The past seven days

Friday, August 30, 2013

It's Official: Bradley Cooper to voice Rocket Raccoon

This was rumored earlier in the week, but it's been made official that Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) will voice Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel made the announcement today. Now to wait and see if Vin Diesel is actually voicing Groot and we'll be all set.
"Rocket Raccoon has finally found his voice!
Academy Award-nominated actor Bradley Cooper has officially joined the cast of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” lending his voice to the fan-favorite raccoon that will join Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Drax (Dave Bautista) on their epic adventure.
Cooper has previously starred in “Silver Linings Playbook,” for which he was nominated for an Oscar®, “Limitless,” “Place Beyond the Pines” and the “Hangover” trilogy, the latter of which has grossed $1.4 billion globally. He will next be seen in “American Hustle” which will reunite him with “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell. “Guardians of the Galaxy” will mark Cooper’s first voiceover work.
In the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an unlikely cast of characters including Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Groot and Rocket Raccoon must join forces to defeat a cosmic force of epic proportions. Directed by James Gunn, the live-action “Guardians of the Galaxy” will take fans to new corners of the Marvel Universe when it hits theaters August 1, 2014, but in the meantime stay tuned to Marvel.com for the latest news as it breaks, including official casting, first looks and more!
In addition to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including “Thor: The Dark World” on November 8; “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” on April 4, 2014; “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015; and “Ant-Man” on November 6, 2015."

Thursday, August 29, 2013

James Spader to play Ultron in The Avengers 2

Three-time Emmy winner James Spader has been cast to play the big villain, Ultron, in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. This casting is rather unexpected and we have no further information other than the actual casting.
There is some speculation about exactly how Spader will play Ultron seeing that he is a robot. Some are guessing Spader might do some motion capture and voice work. Others speculate he could just wear a robot costume and be assisted by CGI, similar to what they have done with Iron Man.

When I read this the first thing I thought of was Pretty in Pink. Yes, the John Hughes movie. Since then he has appeared on Boston Legal and The Practice. He was also in Lincoln which was popular around awards season. I think Spader will be a good addition to the Marvel Universe. I give them credit for getting some really great actors in these movies.


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

[Rumor] Alex Pettyfer read for Star Wars: Episode VII

I sure hope this one is a rumor that stays a rumor.

Word on the internets is that Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike) has read for an undisclosed role rumored to be Luke Skywalker's son. This comes about after Ryan Gosling declined a role. Also rumored to have read for the role of Leia and Han's daughter is Rachel Hurd-Wood (Solomon Kane).

This honestly disgusts me as I cannot, and I repeat, cannot stand Alex Pettyfer. I don't think he is a good actor in the least and from what I have heard he is one of the most arrogant, difficult actors to work with. I remember reading something about him when Magic Mike was filming that almost caused Channing Tatum to quit. Type "Alex Pettyfer attitude problem" into Google and you'll find a lot of articles about his on and off set antics. If he is cast I will be pissed beyond belief. They could do so much better.
As for Rachel Hurd-Wood, I don't recall ever seeing her in anything so I don't have much of a reaction. I'm sure she isn't the only actress under consideration and/or reading for the role so I'm not putting too much into this just yet.


I just wish they would cast this movie already. Star Wars is getting as bad as Fifty Shades of Grey when it comes to casting. It seems like there is a new rumor every week.


Insidious: Chapter 2 double feature

It seems as though the double feature is making a comeback. It was announced that theaters nationwide will be hosting an Insidious double feature on Thursday, September 12th. You will have the opportunity to see Insidious on the big screen once more and then watch the premiere of Insidious: Chapter 2 at midnight on Friday, September 13th. Some theaters are starting a bit early and screening the movie earlier than midnight.

Insidious: Chapter 2 is the sequel to James Wan's 2010 horror film Insidious. It told the story of a family who experiences paranormal entities and demons after their son slips into a mysterious coma. I thought Insidious was fantastic, but James Wan has gained a lot of press and credibility lately with the release of The Conjuring this past July. I hope Insidious: Chapter 2 lives up to the hype and not only gives Wan another great movie under his belt, but that it gives us a deserving and enjoyable sequel.


Star Trek and World War Z get Labor Day re-releases

If you managed to miss World War Z or Star Trek Into Darkness this summer you will have the chance to catch them in theaters once again as Paramount is re-releasing the movies as a double bill over the Labor Day holiday. You can see both movies at one ticket price from August 30th to September 5th. They won't be released in IMAX but you will have the option of 2D or 3D.

The major theater chains carrying the double bill are:

AMC Theatres
Regal Cinemas
Carmike Cinemas
Marcus Theaters

As always, check your local theater listings to see who is going to be participating.



If I remember correctly, World War Z has already had a theatrical re-release so I find this a bit ridiculous. Why they chose to release it for a third time when it's going to be on DVD on September 17th is out of control.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Evan Ross cast for Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2

The Hunger Games casting seems to be going a bit wild right now. This is the third casting announcement in the past couple of days.

We got word via Twitter today that Evan Ross (CW's 90210) has been cast as Messalla, the video production assistant to Cressida. Messalla is a Capitol native who later joins the rebellion and is part of a television crew who follows Katniss to film short propaganda films. He is valuable to the rebels because he knows the secret hiding spots of supplies within the Capitol.
I don't know anything about this kid, but after a quick Google search I learned he is the son of singer Diana Ross. That's about it.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 hits theaters on November 21, 2014 and Part 2 hits on November 20, 2015.



American Horror Story: Coven gets a release date

The third installment of the FX drama series American Horror Story has an official release date of October 9th. The third season, appropriately titled Coven, focuses on witchcraft and takes place over a period of decades in New Orleans.

On deck to appear is Kathy Bates playing a serial killer named Madam LaLaurie. She kept slaves captive in her home in the 1800's. The cast also includes Angela Bassett, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Alexandra Breckenridge, Patti LuPone, Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Denis O'Hare, Frances Conroy, and Jessica Lange.

In addition to the release date, we also have some new teasers and the official plot outline. Already I am thinking this looks better than Asylum. I might have to watch Coven.
“Over 300 years have passed since the turbulent days of the Salem witch trials and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. Mysterious attacks have been escalating against their kind and young girls are being sent away to a special school in New Orleans to learn how to protect themselves. Wrapped up in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who is harboring a terrifying secret of her own. Alarmed by the recent aggression, Fiona (Jessica Lange), the long-absent Supreme, sweeps back into town, determined to protect the Coven and hell-bent on decimating anyone who gets in her way.“


Nine Inch Nails' Hesitation Marks streams for free on iTunes

The new studio album from Nine Inch Nails titled Hesitation Marks officially drops next week on September 3rd, but it was put up for free streaming via iTunes last night as a sneak preview. I'm sure because of it the album has leaked online but that isn't important. I listened to Hesitation Marks last night because I am an impatient fangirl and although I wouldn't say it is a bad album I definitely wouldn't say it is a favorite.

I am a major Nine Inch Nails fan and have been listening to them for many years. I haven't encountered a time when I didn't really like something that Trent Reznor gave us so I am a bit lost right now. I mean, I'm not a huge fan of With Teeth but even then I didn't feel the way I do now. I think the album started off strong with the tracks "Copy of A" and "Came Back Haunted," but after those it just morphed into what felt like one giant, 50min song. It all sounded very similar and was dull and quite boring. Ordinarily I would have been bobbing my head to a beat but I only found myself doing that when "Satellite" was playing.
Yes I have to admit... I only liked three songs, maybe four. The saddest thing for me is two of those I have been listening to for a while now because Trent released "Came Back Haunted" and "Copy of A" early. The majority of the songs were just a dull roar for me. It sounded like Trent was still in movie mode and created another score only this time he decided to put words to each song. It felt very forced.
Now with all that said, I wouldn't call this a bad album. It is identifiable and you can tell it is Nine Inch Nails. I just feel like Trent was trying to mix all of his sound from the past 20+ years instead of trying to move to a new area like he continuously has done with each album release. When you look at the musical evolution of Nine Inch Nails it is rather incredible and noticeable. With Hesitation Marks it's like he sat down and was like, let me just mix everything and see what happens. It should have worked but I don't think it quite got there.
I'm not saying I don't want to own this album because I will, but I would put Hesitation Marks on the same level of The Slip and With Teeth (to some extent). It has a few good songs but it isn't an album I would listen to straight through more than I had to.


It's alright. I still love you, Nine Inch Nails. See you in November.









#NIN2013 #HesitationMarks

Monday, August 26, 2013

Star Wars: Episode VII aiming for Christmas 2015 release

I called it.

We still don't have a completed script or any official casting information, but we do have word that Star Wars: Episode VII is looking at a production start in January 21, 2014 with a late, Christmas release in 2015. That is quite sometime after the initial reports of a summer 2015 release. That is closer to 2016 than we thought.

It was previously rumored that Disney was looking at a December release date for Episode VII, which I personally thought made sense, and this new information supports that. If they wanted a summer release date and have it be as good as it could be the film would have started production this year and not waited until January. Hell, The Avengers: Age of Ultron has and has had more wheels turning than Star Wars does which makes sense seeing that its release date is May 2015.

Like I said in a previous post, a release in late 2015 would put Star Wars in competition (to some degree) with:

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
Finding Dory
Kung Fu Panda 3
Inferno
Ant-Man
Bond 24

Some movies that still don't have official release dates but are aiming for 2015 are:

Avatar 2
Jurassic Park 4
Prometheus 2
Snow White and the Huntsman 2
Ratchet & Clank
Mission Impossible 5
Pitch Perfect 2


I don't know if I would necessarily bet for a Christmas day release for Episode VII, but I think anytime in December is most likely at this point. The only other option is to try and squeeze it in by Thanksgiving and put it in direct competition with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 and Finding Dory.

Stef Dawson joins Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2

Australian actress Stef Dawson has joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2. She will be playing Annie Cresta, a former victor and love interest of Finnick Odair.

If you need some catch up on Annie:

She was the winner from District 4 at the 70th annual Hunger Games entering as a career tribute.
She went a bit insane after witnessing her District 4 partner get beheaded.
Is the one true love of Finnick.
Described to have green eyes and flowing brown hair.
She avoided the Quarter Quell (in Catching Fire) after Mags volunteered to take her place.


Not really who I pictured as Annie, but oh well. I've honestly never heard of this girl so I don't know what to expect.




Official synopsis for Tomorrowland revealed

We now have a synopsis for the movie that no one seemed to know anything about.

Tomorrowland, the new film by Brad Bird, has been kept under wraps for quite sometime and even escaped the D23 Expo without anything being leaked or spoiled. Here is the just released synopsis:
Bound by a shared destiny, a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor jaded by disillusionment embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as “Tomorrowland.”
Tomorrowland stars George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, and Britt Robertson. Writers include Damon Lindelof and Jeff Jensen with Brad Bird directing. Bird also co-wrote the screenplay. Production just began with the aimed release date for December 12, 2014.


Sunday, August 25, 2013

[Rumor] Bryan Cranston cast as Lex Luthor

Rumor alert!

I saw this a while ago, but some sources are claiming that Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) has been cast as Lex Luthor for a minimum of six films including Batman vs. Superman. Apparently they are postponing the official press release to give Breaking Bad a time to wrap up and so they can ride the momentum of the finale.

If this is true, Cranston will join Henry Cavill and new cast member Ben Affleck. In addition to Cranston signing for six films with an extension to 10 possible, Affleck has reportedly signed on for 13 Batman appearances. The role of Lex Luthor was previously rumored to be leaning toward Mark Strong (Kick-Ass), but seeing that he already appeared as Sinestro in the box office disaster Green Lantern, DC and Warner Bros. wanted to take a different route.

Batman vs. Superman is the next installment to the DC Universe that will hit on July 17, 2015.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Ben Affleck signed for multiple Batman appearances

We learned the other night that Ben Affleck has signed on to play Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, Batman vs. Superman. We now have information that Affleck has signed on for multiple films.

The reception has been overwhelmingly negative in regards to Affleck's casting. There was even a petition proposed to President Obama to make it illegal for Affleck to play Batman. The saddest part is it got over 5,000 signatures in less than 24-hours. However, Warner Bros. doesn't seem phased by the reception because Affleck has signed on for multiple films. I can only assume said multiples will include Justice League and at least one standalone Batman film. Who knows, he might even appear in the proposed movie for The Flash which is set to hit in 2016. Another possibility that the multiple movie deal isn't just acting. Affleck is a very talented director and has awards to prove it. I mention this because it was previously rumored that Affleck could be directing Justice League, so anything is possible.
We also have to bear in mind that his future as Batman will most likely depend on the reception of Batman vs. Superman, so we just have to be patient. If people hate it WB might can the whole thing and we may never get Justice League or The Flash. Everyone pull their panties out of their ass. 

In addition to the multiple movie deal, we got word that Batman vs. Superman will be entering production in February 2014 and will run all the way until August. That is an extremely long shoot but I suppose they need it if they're going to make the release date on time. Batman vs. Superman is set to hit theaters on July 17, 2015.


Friday, August 23, 2013

Stan Lee will not appear in X-Men: Days of Future Past

Stan Lee, the comic legend, has made somewhat of a regular expectation of having a cameo in Marvel films. They're nothing substantial but when you see a Marvel movie you expect to see Stan Lee at least once. Lee has actually made 17 cameos in the past 13 years. However, Lee will not have a cameo in Bryan Singer's X-Men: Days of Future Past.

This isn't too surprising as he did not appear in X2, X-Men: First Class, and The Wolverine. It seems that X-Men films are where he is missing the most. Some are guessing his age has something to do with it because the man will turn 91 this year, but he insists that he is simply choosing what he wants and doesn't want to do.

The complete list of Stan Lee cameos include:

X-Men
X-Men: The Last Stand
Spider-Man
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 3
The Amazing Spider-Man
Daredevil
Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 3
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Captain America: The First Avenger
Thor
The Avengers 


Now, keep in mind that just because he passed up Days of Future Past doesn't mean he won't appear in any more Marvel films. I have no doubt he's somewhere to be found in the Phase Two movies and/or The Amazing Spider-Man 2.


Guardians of the Galaxy main villain announced

Kevin Feige has confirmed that Ronan the Accuser (played by Lee Pace) is the main villain in Guardians of the Galaxy. However, Thanos will have a part in the movie. Feige describes the scene as Ronan being the big villain with Thanos sort of overseeing it all and that we will see more than just a couple seconds of him like we did after The Avengers
There is still no word on casting for Thanos. Some are suggesting that James Gunn and Marvel could pull another trick on the audience like Shane Black did with Iron Man 3. If you didn't know, the reveal of The Mandarin wasn't really what people expected. Could other characters like The Collector (Benicio del Toro) and Yondu (Michael Rooker) potentially be Thanos in disguise? Nothing is impossible as far as Marvel goes. I think they have proved that by now.
Seeing that Ultron has been revealed as the main villain for The Avengers 2 (aka, The Avengers: Age of Ultron) it is possible that they will tease us with Thanos for years to come. Some are speculating Thanos might not meet his final battle until The Avengers 3. Seeing that this movie leads directly into The Avengers: Age of Ultron, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ultron in one way or another. Even if it's just a post-credits scene.

Aside from villain news, Feige also confirmed that Guardians of the Galaxy takes place in the same timeframe as the other Phase Two films. I suppose that means there could potentially be subtle tie-ins or references to Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Guardians of the Galaxy hits theaters on August 1, 2014 and is the last part of Phase Two before The Avengers: Age of Ultron hits in 2015.


Thursday, August 22, 2013

[Update] Ben Affleck to play Batman

Apparently being in one bad comic book movie wasn't enough. Warner Bros. announced today after much speculation who will be playing Bruce Wayne (aka, Batman) in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, Batman vs. Superman. That man is Ben Affleck.

Affleck previously played Matt Murdock (aka, Daredevil) in the 2003 Marvel bomb Daredevil. That movie spawned Elektra which was another awful movie, but that's another story. Despite it all, he did win Oscars and Golden Globes for his 2012 movie Argo so he does have some credibility. His Batman predecessors include Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale.
One plus side about this whole ordeal is the story is describing Batman as a man older than Clark Kent who has already seen the battle scars, so hopefully this means we don't have to sit through yet another Batman origins story. If we do I might scream.

Now, this is some interesting news as it was previously rumored that Ben Affleck was set to direct Justice League. With this casting it does give some potential for Affleck to direct Justice League if Zack Snyder doesn't do it. Either way this is an interesting choice for me. I was not hoping for or expecting Ben Affleck. This is going to be interesting.

Batman vs. Superman (aka, Man of Steel 2) is set for release on July 17, 2015.


Here is the Warner Bros. press release:
"Ending weeks of speculation, Ben Affleck has been set to star as Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne.  Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder’s as-yet-untitled project—bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director’s vision of their universe, which he established in “Man of Steel.”  The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
The studio has slated the film to open worldwide on July 17, 2015.
Last month’s surprise announcement of the new movie featuring both Superman and Batman created a wave of excitement and immediately fueled discussion and debate—among fans as well as in the media—about who would put on the cape and cowl of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego.
Snyder successfully re-imagined the origin of Clark Kent/Superman in the worldwide blockbuster “Man of Steel,” which has earned more than $650 million worldwide to date, and climbing.  The director will now create an original vision of Batman and his world for the film that brings the two DC Comics icons together.
Affleck will star opposite Henry Cavill, who will reprise the role of Superman/Clark Kent.  The film will also reunite “Man of Steel” stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.
In the announcement, Silverman stated, “We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some.  His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”
Snyder also expressed his excitement about the casting of Affleck, noting, “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman.  He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne.  I can’t wait to work with him.”
Kroll added, “We are so thrilled that Ben is continuing Warner Bros.’ remarkable legacy with the character of Batman.  He is a tremendously gifted actor who will make this role his own in this already much-anticipated pairing of these two beloved heroes.”
Affleck recently starred in the Academy Award®-winning Best Picture “Argo,” which he also directed and produced, earning acclaim and a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance in the film, as well as a number of directing honors.  In 2010, he starred in and directed the hit crime thriller “The Town.”  His recent acting work also includes “The Company Men,” “State of Play,” and “Hollywoodland,” for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.  Earlier in his career, Affleck starred in and co-wrote (with Matt Damon) “Good Will Hunting,” for which he won an Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay.
The new Super Hero film is being scripted by David S. Goyer from a story he co-created with Zack Snyder.  Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan and Wesley Coller serving as executive producers.
Production is expected to begin in 2014.
The film is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, and Batman characters created by Bob Kane, published by DC Entertainment."



[UPDATE] Ben Affleck has signed on for multiple films. Read about it here.



#Batman #JusticeLeague #BenAffleck #BenAffleckBatman

Natalie Dormer joins Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2; Sharni Vinson for Adi Shankar

We have some casting news for the day.

First up is that Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) has signed onto The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2 to play the role of Cressida. If you're unaware of what part Cressida plays, basically she is a resident director of the Capitol who joins the rebellion. She assists Katniss throughout the rebellion and uses her to create anti-Capitol propaganda. You can see Dormer in two films coming up; Ron Howard's race car drama Rush and Ridley Scott's The Counselor.


Second, we have some casting news about Adi Shankar's all female Expendables project that was announced a while ago. In addition to Gina Carano and Katee Sackhoff, it was released that Sharni Vinson has joined the film. Don't know that name? Neither does anyone else!
Vinson is in the upcoming horror film You're Next and has appeared in Step Up 3D. She was also a series regular on the Australian television series Home and Away. Her casting shows that the movie is progressing and moving toward an actual production date. Who knows, it could even technically be The Expendables 4.


[Update] Elizabeth Olsen in final talks for The Avengers 2

I wrote just yesterday that Elizabeth Olsen was under consideration for the role of Scarlet Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. We now have an update that states Olsen is indeed in final negotiations and barring any setbacks has the role locked.

She will join Aaron Taylor-Johnson, if his negotiations are ever finalized, as Magneto's twin children. It will also mark the second collaboration between Olsen and Taylor-Johnson as the two just wrapped Godzilla. Scarlet Witch is expected to be a major asset for the heroes as she has the ability to alter probability and outcomes.

Pirates of the Caribbean 5 official title revealed

So long POTC 5 and hello... Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Yeah, there really isn't much else to say here other than we now have the official title for the fifth Pirates movie. Dead Men Tell No Tales seems a bit long, but I guess it isn't worse than Curse of the Black Pearl. We can expect the new Pirates flick during Disney's massive release summer on July 15, 2015.

Charlie Hunnam considered for Fifty Shades of Grey

Casting rumors for the movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey have been swirling for months, but there is still nothing official. The only thing we know for sure so far is that Sam Taylor-Johnson is directing and it shares the August 1, 2014 release date with Guardians of the Galaxy.

We're starting to get more casting rumors now as word has come out that the frontrunner for the role of Christian Grey is Charlie Hunnam. You know Hunnam from the show Sons of Anarchy and Pacific Rim. I read the book and I wouldn't necessarily say he is perfect casting for the role, but he would probably make it work.
Now with this said, it has also been expressed by the studio that they are hoping to cast Anastasia Steele before Christian Grey. This has been done many times to make sure there is chemistry between the actors. A prime example would be Twilight. Kristen Stewart was cast as Bella Swan long before Robert Pattinson was cast as Edward Cullen. Stewart went through weeks of auditions with many actors as director Christine Hardwicke searched for the right actor for her Bella. It was rumored earlier this week that Dakota Johnson (The Social Network) was under consideration for the role of Anastasia Steele. Yet another questionable casting for me, but it happens.

Now obviously this could all change once there is an actress on board for Fifty Shades of Grey, but for right now it appears the frontrunners are in fact Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam. As for schedules the one who has a pretty busy future is Hunnam as he is committed to at least two more seasons of Sons of Anarchy and Hunnam himself is denying that he has been cast in the role. Either way casting needs to get somewhat underway before too long if they want to make the August release date. 







Fifty Shades of Grey tells the story of a young, wealthy businessman who recruits a virginal college student to be his sex slave. Yes, it is as bad as it sounds. The movie is based off the first book in EL James' Fifty Shades trilogy.

Bradley Cooper offered Guardians of the Galaxy voice role

Filming for Guardians of the Galaxy is currently underway, but there are still some characters that have not been cast. Those would be Groot and Rocket Raccoon. Vin Diesel is apparently on board to voice Groot but it hasn't been officially put through yet, but the rumor now is that Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) has had the offer to voice Rocket Raccoon extended to him.

James Gunn has expressed his love for Rocket Raccoon and has stated a big factor in him even directing Guardians of the Galaxy was because of that character. However, this is a rumor about an offer so if it's true at all it is possible that Bradley Cooper might not accept the role. There is some possibility as Cooper does have some down time as the filming for American Sniper has been delayed after Steven Spielberg dropped out, but there is no guarantee. We will just have to wait for an official press release on this one. Marvel is pretty secretive about their casting news until they want people to know.


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Playstation 4 launching on November 15

The Playstation 4 console will be launching this year on November 15th in the US (November 29th for Europe) along with the following games:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Battlefield 4
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Driveclub
FIFA 14
Just Dance 2014
Killzone: Shadow Fall
Knack
Lego Marvel Superheroes
Madden 25
NBA 2K14
NBA Live 14
Need for Speed: Rivals
Skylanders Swap Force
Watch Dogs

Unfortunately some of the good games being teased, like The Evil Within, won't be released until next year but that is a pretty solid lineup of games.
The PS4's main competition, the Xbox One (if you can even call it competition), is also set for a November release date but they have yet to announce the official launch or how many games will be launched along with the console.

Catching Fire victors revealed

The marketing for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is starting to heat up as we now have a new viral campaign to reveal our victors. To kick things off we have Katniss and Peeta.





We are supposed to get another victor team tomorrow and probably the next day until all twelve districts are revealed.

#VictorsRevealed

Marion Cotillard replaces Natalie Portman for Macbeth

Natalie Portman had previously secured the role of Lady Macbeth for the upcoming, new adaptation of the William Shakespeare classic, but it has now been announced that Marion Cotillard will replace Portman. I don't know why she needed to be replaced in the first place, but this sort of thing happens all the time. Cotillard will star opposite Michael Fassbender.

Macbeth is slated for production beginning later this year in the UK with filming to begin sometime in January. It is being produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, the team that brought us The King's Speech.


Elizabeth Olsen on deck for The Avengers 2?

Originally we got word that Saoirse Ronan was up for the role of Wanda Maximoff (aka, Scarlet Witch) for The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now it seems she may have passed as rumors are out that Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) is now under consideration for the role. If Olsen gets it, she will most likely be opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass) who is the frontrunner to play Petro Maximoff (aka, Quicksilver).
Other projects that Elizabeth Olsen has on deck right now is Spike Lee's adaptation of Oldboy and the new Godzilla reboot which oddly enough also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson. 

As you might know, Petro and Wanda are the twin children of Magneto from X-Men. Seeing that X-Men is not a Disney owned franchise and is owned by Fox, the characters will not be tied into Magneto for The Avengers. Not unless they want to pay a price to even mention the character. I suppose these characters will just come out of nowhere.
Quicksilver has the power of super speed while Scarlet Witch can alter probability and reality.

I think Elizabeth Olsen would be an interesting choice for Scarlet Witch but not necessarily a bad one. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. Especially since they haven't officially signed Aaron Taylor-Johnson on to play her counterpart. That could still change.



The Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2015.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Johanna Mason revealed for Catching Fire






If you don't know who Johanna Mason is in the Hunger Games world, she is a previous victor from District 7 with very lethal axe and wrestling training. She is described to Katniss as one of the most lethal threats in the Quarter Quell.

In other words, Johanna is a badass. I can't wait for Catching Fire.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Kick-Ass 2 - Review

Dave continues as Kick-Ass by joining a group of inspired citizen heroes only to find out that attempting to be both a superhero and a teenager might give more than he bargained for in Kick-Ass 2.


I have been excited for Kick-Ass 2 since I heard it was actually going to happen, so going in I was really pumped. All the characters were back, except for Evan Peters, and the trailer looked great. However, I couldn't help but notice the awful reception it got this weekend. But, I decided to stick it out and go see the movie anyway and I must say that I don't know why this movie has received such a bad wrap. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a Kick-Ass fan. Seriously, this isn't a bad movie.

I will admit that at times the pacing was a bit weird and although it pretty much picked up right where the first one left off, they did blow past a lot of stuff. The world's perception of the superheroes was to be expected and it was as Dave (aka, Kick-Ass) mentioned at the end of the first movie. There were new citizen heroes to carry Kick-Ass' torch.
However, anyone who liked Kick-Ass will like Kick-Ass 2. It has the same overall feel for the most part. There are things that were a bit over the top, like Mindy's revenge on the high school bitches, but it didn't ruin anything. The weakest aspect of this movie was by far The Motherfucker but I think that all comes down to casting. Christopher Mintz-Plasse shouldn't have been cast as Chris D'Amico in the first place, so in a way you can't blame the character. It's a simple case of miscasting, imo. Face it... the kid will always be McLovin. It just doesn't work.
As far as all the other heroes go, I really enjoyed them. My favorites aside from Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl were Colonel Stars and Stripes and Tommy's mom and dad. They brought a new, fresh feel to the world of the citizen hero and were genuine people devoting their own time to try and make the city and the world a better place. Todd and Marty becoming heroes was a little silly because they simply did it to try and be cool or to fit in with Dave.
I think the strongest character in this was by far Hit-Girl. It was said prior to the release that this sequel was more her movie and I agree with that. I wouldn't really call Dave the main character in this one. I think he took a bit of a backseat to Mindy for a majority of the movie and that worked. She is a great character and it was nice to see her realize who she really is as both a person and a hero. I thought Chloe Moretz did a great job, too.

Overall I would give this a big thumbs up for effort. It is definitely entertaining and funny and it gives Kick-Ass fans another good ride. I don't quite understand why the critics gave this one so much crap, but there always has to be a scapegoat at the box office. I feel like everyone who reviewed this movie negatively either didn't see the first one or saw it and didn't understand it. I enjoyed the hell out of Kick-Ass 2 and I think anyone who liked the first one would too.


Star Wars: Episode VII aiming for December 2015?

Possibly.

Disney president Alan Horn basically confirmed a 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII at D23 last weekend. However, there is still no official, confirmed date. Many speculated, including myself, that the release of Episode VII will be anywhere from May to September 2015. However, new rumors are suggesting that Disney is aiming for a December 2015 release. That would put Episode VII far away from the summer blockbuster season.

Now, seeing that we don't even have a start date for production yet it is entirely possible that Episode VII might not make 2015 at all but giving themselves until December might be the best way to guarantee the deadline. Even if they are pushing it. If December does become the official date it will seriously be breaking from tradition as all six previous Star Wars films have been released in May.

It also would put it in competition with, or very close to:

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
Finding Dory
Kung Fu Panda 3
Inferno
Ant-Man
Bond 24

Movies set for 2015 that still are without official release dates include:

Avatar 2
Jurassic Park 4
Batman vs. Superman
Prometheus 2
Snow White and the Huntsman 2
Ratchet & Clank
Mission Impossible 5
Pitch Perfect 2

Now with that said, if they set a December 2015 release date it is very possible that it could face another major release like Avatar 2 or Jurassic Park 4. If I recall correctly Avatar came out in December of 2009. I highly doubt Batman vs. Superman would be released after summer so I don't think that's possible and I don't think Star Wars would lose to or have decent competition with a movie like Snow White or Pitch Perfect.

This is yet another thing we will just have to wait and see what happens.








Sunday, August 18, 2013

True Blood "Radioactive" - Review

In the season six finale of True Blood, Sookie struggles to defeat Warlow at the same time that the vampires are dealing with the aftermath of their escape from the Governor's compound. In other words, it was another jumbled mess of an episode.

I'm not saying I expected a whole lot from this finale, but in a way I expected something that was at least decent. The way the last episode led into the finale I figured we would get a decent one and that the struggles were going to be enjoyable. This was probably the worst finale True Blood has had to date (yes, even worse than seasons 4-5) and the way the episode was constructed was ridiculous.

Just saying, this will have spoilers ahead, so don't read on if you don't want to know yet.




Last chance to bail.






It basically starts with Sookie going back into the fairy world and telling Warlow she wants to wait to be his because Bon Temps still needs her. He basically slaps the shit out of her and binds her to his wedding arch, or whatever the hell that was, and tells her he wants her blood and that she'll learn to love him over a couple thousand years.
The high vampires are enjoying the sun when Jason gets word that Sookie is in danger again, so they hire Andy's daughter to lead them into the fairly world to kill Warlow. Naturally, they aren't successful. When are they ever successful? Basically after an extremely short fight, grandpa Niall appears out of nowhere and Jason stakes Warlow. When he explodes all of the light from every vampire that had Bill's blood is pulled out of them. That includes Eric who is just chilling naked in the alps somewhere. Eric combusts into flames and we don't see him again for the rest of the episode.
Then they flash 6 months into the future where Bill has written a book about the Governor and how he saved the vampires, etc.. Sookie is dating Alcide, Jason still isn't allowed to have sex with Violet, Sam is the mayor of Bon Temps, and the people are being encouraged to find a vampire friend for a monogamous feeding arrangement to prevent the spread of Hepatitis V.  No word on the state or existence of Niall, Pam, or Eric.
The episode wraps up with a party at Bellefleur's Bar & Grill (yes, it isn't Merlotte's anymore) where humans and vampires are encouraged to intermingle and make the feeding arrangements. Bill approaches Sookie to offer her protection and Alcide and Sookie make it apparent they aren't interested. Alcide and Bill smell something and what do you know, it's a ton of vampires who come out of nowhere and head toward the party. The end.


Now... I had a lot of problems with this episode.

1. What should have been the entire finale was crammed into the first 25min of the episode. They rushed the important stuff and filled the last half with useless crap that should have been the intro to next season. Either that or it shouldn't have gone on for over 30min. It should have been ten at the most.

2. There was no mention of Pam or Eric in the future flash forward. No one even seemed to care about either of them, including Tara and Willa. I highly doubt either of them are dead seeing that Tara was still caring for Willa as Pam commanded her to, but you never know with this show. If they did truly kill Eric that was probably the worst way to kill a main character. Especially a series veteran and fan favorite.

3. How the hell did Sam become mayor? More importantly, why was his accent suddenly stronger?

4. How did the bar become Bellefleur's? Did Sam sell it to Arlene for the $2 million that Terry left her or what.

5. Does anyone really care about Jason and Violet? No. Her teasing him is a bit funny but it has gotten old real quick. Not to mention that sex scene between them was incredibly awkward.

6. Alcide and Sookie? Really?

7. Lettie May's speech to Tara was hilarious. "Let me feed you!"

Overall, the episode was just underwhelming and random. It was full of things that didn't matter and it was a terrible way to end a lackluster, extremely short season. I don't think I'm going to watch the seventh season next year. I am so sick of this show. It should have ended at season 4.

The way I would rate True Blood as of right now:

1. Season Two
2. Season One
3. Season Three
4. Season Four
5. Season Five
6. Season Six

They just keep getting worse. When Alan Ball left, whatever heart and soul the show had left went with him.

First official X-Men: Days of Future Past image



Say hello to awkward, 70's versions of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), and Professor X (James McAvoy). This isn't anything special seeing that a majority of the effects aren't close to done, but at least it isn't a random Twitter pic from Bryan Singer.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Halloween Horror Nights gets a monster remix

Yes, even more Halloween Horror Nights news.

There is a contest going via SyFy for original monsters created by fans to be included in a haunted maze at Universal Studios, but now the winning monsters will be joined by classics in Universal Monsters Remix: Resurrection. The classics being included are Frankenstein and his bride, Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Mummy spanning the scares from the early 20's to the 40's.

Universal Monsters Remix: Resurrection opens alongside Evil Dead: Book of the Dead, Insidious: Into the Further, The Walking Dead: No Safe Haven, Curse of Chucky, The Purge: Survive the Night, and Black Sabbath 13 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood. Halloween Horror Nights kicks off in Hollywood and Orlando on September 20th.


Friday, August 16, 2013

Find Carrie launches via Facebook

A new site has launched for the upcoming reboot of Carrie. At Find Carrie, you can buddy up with a friend via Facebook to search through the White household and find Carrie. You can also enter with Chris Hargensen and Billy Nolan as your lookouts. This is part of the new Facebook Connect feature.

Kimberly Peirce's Carrie stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer, Ansel Elgort, Portia Doubleday, Gabriella Wilde, and Alex Russell. It hits theaters on October 18th.









#WhatHappenedToCarrie #Carrie


American Werewolf in London joins Halloween Horror Nights

Universal is really pulling out the stops with Halloween Horror Nights this year. Holy cow.

It was just announced that Universal Studios Orlando will host a maze (aka, Scare Zone) for An American Werewolf in London. The maze will follow the events of the film but will amp up the terror and the intensity. Well, so they say.
Unfortunately this will only be at the Orlando park and not in Hollywood. The other Orlando only maze is The Cabin in the Woods. I mentioned the other day (link) the new mazes announced for Curse of Chucky and The Purge at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The film followed two college students backpacking across Europe. During a full moon in the moors of England they are attacked by a mysterious creature tainting one of them with the werewolf curse.


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pushed to August 2014

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been delayed about two months from June 6, 2014 to August 8, 2014. The new adaptation, directed by Jonathan Liebesman, will now face-off against the new Dracula film and The Hundred-Foot Journey. Apparently the push is to separate TMNT from Transformers 4 so each film can enjoy decent profits from toys and other merchandise.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, and Pete Ploszek. 

Is Simon Pegg our Ant-Man?

There have been some names thrown out for the role of Ant-Man but so far no one has been cast or even seriously mentioned. Now we have some rumor that Simon Pegg, the frequent collaborator with director Edgar Wright, is being considered for the role.

Apparently Pegg paid a visit to Marvel Studios and posted some photos via Twitter. If you recall, Vin Diesel recently did something similar and shortly after it was announced that he was in talks for the role of Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy. Now, Pegg being at Marvel isn't confirmation of anything but it is some sort of proof that the wheels may be turning for Ant-Man casting.




Curse of Chucky and The Purge join Halloween Horror Nights

Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights just keeps getting bigger and bigger. In addition to mazes for Evil Dead, The Walking Dead, Insidious: Chapter 2, The Cabin in the Woods, and Black Sabbath 13, we now have word that mazes and "scare zones" for Curse of Chucky and The Purge are joining in.

Chucky has made several appearances at Halloween Horror Nights and this year they are utilizing the stage to promote the new Child's Play film, Curse of Chucky, which is out on DVD/Blu-Ray on October 8th.
The Purge is a bit of a surprise for me as the reviews on it wavered a lot. However, it did do pretty well at the box office so I guess I shouldn't be too shocked. The Purge: Survive the Night will push guests into the world where all crime is legal for 12-hours.

Ironically, both Curse of Chucky and The Purge come out on DVD/Blu-Ray on October 8th, so this very well could just be a good marketing tool. I still haven't seen The Purge but I didn't think it necessarily looked like a horror movie so the inclusion confuses me a bit.
So far there isn't anything posted on the HHN websites specifying which park these will appear at. So far the only park specific mazes are Insidious: Into the Further (Hollywood only) and The Cabin in the Woods (Orlando only).  I would assume at least one of these will be park specific and my bet is on The Purge: Survive the Night. I have no doubt the Chucky maze will be at both parks.

[UPDATE] - Apparently Curse of Chucky and The Purge: Survive the Night will only be at Universal Studios Hollywood. This comes with the announcement of Orlando's An American Werewolf in London scare zone. 





#UniversalHHN

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Legendary exits Batman vs. Superman

It has already been announced that Legendary Pictures was ending their partnership with Warner Bros. and will begin partnership with Universal, but they were going to stick with them long enough to co-finance Zack Snyder's Man of Steel sequel, Batman vs. Superman (or Superman vs. Batman). In a change of events... that isn't happening anymore.

Legendary has decided to exit the Superman sequel and give up all their stake in the film in exchange for a portion of Christopher Nolan's upcoming sci-fi film Interstellar. Batman vs. Superman is not scheduled until 2015 while Interstellar hits theaters next year. This is also somewhat of a given as Legendary has partnered with Christopher Nolan for all three Batman films in the Dark Knight trilogy as well as Inception. Interstellar is being co-produced by Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., so Legendary is probably going to see a hefty payday from this one.

Batman vs. Superman has yet to enter production or announce who will be playing Batman, but the apparent top three is Ryan Gosling (Drive, The Notebook), Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex, Oldboy), and Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike). 
Interstellar has already compiled a pretty interstellar (ha ha ha) cast which includes Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Topher Grace, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine, Wes Bentley, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, etc.. Production officially began earlier this week and is set for a November 7, 2014 release. 


New viral imaging for Catching Fire

The one seriously bugs my eyes out, but these are pretty cool.



Check out my Catching Fire review here.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Sentinel blueprints revealed

Bryan Singer seems to be loyal to using the Sentinels in the viral marketing for X-Men: Days of Future Past as we have yet another image of a Sentinel. This time it is a blueprint of a Sentinel helmet.

If you aren't aware of what a Sentinel is, they are basically big mutant killing robots created by Bolivar Trask (played by Peter Dinklage). We have already had a couple images of the machines in the form of a poster and a set photo of Singer next to one. There is no real word on exactly how much inclusion the Sentinels will have yet, but they are sure to be relevant.


Twilight Forever box set revealed

We all knew this was coming.

A box set featuring all five Twilight movies along with over two hours of new bonus footage will be released on November 5th. Twilight Forever: The Complete Saga will feature each film (10 Blu-Ray discs or 12 DVDs), Ultraviolet digital copies for each, and a photo album. In addition to the previously released 10 hours of bonus footage, the two new hours will feature new behind-the-scenes footage as well as new cast interviews.

The box is two-sided featuring Edward and Bella on one and Jacob on the other.


 



As for pricing, the Blu-Ray is going to run you $74.99 and the DVD is about $65. That isn't bad considering what other ultimate sets can cost you. For a Twilight fan this looks like a pretty legit box-set. I won't be buying it but I'm sure the twihards will get their fix in this holiday season. I also bet certain stores will give away limited edition goodies along with it. Target and Best Buy like to do that sort of thing when it comes to Twilight.

Xbox One scraps the Kinect requirement

Slowly but surely, Microsoft is taking away just about every feature than made loyal Xbox users question their devotion to the new Xbox One system.

If you don't remember... at the E3 conference earlier this summer Microsoft revealed their new Xbox system, the Xbox One. Along with the reveal came several ridiculous features that made it one of the least user friendly consoles in video game history. It originally required an internet connection at least once a day or your system wouldn't play games that you own, you couldn't share games with friends or family, Microsoft points were required, boxing even more headsets, the $500 price tag, etc.. The list just kept going.
Since the backlash and the obvious ass whooping Sony gave Microsoft with the reveal of the Playstation 4, Microsoft has made a lot of changes to the Xbox One. They lifted the restrictive DRM policy that will continue to allow game sharing and selling, the required internet "check-in" was lifted, and Xbox Live will allow game downloads but they won't be mandatory over a disc. In addition to this, Microsoft announced the Kinect bar will no longer be required for the Xbox One.

The original idea for the Kinect in regards to this new system was to have a mandatory, always connected camera and microphone basically watching and listening to your every move. Even when you weren't using it for a game and that did not settle well with a lot of people, including myself. Now the Kinect will have the option to switch off and not be used. It's a simple settings option and if the Kinect is required the console will notify you that you need to go into your settings and update them.


At this point the price tag of $500 is just about the only thing Microsoft hasn't changed about this system. I personally think it's ridiculous. I would have scrapped the system entirely and just rebuilt it based on the feedback received. Users might as well just stick with their Xbox 360's because the Xbox One is essentially becoming the same system only more expensive. Sorry, but Sony is still winning this battle.


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Vin Diesel in talks for Guardians of the Galaxy

Despite speculation that Vin Diesel was going to play Vision, Thanos, or Ultron, it seems that he is going to be part of Guardians of the Galaxy. Deadline is reporting that Diesel is in talks to voice Groot, an extraterrestrial plant monster.

News of this came with a rather interesting twist. Diesel apparently changed his Facebook picture to a photo of Groot, but it was quickly taken down and the photo was deleted. Now, this all could be a classic misguided trick by Marvel but I am not doubting it. It probably wasn't announced at D23 this weekend because Diesel hasn't secured any Marvel role yet. We will wait and see.



Guardians of the Galaxy opens on August 1, 2014.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Elysium - Review

Max finds himself in the year 2154 where Earth has become an overpopulated, disease ridden slum. After suffering a life threatening accident, he teams up with a group of rebels in an attempt to break into the wealthy operated, disease free space utopia in Elysium.


I had been looking forward to Elysium for one main reason. That reason being I really, really liked District 9. I mean I really loved that movie, so I wanted to see what else Neill Blomkamp could bring to the table. In the end I wouldn't say Elysium was bad but it wasn't all I thought it was going to be. I did enjoy it but there were certain issues that I had a hard time looking past.

Starting with the plot, I thought the basic outline was flawless. The story was good, the characters had purpose, and they had a great main character in Max. I'm not the biggest Matt Damon fan but he really put it all on the table here and it showed. I applaud him, for sure. The issues I had weren't so much with the plot itself, but with the script. I have seen others say this as well, but it didn't feel completed and the story was very underdeveloped. The first half of the movie was very focused and detailed and in the last half it got really fast paced and felt like they were skipping over a lot of key elements that needed a little more time. They just threw it in front of the audience and basically told us to roll with it. It had very poor pacing and parts that didn't need to drag did while other parts that needed the time didn't get it.
As far as the casting goes I think Blomkamp had a better cast this time around, but he didn't really utilize everyone to their full potential. I mentioned Damon already, but actors like Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley were extremely effective while on screen, but they weren't on screen enough, especially Foster. She was the main villain in this movie and I bet you she didn't have more than 15min of total screen time. The longest she was really on screen was when she was discussing contract renewal with William Fichtner. As for Copley, Blomkamp wasted his biggest talent. He is a fantastic actor and the character he was playing was so insane and villainous that he not only should have been the main villain, but should have had even more development than he did. They threw his character at us as a sleeper agent and then all of a sudden he is an evil guy who wants to take over Elysim. It was a bit out of sorts. Of course that has a lot to do with character development.
I think Blomkamp focused on certain characters a lot more than he needed to. I think Spider, the main rebel leader, had more character development than the villains they were trying to defeat. Hell, the minor characters had more connection to the audience and more development than William Fichtner's character and he was a pretty integral part of the plot.
Apart from that, I think Elysium just focused on special effects and action sequences. I mean, they worked and they looked great but they didn't have a very strong plot to back them up. It was basically telling us, hey we put Matt Damon in a cool robotic exoskeleton. Come watch him blow stuff up. Maybe that's why my theater on a Saturday only had 14 people including myself.
The set design was well done, though. I got to a point where I forgot I was watching a movie while watching scenes on Earth. The gritty feel and the depiction of Earth's citizens was very believable and well done. I will give them that.

And, just because I have to mention it, Jodie Foster had some of the worst ADR I have ever seen. About 90% of the time it was very obvious that her lips didn't match the words her character was speaking. It's almost like she filmed the movie and then changed her mind on what she wanted her character to sound like so they dubbed the audio. The only problem is the audio didn't match the film. It was terribly distracting.


Like I said, despite the problems I did manage to enjoy Elysium. It missed a lot of marks but I wouldn't give it an overall rating lower than a C. It is worth a watch but Neill Blomkamp had a lot more bite with District 9. I think he is just going to have a hard time beating himself out.


D23 Recap: Marvel presents Phase Two

Disney rounded off a solid second day at D23 in Anaheim, CA with the presentations from Marvel Studios. The films focused on were Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Thor: The Dark World is the next release coming this November and some new footage was presented. On site was Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Anthony Hopkins.

"Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.  In the aftermath of Thor and The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos, but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness.  Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
It is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962. The film releases November 8, 2013."

Captain America: The Winter Soldier doesn't hit theaters until next April, but we are getting some more tips to the plot. It does indeed follow Captain America with his struggles of coping with the current immorality of the world. On site was Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie.
"After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1941. In theaters April 4, 2014."

Guardians of the Galaxy is still fairly new to everything as it began filming less than a month ago, but it came into D23 in style.  A new clip featured Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) attempting to steal an artifact but is disrupted by a trio of guards. The clip also introduced Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Groot, and Rocket Raccoon. There are still no voices for Groot and Rocket Raccoon. In theaters on August 1, 2014.


Aside from those presentations, there was a brief teaser for The Avengers: Age of Ultron. All there was to it was a shot of Ultron's head coming from a reformed, dented Iron Man helmet. Apart from that, Chris Evans confirmed that filming for The Avengers: Age of Ultron will begin in the first week of March 2014.
















Insidious joins Halloween Horror Nights

Along with the announcement of the Black Sabbath 13 haunted maze for Halloween Horror Nights, we have received word there will also be an Indisious themed maze which will allow guests to explore The Further. The paranormal will be based off both Insidious and Insidious: Chapter 2.



Insidious: Chapter 2 hits theaters on September 13, 2013.
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights runs at both Hollywood and Orlando beginning on September 20th.



#UniversalHHN

D23 Recap: Upcoming releases get official logos

Disney revealed some official logos and banners for some upcoming releases as well as a couple plot summaries at D23 today.


Tomorrowland:
This is probably Disney's most secretive film as of right now. It tells the story of an inventor (played by George Clooney) and is said to be an action packed adventure. The only other thing we know is it's set to hit theaters on December 12, 2014.



Maleficent:
This rehash of the Sleeping Beauty story tells the "untold" tale of Maleficent, the evil villain who tries to kill Princess Aurora. The film stars Angelina Jolie in the title role along with Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Juno Temple, Miranda Richardson, and Imelda Staunton. It hits theaters on July 2, 2014.

"A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well."



Muppets Most Wanted:
The sequel to the rather successful  2011 flick starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams will feature Ty Burrell taking the Muppets around Europe on a tour. It hits theaters on March 21, 2014.

"Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. Tina Fey is featured as Nadya, a feisty prison guard."

Saving Mr. Banks:

"When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins,” he made them a promise—one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation. For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn’t budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp. It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt her, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history. "