" title="Veronica Mars Kickstarter" width="560" /></a></div>
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Fans of <i>Veronica Mars </i>are most likely beside themselves with glee (almost as much as Kristen Bell is when she sees a sloth. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jw3T3Jy70" target="_blank">Almost</a>.), as they have waited 6 long years for some <i>Mars </i>news. While Kickstarter isn't a new thing to filmmakers (over 30 films are Kickstarter funded at this year's SXSW and YouTube channels are no strangers to the site), this recent Kickstarter project does have fans of other long-cancelled shows eagerly anticipating a possible Kickstarter of their favorite show.<br />
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However, fans of <i>Terriers</i>, <i>Pushing Daisies</i>, <i>Firefly </i>and <i>Chuck </i>need to chill out. Seriously. Don't get so excited. The odds of a Kickstarter campaign for any of these shows are marginal at best. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yASeKpx3vD0/UUfLi2rasjI/AAAAAAAAA0I/omVJHu9rVxs/s1600/Cast-Photos-pushing-daisies-332793_1280_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kickstarter" border="0" height="315" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yASeKpx3vD0/UUfLi2rasjI/AAAAAAAAA0I/omVJHu9rVxs/s640/Cast-Photos-pushing-daisies-332793_1280_720.jpg" title="Pushing Daisies Kickstarter" width="560" /></a></div>
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In an <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/has-veronica-mars-kickstarter-campaign-428903">interview with the <i>Hollywood Reporter</i></a>, Bryan Fuller (creator of excellent but defunct TV shows such as <i>Pushing Daisies, Mockingbird Lane, </i>and <i>Wonderfalls</i>) tempers fans' excitement when he tells of the harsh realization from his agent that "<i>Pushing Daisies </i>is going to take a lot more than $2 million to make a movie." Seeing as how a single episode of <i>Daisies </i>cost ABC studios nearly $4 million a show, it's not too difficult to say that a <i>Daisies </i>movie would cost around $10 million. This obviously makes it a longshot for any Kickstarter potential. <br />
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As for the other projects, <i>Firefly </i>fans should be happy with <i>Serenity </i>because that's all they're going to get. <i>Terriers </i>producer, Shawn Ryan tweeted this:<br />
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Very interested to see how this Veronica Mars kickstarter goes. Could be a model for a Terriers wrap up film.<br />
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanTV/status/311879193195589632">March 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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...which inevitably put <i>Terriers </i>fans in a frenzy. <i>Chuck </i>fans were teased when Zachary Levi tweeted an idea to start a <i>Chuck </i>Kickstarter. However, Levi expressed his concern with a possible <i>Chuck </i>project, as it could prove difficult to get non-<i>Chuck </i>fans to see the film, and even harder to convince studios that non-<i>Chuck </i>fans would even be interested in one.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eo5IWmpxzgw/UUfQKQbT3VI/AAAAAAAAA0g/jf6un2ZuymU/s1600/chuck_movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kickstarter" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eo5IWmpxzgw/UUfQKQbT3VI/AAAAAAAAA0g/jf6un2ZuymU/s320/chuck_movie.jpg" title="Chuck Kickstarter" width="247" /></a></div>
Don't get me wrong, this <i>Veronica Mars </i>Kickstarter thing may be the start to other similar projects taking place, but unfortunately I don't see it becoming such a big thing for other cancelled TV shows. It is simply too expensive of an undertaking, and it would prove too challenging to engage non-fans of a show.<br />
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It also helps that <i>Mars </i>producer Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell along with the rest of the cast were very enthusiastic about the project. Other TV shows may have more difficultly recruiting its former stars and crew. </div>
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In the meantime, <i>Mars </i>fans rejoice, and even <i>Arrested Development </i>fans can thank Netflix for backing a 4th season of the show and an eventual movie.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-vnIj5mKSw/UUfPuj6y5gI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/B74_Yp-HfhQ/s1600/arrested-development-cast-reunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Netflix" border="0" height="355" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-vnIj5mKSw/UUfPuj6y5gI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/B74_Yp-HfhQ/s640/arrested-development-cast-reunion.jpg" title="Arrested Development Netflix" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Believe! It's back! </i></td></tr>
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What do you think, has the <i>Veronica Mars </i>Kickstarter paved a way for other TV shows to get their own wrap-up film? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-12771579175093385872013-03-20T09:00:00.001-04:002013-03-20T20:12:59.968-04:00Emma Watson Denies Fifty Shades of Grey Rumors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0n2ztGECUo/UUke03QE8NI/AAAAAAAAA1A/BoiKJ-XaQTc/s1600/Emma_Watson_Fifty_Shades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Emma Watson 50 Shades of Grey Rumors" border="0" height="308" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0n2ztGECUo/UUke03QE8NI/AAAAAAAAA1A/BoiKJ-XaQTc/s640/Emma_Watson_Fifty_Shades.jpg" title="Emma Watson 50 Shades of Grey Rumors" width="560" /></a></div>
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It looks like teenage boys and creepy men with pencil-staches will be quite disappointed with this news, but it looks like Hermione just isn't into bondage and S&M. The <i>Harry Potter </i>starlet took to Twitter to debunk the many rumors swirling around that had her playing Anastasia Steele.<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.<br />
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmWatson/status/313125809030328320">March 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center>
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Emma Watson's reply comes on the heels of an <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emma-watson-denies-fifty-shades-426525">apparently leaked report</a> from a German movie studio, Constantin Film, by the hacking group Anonymous claimed that Watson is attached to the <i>Fifty Shades</i> project. The studio was quick to state that all the records that were hacked were "out of date and widely accessible" to employees. However, it didn't stop the Internet to start salivating over the thought of the <i>Potter </i>star headlining the erotic E.L. James adaption. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-c-MIFcDQg/UUkcBz_dNaI/AAAAAAAAA0w/Rrer2xxR1-g/s1600/emma-watson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Emma Watson" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-c-MIFcDQg/UUkcBz_dNaI/AAAAAAAAA0w/Rrer2xxR1-g/s200/emma-watson.jpg" title="Emma Watson" width="181" /></a></div>
Reports of Watson being tied to a <i>Fifty Shades of Grey </i>film have pretty much been swirling around since the film was announced. While Watson is certainly attempting to branch out from her "good girl" image she had with the <i>Potter </i>franchise with <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BST3CCnP6uE">The Bling Ring</a> </i>and <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_perks_of_being_a_wallflower/"><i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i></a>, it remains doubtful that she would go so far as to take on such a role as Anastasia Steele.<br />
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With no male or female lead and no director in sight, Universal Studios may have been too ambitious when they said the film would be released in the summer of 2014. E.L. James <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2012/07/fifty-shades-of-grey-producers-composite-sketch">hand-picked Oscar nominated producers </a>Michael De Luca (<i>The Social Network </i>and <i>Moneyball</i>) and Dana Brunetti (<i>The Social Network</i>) back in July of 2012, but very little has been announced since that point.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMV6w2cswgc/UUkfZT5JzoI/AAAAAAAAA1I/nSresIlY3JQ/s1600/Emma_Watson_50_Shades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Emma Watson" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMV6w2cswgc/UUkfZT5JzoI/AAAAAAAAA1I/nSresIlY3JQ/s320/Emma_Watson_50_Shades.jpg" title="Emma Watson" width="251" /></a></div>
It is certainly no surprise that the project is having difficulty finding a willing cast. <i>Fifty Shades </i>is notorious for its hyper-sexualized material, and it could very get slapped with an NC-17 rating. Although not always the case, such films can prove to be career killers, just ask Elizabeth Berkley. Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan also starred in the 2011 NC-17 film, <i>Shame</i>, directed by Steve McQueen that featured explicit sex scenes; however, their careers do not seem to be in jeopardy because of it.<br />
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If done in the same veins as <i>Shame</i>, a <i>Fifty Shades of Grey </i>film has the chance of garnering similar critical acclaim. Regardless of the rating, the film adaptions will most likely not have trouble at the box office as <i>Fifty Shades </i>is one of the fastest selling books of all-time. However, the book itself has a mixed to negative reception from critics, which is understandable as it started off as erotic fanfic of the <i>Twilight </i>series.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrgf2U-lGgo/UUkewBc65ZI/AAAAAAAAA04/EJzQ8iWeBTw/s1600/50_Shades_of_Grey_Cast_Rumors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="50 Shades of Grey Rumors" border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrgf2U-lGgo/UUkewBc65ZI/AAAAAAAAA04/EJzQ8iWeBTw/s640/50_Shades_of_Grey_Cast_Rumors.png" title="50 Shades of Grey Cast" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Left to Right: Bledel, Kunis, Woodley, Gosling, Bomer, Somerhalder<br />aka Gorgeous People</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While Watson has denied reports, the casting rumors will inevitably continue until the role is actually filled. Alexis Bledel, Mila Kunis, and Shailene Woodley have heard their names as possibilities, with Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomer, and Ian Somerhalder have been attached to the role of Christian Grey. Obviously, none of these actors have confirmed reports, and most have laughed off the rumors. <br />
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Who do you see in the role of Anastasia Steele? Who might play the role of the alluring Christian Grey? <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-16551565229830927542013-03-19T09:00:00.000-04:002013-03-20T16:46:29.716-04:00Deadpool Might be in Dev Limbo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-FYfmzoQA0/UUeyZq_3DuI/AAAAAAAAAzg/9tFXEvee4I4/s1600/deadpool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Deadpool" border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-FYfmzoQA0/UUeyZq_3DuI/AAAAAAAAAzg/9tFXEvee4I4/s640/deadpool.png" title="Deadpool " width="560" /></a></div>
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This is most likely the news that no Marvel fan wants to hear. Although 20th Century Fox has yet to release any type of statement about the upcoming <i>Deadpool</i> movie, the Merc with the Mouth film adaption may be in developmental limbo. Former VFX wiz and <i>Deadpool </i>director, Tim Miller has been tapped to <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36693">helm Fox's </a><i><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36693">Artemis</a>. </i>No this won't be an <i>Artemis Fowl </i>series adaption (thankfully... because that would mean the <i>Deadpool </i>film would probably be dead), but rather a sci-fi action thriller set in deep space (think <i>Lockout</i>). Again, no official statement has been released concerning <i>Deadpool</i>, but it looks like <i>Artemis </i>will be a project that Miller focuses on first. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1PbUv3GMAA/UUezN3llCwI/AAAAAAAAAz0/Y-Sk354VPpU/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wade Wilson Deadpool" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1PbUv3GMAA/UUezN3llCwI/AAAAAAAAAz0/Y-Sk354VPpU/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" title="Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson" width="256" /></a></div>
Well, bummer. Since Fox chose Miller to direct the untitled <i>Deadpool </i>film, there has been virtually zero news about it. Ergo a delay in production is really no surprise. Nonetheless, this is a pretty big disappointment, especially because many were under the impression that all it <a href="http://screenrant.com/deadpool-movie-update/">needed was the green light from Fox</a>. Miller was the studio's third choice as director, as Robert Rodriguez and Swedish commercial director Adam Berg turned down the director's chair. While it is a bit surprising that Fox decided to use Miller for a big named, big budgeted film, he could very well be the right man for the job. He has worked has on the visual effects for <i>Planet of the Apes, X-Men, and X-Men 2, </i>and <i>Scott Pilgrim vs. the World</i>. <br />
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The movie <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/confirmed-zombieland-writers-to-pen-deadpool/">already has <i>Zombieland </i>writers</a>, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, on the project, and Ryan Reynolds eagerly awaiting to wield a whole assortment of weaponry. Sure the version of Reynolds' Deadpool in <i>X-Men Origins: Wolverine</i> was absolutely nothing like the Deadpool in the comic books, Reynolds was an awesome Wade Wilson. He brought the right amount of sass and attitude to the role in an otherwise dismal movie.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMhLGtnhLso/UUey6GB-9sI/AAAAAAAAAzo/aWDORkUFYrc/s1600/deadpool_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Deadpool Logo" border="0" height="448" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMhLGtnhLso/UUey6GB-9sI/AAAAAAAAAzo/aWDORkUFYrc/s640/deadpool_logo.jpg" title="Deadpool" width="560" /></a></div>
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Reynolds also noted before that he read early drafts of the script, and he really expects it to be a different type of superhero movie that people will love. For those unfamiliar with the character of Deadpool, this is a good thing because Deadpool is far from the traditional superhero (or in his case, super-anti-hero). Reynolds also confirmed that the Merc with the Mouth will indeed break the fourth wall in the film as he does in the comics. Miller has also expressed interest in making it dark and gory, pushing the rating to an R-rating.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYKRM9DoJvM/UUe0BoblUBI/AAAAAAAAAz4/wtjqsPaJNig/s1600/DeadpoolAndDomino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Deadpool and Domino" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYKRM9DoJvM/UUe0BoblUBI/AAAAAAAAAz4/wtjqsPaJNig/s320/DeadpoolAndDomino.jpg" title="Deadpool and Domino Fight" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hopefully, Domino makes an appearance. <br />And Cable. <br />And Psylocke. <br />Heck, just make an Uncanny X-Men film.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></td></tr>
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This complicates the project even further, as studios are no doubt hesitant to drop top dollars on R-rated movies. For example, R-rated superhero flick, <i>Watchmen</i>, while making a decent box office draw, was not the blockbuster Warner Bros. had hoped. This is may be one of the reasons Fox is dragging their feet when it comes to the <i>Deadpool </i>flick. I mean, <i>Watchmen</i> was cited as one of the reasons it <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/bioshock-movie-wont-happen-thanks-in-part-to-watchmen/">killed a potential <i>Bioshock</i> movie</a>.<br />
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That being said, in <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/698641/hugh-jackman-talks-next-wolverine-film.jhtml#id=1672077">this MTV interview</a>, Hugh Jackman hinted the possibility of an R-rated <i>Wolverine</i>. The interview also pointed out that the recent Nolan <i>Batman </i>franchise really pushed the envelope when it comes to the PG-13 rating. <br />
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With the news that <i>Artemis </i>will use Miller as director, and the fact that Ryan Reynolds may end up being too busy with a potential <i>Justice League </i>movie and a <i>Green Lantern </i><strike>reboot</strike> sequel, the silence from 20th Century Fox does not bode well for <i>Deadpool</i>.<br />
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Have no fear, Deadpool fans, while you're busy crying over the loss, you can vent your frustration by creating copious amounts of carnage playing the upcoming <a href="http://www.deadpoolgame.com/">Deadpool video game</a>. If this video game sells well (which I remain skeptical), it may entice Fox to move forward with a movie project. If the game fails, well, the <i>Deadpool </i>project may be moved from Limbo to the 9th Circle.<br />
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Those unfamiliar with the character, check out this fan made film below (Mature Audiences Only):<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oDpXu4j7ibM" width="560"></iframe> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-30754758134856200132013-03-18T16:35:00.001-04:002013-03-26T07:45:15.918-04:00Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev as Lara Croft? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wiu3t7DTahI/UUd3_sMfOPI/AAAAAAAAAzA/dv-EZxx8ZFE/s1600/550x298_Camilla-Luddington-to-play-Lara-Croft-in-Tomb-Raider-movie-reboot-5752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tomb Raider" border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wiu3t7DTahI/UUd3_sMfOPI/AAAAAAAAAzA/dv-EZxx8ZFE/s640/550x298_Camilla-Luddington-to-play-Lara-Croft-in-Tomb-Raider-movie-reboot-5752.jpg" title="Lara Croft" width="560" /></a></div>
With the release of the newest Lara Croft video game, <i>Tomb Raider</i>, rumors of the possibility of a film adaption have swirled. While video game adaptions have been, too be blunt, awful, there seems to be a renewed interest in basing films on video games. <i>Uncharted</i> (to be directed by David O. Russell, which is kind o the best), <i>Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell</i>, and even an <i>Angry Birds </i>movie are in the works, and now it looks like the <i>Tomb Raider </i>film franchise will be rebooted like its video game counterpart.<br />
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Producer, Graham King, the man that backed <i>The Departed</i>, <i>Aviator</i>, <i>Hugo, The Town, </i>and <i>Rango </i>has teamed up with Tom Headington and both have acquired the reboot rights from <i>Tomb Raider </i>franchise company, Square Enix. King has expressed interest in making it a true reboot of the film franchise, as he wants to focus on a younger Lara Croft. It should be noted that her origin story is also the basis of the newest video game. <br />
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While I remain skeptical of video game adaptions, King's magic touch could very well vault successful VG-to-film adaptions to the forefront of Hollywood. We saw it done when Sam Raimi started the comic book craze with his version of <i>Spider-Man</i>, and we may see a video game film kick soon as well.<br />
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Even though Angelina Jolie played the <i>Tomb Raider </i>heroine of the 2001 and 2003 movies, it is doubtful she will be back on board. Seeing as how King wants a younger Croft, the possibility remains very minimal that Jolie would reprise her role; although, there could be two versions of Lara Croft (aka a younger version in flashbacks as an older version tells of her adventures).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dSyuL-xlM-s/UUd4eo26DvI/AAAAAAAAAzI/f3NEKnu9ZSw/s1600/tomb-raider3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Camilla Luddington" border="0" height="315" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dSyuL-xlM-s/UUd4eo26DvI/AAAAAAAAAzI/f3NEKnu9ZSw/s640/tomb-raider3.jpg" title="Tomb Raider Video Game Voice Actress" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The latest version of Lara and her voice actress, Camilla Luddington</i></td></tr>
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In the recent <i>Tomb Raider </i>video game, Camilla Luddington voiced the role of Lara Croft, and she remains tied to the film adaption. It should be noted that Croft a British archaeologist, and Luddington is indeed British. Her voice work in the video game is exceptional, and she would be an excellent choice (and an obvious one at that) to play Croft. Even though she is 29, Luddington could easily pass as a younger version of Croft.<br />
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However, another young Hollywood actress has been knocking on the door to play the role.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-homMYTRkTA8/UUd5WZ5l68I/AAAAAAAAAzU/YWkwJKsRG40/s1600/nina-dobrev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nina Dobrev Action Hero" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-homMYTRkTA8/UUd5WZ5l68I/AAAAAAAAAzU/YWkwJKsRG40/s320/nina-dobrev.jpg" title="Vampire Diaries Nina Dobrev" width="251" /></a></div>
The <i>Vampire Diaries </i>starlet, Nina Dobrev has expressed serious interest in the role. In an interview with <i>Ocean Drive </i>magazine, Dobrev states that: "...if they did another Lara Croft, or even a prequel to Lara Croft, I’d want to do that..." <br />
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While teen vampire romps may not be your thing, Dobrev
should have the acting chops to pull off the role of Lara Croft, in my
very humble, unnecessary opinion. I also may or may not have a giant
crush on her, but alas, she is hooked up with her <i>Diaries </i>co-star, the uber-swoon worthy Ian Somerhalder.<br />
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Dobrev is also beginning to slowly emerge onto the big screen, and she can be seen beside fellow young Hollywood hotshot, Emma Watson in <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>. <br />
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She makes another case for the role of an action heroine in her latest appearance on <i>Conan. </i>Take a look and see if she's "action hero" material.<br />
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Anyway, do you think Dobrev would make a good Lara Croft? Or should another actress be considered (Jennifer Lawrence or Olivia Wilde perhaps)? <br />
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If you haven't seen or heard of the latest <i>Tomb Raider </i>game check out this footage below. It's awesome and you should definitely pick it up if you have a PC, <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000613802463973&pid=sku9774611&adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsclub.com%2Fsams%2Ftomb-raider-2-25-13-street-date%2Fprod9250610.ip%3Fpid%3D_DoubleClick_Affiliates%26ci_src%3D15781033%26ci_sku%3Dsku9774611&usg=AFHzDLuqZ7GmJror08X1PyHCg9iErbT9FQ&pubid=627998">XBox 360</a>, or <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000613802463973&pid=sku9774612&adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsclub.com%2Fsams%2Ftomb-raider-2-25-13-street-date%2Fprod9250611.ip%3Fpid%3D_DoubleClick_Affiliates%26ci_src%3D15781033%26ci_sku%3Dsku9774612&usg=AFHzDLuzX1AZqbMGfZiT96IwkUywIooKhw&pubid=627998">PS3</a>. Definitely worth the money and time. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HQs3X9zogfQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-76012399618593593992013-02-26T13:50:00.000-05:002013-03-20T16:48:46.063-04:0085th Academy Award Winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVJsBoNUwH0/UUdTVaiysNI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Q5pBLTtmXbE/s1600/oscar-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Oscars 2013" border="0" height="362" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVJsBoNUwH0/UUdTVaiysNI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Q5pBLTtmXbE/s640/oscar-2013.jpg" title="85th Academy Awards" width="560" /></a></div>
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Well, the 2013 Oscars have come and gone. From Seth MacFarlane's moderately awkward attempt at hosting (seriously, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, WE ARE BEGGING YOU!!!) to<i> </i>J-Law <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDU7zLAd2-U" target="_blank">face-planting on the steps</a> to Ben Affleck's <i>Argo </i>taking home the Best Picture prize, the Academy Awards offered few surprises, but plenty of fun for viewers. And plenty of fun for the many films, as there wasn't a clear dominating film this year. <i> </i><br />
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<i>Life of Pi </i>ended up taking home the most naked, gold men statuettes with 4, followed by <i>Argo</i>'s 3. While <i>Lincoln </i>was an early award season favorite, Spielberg's epic finished with 2 awards. A bit disappointing for sure, but nonetheless, not surprising as <i>Argo </i>was sweeping up the award circuit in the past months. As it has been painstakingly noted to death, <i>Argo </i>is the only film since the 1989 film <i>Driving Home Miss Daisy </i>to win Best Picture without having a Best Director nomination. In the biggest surprise of the evening, a tie between <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>and <i>Skyfall </i>for Best Sound Editing became only the sixth tie in Oscar history. The audience was so startled that equally stunned presenter Mark Walhberg said, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztyqsRX_64M" target="_blank">No BS, we have a tie.</a>" Ergo, nobody, I repeat NOBODY could have filled out a 100% correct Oscar ballot. So there.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhqfr187I6U/UUdT6RBZ0ZI/AAAAAAAAAyg/JrvgBIHC9Xs/s1600/VFX-protest-picture-Oscar-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Oscar VFX Protest" border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhqfr187I6U/UUdT6RBZ0ZI/AAAAAAAAAyg/JrvgBIHC9Xs/s320/VFX-protest-picture-Oscar-010.jpg" title="Oscar Protest" width="320" /></a></div>
One event that attracted attention was the post-Oscar protest of concerning Visual Effects. After being played off a bit early during the acceptance speech of <i>Life of Pi </i>Visual Effects winner, Ben Westenhofer, many people took to Twitter to point out the possible conspiracy. They claimed the Academy cut Westenhofer off early out of fear that he would mention the plight of VFX studios everywhere. It certainly is a problem, as <i>Life of Pi </i>(a film that based itself on visual effects) has been a big box office draw, yet the studio behind the visual effects, Rhymes & Hues had to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Westenhofer was able to get his message out, though, and in a statement he said: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"At a time when visual effects movies are dominating the box office, [the] visual effects companies are struggling. And I wanted to point out that we aren’t technicians. Visual effects is not just a commodity that’s being done by people pushing buttons. We’re artists, and if we don’t find a way to fix the business model, we start to loses the artistry. If anything, Life of Pi shows that we’re artists and not just technicians."</blockquote>
While the hubbub has been dying out, this might become a bigger problem in the future, especially due to the fact that, as Westenhofer pointed out, visual effects are becoming more and more necessary in big box office films. <br />
<br />
Here are the winners of the 85th Academy Awards:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oWLidGNAe3s/UUdTko-2iXI/AAAAAAAAAyY/uG4gVXMTE0c/s1600/jennifer-lawrence-daniel-day-lewis-oscars-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Oscar winners 2013" border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oWLidGNAe3s/UUdTko-2iXI/AAAAAAAAAyY/uG4gVXMTE0c/s640/jennifer-lawrence-daniel-day-lewis-oscars-2013.jpg" title="85th Academy Award Winners" width="560" /></a></div>
<br />
Best Picture: <i>Argo </i><br />
Best Director: Ang Lee<i> </i>(<i>Life of Pi</i>)<br />
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (<i>Lincoln</i>)<br />
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Walz (<i>Django Unchained</i>)<br />
Best Supporting Actress (<i>Les Miserables</i>)<br />
Best Writing for an Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio (<i>Argo</i>)<br />
Best Writing for an Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino (<i>Django Unchained</i>)<br />
Best Animated Feature: <i>Brave </i><br />
Best Feature Documentary: <i>Searching for Sugar Man</i><br />
Best Documentary Short: <i>Inocente </i><br />
Best Foreign Language Film: <i>Amour</i><br />
Best Film Editing: William Goldenberg (<i>Argo</i>)<br />
Best Cinematography: Claudio Miranda (<i>Life of Pi</i>)<br />
Best Art Direction: <i>Lincoln</i><br />
Best Visual Effects: <i>Life of Pi</i><br />
Best Costumes: Jacqueline Durran (<i>Anna Karenina</i>)<br />
Best Makeup: Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell (<i>Les Miserables</i>)<br />
Best Production Design: Rick Carter and Jim Erickson (<i>Lincoln</i>) <br />
Best Live Action Short: <i>Curfew</i><br />
Best Animated Short: <i>Paperman </i> <br />
Best Original Score: Mychael Danna (<i>Life of Pi</i>)<br />
Best Sound Editing: Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers (<i>Skyfall</i>) AND Paul N.J. Ottosson (<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>)<br />
Best Sound Mixing: Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes (<i>Les Miserables</i>)<br />
<br />
You can view the complete list of Winners and Nominees <a href="http://oscar.go.com/nominees" target="_blank">here at the Oscar site</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-61620741153187817612013-01-14T16:47:00.000-05:002013-01-17T10:08:29.211-05:0070th Annual Golden Globes and their Oscar Implications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wnqBZJgWPCo/UPR6euWC4dI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/lAdwnTDwM0w/s1600/Ben+Affleck+2013+Golden+Globes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wnqBZJgWPCo/UPR6euWC4dI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/lAdwnTDwM0w/s640/Ben+Affleck+2013+Golden+Globes.jpeg" width="560" /></a></div>
<br />
Even though Ben Affleck's directing in <i>Argo</i> seemingly <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2013/01/oscar-nominations-for-2013.html" target="_blank">went unnoticed by the Academy</a>, the Hollywood Foreign Press would not deny him at least some recognition. Affleck, while not nominated for Best Director in the upcoming Academy Awards, won the Critics' Choice Award and now the Golden Globe for the category that the Oscar voters snubbed him from. <i>Argo </i>also went on to win Best Picture for a Drama further muddying the waters for who will come out with the top prize at the Academy Awards.<br />
<br />
The other big winner at the Golden Globes was <i>Les Misérables</i>. Tom Hooper's film took home Best Picture for a Comedy or Musical, along with actress Anne Hathaway winning Best Supporting Actress and Hugh Jackman winning Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. While previously not projected to be a big player for Best Picture in the Academy Awards (musicals never do well, and the critics were mixed at best), <i>Les Mis </i>may be a force to be reckoned with.<br />
<br />
The Golden Globes may not have the biggest impact on the Academy Awards, but it can give people a bit of a clearer indication on who will come out on top during the Oscars. However, this year added further complications with <i>Argo </i>and <i>Les Mis</i> winning big, along with other surprising, "un-Oscar-esque" picks.<br />
<br />
The complete list of winners at the Golden Globes after their effect on the 85th Academy Awards:<br />
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<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ3KxfRWwM4/UPR-kF4xmQI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/RTqJEgm8yek/s1600/ArgoGoldenGlobes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ3KxfRWwM4/UPR-kF4xmQI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/RTqJEgm8yek/s320/ArgoGoldenGlobes.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<h4>
Best Picture Race</h4>
<br />
While <i>Argo </i>surprised the Oscar-bait film, <i>Lincoln</i>, at the Golden Globes, it should be no surprise that an association such as the Hollywood Foreign (emphasis on the <i>Foreign </i>part) Press would give the top prize to Affleck's film. The film dealt with a real-life crisis that was over-seas and had a clever Hollywood aspect to it. Not saying that <i>Lincoln </i>isn't worthy of the award, but the American history track doesn't necessarily bode well when going with something exotic like <i>Argo</i>. Spielberg's film should not be too afraid of a film like <i>Argo </i>winning, let alone one as a non-traditional Oscar pick like <i>Les Misérables</i>.<br />
<br />
<i>Life of Pi </i>may make a late run, but it seems that Ang Lee's film might only receive awards for its technical prowess.After all the controversy surrounding it, it is doubtful that <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i> will win this one. If Kathryn Bigelow's film does, it would definitely be an unorthodox Oscar pick, as many a time, the Oscars steer far clear of controversial films (see <i>Brokeback Mountain getting robbed by the inferior Crash</i>). <i>Argo </i>and <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>have history working against them too, as the last Best Picture to not have a Best Director nominee was <i>Driving Miss Daisy</i> in 1990. <i>Driving Miss Daisey</i> these two films are not, further diminishing their chances.<i> Silver Linings Playbook </i>is making every attempt to jockey into position, as the Weinstein Company knows how to parade a film during the Academy Awards season (see <i>The King's Speech </i>and <i>The Artist</i>). <br />
While the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild will be a better indicator, <i>Lincoln</i> should still be the favorite going into the Academy Awards. Safe pick. Ho-hum. <br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Actor Race</h4>
<br />
The winners in the dramatic and musical/comedy categories were Daniel Day-Lewis (<i>Lincoln</i>) and Hugh Jackman (<i>Les Mis</i>) respectively. No big surprise for either. While Jackman's performance was dominating in <i>Les Mis</i>, it remains doubtful that anyone in the Oscar field will overtake Day-Lewis. Unfortunately, this means once again, Joaquin Phoenix (<i>The Master</i>) will be left in the cold. Honestly, Denzel Washington (<i>Flight</i>) does not deserve to be here. Please insert John Hawkes. Bradley Cooper may have an outside chance, but Weinstein may choose to keep Lawrence's momentum going.<br />
Again, <i>Lincoln</i> is such a stereotypical Oscar film, that Day-Lewis remains the favorite in this category. Winning the Golden Globe just solidifies this.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<h4>
Best Actress Race</h4>
<br />
Expect this one to go to either of the two winners of the Golden Globes in drama and comedy. Jessica Chastain's Golden Globe winning performance, <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>, has drawn rave reviews, despite the film's controversy. However, it remains to be seen if it has enough to beat out her Golden Globe Best Actress counterpart, Jennifer Lawrence (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>). The upcoming SAG awards should be better indications for this category.<br />
Even though it could go to any of the women nominated, the best chances as of now go to Chastain or Lawrence.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Supporting Actor</h4>
<br />
This category is so open that even after Christoph Walz's Golden Globe win, the Oscar pool remains murky. The past five years have been so easy to predict, the award for Best Supporting Actor was due for a tricky pick. Walz beat out his co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, who many (myself included) believed to have been a major snub for the Oscars. While Robert DeNiro was not a competitor during the Golden Globes, he is probably Walz's biggest hurdle. Tommy Lee Jones (<i>Lincoln</i>) was a sure-fire bet to win this a month ago, but now even he is not a given. Look out for Phillip Seymour Hoffman, from the underrated, underloved movie, <i>The Master</i>, who won a Critics Choice Award for this category.<br />
Once again, it looks like the SAG awards will be better indicators than the Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Supporting Actress </h4>
<br />
While many of the women in this group are very much deserving, this award seems to be Anne Hathaway's (<i>Les Mis</i>) to lose. After winning the Golden Globe, she solidifies her chances to add a golden statuette to her growing award collection.<br />
Not much more to say about this one, as it would be stupid to bet against Hathaway.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Director</h4>
<br />
Poor Ben Affleck. Any other year, this Golden Globe win would have strongly increased his lead in the Oscar race, especially after receiving the Critics' Choice Award for Best Director. Many times in the past, the Globes and the Oscars split, and this year will be no different, as unfortunately, Affleck didn't hear his name when the five other directors were announced. If <i>Lincoln </i>remains a heavy favorite, this one looks like it will go to Steven Spielberg. Look out for Ang Lee to sneak up and steal this one, even though <i>Life of Pi </i>may have dropped a bit after both the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards.<br />
This may be similar to the 78th Academy Awards where Ang Lee won Best Director, but his picture, <i>Brokeback Mountain </i>was robbed by <i>Crash</i>. David O. Russell (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>) doesn't look like to be a factor, even though his film may get increasing attention from voters. It is doubtful that Michael Haneke (<i>Amour</i>) or Ben Zeitlin (<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>) have a chance, but the nomination is still an honor, as they beat Affleck and Bigelow. Although, I wonder if the Oscars have a "write-in" option...<br />
Look to the DGA awards to get a better indicator on this one, as only Rob Marshall for his incredibly overrated musical, <i>Chicago</i>, failed to win the Oscar for Best Director in the last decade. However, Affleck is also a nominee, so this year may look to break that trend.<br />
<br />
And now, to make this article longer, here is the complete list of Golden Globe nominees and winners for film...<br />
<br />
BEST PICTURE, DRAMA <br />
<br />
WINNER: <i>Argo<br />Django Unchained<br />Life of Pi<br />Lincoln<br />Zero Dark Thirty </i><br />
<br />
BEST PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY<br />
<br />
WINNER: <i>Les Miserables</i><br />
<i>Best Exotic Marigold Hotel<br />Moonrise Kingdom<br />Salmon Fishing in the Yemen<br />Silver Linings Playbook </i><br />
<br />
BEST DIRECTOR<br />
<br />
WINNER: Ben Affleck, <i>Argo</i>Kathryn Bigelow, <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
Ang Lee, <i>Life of Pi</i><br />
Steven Spielberg, <i>Lincoln</i><br />
Quentin Tarantino, <i>Django Unchained</i><br />
<br />
BEST ACTOR, DRAMA<br />
<br />
WINNER: Daniel Day-Lewis, <i>Lincoln</i><br />
Richard Gere, <i>Arbitrage</i><br />
John Hawkes, <i>The</i> <i>Sessions</i><br />
Joaquin Phoenix, <i>The</i> <i>Master</i><br />
Denzel Washington, <i>Flight</i><br />
<br />
BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA<br />
<br />
WINNER: Jessica Chastain, <i>Zero</i> <i>Dark</i> <i>Thirty</i><br />
Marion Cotillard, <i>Rust</i> <i>and</i> <i>Bone</i><br />
Helen Mirren, <i>Hitchcock</i><br />
Naomi Watts, <i>The</i> <i>Impossible</i><br />
Rachel Weisz, <i>The</i> <i>Deep</i> <i>Blue</i> <i>Sea</i><br />
<br />
BEST ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL<br />
<br />
WINNER: Hugh Jackman, <i>Les</i> <i>Miserables</i><br />
Jack Black, <i>Bernie</i><br />
Bradley Cooper, <i>Silver</i> <i>Linings</i> <i>Playbook</i><br />
Ewan McGregor, <i>Salmon Fishing in the Yemen</i><br />
Bill Murray, <i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i><br />
<br />
BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL<br />
<br />
WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i><br />
Emily Blunt, <i>Salmon Fishing in the Yemen</i><br />
Judi Dench, <i>Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i><br />
Maggie Smith, <i>Quartet</i><br />
Meryl Streep, <i>Hope Springs</i><br />
<br />
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR<br />
<br />
WINNER: Christoph Waltz,<i> Django Unchained</i><br />
Alan Arkin, <i>Argo</i><br />
Leonardo DiCaprio, <i>Django Unchained</i><br />
Philip Seymour Hoffman, <i>The Master</i><br />
Tommy Lee Jones, <i>Lincoln</i><br />
<br />
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS<br />
<br />
WINNER: Anne Hathaway, <i>Les</i> <i>Miserables</i><br />
Amy Adams, <i>The</i> <i>Master</i><br />
Sally Field, <i>Lincoln</i><br />
Helen Hunt, <i>The</i> <i>Sessions</i><br />
Nicole Kidman, <i>The</i> <i>Paperboy</i><br />
<br />
BEST SCREENPLAY<br />
<br />
WINNER: Quentin Tarantino, <i>Django</i> <i>Unchained</i><br />
Mark Boal,<i> Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
Tony Kushner, <i>Lincoln</i><br />
David O. Russell, <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i><br />
Chris Terrio, <i>Argo</i><br />
<br />
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE<br />
<br />
WINNER: <i>Brave</i><br />
<i>Frankenweenie</i><br />
<i>Hotel</i> <i>Transvylvania</i><br />
<i>Rise of the Guardians</i><br />
<i>Wreck-It Ralph </i><br />
<br />
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM<br />
<br />
WINNER: <i>Amour</i><br />
<i>A Royal Affair<br />The Intouchables<br />Kon Tiki<br />Rust and Bone </i><br />
<br />
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE<br />
<br />
WINNER: Mychael Danna, <i>Life of Pi</i><br />
Alexandre Desplat, <i>Argo</i><br />
Dario Marianelli, <i>Anna</i> <i>Karenina</i><br />
Tom Tywker, Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek, <i>Cloud Atlas</i><br />
John Williams, <i>Lincoln</i><br />
<br />
BEST ORIGINAL SONG<br />
<br />
WINNER: "Skyfall" <i>Skyfall</i><br />
"For You" <i>Act of Valor</i><br />
"Not Running Anymore" <i>Stand Up Guys</i><br />
"Safe and Sound" <i>The Hunger Games</i><br />
"Suddenly" <i>Les Miserables</i><br />
<br />
Well, once again, you made it to the end. Congrats. Here's a funny video of the opening monologue by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vmxBHtbAhoQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-58206634946153532962013-01-10T10:29:00.001-05:002013-01-10T18:57:35.756-05:00Oscar Nominations for 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
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Earlier than I care for, the Oscar nominations were announced by Emma Stone and, to-be Oscar host, Seth McFarlane. There were certainly more than a few surprises (and huge snubs) for the 85th Academy Awards. Not surprisingly, Steven Spielberg's <strike>Oscar pandering</strike> sweeping epic, <i>Lincoln</i>, leads the way with 12 nominations. Ang Lee's <strike>self-righteous film snore</strike> visually stunning, <i>Life of Pi</i>, follows closely behind with 11. <br />
<br />
Without any further ado, the official selection for the 85th Academy Awards!<br />
<br />
<strike>EDIT: Just the Big 5 (more will come later)</strike><br />
Now that I'm out of class, here is the complete list.<strike> </strike><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h4>
Best Picture</h4>
<br />
<i>Amour</i><br />
<i>Argo</i><br />
<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i><br />
<i>Django Unchained </i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<i>Les Misérables</i><br />
<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i><br />
<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<h4>
Best Actor</h4>
<br />
Bradley Cooper (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
Daniel Day-Lewis (<i>Lincoln</i>) <br />
Denzel Washington (<i>Flight</i>)<br />
Hugh Jackman <i>(Les Misérables</i>)<br />
Joaquin Phoenix (<i>The Master</i>)<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Actress</h4>
<br />
Emmanuelle Riva (<i>Amour</i>)<br />
Jennifer Lawrence (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
Jessica Chastain (<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>)<br />
Naomi Watts (<i>The Impossible</i>)<br />
Quvenzhane Wallis (<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>)<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Supporting Actor</h4>
<br />
Alan Arkin (<i>Argo</i>)<br />
Christoph Walz (<i>Django Unchained</i>)<br />
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (<i>The Master</i>)<br />
Robert De Niro (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
Tommy Lee Jones (<i>Lincoln</i>)<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Supporting Actress </h4>
<br />
Amy Adams (<i>The Master</i>) <br />
Anne Hathaway (<i>Les Misérables</i>)<br />
Helen Hunt (<i>The Sessions</i>)<br />
Jacki Weaver (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
Sally Field (<i>Lincoln</i>)<br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Director</h4>
<br />
Ang Lee (<i>Life of Pi</i>)<br />
Benh Zeitlin (<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>)<br />
David O. Russell (<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>) <br />
Michael Haneke (<i>Amour</i>)<br />
Steven Spielberg (<i>Lincoln</i>) <br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Best Original Screenplay</h4>
<br />
<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
<i>Django Unchained</i><br />
<i>Moonrise Kingdom</i><br />
<i>Amour</i><br />
<i>Flight</i><br />
<h4>
<i> </i></h4>
<h4>
Best Adapted Screenplay</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i><br />
<i>Argo</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Animated Feature</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Frankenweenie</i><br />
<i>The Pirates! Band of Misfits</i><br />
<i>Wreck-It-Ralph</i><br />
<i>Paranorman</i><br />
<i>Brave</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Foreign Feature</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Amour </i>(Austria)<br />
<i>A Royal Affair </i>(Denmark)<br />
<i>Kon-Tiki </i>(Norway)<br />
<i>No </i>(Chile)<br />
<i>War Witch </i>(Canada)<br />
<i> </i><br />
<h4>
Best Visual Effects</h4>
<br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</i><br />
<i>The Avengers</i><br />
<i>Prometheus</i><br />
<i>Snow White and the Huntsman</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Cinematography</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Skyfall</i><br />
<i>Anna Karenina</i><br />
<i>Django Unchained</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Costume Design</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Anna Karenina</i><br />
<i>Les Misérables</i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<i>Mirror Mirror</i><br />
<i>Snow White and the Huntsman</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Documentary</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Searching for Sugar Man</i><br />
<i>How to Survive a Plague</i><br />
<i>The Gatkeepers </i><br />
<i>5 Broken Camera</i><br />
<i>The Invisible War</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Documentary Short</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Open Heart</i><br />
<i>Inocente</i><br />
<i>Redemption</i><br />
<i>Kings Point</i><br />
<i>Mondays at Racine</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Film Editing</h4>
<br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<i>Silver Linings Playbook</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Argo</i><br />
<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Makeup and Hairstyling</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Hitchcock</i><br />
<i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</i><br />
<i>Les Misérables</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Music (Original Score)</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Anna Karenina</i><br />
<i>Argo</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<i>Skyfall</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Music (Original Song)</h4>
<i> </i><i></i><br />
<i>Before My Time </i>from <i>Chasing Ice</i><br />
<i>Everybody Needs a Best Friend </i>from <i>Ted</i><br />
<i>Pi's Lullaby </i>from <i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Skyfall </i>from <i>Skyfall</i><br />
<i>Suddenly </i>from <i>Les Misérables</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Production Design</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Anna Karenina</i><br />
<i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</i><br />
<i>Les Misérables</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<h4>
<i> </i></h4>
<h4>
Best Animated Short</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Adam and Dog</i><br />
<i>Fresh Guacamole</i><br />
<i>Head over Heels</i><br />
<i>Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare'</i><br />
<i>Paperman</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Best Live Action Short</h4>
<i> </i><i></i><br />
<i>Asad</i><br />
<i>Buzkashi Boys</i><br />
<i>Curfew</i><br />
<i>Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)</i><br />
<i>Henry</i><br />
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Best Sound Editing</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Argo</i><br />
<i>Django Unchained</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Skyfall</i><br />
<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
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Best Sound Mixing</h4>
<i> </i><br />
<i>Argo </i><br />
<i>Les Misérables</i><br />
<i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<i>Lincoln</i><br />
<i>Skyfall </i><i></i><br />
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Congratulations on making it through the whole list. <br />
<br />
I will certainly be sounding off on the nominations and snubs. Such as,
Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Affleck not being nominated under the Best
Director category, while Ang Lee gets a nod for his bloated <i>Life of Pi</i>, and Benh Zeitlin for the underrated (but not undeserving) <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>.
Or perhaps I will sound off on how Leonardo DiCaprio gets the short
stick, as his co-star Christoph Walz gets the nominations for Best
Supporting Actor. But that shall come later.<br />
<i> </i> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-50244746164191704782012-12-30T22:50:00.000-05:002013-03-19T23:35:07.661-04:0012 Big Film News Stories of 2012Looking back on 2012, records were shattered, hearts broken, dreams were made, and nightmares came to life. From the box-office glory of Joss Whedon's <i>The Avengers </i>to the grim death of Tony Scott, 2012 gave us plenty of highs and lows.<br />
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Let's take a look at 12 triumphs and tribulations in movie news from 2012.<br />
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12) DreamWorks Animation Leaves Paramount </h4>
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for 20th Century Fox </h4>
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While certainly not as big as another media acquisition (more on that later... Spoilers!), the end to the seven-year relationship between the animation studio and its distributor, Paramount, leaves the mountain's future looking a bit less solid. Fox, however, has very little risk in this partnership, and should reap some nice rewards with their new five-year pact. While they already own an animation studio, Blue Sky (makers of <i>Rio </i>and the <i>Ice Age</i> franchise), Fox did not shy away from acquiring another animation maker. Release date conflicts are really the only worrisome part to this partnership; however, since Fox will not have to shoulder any of the budget load from DreamWorks Animation films, 20th Century Fox's scheduling headaches should be easily cured with gobs of cash flowing their way.<br />
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11) Two Big Film Franchises Come to a Close</h4>
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While Paramount is left looking to fill a hole in their animation branch, two studios will be looking to make up for losing two of the most lucrative film franchises in the last decade, Chris Nolan's <i>Batman </i>trilogy and the <i>Twilight </i>saga. Love it or hate it, <i>Twilight </i>was a major film franchise and a huge cash cow for Lions Gate Entertainment (distributed under Summit Entertainment). Making well over $3 billion worldwide, believe it or not, <i>Twilight </i>left a mark on cinematic history.<br />
After the <i>Harry Potter </i>franchise ended last year and Nolan's final installment released this year, Warner Bros. Studios must be a bit apprehensive about their future. No longer will they have these two shoe-in cash creators; however, <i>The Hobbit</i> being made into three films should ease their worry. The studio also anxiously awaits Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, <i>The Man of Steel</i>, due out next year, as does every fanboy and fangirl, alongside the DC Entertainment branch. If successful, WB and DC could have a very lucrative film franchise that could open the doors to a long awaited <i>Justice League </i>movie/franchise. Fingers crossed!<br />
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10) Two Big Studios Dump Execs</h4>
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Speaking of studios scrambling to fill giant holes, Disney and 20th Century Fox both showed their respective top dogs the door. After a slew of horrible film financial decisions, Rich Ross, the House of Mouse's Studio Chair, was finally given the boot after the bloated cesspool of awful that was <i>John Carter</i>. While Ross's intentions were good (fewer films with bigger budgets to streamline marketing for franchise merchandise/rides/toy lines), the results were lackluster at best. The now-former Disney exec landed on his feet, though, and is now CEO of Shine America, a production company under News Corp.<br />
Another News Corp. unit, 20th Century Fox, had a serious power-shift as well. It canned its co-chair/CEO, Tom Rothman, after eighteen-years of eyebrow-raising decisions. Failing to secure Fox TV's star, Seth MacFarlane, and his new movie, <i>Ted</i>, and instead, opting for other R-rated comedies that utterly flopped (<i>The Sitter</i>, <i>The Watch</i>) and the absolute mess of a film <i>Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter</i>, seemed to be the final nail in the coffin Rothman. Along with failed franchises such as <i>The Fantastic Four </i>and <i>Daredevil, </i>both of which were sold back to Marvel, Rothman's tenure at Fox was tumultuous, at best. <br />
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9) Seth MacFarlane and Channing Tatum Hit Adult Comedy Gold</h4>
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Both of these moderately fresh faces made it big in 2012. MacFarland made his big screen debut with the critical and commercial successful film, <i>Ted</i>. While not quite to the level of <i>Bridesmaids </i>from last year, MacFarlane's foul-mouthed teddy bear certainly helped keep the ball rolling for adult-centered comedies. Speaking of which, Tatum starred in two, <i>Magic Mike </i>and <i>21 Jump Street</i>. Both were critically praised and the box office numbers showed that audiences loved Tatum's performance as a male stripper and a hapless cop respectively.<br />
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8) Tony Scott Commits Suicide</h4>
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While 2012 brought the laughs, it also came with tragedy. One of these sorrows was the passing of an iconic director, Tony Scott. The <i>Top Gun </i>creator allegedly jumped to his death on the 19th of August. The younger brother of Ridley Scott certainly had no problem stepping out of the shadow of his brother with action hits such as the aforementioned <i>Top Gun</i>, <i>Crimson Tide</i>, and <i>Unstoppable </i>to name but a few. Scott was 68 when he died. He will be greatly missed in the film world.<br />
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7) Violence in Media Under Scrutiny</h4>
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In some of the nation's most tragic moments in history, two shootings left everyone stunned and utterly shocked at what had occurred. Closely related to the film industry, the film theater shootings in Aurora, CO dramatically decreased theater attendance. While security at the theater was never an issue in the first place, a madman decided to change all that. 70 people were shot and wounded; 12 died due the random act of violence.<br />
The media's obsession with violence and the violence in film were again dragged front and center in the aftermath of the Newtown, CT Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. 20 children were killed, along with 6 adult staff members. While currently no direct correlation with violence in the media, NRA leader, Wayne LaPierre blamed films such as <i>American Psycho </i>and video games such as <i>Grand Theft Auto</i> for the increased gun violence in America. Pretty much everything was blamed but guns. I stayed away from posting about this, as this blog isn't meant to cause political waves.<br />
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6) <i>The Artist </i>wins Best Picture</h4>
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With the 2013 Oscar season heating up, it's easy to forget who won big in 2012. Winning five of the ten awards <i>The Artist </i>was up for during the Academy Awards, this homage to the silent film era was simply outstanding. The four winners after Best Picture were Michel Hazanavicius (Best Director), Jean Dujardin (Best Actor), Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design. Not to be overlooked, the spunky, budding young actress Peppy Miller was played extraordinarily well by Berenice Bejo. One of the coolest technical aspects of this film is that it was shot in 22 fps, slightly slower than the 24 fps standard. This definitely adds to the look and feel of the black-and-white silent film. <br />
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5) Tech Hype and 48 fps</h4>
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Speaking of frames per second, Peter Jackson's decision to shoot <i>The Hobbit </i>in 48 fps caused quite a stir in the film world. While I haven't seen the new technology in person, I have heard mixed reviews. Certainly, the higher frame resolution should decrease the obnoxious blur and choppiness seen more prevalently in 3D; however, the fear that the film will look "too real" reared its head. Love it or hate it, higher frame rates are here to stay. In fact, James Cameron, who has long been an advocate for digital media and higher frame rates, wants his next installments of <i>Avatar</i> (yes, plural) to be shot entirely in 60 fps. <br />
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4) James Bond Comes Back with a Vengeance</h4>
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After a pathetic follow-up to <i>Casino Royale</i>, <i>Quantum of Solace </i>failed to wow audiences and critics alike. The lackluster box office performance and criticism coupled with the financial instability of MGM studios, the future of 007 was murky. However, after the release of <i>Skyfall</i>, the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the suave British spy went much better than expected. Drawing in the audiences with the best opening weekend for any Bond movie and already the highest grossing Bond film, as well as being heaped with critical praise, it looks like James Bond is back.<br />
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3) <i>The Avengers </i>Destroys the Box Office </h4>
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Joss Whedon is really good at his job. And while critically and commercially successful, I'm not talking about <i>Cabin in the Woods</i>. No, this is all about <i>The Avengers</i>. While no one doubted the superhero flick would be a hit, no one thought it would be as big as this. It shattered oodles of box office records and is currently sitting at number 3 on the highest grossing films of all-time. Not only was this movie a commercial hit, the critics heaped Whedon with praise on how he masterfully wove together the superhero team with such grace.<br />
The success of <i>The Avengers </i>bodes quite well for the future of Marvel Studios and Disney. Now set to initiate Phase 2, Marvel is well poised to keep pumping out superhero blockbusters for many summers to come. Here's to hoping Whedon decides to stay on the job.<br />
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2) Women Kick all kinds of Butt</h4>
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From Jennifer Lawrence's spectacular performance as Katniss Everdeen in <i>The Hunger Games </i>to Anne Hathaway's sleek, sassy, sexiness in <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> to Rebel Wilson's fiery hilarity in <i>Pitch Perfect, </i>Girl Power reigned supreme this year in cinema. Pixar even pitched in with their first ever female lead in <i>Brave</i>. Not only were these girls's performances and movies successful with the critics, they swooned over audiences with their awesomeness. Look out guys, it looks like the age of the damsel in distress has finally stepped into the light of the 21st Century.<br />
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<h4>
1) Star Wars is Bought by Disney</h4>
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Disney has had no problem wooing young girls to their product line with the princess power it possesses. However, they just weren't reeling in the boys. Even after acquiring Marvel for a small fee of $4.24 billion, Disney wasn't satisfied. For a little over $4 billion, Disney bought Lucasfilm and with it, the Star Wars franchise. While this caused many a nerd to quiver at the thought of Darth Vader with Mickey Mouse ears, the Star Wars franchise seems to be in good enough hands. Oh yeah, and a Star Wars VII is going to happen. Love it or hate it, Disney wants a film by 2015. Also, VIII and IX are in talks. Well. That's interesting.<br />
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Feel free to add your own opinion in the comments!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-10039239491673100372012-12-13T23:41:00.001-05:002012-12-14T00:26:27.083-05:00Zero Dark Thirty, Les Mis, and Django Unchained Poised for Strong Award Season Runs <div style="text-align: center;">
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While it's far from being a three horse race for Best Picture, the trifecta of films set to release in December are rapidly garnering copious amounts of Oscar buzz. The early favorites such as <i>Argo</i>, <i>Lincoln</i>, and <i>The Master</i> should certainly not be forgotten, but the December newcomers are quickly overshadowing their Oscar-hopeful counterparts. Headlining this group is Katheryn Bigalow's bin Laden manhunt film, <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>. Not to be ignored is Tom Hooper's gorgeous adaption of the musical, <i>Les Misérables</i>, and rounding out the trio is <i>Django Unchained</i>, the latest brutally brilliant film by Quentin Tarantino.<br />
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Although this group may not seem to have much in common (seriously, who'da thought that a musical, a gritty war film, and a slavery romp with Tarantino would be mentioned together?), all three are poised to make strong award circuit runs.</div>
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Even though the general public has not been able to view it yet, <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>has already won Best Picture awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics, and the National Board of Review. Jessica Chastain is also getting critics all abuzz with her performance as a steely CIA agent driving the search for 9/11 mastermind, Osama bin Laden. Director Katheryn Bigelow is no stranger to the Academy Awards, as her last film, <i>The Hurt Locker</i>, exploded during the 2009 award season. While the praise is nice and the awards <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>have amassed are flashy, it should be noted that no film that has won the prestigious National Board of Review Best Film award has gone on to win the Oscar since Danny Boyle's <strike>incredibly overrated</strike> feelgood flick, <i>Slumdog Millionaire. </i>It will be interesting to see if the political controversy <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>is already stirring up will end up hurting or helping the film. The movie is by all reports, a pretty tough pill to swallow. However, it remains to be seen if this will turn off the Academy or not.<br />
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If gritty torture scenes are hard to watch, add some inspirational singing and sit back and enjoy the tear-jerker of a movie, <i>Les Mis</i>, the film adaption of the Tony Award winning musical of the same name. Set to debut on Christmas Day, this film has all the ingredients necessary for a strong award show running: an Oscar-winning director in Tom Hooper (<i>The King's Speech</i>), Oscar-winning/nominated cast members (Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sascha Baron Cohen), as well as incredibly talented actors not to win/be nominated for Oscars (Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfriend, and newcomers Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Banks). Not only is the acting superb, but the music itself is beyond incredible. While most musical to film adaptions record musical numbers prior to filming, Hooper decided to have his actors sing while act. This adds an incredible amount of additional depth to the emotionally charged songs that comprise much of <i>Les Mis</i>. Musicals don't usually fare well at awards shows, especially the Oscars; however, Hooper's adaption looks far from being the usual run-of-the-mill musical.<br />
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Last but not least comes Tarantino's <i>Basterds </i>follow-up, <i>Django Unchained</i>. While certainly a wild card when it comes to the Academy Awards, Tarantino is no stranger to them either. Even though <i>Inglorious Basterds </i>was good, <i>Django Unchained </i>may be the best Tarantino film we've seen since <i>Pulp Fiction. </i>The brutality in the film is said to be as hard to watch as some of the most infamous scenes from <i>Pulp Fiction </i>and even that ear-cutting scene in <i>Reservoir Dogs</i>. Cringe. Led by Academy Award winners (for <i>Basterds</i>) Christoph Walz and Jamie Foxx (<i>Ray</i>), along with Academy nominated Leonardo DiCaprio (<i>Blood Diamond</i>, <i>The Aviator</i>), this film should make plenty of noise in the thick of the award season. DiCaprio's performance as sadistic plantation owner, Calvin Candie, has already won him the National Board of Review for Best Supporting Actor, and plenty of other award circuit buzz. While overly violent films are often overlooked by the Academy as being petty, Tarantino's mastery of this device is usually universally lauded in every project he's worked on.<br />
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While there is plenty of time for other films to pick up steam, these three will be definite forces to be reckoned with come the award show season. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213789437054264886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-75531542324216586942012-07-24T23:47:00.001-04:002012-12-12T15:05:21.724-05:00Third Hobbit Movie Possible<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is Part I of the potential trilogy.</i></td></tr>
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<b>EDIT: </b><i>The Hobbit </i>franchise has been broken down into three films, the first (<i>An Unexpected Journey</i>) set to release the 14th of December of this year, with the other two (<i>The Desolation of Smaug </i>and <i>There and Back Again</i>) projected for 2013 and 2014 respectively. <br />
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In news that is already rocking my world, it was just released tonight that there's a possible third film coming to the <i>Hobbit</i> movies, directed by <i>Lord of the Rings </i>mastermind Peter Jackson.<br />
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<i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey </i>is due to be released on December 14, 2012, with <i>The Hobbit: There and Back Again </i>coming out on December 13, 2013.<br />
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While a third film is certainly not guaranteed, it has been verified that Peter Jackson has been in talks about another sequel, possibly with actors Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman also participating in the discussion.<br />
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One of the largest obstacles to a third film is working out a budget between the directors, producers, and Warner Bros.<br />
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The decision to split <i>The Hobbit </i>into two films was greeted with some controversy, as the book is significantly shorter than any of the <i>Lord of the Rings </i>books. Jackson assuaged some of the anger by informing us that the movies would extensively cover topics not explicitly discussed in the books - topics that <i>Hobbit </i>and <i>Lord of the Rings</i> creator J.R.R. Tolkien wrote about in his notes, but never in published material. These topics cover in large part the comings and goings of Gandalf and The White Council, including their overthrowing of The Necromancer (Sauron) from the fortress of Dol Goldur in Mirkwood.<br />
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Rumor is that a third movie would draw more from those notes, but also from the Appendices located at the end of <i>The Return of the King</i>. The Appendices cover most of the history of Middle-Earth in very little detail, from brief snippets of the ancient Elves in previous ages through a close look at the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen. It's unclear what exactly Jackson would choose to adapt, if the sequel is approved.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-19252187353260060842012-07-22T21:03:00.000-04:002013-03-18T14:32:09.609-04:00Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egPqWhE4DVA/UAyXzX5NCBI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ULN-8EjnSCA/s1600/darkknightrises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egPqWhE4DVA/UAyXzX5NCBI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ULN-8EjnSCA/s640/darkknightrises.jpg" width="560" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pictured: two good actors.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Dark Knight
Rises</i> was not
at all what I was expecting, but neither was I at any point surprised while
watching it. In short, <i>The Dark Knight
Rises</i> was really just another superhero movie, despite all the hype. Many
have gushed over the ostensibly intellectual nature of Christopher Nolan’s
Batman trilogy, but <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>
is not a superhero movie for the thinking man. It is, however, a great
superhero movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, spoilers ahead.</span></div>
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The plot is fairly coherent, despite clearly suffering from the loss of Heath Ledger’s Joker. The plot instead goes back to the first Nolan Batman movie for its villains’ motivations, which works surprisingly well even though it turns <i>The Dark Knight</i> into a rather jarring break in between the first and third Nolan movies. One can hardly blame Christopher Nolan for having to change some details following the death of his main villain, but many of the characters in <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> fail to attain the appropriate development because there simply isn’t enough time in the movie to properly introduce and build up their character.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AamcSC86FCw/UAyZuu0d71I/AAAAAAAAAs4/3NDsgJRUbbI/s1600/marioncotillarddarkknightrises.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AamcSC86FCw/UAyZuu0d71I/AAAAAAAAAs4/3NDsgJRUbbI/s320/marioncotillarddarkknightrises.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I'm too good for this movie."</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
best example of this is the actual main villain, Talia al Ghul, (Marion
Cotillard, playing roughly the same role as she played in Nolan’s <i>Inception</i>) who is intended to be one of
Bruce Wayne’s allies who then reveals her true nature and betrays him.
Unfortunately, the punch of this betrayal is lost because her character isn’t
given enough development for her relationship with Bruce Wayne to feel genuine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although
Talia al Ghul is the mastermind of the evil plot of <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>, her lackey Bane is far more interesting of a
villain, and it is disappointing that in the end, he gets roughly zero actual
character or motivation. For the entire first half of the movie, Tom Hardy’s
massive, imposing, masked villain dominates the screen, and his iconic showdown
with Batman midway through the movie which culminates in the famous breaking of
the Bat is possibly the best part of the movie. This makes his ending all the
more anticlimactic. We discover that Bane has no personal motivation and has
simply been acting on orders from Talia the whole time. Even his final battle
with Batman is interrupted, first by Talia and then by Catwoman, when he is
summarily blasted out of the movie without even the dignity of a death speech.
Part of this is due to the unfortunate sound design choices with Bane, whose mask
garbles his speech somewhat. The fix for the mask problem is only to make Bane’s
voice jarringly louder than everyone else’s, which makes him more
understandable, but hurts the sound quality of the movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvkZKjkj28U/UAycDcnvCjI/AAAAAAAAAtA/ArBlWFdldF4/s1600/banestotallyradcoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvkZKjkj28U/UAycDcnvCjI/AAAAAAAAAtA/ArBlWFdldF4/s400/banestotallyradcoat.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In unrelated news, that coat is fantastic.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
biggest disappointment of the movie, however, is Batman himself. It has long
been clear that Christian Bale is not actually a good actor, but this movie
makes that fact painfully clear. The movie persists in revolving around Batman,
even as it attempts to thematically focus on the necessity of Batman moving on,
and even as it becomes increasingly clear that Christian Bale’s Batman is just
not that interesting any more. Bale is convincing only in the first half of the
movie as a burned-out relic and in his defeat to Bane at the end of the first
half of the movie, but he is unconvincing and boring during the entire “rise”
part of <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Epl_AwLFVWE/UAyeUx95hHI/AAAAAAAAAtI/vzAWKFm8KLw/s1600/darkknightrisesjosephgordonlevitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Epl_AwLFVWE/UAyeUx95hHI/AAAAAAAAAtI/vzAWKFm8KLw/s320/darkknightrisesjosephgordonlevitt.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stupid perfect baby.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
biggest casualty of this focus on Batman is the supporting characters, who
suffer from caring more about Batman than about most of their own motivations.
The only supporting character who pulls this off is Bruce Wayne’s butler,
Alfred Caine, but all the other characters unfortunately have the same tendency
to act like Batman’s humble servants. One example of this is John Blake, the
scene-stealing beat cop played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who spends the whole
movie wishing he was Batman but never gets a chance to actually do anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ll_CzCgbWKw/UAyez2TqNoI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/YMwvljmA5fI/s1600/dark-knight-rises-selina-kyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ll_CzCgbWKw/UAyez2TqNoI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/YMwvljmA5fI/s320/dark-knight-rises-selina-kyle.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also stupid perfect baby.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
same goes times a million for Selina Kyle, whose potentially interesting
character and excellent actress gets stuck with the most trite character arc in
the movie. Her femme fatale betrays Batman to Bane, feels bad about it, comes
back to aid Gotham only because Batman asks her to, and then makes out with
him. The worst part is that if Selina Kyle didn’t spend all her time focused
only on Batman she could be an excellent character. She shows occasional
flashes of her own budding heroism independent of just doing what Batman tells
her, and Anne Hathaway does a stellar job of turning what could easily have
been an awful cardboard character into a relatable human being, albeit one who
spends all her time worrying about Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru-AsxuKh7k/UAyhrDOUdSI/AAAAAAAAAtc/q2ef2UQ5Z_A/s1600/somedaysyoujustcan%27tgetridofabomb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru-AsxuKh7k/UAyhrDOUdSI/AAAAAAAAAtc/q2ef2UQ5Z_A/s400/somedaysyoujustcan%27tgetridofabomb.gif" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pictured: the actual climax of The Dark Knight Rises.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
ending of the movie makes it abundantly clear that while you thought you were
watching a gritty movie for the thinking man, you were actually just watching
your average fluffy superhero movie. The climax is a painfully cheesy
bomb-defusing scenario that may have also been in <i>The Avengers</i>, and all the good guys lived and got what they wanted
and probably lived happily ever after, a jarring contrast to the grim tone of
the rest of the movie. However, at least some of the elements of the ending
seem almost too good to be true. We are led to believe, for instance, that
Bruce Wayne has finally reached the point where he can accept not being Batman,
and has left to live a normal life while letting his friends believe he is
dead, but then also he has apparently taken Selina Kyle with him on his normal
life? Firstly, it seems strange that he would let everyone except her think he
was dead, secondly it makes no sense for Selina, who has just discovered her
own inner heroism, to just up and spend the rest of her life frolicking in
meadows with Bruce Wayne, and thirdly, our only reason for believing this is
that we see them together in a scene observed by Alfred, who has previously
described the exact scenario as his “personal fantasy.” It may be a stretch,
but I prefer to believe that Bruce Wayne did not take any of his old life with
him, not even Selina Kyle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Plus,
this paves the way for my dream: in five years, everyone gets tired of all the
gritty reboots of superhero movies, and Joss Whedon gets hired to direct a
happy, fluffy Batman reboot that continues from the Nolan canon, with Joseph
Gordon-Levitt as Batman and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman cavorting around Gotham
arguing about the best way to beat up bad guys and secretly being in love, and
the movie is actually basically a rom-com. Except that because it’s Joss
Whedon, the movie ends up being way more heartbreaking than <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">At the end of the day, you
should go see <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>,
because it is a truly stellar movie, and especially makes for an excellent foil
to <i>The Avengers</i>. However, you should
not expect anything more than a superhero movie with a dark tone, or you may be
disappointed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Review: Like</span>Joseph Mathesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05464359045334337123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-61724058454972452422012-07-18T17:37:00.003-04:002013-03-18T14:34:12.750-04:00The Dark Knight Rises Spoilers<h3>
It Goes Without Saying That This Is Completely Read At Your Own Risk</h3>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvsv4dIk41E/T5ZbUtNBAzI/AAAAAAAAAE4/G0PC-qjnuE8/s1600/darknightrises.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvsv4dIk41E/T5ZbUtNBAzI/AAAAAAAAAE4/G0PC-qjnuE8/s640/darknightrises.png" width="560" /></a></div>
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I told myself I wasn't going to do it.... but I did. <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> comes out Friday at 12:01 in the States, but has been out overseas for a short amount of time. That being said, a lot of people know what happens already, and are posting it on the internet. If you're the person that likes to know these things before you see a movie, then by all means keep reading. If you're not one of those people, seriously, just stop now. This is a film that's going to be much more worth i if you go in blind. You've had your final warning, so here it is.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">SPOILER ALERT***</span></div>
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Here we go. Until I see the film myself, this is in list-form. After that I'll update to summarize each point.</div>
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Miranda Tate (Bruce's love interest) is Talia Al Ghul, Ra's Al Ghul's daughter <br />
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Bane breaks Batman's back, and sends him to the same prison where he himself was kept <br />
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The film takes place over several months, and Bane holds the city of Gotham hostage with a nuclear bomb. <br />
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Bane is carrying out the vengeance of Ra's and the League of Shadows on Gotham <br />
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Although the world believes that Batman sacrifices himself, Bruce actually lives on and falls in love with Selina <br />
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Alfred does not die <br />
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There is a Bat-cave as well as a Bat-Bunker <br />
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Gordon discovers the threat of Bane, and is brutally savaged by Bane<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01406849512815088302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-33844486326923444472012-07-17T08:30:00.000-04:002013-03-18T14:38:15.100-04:00Marvel's Expanding Universe: Comic Con in Short<h3>
Because Otherwise We'd Be Here Forever</h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MwWgMNQ0mic/UAUKVZ5XcsI/AAAAAAAAATs/meB9VLV9AHw/s1600/4dc04876816b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MwWgMNQ0mic/UAUKVZ5XcsI/AAAAAAAAATs/meB9VLV9AHw/s640/4dc04876816b1.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally found a cover picture for these articles!</i></td></tr>
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Due to complaints that the superhero-movie posts are too many, and the "other stuff" movie posts are too few on this site, I'm going to compile the 10 posts I wanted to put up these past few days into one summarized post of all the excellence that happened at Comic Con. From an intergalactic raccoon to cream-colored armor, here's the finest bits of Marvel news for you.<br />
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<h4>
New Armor</h4>
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It has long been rumored that <i>Iron Man III</i> would be based on the Extremis story line from the comics. We could only wonder then what the most awe-inspiring suit of armor ever created by Tony Stark would look like? Thanks to the Marvel folks at the <i>Iron Man III</i> panel at Comic Con 2012, we have our first look at the new suit of armor.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Giggity</i></td></tr>
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It's a very interesting design that flips the color scheme of the previous armors to incorporate more gold and less red. It's barely even a gold color, and more along the lines of a cream. At first I was a little taken-aback by the, shall we say, ostentatious factor of the armor? But then I remembered it's Iron Man. Some footage was shown of Tony working on the armor, and it seems it attaches to him in small pieces. The clip was humorous, as some of the pieces wouldn't fly right or would hit him in the head. Whether this was post-extremis injection or not is up for speculation, but it appeared he was controlling them by will alone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-fBItngttQ/UAUJ4jHVgmI/AAAAAAAAATc/Ukm1rUXSQoY/s1600/406px-Extremis_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-fBItngttQ/UAUJ4jHVgmI/AAAAAAAAATc/Ukm1rUXSQoY/s320/406px-Extremis_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The gold armor Tony bonds with his body</i></td></tr>
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Going back to the color scheme, it seems to borrow from the current Iron Man armors, which are all plate armors that encase his whole body, and the original gold armor that was more of a mesh cloth the character first appeared in. There were smaller plates that attached to parts of his body after he combined the mesh armor with his body biologically. The new armor seems to borrow from both, with the pale gold color scheme, but also the full plate armor. I can't wait to see this thing in action, just like every previous <i>Iron Man</i> film.</div>
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<h4>
New Characters</h4>
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Due to the overwhelming amount of new characters Marvel is putting into their films, you'll have to bear with me through this shorter list, as I can't give every character the attention they need. Over the course of time, we'll get to the important ones eventually.</div>
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<i>The Wolverine:</i></div>
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Will Yun Lee: Kenuichio Harada/The Silver Samurai</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3GRJ1HKp1M/UAUTvujSu5I/AAAAAAAAAT4/TH9Sqg65Ff4/s1600/falcon-captain-america-sequel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3GRJ1HKp1M/UAUTvujSu5I/AAAAAAAAAT4/TH9Sqg65Ff4/s320/falcon-captain-america-sequel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Will Anthony Mackie play the first <br />African-American Superhero?</i></td></tr>
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<i>Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier:</i></div>
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Anthony Mackie: Sam T. Wilson/Falcon (in negotiations)</div>
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<i>Iron Man III:</i></div>
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Rebecca Hall: Maya Hansen</div>
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Ben Kingsley: The Mandarin (or a similar character)</div>
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Cobie Smulders: SHIELD agent Maria Hill<br />
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New Movies</h4>
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Again, since the list is lengthy, you're getting the shorter version, with a brief summary of each.<br />
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<b>Confirmed titles</b></div>
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<i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier </i>- It appears Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) will be returning as Captain's-best-friend-turned-brainwashed-cyborg-spy the Winter Soldier. Steve Rogers will work alongside SHIELD to take down this new threat.</div>
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<i>Thor: The Dark World </i>- Now needing to re-cast it's main villain after Mads Mikkelsen took his leave, little is known about this film except it will feature a more natural viewing of Asgard. Also, the main ensemble from <i>Thor</i> will return, including love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).</div>
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<b>Reboots</b></div>
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<i>The Fantastic Four </i>- The remake of the two-film tragedy that was the original <i>Fantastic Four</i> franchise is being reworked, and officially has a director in Josh Trank (<i>Chronicle</i>) and a writer in newcomer Jeremy Slater.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNKlYT1NiRw/UAUUNNkEHZI/AAAAAAAAAUA/396e-xuEvg0/s1600/david-slade-eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNKlYT1NiRw/UAUUNNkEHZI/AAAAAAAAAUA/396e-xuEvg0/s320/david-slade-eclipse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Good riddance! Also with this picture we increased<br />our views from teenage girls and their moms.</i></td></tr>
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<i>Daredevil</i>/<i>Twilight </i>director David Slade appears to have lost his shot at directing the quasi-reboot/sequel to one of Marvel's first comic-book movies. Instead he is going to work on the<i> Hannibal </i>TV series. Fox has about 4 months to get production underway, or they risk the movie rights going back to Marvel and Disney. If they do manage to start in time, get ready for a mess of a movie... I for one hope they scrap it and let Marvel get one of their best characters back.</div>
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<b>Special Footage</b></div>
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<i>Ant-Man -</i> Edgar Wright appeared at the Marvel panel at Comic Con, and showed some unfinished footage he shot for the character Ant-Man. It's been heavily rumored that Henry Pym would appear in a later Marvel film as a SHIELD agent. This footage does NOT confirm that an Ant-Man movie is going to be made by Marvel! There are numerous reports saying it is going into production. This is false, right now it is just a fun project for Edgar Wright, who has much bigger things on his hands.</div>
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<i>The Punisher</i> - Recently, Thomas Jane appeared in a 10 minute short-film reprising his role as the Punisher. Whether this means we'll see a new Punisher movie soon or not remains to be seen. For now, it seems the film was made just for fun. It has music from <i>The Dark Knight </i>soundtrack, so I wouldn't view it as anything official. The material is NSFW and inappropriate for viewing on our site, however you can view it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWpK0wsnitc">here</a>.</div>
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<b>New Film</b></div>
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Marvel studios has officially declared their next ensemble film, which is going to involve characters unknown to most people. <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i> will include heroes Drax the Destoryer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Gamora. This recently released concept art shows the characters from left to right.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTIiSNy1QkU/UAUVdDgqJeI/AAAAAAAAAUI/dQIFKMGsopI/s1600/Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Concept-Art-570x248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTIiSNy1QkU/UAUVdDgqJeI/AAAAAAAAAUI/dQIFKMGsopI/s640/Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Concept-Art-570x248.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"What's cooler than Tony Stark and a new suit of armor," you ask?<br /><b>Rocket. Friggen. Raccoon.</b></i></td></tr>
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<i>GOTG</i> is definitely under the class of "unknown." It would take me 4 articles and probably some money spent on comics in order to explain them fully. Rest assured, this will be the film of a lifetime, especially since Rocket Raccoon will be appearing. Also look for a character like Nova to be the main protagonist. This is a direct tie-in to the <i>Avengers</i> mid-credits scene (<a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2012/05/avengers-spoilers.html" target="_blank">spoilers</a>).<br />
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A character like Nova allows the guardians to have connections to earth, and would also allow for an <i>Avengers</i> crossover. Eventually once I've done thorough research of these characters, their stories, and learned enough about them, I'll release something to educate you on these wonderful guardians. Be on the lookout for casting and production rumors!</div>
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<i>Avengers 2</i></div>
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This is just a small tidbit that was released shortly after the premiere of <i>The Amazing Spider-man</i>. Nothing is confirmed as of yet. Sony producers talked publicly about having Andrew Garfield's Spider-man appear in a future Avengers installment. A deal would have to be cut between Sony and Marvel, but Spidey's presence is entirely possible now.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01406849512815088302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-90370975902902532572012-07-16T09:00:00.000-04:002013-03-18T15:35:46.546-04:002012 Part II: 6 Most Anticipated<h3>
6 Films to Look Forward to Before the World Ends</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Continuing the 2012 series</i></td></tr>
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If you read our articles, you've probably seen our 5 best and worst movies from the first half of 2012. In anticipation for the second half of our last year alive, let's look ahead at the second half of the year and see what movies are definitely worthy of a theater visit. Also, stay tuned for the 5 movies to stay away from in these next 6 months. Originally this list was going to consist of 5 movies, but the second half of the year has a bit more going for it than the first.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1cFthrziwew/UUdsaUlKViI/AAAAAAAAAyw/0V9ZeqiFY5k/s1600/hugh_jackman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1cFthrziwew/UUdsaUlKViI/AAAAAAAAAyw/0V9ZeqiFY5k/s1600/hugh_jackman.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hugh as the convict Jean Valjean</i></td></tr>
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<i>
Les Misérables</i></h4>
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Tom Hooper's adaptation of the incredible stage musical looks to be a huge success already. They (wisely) decided not to have Taylor Swift in the film, and instead have Amanda Seyfried playing Cosette. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe star in this French Revolution-era musical. The re-make theme in Hollywood grows much stronger with this film, as yet another classic is getting reworked.<br />
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<h4>
<i>
The Bourne Legacy</i></h4>
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Seemingly taking place around and after the time of the previous Bourne movies, <i>The Bourne Legacy</i> stars Jeremy Renner as the incredibly dangerous Aaron Cross. Edward Norton will get a shot as the antagonist in this film, and we've seen him do this successfully before. Edward Norton and Jeremy Renner are both remarkable actors, and should perform in their respective roles. I have not read the book, but Robert Ludlum's novels rarely fail to impress, as with the film adaptions. Though this is the first novel to be written by someone other than Ludlum (Eric Van Lustbader), the film looks to have the potential to live up to its predecessors. Rachel Weisz also plays a major role in <i>The Bourne Legacy</i> as Aaron's main love-interest. Again, I haven't read the book, so I don't know that for sure. I'm still excited for the 4th Bourne installment.<br />
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Django Unchained</i></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf4GTshnmlk/UAN93WmwPxI/AAAAAAAAATI/pIEMY482xSY/s1600/40575_pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf4GTshnmlk/UAN93WmwPxI/AAAAAAAAATI/pIEMY482xSY/s1600/40575_pro.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I love him, but this is one strange dude</i></td></tr>
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Although I may not be as excited as my fellow bloggers for this film, unarguably Quentin Tarantino is a unique and talented filmmaker, and the cast filling out this movie is equally talented. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, and Jonah Hill should all be names many of you are familiar with. This won't be a movie to take the kids to, as it will contain plenty of profanity and gore. However, the script will dazzle and the plot will no doubt have twists, turns, and a good message to go with. For more on <i>Django Unchained</i>, click <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2012/04/django-unchained-or-rather-best-thing.html">here</a>.<br />
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</i></h4>
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There's not really much to say here, except Peter Jackson, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, and the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch. PJ's return to Middle Earth should dazzle, impress, and make a lot of money. <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy was one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, and the two-part semi-prequel to the series should be just as successful. We have to wait until December for this one, but seeing as how the world should end soon after, I'm glad we have this to look forward to. There are some worries about the <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/2012/05/hobbit-in-48fps.html" target="_blank">increased frame rate used</a> for this movie, but I have faith in Peter Jackson to deliver.<br />
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The Dark Knight Rises</i></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UN1ujwWNHk/T5hew4KMFFI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/M5PX1AWMP7k/s1600/promo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UN1ujwWNHk/T5hew4KMFFI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/M5PX1AWMP7k/s320/promo+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pictured: epic incarnate</i></td></tr>
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There's also very little to say about Christopher Nolan's epic finale to what is arguably (but not really) the greatest comic-book movie franchise to date. Chris has revolutionized these films, and given us something we may never see the likes of again. The cast is mind-blowingly awesome, the scale out-of-this-world, and the story should amaze every person in the theater. You can connect to our many TDKR posts <a href="http://reallyobsessedwithfilm.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Dark%20Knight%20Rises" target="_blank">here</a>, and see the Legend end this Friday.<br />
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Skyfall</i></h4>
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Some of you (as well as some of my fellow bloggers) may be wondering why I put this at the front of my list. There are some other movies that may be deserving of this spot, and I agree that very solid arguments could be made for both second and third on my list to hold the top spot. Hear me out though, as I plead my case.</div>
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When <i>Casino Royale</i> came out in 2006, it provided a much needed revamping of the 007 franchise. There were quite a few Craig-haters at first, but these days I don't hear near as much criticism towards him. He's charming, handsome, and funny, but he also has this raw part that is his dark side. Overall he's an engaging and complicated character. The reboot also changed the tone and style of the Bond films. There's no longer any crazy gadgets like the Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan eras. Everything is grounded in reality and set in modern times. <i>Casino Royale </i>also took right from the source material, which gave the cast and crew something wonderful to work with, and produced an excellent film.</div>
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Sad to say, when the sequel, <i>Quantum of Solace</i>, came out in 2008, audiences were let down. Although not an awful movie, <i>Quantum </i>suffered heavily from the writer's strike and lacked a coherent plot. It was a direct continuation of the first installment, but seemed to raise more questions from the first than it answered.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqhbtuvO2nc/UAN-iE75A2I/AAAAAAAAATQ/_ztWcRclDqE/s1600/Skyfall_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqhbtuvO2nc/UAN-iE75A2I/AAAAAAAAATQ/_ztWcRclDqE/s400/Skyfall_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>No Bond film has managed to contain this car and suck. Daniel knows this.</i></td></tr>
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<i>Skyfall </i>looks to turn things around, with a new story that doesn't directly continue the events of the 2008 sequel. In summary, M (Judi Dench) is haunted by her past and all of MI6 is put at risk. We don't know much else except for what we saw in the teaser trailer. Bond is in some kind of questioning room, and is asked to do some word association. When the questioner says the word "Skyfall", Bond hesitates. Then he simply says "done." This is probably a reference to the Skyfall mansion that belonged to the Bond family in Ian Flemming's novels.</div>
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Let me get to my point though, which is why this movie is number one on my list. <i>Skyfall</i> looks to borrow from the source material. It is already established that this new franchise has incredible potential (<i>Casino Royale</i>). On top of that, everyone there wants to make something that will blow audiences away, and make up for what happened in <i>QOS</i>. <i>Skyfall</i> also adds some big-name actors to it's roster. Ralph Fiennes (The <i>Harry Potter</i> series), Javier Bardem (<i>No Country For Old Men</i>), Naomie Harris (<i>Pirates of the Caribbean 2 </i>and <i>3</i>), and Helen McCrory (<i>Hugo</i>). An addition of Ben Wishaw is being made as well, who will play a young version of MI6's tech-savvy Q. With great source material, a good plot, terrific actors, the addition of a fan-favorite character, and a chip on their shoulder, I'm definitely most excited for <i>Skyfall</i> this year.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01406849512815088302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966408613054904070.post-67130593851056836652012-07-13T16:41:00.000-04:002012-07-13T20:55:22.503-04:00Guest Writer, Ethan Smith - The Dark Knight Rises Trailer 5 - “Journey”<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>YAMB Welcomes Guest Writer Ethan Smith from <a href="http://ethanunscripted.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ethan Unscripted</a></i></span></div>
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<i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> is only a week away, and if you’re between the ages of 5 and 95, you’re excited about it. As if Warner Bros. needed to add any more fuel to the fire, they have released one final trailer that highlights some key moments from the previous two films. This is especially exciting for those of us who are nerdy enough to go see the marathon before the midnight showing on the 19th. (9 hours of Batman! I hope we get bathroom breaks!)<br />
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The trailer begins with a quote from good ol’ Alfred, one of the many characters who provides moral direction for Bruce Wayne. “I never wanted you to come back to Gotham. I always knew there was nothing here for you, except pain and tragedy.”<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CR5t7mMtC4Y/UACHW3a8I0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/OksupoajEMI/s1600/tumblr_m6q0s6lvHu1rzgc5zo2_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CR5t7mMtC4Y/UACHW3a8I0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/OksupoajEMI/s320/tumblr_m6q0s6lvHu1rzgc5zo2_1280.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Creepy Batman is creepy...</i></td></tr>
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Well, that’s kinda depressing! Alfred never wanted Bruce to come back (he was probably enjoying having the mansion and the cars to himself), but it is a good point. As long as Bruce is in Gotham, he will always be reminded of his parents’ deaths, and as long as that reminder is there to drive him, Bruce will never be able to escape the Batman.<br />
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Next we get a shot of Bruce in the well, being swarmed by bats from <i>Batman Begins</i>, before seeing the screen title: “The Beginning of a Legend.” This is followed by the often repeated lines, “Took quite a fall didn’t we, Master Bruce?” (Alfred) “And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.” (Bruce’s dad) We see Bruce kneeling over his fallen parents.<br />
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It's interesting that all the clips which are shown are from the exposition segment of <i>Batman Begins</i>. There are no scenes of Scarecrow or Ra’s Al Ghul or any moments from the climax of the first film. The focus of the trailer is on Batman’s journey and how he has grown and changed as a character throughout the series. We are not shown action scenes or scenes in which Bruce gets his suit or the tumbler. Those are “how” moments. Rather, we are reminded of his fear of bats and his parents death. It’s the “why” moments of inspiration that are key here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight</i></td></tr>
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This brings us to the screen title “The Fall of a Hero” with a Bruce Wayne voice-over saying: “I was meant to inspire good. Not madness, not death.” We see the Joker and a ravaged Harvey Dent. Then the Bat-signal is broken as Harvey says, “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” The final piece of this segment is of the final shot in The <i>Dark Knight</i>, as Batman flees Gotham PD on the Batpod.<br />
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We are reminded that Harvey Dent’s prediction comes true, and that Batman is now considered a villain, although he might not technically be one. The focus of this flashback is on the concluding scenes of <i>The Dark Knight</i>, with Batman sacrificing his reputation. If <i>The Dark Knight</i> was about Batman’s “fall,” then <i>The Dark Knights Rises</i> will be about . . . well, you can probably guess.<br />
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“The End of a Journey” flashes on screen before we revisit the football stadium scene coming up in <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>, followed by a quote from Bane. “We will destroy Gotham,” he says in his creepy, muffled accent as footage is shown of a stock trade being ambushed and the bridges collapsing. That's followed by another voice-over – “People of Gotham, we have not abandoned you” – which confuses John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), but Gordon clarifies: “It means we’re on our own.” The trailer gets really intense as we see the city on fire, torn American flags, a prison breakout, two masses of people about to violently collide, and two tumblers chasing each other down the street.<br />
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Clearly desperate times will lure Batman out of retirement, but this will no longer be Bruce’s home turf. The criminal landscape of Gotham has changed (there’s a woman running around dressed like a cat for crying out loud) and Batman will clearly be forced to fight out of his element. This is given physical shape as we’ve seen more and more of Batman having to take action in the middle of the day, instead of at night in his comfort zone, and against Bane, who can actually challenge Batman physically. The new TV spot shows us that this is a Batman who has taken a beating over the years as Batman, and his body is already falling apart as it is. We’re also given a sense of the scale of the film. The climaxes of <i>Batman Begins</i> and <i>The Dark Knight</i> were largely Batman versus an individual or two. Here Gotham is engaged in civil war. The scope of this movie is going to be insane and it seems things are going to be desperate.<br />
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Which is probably why Alfred offers up some more advice: “You see only one end to your journey. But sometimes a man rises from the darkness.” We see shots of some as-of-yet unexplained prison before John Blake asks Batman, “What now?” to which Batman responds, “War.” See? I told you it’s gonna be huge!<br />
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The trailer concludes with the screen titles, “On July 20th” … “A Fire Will Rise.” These are intercut with Catwoman telling Batman, “You don’t owe these people any more. You’ve given them everything.” Batman replies, “Not everything. Not yet.” (Ugh! Stop hinting that Batman may or may not die! It’s driving us crazy to figure out what’s going to happen!) We see the new Bat-transportation, called simply the Bat, chasing a tumbler, Batman and Bane throwing their first punches during what is possibly the climax, and Batman declaring, “I’m not afraid - I’m angry.”<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5l7blBLH5DQ/UACD7O7ZteI/AAAAAAAAASk/rRMIhqVxxm4/s1600/bat_hulk_colored__by_aztech2009-d3l053s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5l7blBLH5DQ/UACD7O7ZteI/AAAAAAAAASk/rRMIhqVxxm4/s320/bat_hulk_colored__by_aztech2009-d3l053s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Bat-Hulk smash!"</i></td></tr>
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Again, they’re really teasing us with the whole will-Batman-die bit, but the focus is still on the character journey. Much of this series is focused on fear, and finally it seems the character ultimately overcomes his own doubts; that he finally knows exactly who he is as both Bruce Wayne and as Batman. That line at the end is my favorite part of the trailer and I can’t wait to find out how he, at last, fully embraces who he is (likely right before kicking a ton of butt!).</div>
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And finally, there was <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>. Wow. A week feels like forever!<br />
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<i>Note from YAMB: We're very luck to have Ethan writing for us. Expect to see more from him over the next few weeks, as well as other guest writers. Thanks Ethan!</i></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01406849512815088302noreply@blogger.com1