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NEWS:
From CounterPunch: Black lives do not matter... because nothing much else does.
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From YahooNews: The story of Santa Claus.
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From Variety: Thom Yorke posts the song they produced for the Bond movie, Spectre, which the Bond bosses rejected. A shame really...
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From YahooTech: Quentin Tarantino names "Mad Max: Fury Road" his best film of 2015.
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From TheNation: Obama's NPR interview causes another right-wing freakout.
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From THR: Michael Moore talks about on new wave of gun violence.
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From BloodyDisgusting: Rob Zombie's upcoming film, "31" has received an NC-17 rating... for a second time.
From BloodyDisgusting: A Rob Zombie red carpet interview.
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From HitFix: Robert DeNiro compares Jennifer Lawrence and David O'Russell's relationship to the one he has with Martin Scorsese.
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From Variety: Johnny Depp is most overpaid actor.
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From HitFix: Jennifer Lawrence is over "cool girls."
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From BoxOfficeMojo: With the weekend actual numbers announced, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" sets a record for biggest opening weekend at the global box office with a take of $529 million, which surpasses "Jurassic World" and its opening weekend global haul of $524.9 million.
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From YahooMovies: The stage play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" debuts a middle-aged trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with Hermione being a Black woman.
From FlickeringMyth: Art from "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
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From BoxOfficeMojo: The #1 movie at the 12/18 to 12/20/2015 weekend box office is "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" with an estimated take of $238 million, a record for a domestic opening weekend. The previous record holder was Jurassic World with $208.8 million.
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From YahooNews: Channing Tatum pestered Quentin Tarantino for a month to get in "The Hateful Eight."
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From WashPost: Heroic Tennessee teen football player shot to death trying to protect three girls.
COMICS - Films and Books:
From YahooMovies: Fans won't be disappointed by the number of characters appearing in "Avengers: Infinity War."
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From Vulture: Kurt Russell confirms that he is in talks to appear in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
STAR WARS:
From YahooNews: John Boyega is connected to a tragic crime.
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From YahooMovies: 5 super Star Wars Spoilers - the biggest bombshells (SPOILER ALERT)
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: Deadpool Christmas trailer.
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From YahooMovies: First teaser for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
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From YouTube: 20th Century Fox's "Eddie the Eagle" with Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Review: New "Fantastic Four" is Fantastically Problematic
[A version of this review originally appeared on Patreon.]
Fantastic Four (2015)
Running time: 100 minutes (1 hour, 40 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and language
DIRECTOR: Josh Trank
WRITERS: Simon Kinberg, Jeremy Slater, and Josh Trank (based on characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS: Gregory Goodman, Simon Kinberg, Robert Kulzer, Hutch Parker, and Matthew Vaughn
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Matthew Jensen
EDITORS: Elliot Greenberg and Stephen E. Rivkin
COMPOSER: Marco Beltrami and Philip Glass
SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION
Starring: Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kata Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey, Tim Blake Nelson, Owen Judge, Evan Hannemann, Don Yesso, and Dan Castellaneta
Fantastic Four is a 2015 superhero movie and science fiction film from director Josh Trank. It is the third film in 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four film franchise, and it is also a reboot of that franchise. Fantastic Four 2015 follows four young people whose physical forms are changed in shocking ways after being exposed to energy from an alternate and dangerous universe.
Reed Richards (Miles Teller) and Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell) have been friends since childhood, when Ben started helping Reed build his prototype teleportation device. It is in high school when they attract the attention of Professor Franklin Storm (Reg E. Cathey), who is the director of the Baxter Foundation, a government-sponsored research institute for young prodigies.
Reed joins the foundation and begins working with Storm's adopted daughter, Susan “Sue” Storm (Kate Mara), and eventually his son, Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan). Reed also gets to work with Professor Storm's wayward protege, Victor Von Doom (Toby Kebbell). Together, this quartet builds a device called the “Quantum Gate,” which opens a way to “Zero,” a planet in an parallel dimension. Awaiting those who travel to “Zero,” however, is energy that will change them in unimaginable and fantastic ways.
Fantastic Four isn't a good movie, but it isn't a terrible movie. It is like flavorless chewing gum. The gum might start with a lot of promise, but pretty soon you're just chewing for the sake of chewing and the flavor is gone. That is this Fantastic Four reboot. It starts off with promise, but pretty soon, the story seems to be just going through the motions, and I was simply watching it out of habit, waiting for the end credits to roll.
Fantastic Four 2015 is mostly build-up. In some ways, it is like a long teaser for another movie, the real Fantastic Four (or “FF”) movie that is “coming soon.” What we get with this new movie is something akin to a prologue or an overly long introductory act. In fact, this film's big villain, called “Doom,” rather than Doctor Doom, does not show up until the last 10 or 15 minutes of the movie.
I think that there are a kernel or two of good ideas in this new Fantastic Four that could become something good... in a second movie... produced by an entirely different group of people. I think that the special effects for Reed Richards' (Mr. Fantastic) stretching powers is much better than it was in the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four films. Ben Grimm (The Thing) looks better in this reboot than in the earlier films. Hard as it is to believe, Kate Mara as Sue Storm is worse than Jessica Alba as Sue in the first two films. I like Michael B. Jordan, but his Johnny Storm (Human Torch) is stiff compared to Chris Evans' rascally Human Torch from the earlier films.
Overall, director Josh Trank has made a Fantastic Four film that is actually less entertaining than Tim Story's uneven 2005 and 2007 FF films. I wouldn't recommend this even to comic book fans. It is so mediocre and uninspiring that it isn't even awful enough to be an enjoyable “bad movie.” It is like the ultimate average and bland film. This Fantastic Four makes it clear that 20th Century Fox should just stop making Fantastic Four movies.
4 of 10
C
Saturday, August 8, 2015
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
10 Compete for "Visual Effects" Oscar at 88th Academy Awards
10 CONTENDERS REMAIN IN VFX OSCAR RACE
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 88th Academy Awards®.
The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
“Ant-Man”
“Avengers: Age of Ultron”
“Ex Machina”
“Jurassic World”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“The Martian”
“The Revenant”
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
“Tomorrowland”
“The Walk”
The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 88th Academy Awards®.
The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
“Ant-Man”
“Avengers: Age of Ultron”
“Ex Machina”
“Jurassic World”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“The Martian”
“The Revenant”
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
“Tomorrowland”
“The Walk”
The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2015
New Trailer and Poster for Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some" Released
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME
Check out the trailer and poster for Richard Linklater’s spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused
Link: https://youtu.be/q58EeFx1R3c
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME is in-theaters April 15, 2016
#EverybodyWantsSome
Official Movie Site: http://www.everybodywantssomemovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverybodyWantsSomeMovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EWSMovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EWSMovie/
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Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some" to Open SXSW Film Festival 2016
SXSW FILM ANNOUNCES RICHARD LINKLATER’S EVERYBODY WANTS SOME TO OPEN 2016 FILM FESTIVAL
Austin, Texas – The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Film Conference and Festival announced the world premiere of Everybody Wants Some as its Opening Night film for the 23rd edition of SXSW Film on March 11, 2016 in Austin, Texas. Set in the world of 1980s college life, Everybody Wants Some is a comedy, directed and written by Richard Linklater, that follows a group of college baseball players as they navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. Get ready for the best weekend ever.
Richard Linklater is a world-class filmmaker who put Austin on the map. He creates consistently stellar work including Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, Scanner Darkly, School of Rock, Bernie, Fast Food Nation, the Midnight trilogy and last year’s Academy Award®-nominated Boyhood. Linklater also serves as the Artistic Director for the Austin Film Society, which he founded in 1985.
“We are so thrilled to premiere Richard’s latest work, which is really funny, instantly quotable, filled will great new talent,” said Janet Pierson, head of SXSW Film. “Audiences are going to love this paean to competition and coming of age in the 80s.”
Everybody Wants Some features an ensemble cast of Will Brittain, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Anthony Guzman, Tyler Hoechlin, Blake Jenner, Glen Powell and Wyatt Russell. The film is written and directed by Richard Linklater and produced by Megan Ellison of Annapurna Pictures, Richard Linklater and Ginger Sledge. Paramount Pictures will release the film on April 15, 2016.
Everybody Wants Some is designated as a SXsports film, which means that Film, Interactive, Gold, and Platinum badges all have access to attend the screening.
Additional teasers for the 2016 event will be released in December. Feature Films (with the exception of Midnighters) will be announced on Tuesday, February 2. Midnighters, all Short Films, Music Videos and Title Sequences will be announced on Tuesday, February 9.
SXSW REGISTRATION DEADLINE – REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 20 AND SAVE
Register for a SXSW badge today at sxsw.com/attend, and join us March 11 – 20, 2016 for unparalleled access to screenings, sessions, parties, the SXSW Trade Show and, of course, a creative and inspirational experience that only SXSW can deliver. Be sure to register soon, and gain access to conveniently located hotels. Register by 11:59pm CT on Friday, November 20 and save off the walk-up rate.
About SXSW
Now in its 23rd year, SXSW Film brings together creatives of all stripes over nine days to experience a diverse film line up and access to more than 500 Conference sessions with visionaries from all corners of the entertainment and media industries. SXSW 2016 takes place March 11-20 in Austin, TX.
The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique industry convergence of music, film, and Interactive technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth, SXSW is the premier destination for discovery. The event is a launch pad for innovative content with new media presentations, music showcases and film screenings providing exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for attendees. For more information, please visit sxsw.com.
SXSW March 11-20 | Interactive March 11-15 | Film March 11-19 | Music March 15-20
SXSW is proud to be an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® Short Film competition. The Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short winners become eligible for the Academy Awards.
SXSW 2016 is sponsored by Esurance, Mazda, Monster Energy Capitol One, Bud Light, McDonalds and The Austin Chronicle.
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"Showman Killer" Returns with "The Golden Child"
May 18, 2016, Titan Comics will be publishing The Golden Child, the second in the hit science fiction saga, Showman Killer.
By visionary writer and director Alejandro Jodorowsky with art from Nicolas Fructus this second in the series will feature the trademark esoteric flair and uncompromising vision that made the first in the series such a hit.
"A prophet of creativity...one of the most inspiring artists of our time." - Kanye West on Alejandro Jodorowsky
In a moment of madness, the heartless Showman Killer has found himself responsible for a helpless infant, forced upon him by the mysterious Ibis. The Showman Killer must unravel the mystery of the forces at work in the cosmos, and find out exactly why this child is so important.
"The Golden Child is the second in the Showman Killer series and takes us even deeper into the mind of a man created with no ethics, no moral code or boundaries," says Titan Comics editor, Lizzie Kaye. "Jodorowsky's writing paired with Fructas' art makes this graphic novel a real treat for readers."
Showman Killer: The Golden Child will be available in stores and on digital devices from May 18, 2016 and is available to order from JANUARY PREVIEWS (order code: JAN161697)
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Image Comics' "Revival" Enters New Story Arc with Issue #36
REVIVAL STEPS OUT IN NEW STORY ARC
Issue #36 is a stand-alone before the new arc begins
New York Times bestselling writer Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Eisner Award-winning artist Mike Norton (IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS) will launch a special stand-alone issue in their ongoing rural noir series REVIVAL this January.
Previously in REVIVAL, the rural town of Wausau, Wisconsin was rocked by a vicious attack on its county courthouse, and Dana fought to protect Em from the scarred assassin Black Deer—casting a harsh light on the goings-on at The Farm in the process.
In REVIVAL #36, 98-year-old fitness guru Lester Majak reassesses what it means to live forever in a city full of the undead.
“Issue #36 focuses on one man's experience in Wausau, in the new status quo set up after issue #35,” said Seeley. “It's a bittersweet story about living with death when that doesn't mean what it used to.”
REVIVAL #36 (Diamond code NOV150539) hits stores Wednesday, January 27th, 2016. Final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, January 4th, 2016.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
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