Category Archives: DVD Releases

Cabin in the Woods Director Rewriting World War Z

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Am I the only one who thinks the current version of this film adaptation should be scrapped and redone? This is actually closer to happening than you might think. The film version of Max Brooks’ much loved novel World War Z has had its ups and downs… OK, so it has been mostly downs. In fact the movie hardly resembles the book anymore with exception that both have zombies in them.

However, it might be on an incline after several months of incredibly unlucky setbacks. Cabin in the Woods director and overall awesomely faced genius, Drew Goddard, recently announced that he has been hired to re-write the ending of the World War Z film. According to Deadline, he will come in and finish out the ending the Damon Lindelof dreamt up from an earlier pitch for the project.

But can Goddard save this mess? While he is certainly talented, there may not be enough time for him to fix the broken project. Rewriting the end will help but can it fix the project that is already plagued by so many problems?

It seems current director Marc Forster has surely created a huge mess out of the picture. Going so far as to completely strip away the oral documentary concept of the book and replacing it with a thread known as Brad Pitt to keep the scenes together. Pitt will effectively be a (albeit strained) version of the reporter collecting stories during the apocalypse. Though, rather than merely collected stories of the doom that engulfed the world, he will be racing against a clock to save the world. Yet that major change is not even the worst part.

The film has had a notoriously high budget that continues to climb along with the need for massive reshoots that has delayed its release date by 6 months. The script has also presented major problems with rewrites being ordered more than once for the picture. There were even talks of the film becoming a trilogy as a way to handle the bumbling storyline that was created with what seems minor similarities to its supposed source text.

Goddard may be the best thing to happen to the adaptation. He has experience in the sic-fi genre already with his work on the aforementioned Cabin in the Woods as well as Cloverfield. He also worked on tv series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Lost.” (And hey, Joss Whedon likes him!) But in the end the studio may have better luck scraping the project and starting over from the beginning with Goddard from the get-go.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Gets Release Date

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The two-part franchise ending film Mockingjay has got its projected release date. The third book of the massively popular trilogy, will be split into two films much like franchises adaptations before it. Both part 1 and part 2 of the film adaptation have gotten their projected release dates.

The first part of Mockingjay will arrive November 21, 2014, with the fourth and final installment part 2 movie slated for November 20, 2015. Atleast four members of the main cast have already signed up for the four movie franchise. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson have confirmed their four movie involvement.

There is no word yet on where within the story the films will be broken up but some speculate it maybe after Peeta is rescued from the Capitol.

The heavily anticipated movie sequel Catching Fire based on the second book of the series is set to debut in November 22, 2013 with several new roles currently being cast. t was announced earlier this week that Philip Seymour Hoffman will portray Plutarch Heavensbee in that installment, making him the first new (confirmed) actor to sign up for the franchise, with Jena Malone reportedly circling the role of tribute Johanna Mason.

Christopher Nolan Says No To The Justice League Film

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Christopher Nolan, finally finished with his Batman trilogy, has answered rumors speculating that he has plans to make a Justice League film featuring the Dark Knight, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. The rumors began after the filmmaker’s involvement as a producer on next summer’s Superman reboot, Man of Steel, but Nolan has assured us that he is in fact, NOT working on the rumored Justice League film.

“No, none at all,” Nolan said in an interview over the weekend. “We’re finished with all we’re doing with Batman. This is the end of our take on this character.”

Nolan also added that he has no plans for involvement with any solo Batman films when distributor Warner Bros., owner of DC Comics, decides to launch a new take on the classic character.

“Batman will outlive us all, and our interpretation was ours,” Nolan said. “Obviously, we consider it definitive and kind of finished. The great thing about Batman is he lives on for future generations to reinterpret, and obviously, Warners will have to decide in the future what they’re going to do with him. We’ve had our say on the character.”

Nolan reiterated that he will have “…certainly, no involvement with any Justice League project.”

After Disney’s Marvel’s The Avengers, the big-screen adaptations of Marvel Comics superheroes has pulled in $1.45 billion worldwide, and viewers are speculating that Warner Bros. might create its own ensemble film and where better to start than with the much loved Justice League series?

Nolan’s 2005 trilogy-opener Batman Begins broke box office records, and its 2008 sequel The Dark Knight won an Academy Award for Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker.Fans across the world are eagerly awaiting the finale feature to hit theaters this summer on July 20th that will see the addition of Cat Woman and Bane as major antagonists in the film.

Check out the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises below:

Philip Seymour Hoffman Joins The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

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Casting is finally moving forward with much sought after roles in Catching Fire. Lionsgate has officially announced that critically acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast as Plutarch Heavensbee. He will play the Head Gamemaker of the 75th Hunger Games.

The film, which has been rebranded as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, begins where the first left off. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have returned home safe after being both being crowned Victors in the 74th Annual Hunger Games Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour’ of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

The actor and filmmaker just wrapped a Broadway run as Willy Loman in the revival of “Death of a Salesman” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. He will next be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master and the indie film A Late Quartet alongside Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken. More recent films includeMoneyball, The Ides of March and Jack Goes Boating, which marked Hoffman’s feature directorial debut.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

All of the main cast from the first movie have already been confirmed to be returning to much anticipated sequel.

Lionsgate will release The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on November 22, 2013

The Amazing Spider-Man Grosses $35 Million In One Day

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Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man began its North American run with the highest Tuesday gross ever, according to Box Office Mojo, earning $35 million in one day. The Spidey reboot took in $7.5 million in 3,150 midnight screenings Tuesday, with $1.2 million (about 16% of that amount) coming from 300 IMAX midnight screenings.

This amount is similar to the amount Spider-Man 3 earned in midnight screenings on May 4, 2007. Spider-Man 3 earned $59.8 million its opening Friday, and a record-setting opening weekend of $151 million.

In The Amazing Spider-Man’s first two days, it made $59.2 million, which indicates the potential for big earnings throughout the upcoming weekend. Box Office Mojo speculated that the success of the new film will end rumors that a reboot released so shortly after Sam Raimi’s franchise would be unsuccessful.

Due to this unexpected success, Sony Pictures announced this week that The Amazing Spider-Man will be the first in a trilogy, with a sequel in the works for May 2014.  Andrew Garfield is expected to reprise the role of Peter Parker, according to BBC News.

Filming For The Hobbit Officially Wraps

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Filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again has officially wrapped. Jackson also released a new promotional poster for The Hobbit, in which strangely, there are no hobbits in sight. You can see the new poster above.

Director Peter Jackson announced the news via his Facebook page on Thursday, with the photo below captioned, “We made it! Shoot day 266 and the end of principal photography on The Hobbit. Thanks to our fantastic cast and crew for getting us this far, and to all of you for your support! Next stop, the cutting room. Oh, and Comic Con! Cheers, Peter J.”

An Unexpected Journey

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargsand Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

There and Back Again

Thorin and Company have reached Lake-town and it is time for the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to fulfill his contract with the dwarves. The party must complete the journey to Lonely Mountain and burglar Baggins must seek out the Secret Door that will give them access to the hoard of the dragon Smaug. If Bilbo and the others are able to gain the treasure, will they be able to keep it? And will they discover what has become of the wizard Gandalf?
An Unexpected Journey will be released in 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters on Dec. 14, followed by There and Back Again on Dec. 13, 2013.

The film has a very large cast with several award winning and well known actors including:

  • Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit and the protagonist of the film.
  • Ian Holm as old Bilbo Baggins.
  • Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey: A wizard who recruits Bilbo and helps to arrange the quest to reclaim the Dwarves’ lost treasure in Erebor.
  • Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield: The leader of the Company of Dwarves who have set out to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug the dragon.
  • Graham McTavish as Dwalin: One of the Company of Dwarves that accompanies Bilbo and Thorin on the Quest of Erebor.
  • Ken Stott as Balin: A member of the Company of Dwarves and the brother of Dwalin. He is described in the novel as “always their look-out man.
  • Aidan Turner as Kíli: One of Thorin’s nephews who sets out on the Quest of Erebor.
  • Dean O’Gorman as Fíli.
  • Mark Hadlow as Dori: A member of the Company of Dwarves. He is described in the novel as “a decent fellow, despite his grumbling,” while Thorin described him as being the strongest member of the Company.
  • Jed Brophy as Nori: A member of the Company of Dwarves and brother of Dori and Ori.
  • Adam Brown as Ori: A member of the Company of Dwarves. The role will mark Brown’s first film appearance.
  • John Callen as Óin: A member of the Company of Dwarves and brother of Glóin.
  • Peter Hambleton as Glóin: A member of the Company of Dwarves and brother of Óin.
  • William Kircher as Bifur: One of the twelve companions of Thorin and Bilbo on the Quest of Erebor and the cousin of Bofur and Bombur.
  • James Nesbitt as Bofur: One of the Company of Dwarves and the cousin of Bifur and brother of Bombur, he is described as “a disarmingly forthright, funny and occasionally brave Dwarf.”
  • Stephen Hunter as Bombur: Described in the novel as being fat and clumsy, he is the brother of Bofur and the cousin of Bifur.
  • Andy Serkis as Gollum.
  • Hugo Weaving as Elrond: The Elven master of Rivendell. Elrond gives shelter to Bilbo’s party, after which, presumably, the two become friends.
  • Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug: One of the last remaining dragons in Middle-earth. He guards the treasure in Erebor.
    • Also voices the Necromancer: Ruler of the stronghold of Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood; he is later revealed to be Sauron and is driven out by the White Council.
  • Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn: A shape-shifter (or, in the actual text, a “skin-changer”), a man who could assume the appearance of a great black bear. In the novel, he lives with his animal retinue (horses, dogs and cows, among others) in a wooden house between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood. Beorn received Gandalf, Bilbo and the 13 Dwarves and aided them in their quest to reclaim the Dwarves’ kingdom beneath Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. He was convinced of their trustworthiness after confirming their tale of encountering the Goblins of the Misty Mountains and Gandalf’s slaying of their leader, the Great Goblin.
  • Lee Pace as Thranduil: Referred to in the novel as “The Elvenking”, he is the ruler of the realm of the northern part of Mirkwood. He is also the father of Legolas. In the novel, the Dwarves are captured by Thranduil’s guards and locked in his dungeons when they refuse to divulge their intentions.
  • Stephen Fry as Master of Lake-town: The leader of the settlement of Men at Lake-town near the Lonely Mountain.
  • Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman: Bard of Esgaroth was a skilled archer and the heir of Girion, the last king of old Dale, described as “grim faced”. He rallied the guards to defend the town when the Dragon came, slaying the dragon himself. He later leads the Men of Esgaroth at the Battle of Five Armies and is crowned king of the re-founded Dale.
  • Billy Connolly as Dáin II Ironfoot: A great dwarf warrior, ruler of the Iron Hills and cousin of Thorin Oakenshield.
  • Barry Humphries as the Great Goblin: The ruler of the underground caverns in the Misty Mountains.
  • Christopher Lee as Saruman the White: Head of Gandalf’s Order of Wizards and the White Council.
  • Cate Blanchett as Galadriel: An Elf and the co-ruler of Lothlórien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn.
  • Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown: A wizard of Gandalf’s Order.
  • Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins: A hobbit and favourite relative of Bilbo Baggins.
  • Jeffrey Thomas as Thrór: King of Durin’s folk, the son of Dáin I, father of Thráin II and grandfather of Thorin Oakenshield.
  • Mike Mizrahi as Thráin II: A Dwarven king, Thráin is the son of Thrór and father of Thorin Oakenshield.
  • Conan Stevens as Azog: An Orc chieftain of Moria. He killed King Thrór, who came to revisit the ruins of Khazad-dûm. In the following years, he was the common enemy of all Dwarves and the war he started climaxed in the Battle of Azanulbizar, where he killed Náin, only to be himself slain by Náin’s son Dáin II Ironfoot.
  • Orlando Bloom as Legolas: The Elven Prince of Mirkwood and the son of Thranduil.
  • Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel: A female elf from Mirkwood. Her name means “daughter of Mirkwood”.
  • Bret McKenzie as Lindir: An Elf of Rivendell.
  • Ryan Gage as Alfrid:The Master of Laketown’s “conniving” servant.
  • John Bell as a yet-unnamed character who “is confident and brave and ready to do battle if required even though he is still a boy.”

Chuck Palahniuk’s Snuff Heading To The Big Screen

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Chuck Palahniuk will have another adaptation under his belt as his popular novel “Snuff” has been optioned for the silver screen. Fabien Martorell (Tromatized: Meet Lloyd Kaufman) will direct the feature film adaptation of the novel. Martorell also co-wrote the script for the project with Golan Ramras.

Producers Jean Pierre Magro and Dean O’Toole will finance and produce through their London-based company Immortal Transmedia along with Ramras, Martorell and Aperture Entertainment’s Adam Goldworm.

Snuff tells the story of three men waiting in line to be three of 600 men having sex with nearly washed-up porn star Cassie Wright in a single day.

The adult film actress is attempting to break a world record, and during their wait, the men get to know each other (revealing that a few of the men believe Cassie to be their mother, and twistedly still want sex).

The story unfolds by switching from the three men’s POV’s throughout the novel as well as the POV of her assistant Sheila. One of the men is a fellow porn star/former lover of Cassie Wright while one is a young adopted teenager who may or may not be the son of Cassie and the former lover.

According to Palahniuk’s official website (and certainly backed up by its plot), Snuff is not for the shy and reserved, though it is also not stuffed full of nudity and sex scenes.

A common theme in all of Palahniuk’s writing is definitely present in this story with, “nobody is who they seem to be and things are going to get worse before they get better.”

Palahniuk is the best selling author of “Fight Club” and “Choke,” both turned into films by David Fincher and Clark Gregg, respectively.

View the official plot summary for Snuff below.

From the vantage point of three men waiting in line to be three of the 600 men Cassie Wright plans on having sex with on camera to break a world record, Snuff is not for the shy and reserved.

Number 600 is the man who introduced Cassie to the industry and the man who introduces us to the rest of the men waiting in line. Number 72 is not only one of the youngest ones there–20 something years old–but he is one of the too many men claiming to be Cassie’s son. The last man, number 137, has been in the television biz and is looking to get his career back on track by screwing an on-the-verge-of-being-dried-up porn queen.

This is not a sex novel–sorry, gentlemen. It is a story of men bonding over a similar interest, getting to know one another through their future sexual conquest, and, for a few, trying to find–and twistedly bang–their misplaced mother. There is a surprising lack of sex for a novel about a porn star and her 600 exploits. But don’t be turned off by this. There’s still some sex, plenty of laughs, and some telling moments as each of the three main narrators finds something buried deep within himself.

One more time, Palahniuk approaches, pushes, and mockingly steps over the line with Snuff. If it isn’t enough to have a woman conquering 600 men in one day and to get a first class voyage deep inside the porn industry, throw more mommy issues and even some daddy issues into the picture. Just when you thought Palahniuk couldn’t get any more off the wall, in walks Cassie Wright.”

The Hunger Games Actors to Sign Autographs At Comic-Con 2012

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It was announced that a few of the actors from The Hunger Games have been added to the lineup at the San Diego Comic-Con 2012. However, I hate to tell you, it won’t be the three stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson or Liam Hemsworth. However, we do love the actors who will be there.

Lionsgate has added Alexander Ludwig (Cato), Amandla Stenberg (Rue), Dayo Okeniyi(Thresh), Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove), Jack Quaid (Marvel) and Willow Shields (Prim) for autograph signing at its official booth at the conference. Any fans attending the renowned event, should stop by #4035 on Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., for signatures from the tributes in honor of the film release on DVD and Blu-ray August 18.

Some of YA’s hottest authors will talk about dystopian literature on Thursday, July 12, at 3 p.m. in Room 25ABC, while The Hunger Games costume illustrator Christian Cordella will discuss bringing Suzanne Collins’ vision to life in the “From Concept to Reality” panel on Saturday, July 14 at 5 p.m. in Room 24ABC.

Jena Malone To Play Johanna Mason In Catching Fire

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Months and months of speculation have surrounded the casting of two key roles in The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. Thankfully, one mystery is close to be solved. Actress Jena Malone has been offered the role of Johanna Mason in the adaptation and is currently in negations for the part.

Johanna is the female tribute from District 7. Sarcastic and mean-spirited. She is also described as having a “wicked” ability to kill.  She reveals that she has no friends or family in District 7 during the 75th Hunger Games, stating “there is no one left I love.” She won her original Hunger Games by pretending she was a weakling and a coward, so no one regarded her as a threat, but when only a few tributes remained, she revealed herself as a vicious killer. Johanna teams up with Katniss, Peeta, and Finnick in the Quarter Quell, bringing Beetee and Wiress with her. Katniss describes her presence as being akin to having an older sister who hates you.

I had never considered Jena for the role but the more I do, the more I like her in the role. I have seen her play mean, sarcastic, as well as vicious. She has the wide range of acting ability to handle the part.

While nothing is completely final yet, it seems things are finally moving forward. The role of Finnick Odair has yet to be resolved with casting rumor still swirling regarding who will land the part.

Catching Fire is scheduled to hit theaters on November 22, 2013.

Andrew Garfield, Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man Planned as Trilogy

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Andrew Garfield, Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spider-Man

In a recent interview with the producers of The Amazing Spider-Man, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach hinted that the superhero film was set to be a trilogy. The sequel is already in the works, currently being written, but the producers stated that they had planned for the franchise to be at least a trilogy.

Tolmach stated,

“We knew that it was going to be more than one, and at the very least three. We’re going to let this movie tell us what the story is.”

Now it has officially been confirmed via the official  Facebook page that the franchise will definitely be a trilogy. A post on this past Monday said,

“It’s finally here! The Amazing Spider-Man is the first installment in a movie TRILOGY that will explore how our fave hero’s journey was shaped by the disappearance of his parents.”

They even made it a point to capitalize “trilogy” just in case you missed it.

Sony has confirmed that the sequel is scheduled to open May 2, 2014. There is no word on whether or not Marc Webb will take the trilogy or like so many other directors before him, will leave before the sequel.

In case you haven’t seen the film yet, the official plot summary:

One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.