Elizabeth Marvel
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'Lincoln' Tops BAFTA Nominations — Say Hello to the Oscar Frontrunner
January 09, 2013 4:37am ESTThose keeping up with the continuous roll out of awards circuit nominations have, by now, come to notice a trend. Despite the wide variety of organizations offering recognition of film achievement, each year there are bound to be some mainstays: specific movies that top every venue's list. So far, 2012's nomination championship falls in the lap of Lincoln, Steven Spielberg's beloved biopic about America's 16th president. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has revealed its nominations, cementing Lincoln as the past year's most impressive spectacle. The historical drama earns 10 nods from BAFTA, including the top honor of Best Film. In Lincoln's company are other unsurprising entries: Les Miserables and Life of Pi each take in nine nominations (both Best Film candidates as well), and Argo ropes in seven (another top honor hopeful). Check out the full list of nominees below. BEST FILM ARGO LES MISÉRABLES LIFE OF PI LINCOLN ZERO DARK THIRTY OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM ANNA KARENINA THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL LES MISÉRABLES SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS SKYFALL OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER BART LAYTON (Director), DIMITRI DOGANIS (Producer) — The Imposter DAVID MORRIS (Director), JACQUI MORRIS (Director/Producer) — McCullin DEXTER FLETCHER (Director/Writer), DANNY KING (Writer) — Wild Bill JAMES BOBIN (Director) — The Muppets TINA GHARAVI (Director/Writer) — I Am Nasrine FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AMOUR HEADHUNTERS THE HUNT RUST AND BONE UNTOUCHABLE DOCUMENTARY THE IMPOSTER MARLEY McCULLIN SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN WEST OF MEMPHIS ANIMATED FILM BRAVE FRANKENWEENIE PARANORMAN DIRECTOR MICHAEL HANEKE — Amour BEN AFFLECK — Argo QUENTIN TARANTINO — Django Unchained ANG LEE — Life of Pi KATHRYN BIGELOW — Zero Dark Thirty ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY AMOUR (Writer: Michael Haneke) DJANGO UNCHAINED (Writer: Quentin Tarantino) THE MASTER (Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson) MOONRISE KINGDOM (Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola) ZERO DARK THIRTY (Writer: Mark Boal) ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ARGO (Writer: Chris Terrio) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (Writers: Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin) LIFE OF PI (Writer: David Magee) LINCOLN (Writer: Tony Kushner) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Writer: David O. Russell) LEADING ACTOR BEN AFFLECK — Argo BRADLEY COOPER — Silver Linings Playbook DANIEL DAY-LEWIS — Lincoln HUGH JACKMAN — Les Misérables JOAQUIN PHOENIX — The Master LEADING ACTRESS EMMANUELLE RIVA — Amour HELEN MIRREN — Hitchcock JENNIFER LAWRENCE — Silver Linings Playbook JESSICA CHASTAIN — Zero Dark Thirty MARION COTILLARD — Rust and Bone SUPPORTING ACTOR ALAN ARKIN — Argo CHRISTOPH WALTZ — Django Unchained JAVIER BARDEM — Skyfall PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN — The Master TOMMY LEE JONES — Lincoln SUPPORTING ACTRESS AMY ADAMS — The Master ANNE HATHAWAY — Les Misérables HELEN HUNT — The Sessions JUDI DENCH — Skyfall SALLY FIELD — Lincoln ORIGINAL MUSIC ANNA KARENINA (Dario Marianelli) ARGO (Alexandre Desplat) LIFE OF PI (Mychael Danna) LINCOLN (John Williams) SKYFALL (Thomas Newman) CINEMATOGRAPHY ANNA KARENINA (Seamus McGarvey) LES MISÉRABLES (Danny Cohen) LIFE OF PI (Claudio Miranda) LINCOLN (Janusz Kaminski) SKYFALL (Roger Deakins) EDITING ARGO (William Goldenberg) DJANGO UNCHAINED (Fred Raskin) LIFE OF PI (Tim Squyres) SKYFALL (Stuart Baird) ZERO DARK THIRTY (Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg) PRODUCTION DESIGN ANNA KARENINA (Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer) LES MISÉRABLES (Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson) LIFE OF PI (David Gropman, Anna Pinnock) LINCOLN (Rick Carter, Jim Erickson) SKYFALL (Dennis Gassner, Anna Pinnock) COSTUME DESIGN ANNA KARENINA (Jacqueline Durran) GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Beatrix Aruna Pasztor) LES MISÉRABLES (Paco Delgado) LINCOLN (Joanna Johnston) SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (Colleen Atwood) MAKE UP & HAIR ANNA KARENINA (Ivana Primorac) HITCHCOCK (Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel, Howard Berger) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater) LES MISÉRABLES (Lisa Westcott) LINCOLN (Lois Burwell, Kay Georgiou) SOUND DJANGO UNCHAINED (Mark Ulano, Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, Wylie Stateman) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Tony Johnson, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Brent Burge, Chris Ward) LES MISÉRABLES (Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst) LIFE OF PI (Drew Kunin, Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton, Ron Bartlett, D. M. Hemphill) SKYFALL (Stuart Wilson, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Per Hallberg, Karen Baker Landers) SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Peter Bebb, Andrew Lockley) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White) LIFE OF PI (Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer) MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE (Nominees TBC) PROMETHEUS (Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth) SHORT ANIMATION HERE TO FALL I’M FINE THANKS THE MAKING OF LONGBIRD SHORT FILM THE CURSE GOOD NIGHT SWIMMER TUMULT THE VOORMAN PROBLEM Click here to read about BAFTA's Rising Star Award nominations, which include Elizabeth Olsen and Juno Temple. [Photo Credit: David James/20th Century Fox] More: Next Up, Oscars? Spielberg, Affleck Crack the Directors Guild's 2013 Nominations 'Amour' Named Best Picture By National Society of Film Critics 'Zero Dark Thirty', 'Lincoln', 'Argo', 'Looper' Among WGA Award Nominees From Our Partners: Megan Fox’s 12 Hottest Moments (Moviefone) ’Texas Chainsaw’: Top 5 Leatherface Kills (Moviefone)
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Hyde Park on Hudson Review
December 04, 2012 4:57am ESTThere is one scene in Hyde Park on Hudson where it's apparent how sharp and layered Billy Murray's portrayal of the 32nd President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt is. The film centers on the historic meeting of King George VI and the president at FDR's titular compound — a culture clash that worried both parties to no end. After their first lengthy meal FDR takes Bertie into his study for another round of drinks. Roosevelt sits him down to talk about his recent appointment as the King of England and the potential for war overseas. Bertie stammers out his concerns aware that his country has lost faith in him. FDR is nothing but comforting while he lifts his polio-stricken legs out of a wheelchair and maneuvers across the room. "If I were your father I'd be proud of you " he says with a grin. Murray has always been a charmer dating as far back as his first season on Saturday Night Live and that demeanor makes him a perfect fit for America's only four-term President. But Hyde Park on Hudson wastes the opportunity of hiring Murray for the gig which opts not to hone in on the FDR/Bertie relationship in favor of another angle: Roosevelt's habit for mistresses. Laura Linney plays Margaret Suckley a distant cousin of FDR's in whom the sitting President randomly decides to take a fancy. He calls her up out of the blue and immediately the two start finding romance in each other's company. A car ride out into the middle of a lavender field (and an impassioned sexual act) seals the deal. Margaret is infatuated with Franklin and the POTUS reciprocates. And that's about it. The film is based on diaries discovered later in history and as far as the events of the movie are concerned their scandalous relationship went fairly uninterrupted. Alluded to in Hyde Park on Hudson Roosevelt's wife Eleanor had an understanding with her husband that allowed her to live on her own (and quite possibly have uncouth relationships herself) and for him to seek comfort with whomever he pleased. The success of the other recent Bertie story The King's Speech may be cause for the meandering focus of Hyde Park on Hudson never quite confident to dive deep into any of sides of Roosevelt. But the film is at its richest when the spotlight is on King George. Actor Samuel West lives in the shadow of Colin Firth's Oscar-winning performance but he's still the most interesting character in the film struggling to shake off his commanding wife and become his own man. But Hyde Park on Hudson always goes back to the Margaret/Franklin relationship a vapid core idea that only offers the filmmakers an opportunity to shoot dynamic driving scenes through scenic upstate New York. There is little conflict in Hyde Park on Hudson the greatest hurdle being Bertie's will-he/won't-he-eat-a-hot-dog predicament which sends the Brits into a tizzy. After an hour (and approximately 18 stamp collecting conversations) into the Hyde Park on Hudson it's apparent that the film is content with reenacting the events of the famous King and Queen visit and letting Murray's vibrant performance do the talking. Linney's intriguing mistress role fizzles out — it wasn't a big deal for FDR back 1939 and it hasn't gained any weight 70 years later.
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The Bourne Legacy Review
August 09, 2012 12:16pm ESTDo the Bourne movies make any sense? Enough. The first three films — The Bourne Identity Supremacy and Ultimatum — throw in just enough detail into the covert ops babble and high-speed action that by the end Jason Bourne comes out an emotional character with an evident mission. That's where Bourne Legacy drops the ball. A "sidequel" to the original trilogy Legacy follows super soldier Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) as he runs jumps and shoots his way out of the hands of his government captors. The film is identical to its predecessors; political intrigue chase scenes morally ambiguous CIA agents monitoring their man-on-the-run from a computer-filled HQ — a Bourne movie through and through. But Legacy has to dig deeper to find new ground to cover introducing elements of sci-fi into the equation. The result is surprisingly limp and even more incomprehensible. Damon's Bourne spent three blockbusters uncovering his past erased by the assassin training program Treadstone. Renner's Alex Cross has a similar do-or-die mission: after Bourne's antics send Washington into a tizzy Cross' own training program Outcome is terminated. Unlike Bourne Cross is enhanced by "chems" (essentially steroid drugs) that keep him alive and kicking ass. When Outcome is ended Cross goes rogue to stay alive and find more pills. Steeped heavily in the plot lines of the established mythology Bourne Legacy jumps back and forth between Cross and the clean up job of the movie's big bad (Edward Norton) and his elite squad of suits. The movie balances a lot of moving parts but the adventure never feels sprawling or all that exciting. Actress Rachel Weisz vibrant in nearly every role she takes on plays a chemist who is key to Cross' chemical woes. The two are forced into partnership Weisz limited to screaming cowering and sneaking past the occasional airport x-ray machine while her partner aggressively fistfights his way through any hurdle in his path. Renner is equally underserved. Cross is tailored to the actor's strengths — a darker more aggressive character than Damon's Bourne but with one out of every five of the character's lines being "CHEMS!" shouted at the top of his lungs Renner never has the time or the material to develop him. Writer/director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton Duplicity and the screenwriter of the previous three movies) is a master of dense language but his style choices can't breath life into the 21st century epic speak. In the film's necessary car chase Gilroy mimics the loose camera style of Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass without fully embracing it. The wishy washy approach sucks the life out of large-scale set pieces. The final 30 minutes of Bourne Legacy is a shaky cam naysayer's worst nightmare. The Bourne Legacy demonstrates potential without ever kicking into high gear. One scene when Gilroy finally slows down and unleashes absolute terror on screen is striking. Unfortunately the moment doesn't involve our hero and its implications never explained. That sums up Legacy; by the film's conclusion it only feels like the first hour has played out. The movie crawls — which would be much more forgivable if the intense banter between its large ensemble carried weight. Instead Legacy packs the thrills of an airport thriller: sporadically entertaining and instantly forgettable. ="font-style:>
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'Avengers' Make It a Box Office Three-Peat!
May 20, 2012 8:48am ESTThe Avengers Assemble a Three-Peat At the Box Office! Disney and Marvel’s The Avengers topped the box office for the third straight week as three wide release newcomers entered the summer marketplace. A staggering $55 million in its third weekend gives the moneymaking superheroes the second best third weekend performance in box office history behind only Avatar’s $68.5 million and just ahead of Spider-Man’s $45 million. By Sunday night after just 17 days of release these box office avengers will have a domestic total near $458 million and a global total stretching even further beyond the $1 billion mark with a current $1.180.4 million total. The film is currently #4 film of all time globally, #6 film of all time domestically, and #7 film of all time internationally! See additional stats below courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures: MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS (Marvel): 3rd week of release Worldwide, Marvel’s The Avengers has surpassed Toy Story 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest to become the biggest Disney release of all time and is currently the #4 film of all time on a global basis. DOMESTIC WKND ESTIMATE (May 18-20): $55.1M at 4,249 locations (down 47% from last weekend). Weekend theater average: $12,958. INTERNATIONAL WKND ESTIMATE (May 18-20): $56.0M MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS is currently in release in 54 territories representing about 95% of the international market. ESTIMATED DOMESTIC CUME: $457.1M MILLION ESTIMATED INTERNATIONAL CUME: $723.3 MILLION ESTIMATED GLOBAL CUME: $1.180.4 MILLION HIGHLIGHTS: Crossed $1B global threshold in 19 days (May 13). First Marvel film and fifth Disney release to reach $1B. Currently #4 film of all time globally, #6 film of all time domestically, and #7 film of all time internationally. On Saturday, the film became Disney’s highest grossing film domestically, passing PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST. In Latin America, MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS has accumulated $171M to date, exceeding the entire run of AVATAR and TITANIC to become the highest grossing film inhistory. Highest-grossing film of 2012 on a global, international, and domestic basis. Highest-grossing Disney release of all time globally and domestically. Domestic: On Saturday, the film became Disney’s highest grossing film domestically, passing PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST. Fastest film to reach $400M (14 days), $300M (9 days) and $200M (3 days). Biggest opening weekend of all time ($207.4M). Biggest second weekend of all time ($103M) and the first time in history a film crossed the $100M+ mark in its 2nd weekend. Highest Saturday ($69.5M) and Sunday ($57M) totals of all time. Second-biggest single-day gross of all time ($80.8M). Marvel’s The Avengers has passed the total domestic cumes for Captain America ($177M), Thor ($181M), Iron Man 2 ($312.4M) and Iron Man ($318.4M). International: Marvel’s The Avengers surpassed the international box office totals of Captain America ($192M), Iron Man ($266.7M), Thor ($268.3M) and Iron Man 2 ($311.5M) in just 12days of release. Biggest opening weekend of all time in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Central America, Peru, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, United Arab Emirates. Performance to date – key int’l territories UK $72.3M China $69.3M Mexico $56.2M Brazil $51.9M Korea $47.7M Australia $45.3M Russia $38.9M France $37.7M Germany $27.6M Italy $23.0M Taiwan $18.9M Spain $18.5M Philippines $14.2M Argentina $13.9M Hong Kong $12.4M India $11.4M Other $164.1M Total $723.2M With $226.8 million already in the war chest internationally, Universal’s Battleship starring Liam Neeson and pop music phenom Rihanna hit North American theaters this weekend with a $25.3 million debut. The film earned another $6.5 million internationally this weekend pushing its worldwide total to over $250 million. The PG-13 action sci-fi thriller which also stars John Carter’s Taylor Kitsch, takes its name from the popular Hasbro board game and is the second big budget action film of the summer. Bringing his unique comedic sensibilities to theaters for the third time is Sacha Baron Cohen in Paramount’s R-rated comedy The Dictator. In the wake of Borat and Bruno, Cohen has made a name for himself as a purveyor of off-beat humor and wild characterizations. Having already earned $4.2 million on Wednesday and $2.9 million on Thursday, the film had a better-than-expected weekend total of $17.4 million for a third place debut and a five day total of $25.3 million. The Dictator opened to a worldwide gross of $54.8m this wknd, with a gross of $30.3m internationally. We opened 29 markets, 9 of which were top 20 markets. Our highest grossing markets were as follows: UK earning $7.3m, AUS earning $5.6, Germany earning $4.4m, Russia earning $2.5m and Norway earning $1.4. Warner Bros.’ Dark Shadows starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton scared up $12.77 million in its second weekend and raises its 10 day total to $50.9 million. The film is an update of the gothic TV soap opera from the late 60’s and also stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter. Rounding out the top five is Lionsgate’s ensemble comedy What to Expect When You’re Expecting earning $10.5 million. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid and Chris Rock, the PG-13 rated romantic comedy had appeal to females as well as the date crowd looking for some laughs in their summer movie diet. Unfortunately this was a “down” weekend at the nation’s theaters with tough comparisons to last year’s comparable weekend when Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides had its $90.1 million opening weekend along with Bridesmaids and a $21 million debut. Year-to-date is still ahead of last year by nearly 16% as we await the men of Sony’s Men In Black 3 in 3-D top come to the box office rescue. Weekend Box Office (Estimates) Top Movies for Weekend of May 18, 2012 Movie Weekend Gross Total to Date 1 The Avengers (PG13) $55.057M $457.1M 2 Battleship (PG13) $25.35M $25.35M 3 The Dictator (R) $17.4M $24.5M 4 Dark Shadows (PG13) $12.77M $50.9M 5 What to Expect When You're Expecting (PG13) $10.5M $10.5M
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Meet the Rising Stars of 'John Carter'
March 07, 2012 3:59am ESTWithout question, the biggest release at the multiplex this weekend will be Disney’s John Carter, the big screen, 3D adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic sci-fi novel series John Carter of Mars. The epic scale of the film is matched only by its immense and diverse cast. Along with a number of recognizable acting veterans, John Carter also features a plethora of stars on the rise. Here are a few notables… Taylor Kitsch Why not start with the star of the film, eh? Taylor Kitsch, who plays our planet-hopping hero, gleans a lot of attention amongst Austin film and TV geeks for his work on the series Friday Night Lights; based on the 2004 film by Peter Berg. Though born in British Colombia, Kitsch perfectly captures the personality and mannerisms of Texas high school football player Tim Riggins with an added, fascinating edge. The series is filmed here in town. Kitsch has also made his mark on the superhero genre by appearing in Marvel’s 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine. While I won’t defend the merits of the film itself, Thor knows it was far from Marvel’s best, I would like to see Kitsch’s Gambit character fleshed out a bit more. Rémy LeBeau was easily my favorite X-Men, and it was unfortunate that the only attention paid to him by the franchise was Kitsch’s brief cameo in this less-than-stellar entry. Lynn Collins From a Texas adoptee to a true Texas native, the gorgeous Lynn Collins plays the love interest in John Carter. She plays a Martian princess called Dejah Thoris whose beauty, grace, and adeptness with a sword will not leave your consciousness even long after you leave the theater. Coincidentally, Collins also appeared in Marvel’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine; playing Logan’s girlfriend Kayla Silverfox. More likely however, you’ll probably recognize Lynn Collins from her five-episode stint as the unfortunate Dawn in the first season of HBO’s sexalicious vampire series True Blood. She also appeared in 2009’s Blood Creek with Michael Fassbender and 2006’s Bug alongside Ashley Judd; two films we highly recommend. Samantha Morton John Carter runs into many strange and interesting characters during his time on the red planet. One such character is the very sympathetic Sola, a female member of the Tharks (a bizarre, green, four-armed race). Though her name may not immediately ring any bells or recall a face, Samantha Morton, who elegantly voices Sola, has been lending her impressive talents to movies and television since the early 90s. After some television work in her native England, including an appearance on the popular BBC series Cracker, Morton appeared in the 1999 Woody Allen comedy Sweet and Lowdown. But arguably her biggest break came when she co-starred in Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report alongside Tom Cruise. Morton played the female telepath Agatha who becomes the key to helping Cruise’s hero solve a decades-old mystery. Morton has since appeared in films such as In America, The Libertine, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. James Purefoy When one is facing all manner of aliens, beasts, and humanoid aggressors, it pays to have a skilled warrior by one’s side. Luckily, John Carter allied himself with the skilful and cunning Kantos Kan; a captain of the army of Helium. Portraying Kan is the very talented British actor James Purefoy. Purefoy appeared in several films, among them A Knight’s Tale, Resident Evil, and Vanity Fair, before landing the role of Mark Anthony in HBO’s celebrated series Rome. But if you only seek out one project on Purefoy’s resume, I highly recommend his 2009 actioner Solomon Kane. In the film, based on a comic book by >Conan the Barbarian creator Robert E. Howard, Purefoy plays the titular antihero who sells his soul to the devil and then lives his life trying to win it back through various acts of valor. The film is every bit as exciting and spectacular as a major Hollywood superhero film on a budget a fraction of the size. Polly Walker Rounding out our list of John Carter’s talent pool is the stunning Polly Walker. Walker lends her voice and movements to the treacherous Sarkoja, another member of the Thark race. A native of Cheshire, England, Walker is a seasoned veteran of some of the most notable television series on both sides of the pond. Walker appeared in the 2003 British political thriller series State of Play, which was re-imagined as a film in 2009 starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck, as well as HBO’s Rome and SyFy’s Battlestar Galactica spinoff Caprica. In addition, Walker appeared as the lovely Cassiopeia in 2010’s Clash of the Titans.
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Under the Radar: 12 Days of Christmas Blind Buys
November 28, 2011 10:46am ESTNow that Thanksgiving is done, the holiday shopping rush has officially commenced. In order to help you shop for those on your list with more eclectic tastes, we’ve compiled some of the best offbeat DVD and Blu-ray releases of late. We’ve even arranged them so that you can present your loved ones with one gift for each of the 12 Days of Christmas. Here’s what they should expect… “12 Angry Men” Title: 12 Angry Men Company: Criterion Collection Format: Blu-ray Why Buy? 12 Angry Men is the preeminent courtroom drama. Legendary director Sidney Lumet crafts an unbearably tense, remarkably humanist depiction of strangers coming together to decide another man’s fate. As you would expect, Criterion’s high-def transfer is absolutely gorgeous. Special Features Include: Frank Schaffner’s 1955 television version, production history, archival interviews with Sidney Lumet, new interview with screenwriter Walter Bernstein, “Tragedy in a Temporary Town”—teleplay directed by Lumet, original theatrical trailer “A Show Boasting An 11 Season Run” Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXII Company: Shout! Factory (Release Date: 12/6) Format: DVD Why Buy? If you’re already a fan of MST3K, there is absolutely no reason why you wouldn’t want to purchase this set. If you are on the fence about the show, these are some of the funniest episodes as yet released. The titles themselves are hysterically bad: Time of the Apes, Mighty Jack, The Violent Years, and The Brute Man. Shout! Factory’s animated menus and plethora of special features continue to pay sincere tribute to fans. Special Features Include: Interviews with Delores Fuller and Kathy Wood, “The Making of MST3K” (1997 Sci-Fi Channel Special), 4 exclusive mini-posters by artist Steve Vance “10 10 Different Kinds of Adventure” Title: The Adventures of Tintin: Season One Company: Shout! Factory Format: DVD Why Buy? Before you rush off to the theaters this holiday season to see Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin, check out the animated series on which it was based. Join Tintin and his trusty canine pal Snowy as they solve mysteries and go on fantastic adventures. Here's our review. “9 Shades of Red and Blue” Title: Red vs. Blue Season 9 Company: New Video Group Format: DVD Why Buy? Red vs. Blue comprises some of the best parody available online and now it can once again be viewed in the comfort of your living room. Based on the popular Halo videogame series, Red vs. Blue demonstrates action chops just as adept as its comedic timing. Special Features Include: Director’s commentary, special videos and PSAs, outtakes, deleted scenes, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes videos “8 Hookers with Whom to Play Doctor” Title: Frankenhooker Company: Synapse Films Format: Blu-ray Why Buy? If you are looking for a twisted take on the classic story of Frankenstein, you could not get any more twisted than Frank Henenlotter’s Frankenhooker. When a young scientist’s fiancé is cut to pieces by an errant lawnmower, he must harvest spare parts from a select group of ladies of the evening to put her back together. The scene in which he sizes up eight such ladies for his unholy creation is outlandish, crass, and hilarious. Special Features Include: Audio commentary, three featurettes, photo scrapbook, and theatrical trailer “7 Teams Racing for Glory” Title: The Cannonball Run Company: HBO Studios Format: Blu-ray Why Buy? The Cannonball Run is a schlock classic available for the first time on Blu-ray. Directed by ’s Hal Needham, the film weaves the whacky tale of seven teams competing in a cross-country race. The cast list alone should entice you to check out this film; Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Adrienne Barbeau, Jackie Chan, and Peter Fonda just to name a few. “6 Featured Women-In-Cages Films” Title: Machete Maidens Unleashed Company: Dark Sky Films Format: DVD Why Buy? It's one of the most entertaining documentaries on cult genre film you will ever see. Directed by Mark Hartley, this doco catalogues the very strange history of genre films from The Philippines, both native and made by Roger Corman’s visiting production company. Corman was known for his nefarious women-in-cages films and several of them were filmed in The Philippines. Special Features Include: Commentary and trailers “5 Heroic Stories” Title: Marvel Knights Collection Company: Shout! Factory Format: DVD Why Buy? Fans of Marvel’s extensive catalogue of heroes will love this collection of motion comics from some of today’s leading genre authorities. The collection features motion comic stories of The X-Men, Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Woman, and Thor. Particularly recommended are Iron Man: Extremis by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov and Astonishing X-Men: Gifted by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. “4 Dysfunctional Siblings” Title: Our Idiot Brother Company: The Weinstein Company (Release Date 11/29) Format: Blu-ray & DVD Why Buy? Though predictable in many ways, Our Idiot Brother is more personable than a good many of Paul Rudd’s typical comedic fare. The film also features dynamite supporting performances from Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, and Elizabeth Banks. Special Features Include: Director’s commentary, deleted and extended scenes, making of featurette “3 Unlikely Heroes” Title: Three Amigos Company: HBO Studios Format: Blu-ray Why Buy? Finally available on Blu-ray, Three Amigos contains one of cinema’s most impressive comedy team-ups. Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short play three phony Hollywood heroes in this unquestionable classic. If you don’t already own this film, or even if you only own it on DVD, now is the time to get your little buttercups down to your local electronics store and pick up this Blu-ray today. Also check out our interview with director John Landis. Special Features Include: Cast interview with Martin, Chase, and Short, deleted scenes “An Evil Part 2” Title: Evil Dead 2 (25th Anniversary Edition) Company: Lions Gate Format: Blu-ray Why Buy? In 1987, Sam Raimi managed to accomplish the impossible; he created a horror sequel that many fans actually preferred to the original. Evil Dead 2 has never looked better and this release is an absolute must-have for any horrorphile. Special Features Include: Commentary with writer-director Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, co-writer Scott Spiegel, and effects artist Greg Nicotero, “The Gore the Merrier” featurette, Evil Dead: Hailed to The King videogame preview, theatrical trailer, still galleries, and talent bios “1 Terrifying Train Ride” Title: Horror Express Company: Severin Films Format: Blu-ray Why Buy? Horror icons Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing join forces with the great Telly Savalas in this fantastic 70s fright fest. A creature being transported by train breaks free and begins taking victims left and right. Horror Express is exquisitely shot (something emphasized by Severin’s phenomenal Blu-ray transfer), eerily claustrophobic, and incredibly exciting. Special Features Include: Interviews with director Eugenio Martin, producer Bernard Gordon, star Peter Cushing, and composer John Cacavas, theatrical trailer
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Fall TV: 'Terra Nova' Pilot Review
September 26, 2011 10:18pm ESTI went into Terra Nova without any dedication to the project. Don’t get me wrong—I’m no enemy to science fiction. But dystopian future society/time travel/dinosaurs/survivalism/apocalypse prevention seemed like a pile of all the winning sci-fi scenarios they could think of and in hopes the styles melded together well. It seemed all too convoluted, way too derivative, and not promising. But now, I see the potential in the series. The opening scene sees family man and honest cop Jim Shannon (Jason O'Mara) bringing an orange home for his family to marvel over—natural fruits are a tremendous rarity in their 2149 society (immediately reminiscent of Soylent Green). Jim and his multi-doctorate wife Elizabeth (Shelley Conn) --and yes, her name is Elizabeth Shannon and I really hope I’m not the only person who finds that funny --are proud and loving parents to three kids. The stubborn but good-hearted Josh (Landon Liboiron), the awkward brainiac Maddy (Naomi Scott), and the three year-old Zoe (Alana Mansour), who, merely by existing, violates the society’s strict “two kids only” population control laws (reminiscent of The Giver). Jim and Elizabeth are forced to hide her when the tyrannical law enforcement who perform unsolicited apartment inspections (reminiscent, to varying degrees, of 1984, Logan’s Run, Brave New World, A Clockwork Orange…just about every future society is shown to have pretty rude policemen). But somewhere around the 10-minute mark, the plot is set in place: the Shannons are going back in time to prehistory. Elizabeth visits Jim in jail to inform him of this (he has been there for two years for assaulting one of the cops who tried to remove Zoe—I don’t think it is ever explained how, during his arrest, Elizabeth managed to maintain custody of her illegal daughter, but whatever), and to devise a plan to break him out so that he, Zoe and the rest of the family can be part of the Terra Nova expedition project (Launch Number Ten, so this is becoming an increasingly prevalent part of society) and live together in a preferable time period where things like grass and light exist. Another ten minutes pass, and the goal is achieved. Through a little futuristic technology, some bribery, fancy footwork and double-talking, the Shannons are all sent back in time to the Terra Nova campsite of dinosaur times. Up until this point, the series seems a bit schlocky. It hasn’t lost my interest yet, although this is more than anything due to the imaginative designs of future machinery and architecture. Jim’s trickery and knick-of-time-escapes from the fleets of armed security agents are nothing impressive. But then, we enter the world of Terra Nova (that’s what we’ll call the past, for all intents and purposes). And here’s where a bit of surprise comes in: the show starts to get good. Now, it’s not brilliant. The situations, conflicts and relationships are all still pretty derivative and the dialogue, more than anything, leaves something to be desired. So what is left to praise? Simply: the Spielbergity. But first, it’s important to note that once the Shannons arrive back in Terra Nova time, the genius Maddy explains to her siblings that they are existing in an alternate linearity of time, which means they cannot prevent their own existence (or anything of the sort) with their actions. This will probably come up again… I first noticed how much I liked this show during a pretty lighthearted scene wherein Jim, assigned to agriculture duty, is asked to take care of the weeding. Seeing as how plants are about nine hundred times the size of their future incarnations, this proves to be a more arduous task than he suspects. Jim perches atop a fence, hacking away at the trunks and branches of gigantic weeds—the direction handles this rhythmically and a little comically. It feels just like a movie -- a moreover family-friendly adventure movie. And from this point on, this sentiment carries. It carries through son Joshua’s rebellious resistance of his “been-away-too-long-to-deserve-my-respect” father. It carries when Joshua and some new Terra Novian friends, a bunch of wayfaring teenagers, head into the forbidden wilderness and take a look at the mysterious markings written on the rocks beside a waterfall. It carries when Jim develops an unlikely camaraderie with Terra Nova’s de facto leader Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang), the first of the time travelers who runs the society rigidly but more or less justly. Taylor doesn’t take a liking to the stowaway Jim immediately, but comes to respect him after Jim saves Taylor from a malicious gunman—a representative of the Six: members of the sixth time traveling crew who seemed to have come back to Terra Nova with hidden intentions; they live separate from the society now and often act as a terroristic militia. Nathaniel does seem to have some hint of a relationship with Six leader Mira (Christine Adams)—I’m going to go out on a limb and say that she’s the mother of his child, but that’s a huge leap in logic. Speaking of which, Nathaniel alludes to his son having gone missing a few years back. We also learn at the end of the episode that his son is the one leaving the marks on the waterfall rocks, and that they somehow -- and this is the really juicy part -- are a type of code or key to the controlling stake of the past, present and future. So, you know, heavy stuff. This is actually the aspect that really drives the pilot home. Throughout, we deal with the Shannons’ interfamily relationships: primarily, Jim trying to win over his son and, to a lesser extent, youngest daughter. We get to know the world a bit—Terra Nova is a socialistic (as far as my limited knowledge of what socialism really is can tell me) society wherein everyone “is pretty much provided for” (to quote Jim). Dinosaurs, both friendly and not, roam freely outside of the community fences (the long-necked leaf eaters have the opportunity to interact gently with some of the more trusting humans, i.e. young Zoe). The climax is a traditional father-rescuing-wayward-son adventure that we’ve seen in everything from Hook to The Day After Tomorrow (although are those two really all that different? I’m sure there is a better pair of examples of two extremes) when Jim, Elizabeth, Nathaniel and others head into the woods to save the gang of teens from carnivorous dinosaurs. We also get to see a budding romance between the nerdy Maddy and a hunky Terra Novian. So, after a pilot that is in large part setup, relationship establishment, and world introduction, the unveiling of a mystery at the end sort of makes it all worthwhile—not that it wasn’t a fun watch up until that point, but it does help to realize that there’s way more going on than we thought. All in all, two things save the pilot: the mysterious ending (that seems to be a genuinely interesting mystery, and seems to possibly contest Maddy’s conclusion at the beginning of the episode about not being able to destroy the future, or anything), and the “cinemagic” of it all. Seeing as how Spielberg is behind the series, it shouldn’t have been so much of a surprise to feel like you’re back in your bunk bed in 1993, watching Jurassic Park and feeling both terrified and amazed by everything. A good choice was to show the differing degrees of familiarity with the new world. Jim and Elizabeth remember a healthier Earth from their childhood. Josh and Maddy are aware of the concept, but haven’t had any experience with it. And Zoe is enamored by this incredibly new phenomenon. The pilot is filled with magic like this—in scenes as simple as weed-cutting to those as grand as dinosaur-befriending. Sure, it has some kinks to work out (dialogue -- please fix the dialogue), but above it all, this show is enjoyable.
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review
August 04, 2011 8:17am ESTAs its title suggests Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes is intended to lay the foundation for a new franchise of sci-fi flicks in which humans and super-intelligent apes battle for earthly supremacy. Its duty then is to explain within the span of two hours and with a modicum of credulity how exactly our simian friends might come to supplant us atop the animal kingdom. The scenario was at least partially addressed in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes the fourth entry in the original series’ convoluted and time-warped canon and while Wyatt's film draws inspiration from Conquest it is by no means a remake. Nor for that matter is related in any way to Tim Burton’s underwhelming 2001 entry. (And thank goodness for that.) The titular rise begins as with many of the world’s great catastrophes with the actions of one highly irresponsible man. Will Rodman (James Franco) is a genetic scientist of prodigious talent and questionable ethics who works at a fancy San Francisco biotech firm called Gen-Sys (subtle!). His effort at producing a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease carries an ulterior motive: His father (John Lithgow) suffers from it and is close to entering its final stages. Will is close to a breakthrough when one of his chimpanzee test subjects goes well apesh*t causing his company’s suitably callous CEO Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo gamely spewing lines like “I run a business not a petting zoo!") to order the research facility’s entire chimp population liquidated. Will is busy carrying out the grim mandate when he discovers that one of the test chimps has borne an offspring one he can’t bring himself to euthanize. Instead he and his primatologist girlfriend Caroline (Frieda Pinto gorgeous and superfluous) partners in appallingly bad decision-making decide to raise the infant chimp as their own naming it Caesar. Having inherited his mother’s gene modifications he shows signs of advanced intelligence and quickly develops a close bond with his adoptive human parents. But Caesar soon outgrows his domestic habitat and eventually must be shipped off to a simian “sanctuary” that is in reality anything but. At this point we’re halfway through the film – and miles away from erudite apes and enslaved humans. To get us on track director Wyatt executes a rather audacious tonal shift transitioning abruptly from what was heretofore a fairly sober Project Nim dramatization into the balls-out apes-gone-wild summer action flick promised by the film’s trailers. His efforts are aided tremendously by his screenwriters Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa whose clever absorbing script offers just enough plausibility in the first half to make its increasingly loony second half not just palatable but downright enjoyable. Wyatt strikes a delicate thematic balance respecting the subject matter while acknowledging its inherent silliness. (Scattered throughout the film are sly nods to previous Planet of the Apes films as well as a glimpse of Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments.) The silliness accelerates seemingly by the frame in Rise’s latter half as Caesar mounts a conspiracy to escape his Dickensian squalor exact revenge upon his cartoonishly malevolent captors and take his simian revolution to the streets. And it only gets crazier from there – the third act is basically a PETA wet dream. As far as cautionary tales go Rise is about as cautionary as they come. Andy Serkis who performed all of the performance-capture work for Caesar is a marvel in the role though the question remains as to how the credit should be divvied up between him and the technicians at WETA digital who “painted” the character’s CG features. And make no mistake Caesar is very much a character – as well-rounded and fully-formed and convincing as they come and easily more compelling than any of his non-digital counterparts. Franco for his part is credible enough as a scientist who in spite of his academic credentials is a bit of a dolt (and perhaps a tad disturbed) and Lithgow tackles a relatively thankless role with grace. But the real stars are all those damn dirty apes.
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San Diego Comic-Con: Saturday and Sunday Schedules!
July 11, 2011 5:35am ESTComic-Con. The mecca of pop culture. Movies, TV, Comic and Gaming enthusiasts will gather in the temperate California town for a five-day, pop culture extravaganza, where the top dogs in every field come to showcase their latest and greatest products. Whether it's the Hall H premiere trailer of a new summer blockbuster, the cast meet and greet in Ballroom 20 for the hot new TV show or just a sit down with some insightful creator-types in a dark and dingy backroom, SDCC is always full of surprises and this year looks to be no different. We'll be there on the ground floor picking up all the news bites as they break, but you can check out the schedule for the first two days below -- and better prepare for the onslaught of updates! Saturday, July 23 10:00-11:30 Activision— Legends from across the Marvel landscape and the entertainment industry come together in one epic panel to discuss their roles in upcoming Activision Marvel video games X-Men Destiny and Spider-Man: Edge of Time. Comic book legend Stan Lee reflects upon the latest adventures of his creations with famed Marvel writer Peter David (creator of Spider-Man 2099) and Marvel VP of Games TQ Jefferson. Dee Brown, studio head of Beenox, and Jullian Spillane, project director of Silicon Knights, give everyone an inside look into how they balance staying true to the Marvel universe while bringing something original and exciting to fans in a video game. A talented voice cast of known celebrities rounds out the legends to discuss bringing Marvel characters to life in the games (check Facebook.com/HeroHQ for announcements). Finally, see an exclusive preview of never-before-seen footage for the upcoming games, and enter a chance to win a one-of-a-kind poster signed by Stan Lee himself at the panel! Moderated by Ryan Penagos, editorial director of Marvel.com. Room 5AB 10:00-10:45 Chuck Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con fan-favorite Chuck returns with a bang for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Executive producer and co-creator Chris Fedak, along with series stars Zachary Levi (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Yvonne Strahovski (upcoming My Mother's Curse), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence (The Pursuit of Happyness), Vik Sahay (Good Will Hunting), Scott Krinsky (The O.C.) with Sarah Lancaster (The Good Doctor), and Adam Baldwin (Serenity), offer a Q&A with fans and an unforgettable video presentation. Produced by Fake Empire, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Chuck airs Friday at 8:00 ET/PT on NBC, and Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD this fall. Ballroom 20 10:30-11:30 Marvel Television— Marvel's head of TV Jeph Loeb brings the inside scoop on Marvel's latest series that take your favorite heroes from page to screen. Get a first look at the premiere of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes season two, a sneak peek at a certain ultimate webslinger, and a few other surprises from Marvel Television. Room 6BCF 10:30-11:30 The Return of Action-Adventure Animation— The pendulum of audience and network taste in animation regularly swings between wacky comedy, comedy-adventure, and true action-adventure. And that's where it seems to be heading right now. The Writers Guild of America's Animation Writers Caucus returns to Comic-Con with a panel of animation writers and studio and network executives discussing whether it's really changing and what to expect. Panelists include moderator Craig Miller (Beast Wars, G.I. Joe), Stan Berkowitz (The 99, Justice League), Steven Melching (Transformers Prime, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Warner Bros. Animation's director of series and shorts Jeff Prezenkowski (Thundercats, Green Lantern), and others. Room 8 11:00-12:00 Terra Nova— Star Stephen Lang (Avatar), executive producer Rene Echevarria (Castle, Medium, The 4400, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), executive producer Brannon Braga (24, Star Trek: Enterprise), and co-executive producer Jose Molina (Haven, Castle) premiere footage from the highly anticipated epic adventure series 85 million years in the making, set to premiere this September on FOX. This new event drama from the minds of Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, The Pacific) and Peter Chernin follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a part of a massive expedition to save the human race. Ballroom 20 11:00-12:00 Sanctuary— Thrilling action, revolutionary green screen sets, and more bumps in the night than you can count. Catch Amanda Tapping (Helen Magnus), Robin Dunne (Will Zimmerman), and moderator Josh Gates (Destination Truth) as they take you inside Syfy's hit series Sanctuary. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 11:45-12:45 TWIXT: Francis Ford Coppola and Dan Deacon— Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and acclaimed musician Dan Deacon present sequences from Coppola's latest film, TWIXT, and involve the audience in a dress rehearsal of the completely unique and innovative way they plan on performing it. Plus a Q&A session. Hall H 12:00-1:00 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen— It's a landmark summer for comic-based films and with millions of dollars and the reputations of the properties being adapted at stake, it's important to examine the process by which these films come to life. Moderator Jeff Goldsmith (host of The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith podcast) interviews screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (co-writers of Cowboys and Aliens) and Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Captain America) as they shed light on their unique screenwriting habits and process of adaptation. Room 23ABC 12:00-1:00 Being Human— Find out why Being Human is harder than it looks -- especially when you're a vampire, werewolf, or ghost. Don't miss Sam Witwer (Aidan), Meaghan Rath (Sally), and Sam Huntington (Josh) as they join executive producers Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke on Syfy's first Being Human panel, moderated by award-winning writer Nadira Hira (expert on Generation Y; contributor, Fortune magazine). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 12:15-1:00 Futurama— Futurama is back! Again! On stage will be creator/executive producer Matt Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg), Katey Sagal (Leela), John DiMaggio (Bender), and Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker, Calculon, Morbo). Get a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage of Futurama reincarnated as Japanese anime, along with a thrilling preview of this summer's new season on Comedy Central. Moderated by Bill Morrison. Ballroom 20 12:30-1:30 Marvel Interactive: Marvel Video Games— Learn all about Spider-Man: Edge of Time, X-Men Destiny, Captain America: Super Soldier, Super Hero Squad Online, Super Hero Squad 3DS and uDraw, Marvel Pinball, and the Marvel Universe MMO. Also, find out some exciting new details about the future of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and other Marvel games via exclusive trailers, surprise reveals, and Q&A with the game creators from some of the industry's top publishers. Room 6A 1:00-1:45 The Simpsons— Now entering its record-annihilating 23rd season on FOX and airing its landmark 500th episode on February 19, 2012, The Simpsons has won 27 Emmy awards, was the subject of an international film smash in 2007, and inspired a ride you ride again at Universal Studios. Plus, Homer Simpson was named the greatest television character of the last 20 years by Entertainment Weekly. Get insight into the daily doings of this series from creator Matt Groening, showrunner Al Jean, co-executive producer Rob Lazebnik, co-executive producer Matt Warburton, supervising producer Mike Anderson, and producer/panel moderator Tom Gammill. Ballroom 20 1:00-2:00 Designing the SuperHero Costume: Costume Designers, Costume Illustrators and Superhero Costume Builders— Costume designers work with costume illustrators to translate graphic artists' renderings into wearable, functioning, cinematic costumes. Hear the inside stories from the people who bring the superhero costume to life. Moderator Deborah Nadoolman Landis (member of Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, costume designer, Raiders of the Lost Ark, director of the David C. Copley Center for Costume Design at UCLA) is joined by costume designers Christine Bieslin-Clark (co-costume designer, Tron: Legacy) and Ellen Mirojnick (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Christian Beckman of Quantum FX, Inc. (specialty costume fabricator, Tron: Legacy, Watchmen), costume manufacturers Mary Ellen Fields of Bill Hargate Costumes (Iron Man 2), and Marilyn Madsen (Star Trek TV series), and costume illustrators Constantine Sekeres (Thor, Green Lantern) and Christian Cordella (GI Joe 2: Cobra Strikes, Captain America: The Last Avenger). Room 23ABC 1:00-2:00 Relativity Media: Immortals— Visionary director Tarsem Singh transports viewers in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance, and destiny in this stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure. The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion and his murderous Heraklion (Mickey Rourke) rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion's brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle Phaedra, her disturbing visions of the young man's future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity. Stars Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz will participate in this panel alongside producers Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton. Hall H 1:00-2:00 Community— The cast and creative team from Sony TV's critically acclaimed NBC series -- Joel McHale (The Soup), Chevy Chase (Hot Tub Time Machine), Donald Glover (30 Rock), Yvette Nicole Brown (Rules of Engagement), Danny Pudi (Greek), Gillian Jacobs (Choke), Alison Brie (Mad Men), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover Part II), and executive producers Dan Harmon (The Sarah Silverman Program), Joe Russo (Arrested Development), Anthony Russo (Arrested Development), Neil Goldman (Scrubs), Garrett Donovan (Scrubs) and Russ Krasnoff (The Soloist) -- come together for an animated discussion and Q&A session about what's in store for viewers this fall! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 2:00-2:35 Family Guy— Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Adam West (Batman), and executive producers Mark Hentemann, Steve Callaghan, and Kara Vallow present a sneak peek at the new episode Stewie Goes for a Drive, featuring voice guest star Ryan Reynolds, followed by a Q&A session. Ballroom 20 2:15-3:15 Knights of Badassdom— In this humorous fantasy adventure from IndieVest Pictures, Joe (Ryan Kwanten) is a heavy metal rocker who's just gone through a painful breakup with his girlfriend, Beth (Margarita Levieva). His concerned roommates (Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage) kidnap him to their LARP (Live Action Role Playing) gathering, where he enters a realm of fantasy escapism in which pretend knights, elves, and barbarians clash with foam weaponry on a mock battlefield. When Joe's "sorcerer" roommate (Zahn) inadvertently summons a deadly succubus that takes Beth's seductive form, bloody reality crashes down on their fantasy world. Once LARPers start to turn up dead, the make-believe wizards and warriors must become the real-life heroes they have been pretending to be in order to conquer the evil that has been unleashed. The panel will include a Comic-Con exclusive trailer and a discussion/Q&A with stars Ryan Kwanten (HBO's True Blood, Red Hill), Peter Dinklage (HBO's Game of Thrones, Station Agent), Steve Zahn, pending availability (HBO's Tremé, Saving Silverman), Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity, The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Danny Pudi (NBC's Community), Jimmi Simpson, pending availability (A&E's Breakout Kings, Date Night), Margarita Levieva (The Lincoln Lawyer, Adventureland). and director Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2). Knights of Badassdom will be released in Spring 2012. Hall H 2:30-3:30 TV Guide Magazine Presents: Super Supernaturals— Moderated by TV Guide senior editor William Keck, this panel features the most super supernaturals, super witches, and super werewolves from new series and returning favorites. Panelists include John Barrowman (Torchwood), Kristin Bauer (True Blood), Thomas Dekker (The Secret Circle), David Greenwalt (Grimm), Theo James (Bedlam), Jim Kouf (Grimm), Britt Robertson (The Secret Circle), Phoebe Tonkin (The Secret Circle), and Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf). Room 5AB 2:35-3:15 American Dad— Catch a preview of the Season 7 premiere of American Dad, featuring guest star Cee-Lo Green as a singing hot tub, followed by a Q&A with cast members Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, and Dee Bradley Baker and executive producers Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman, and Kara Vallow. Ballroom 20 3:00-4:00 Assassin's Creed: The Creation of a Universe— The writers behind Assassin's Creed Revelations discuss and answer your questions about the thrilling fourth installment in the critically acclaimed entertainment franchise. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Ezio's final journey will unfold as he walks in the footsteps of his legendary mentor, Altair, on a perilous journey of doubt and discovery. Watch the exclusive preview of Assassin's Creed Embers, the animated short film and explore how the Ubisoft Montreal development team has created an Assassin's Creed universe that weaves real world history and global conspiracies into an ancient war between Assassins and Templars through a variety of media. Panelists will include creators of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Revelations game, animated short film, and comic book. Room 25ABC 3:00-4:00 Dark Horse: Joss Whedon— Long before signing on to helm one of the most anticipated superhero films in history, Joss Whedon rewarded fans the world over with some of the most compelling characters and plot lines in the history of comics, television, and movies. Here's your chance to find out what he has in store for us next, including a sneak peek at the brand-new Angel & Faith and Buffy Season 9 comics, plus exciting news about Buffy digital comics! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 3:30-4:15 The Vampire Diaries Screening and Q&A— All the way from Mystic Falls, the cast and creative team behind The Vampire Diaries descend on Comic-Con for a third time! Series stars Nina Dobrev (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Paul Wesley (Roll Bounce), Ian Somerhalder (Lost), Candice Accola (Juno), and Joseph Morgan (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) join executive producers/writers Kevin Williamson (Scream) and Julie Plec (Kyle XY) to enthrall fans with a season two highlight reel and Q&A session. This edgy, romantic drama remains the number-one series on The CW and promises another round of twists, turns and "triangles" in season three. From Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment, and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW, and The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD August 30. Ballroom 20 3:30-4:15 Universal Pictures: Snow White and the Huntsmen— Universal Pictures is bringing the stars and filmmakers of its epic action-adventure film based on the script Snow White and the Huntsman to Comic-Con. Scheduled to appear to discuss their roles in this breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale are Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Oscar winner Charlize Theron (Prometheus), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides). Director Rupert Sanders (Halo 3 campaign) and other filmmakers will also be on hand to reveal exclusive footage. Q&A session to follow. Hall H 4:15-5:15 Grimm: World Premiere Pilot Screening and Q&A with Cast and Producers from the New Supernatural Series— From the creative minds behind fan-favorite series Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and X-Files, comes a new world of police work where all cases have a storybook connection...but not always happily ever after. Grimm, debuting on NBC this fall, is a provocative police procedural with a supernatural mythology, inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers' fairy tales. Those weren't stories -- they were warnings. Be the first to watch the pilot episode and participate in a Q&A session with the cast and producers: David Giuntoli (Turn the Beat Around), Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights), Bitsie Tulloch (Quarterlife), Silas Weir Mitchell (Prison Break), Reggie Lee (Persons Unknown), and Sasha Roiz (Caprica) and executive producers/writers Jim Kouf (Angel) and David Greenwalt (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Room 6A 4:30-5:15 Fringe Screening and Q&A— Fringe returns to Comic-Con with series stars Anna Torv, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, and John Noble and executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman for a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Delve into parallel universes and alternate doppelgangers and join the discussion about this critically acclaimed thriller as Fringe continues to explore otherworldly cases with endless impossibilities. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX, and Fringe: The Complete Third Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 6. Ballroom 20 4:30-5:30 Further over the Rainbow: A First Look at Dorothy of Oz— Join the author and creator, Roger Baum (great grandson of L. Frank Baum), songwriter, producers, and various cast members of Summertime Entertainment's Dorothy of Oz, as they discuss the many angles of creating the anticipated new 2012 animated musical starring Lea Michele (Glee), Megan Hilty (Wicked, Spielberg's Smash), Martin Short (How I Met Your Mother, Frankenweenie), and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: TNG, X-Men). Be the very first to see the footage, hear the music, and witness a surprise new casting announcement. Q&A to follow. Hall H 5:00-6:00 Costume Designers & Costume Illustrators— Meet the men and women who are the costume designers and costume illustrators on this year's blockbuster films. Moderator Susan Nininger (member of Costume Designers Guild, Local 892; costume designer, The Bodyguard) talks to panelists and costume designers Julie Weiss (Twelve Monkeys, The Ring), Joseph Porro (Stargate, Ultra Violet), Wendy Chuck (Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Twilight), and costume illustrators Christian Cordella (G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes, Captain America: The First Avenger), Constantine Sekeres (G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes, Superman: Man of Steel, Thor, Green Lantern), Phillip Boutte (Superman: Man of Steel, Twilight Saga), and Brian Valenzuela (Super 8, Mission Impossible 4). Room 23ABC 5:00-6:00 Charlie's Angels— The cast and creative team from Sony TV's highly anticipated action-packed series Charlie's Angels for ABC -- Annie Ilonzeh (General Hospital), Minka Kelly (Parenthood, Friday Night Lights), Rachael Taylor (Grey's Anatomy), Ramon Rodriguez (The Wire, Daybreak) and executive producers Alfred Gough (Smallville) and Miles Millar (Smallville) come to Comic-Con to discuss their new series. The series is also executive-produced by Drew Barrymore (Charlie's Angels movies), Leonard Goldberg (the original Charlie's Angels), Nancy Juvonen (Charlie's Angels movies), and Marcos Siega (Vampire Diaries, Dexter). Join the cast & producers for a dynamic discussion and Q&A session about what's in store for viewers this fall! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 5:15-6:00 Alcatraz Pilot Screening and Q&A— Catch a special pilot screening of Alcatraz, a chilling new thriller centering on America's most infamous prison and the mysterious return of its most notorious criminals. When an Alcatraz inmate is discovered walking the streets of present-day San Francisco -- not having aged a bit since the 1960s -- a sinister threat begins to unravel. Where have these prisoners been? Why are they back? After the screening, there will be a special Q&A with Alcatraz writer and executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost) and series stars Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy) and Jorge Garcia (Lost). From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Alcatraz will air midseason on FOX. Ballroom 20 5:30-6:30 Teen Wolf— MTV's critically acclaimed hit series Teen Wolf is coming back to Comic-Con! Join the cast -- Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O'Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, and Colton Haynes -- along with executive producer Jeff Davis (creator, Criminal Minds), and director/co-executive producer Russell Mulcahy (director, Resident Evil: Extinction) for a Q&A session, plus an exclusive sneak peak at the remaining four episodes. Room 24ABC 5:45-7:30 An Early Evening with Kevin Smith— You know Comic-Con is over for the night on Saturday when the fat man sings. Kevin Smith takes to the Hall H stage for his annual Q&A. Fair warning: he works bluer than Doctor Manhattan (though, unlike Doctor Manhattan, Smith will wear clothes for this performance). Hall H 6:00-7:00 Twisted Metal— David Jaffe, director and lead designer of God of War and co-director of the upcoming Playstation 3 exclusive Twisted Metal, reveals the newest Twisted trailer featuring the demented Dollface and shows off a near final cut of the game's opening live-action cinematic. David will also take the audience through the single-player campaign, including a sneak peak of a new boss: The Brothers Grimm! Plus lots more Twisted surprises! Room 5AB 6:00-6:45 Nikita Screening and Q&A— Nikita returns to Comic-Con with series stars Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible 3), Shane West (ER), Lyndsy Fonseca (Kick-Ass), and executive producer Craig Silverstein (Bones) for its latest mission: to unveil an exclusive video presentation and reveal classified information from the highly anticipated second season that finds Nikita and Michael on the run with a black box containing the government's darkest secrets. Leading the hunt for them is Alex...and she knows all of Nikita's tricks. What will the Comic-Con Q&A reveal? From Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Nikita airs Fridays at 8/7c on The CW. Nikita: The Complete First Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 30. Room 6BCF 6:00-7:00 Behind the Music with CW3PR: Composing for Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror— Join scoring and composing legends Nathan Barr (True Blood), Michael Giacchino (Super 8, John Carter, Mission: Impossible), James Levine (Glee), Jim Dooley (Wilfred), Danny Jacob (Phineas and Ferb), Robert Duncan (Castle, The Entitled), and Edward Rogers (Warehouse 13), as they discuss their pivotal role in some of today's top film & TV projects. Special guest moderator to be revealed at panel. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 6:45-7:30 Person of Interest Pilot Screening and Q&A— A peerless creative team is behind this new white-knuckle action series -- including creator/executive producer Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight) and showrunner/executive producer Greg Plageman (Cold Case) -- about an ex-CIA agent, presumed dead, who partners with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes in New York City. Join these producers plus stars Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line), Michael Emerson (Lost), and Taraji P. Henson (Academy Award nominee, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) for an inside look at one of the most anticipated new shows of the fall season, including an exclusive screening of the pilot episode and Q&A. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Person of Interest will air Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS. Room 6BCF 9:30-10:30 FX Pilot Sneak Peek Screening— Surprise! Stop by for a special Saturday night sneak peek at one of FX's most highly anticipated pilots. At press time, details of this exclusive screening event were unable to be released by FX, so please check the room sign outside of Room 6DE for updated details. Room 6DE Sunday, July 24 10:00-11:00 Young Justice Screening and Q&A— Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Red Arrow, and Superboy -- these aren't your average sidekicks and this isn't your average cartoon. In a short amount of time, and with just a small number of episodes, fans have embraced this new action-adventure series as Warner Bros. Animation has brought some of their favorite DC heroes to life. Following a special screening, producers Brandon Vietti (Batman: Under the Red Hood) and Greg Weisman (Gargoyles) and members of the creative team will answer your burning questions on what the future holds for "the team." Young Justice Season 1, Part 1 is available on DVD now. Room 7AB 10:00-11:00 The Evolution from Warhawk to Starhawk: The New Universe that Is Starhawk and the Characters Behind the Conflict— Meet the creative minds behind Starhawk, the spiritual successor to Warhawk, as they introduce you to an exciting new world set in the lawless frontier of space. The team at LightBox Interactive and Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica Studio bring you an action-packed story with compelling characters, beginning with hired gunslinger Emmett Graves. Learn about how Emmett must navigate through Starhawk's brutal playground of large-scale combat, where the tide of battle turns all the time. You'll discover details about Emmett's backstory, his affliction to Rift Energy, and his overwhelming distaste for The Outcast, the war band of deadly monstrosities that he must fight to destroy in this PlayStation 3 exclusive. IGN.com's Greg Miller moderates with Starhawk's creative director Lars DeVore (LightBox Interactive), senior producer Harvard Bonin (SCEA Santa Monica Studio), studio director John Hight (SCEA Santa Monica Studio), and writer, Koen Wooten, who provide insight into the creative process behind Starhawk's space western universe with never-before-seen concept art, exclusive story details, and in-depth commentary, straight from the men behind this innovative new shooter experience. Room 25ABC 10:00-11:00 Glee— Creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy, creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk, and stars of Glee present a sneak peek at Glee The 3D Concert Movie featuring never-before-seen footage, behind-the-scenes secrets, and Q&A session. Hall H 11:00-12:00 Allen Gregory— Creator/executive producer and star Jonah Hill (Superbad, Get Him to the Greek), showrunner David Goodman (Family Guy), and creators/executive producers Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul, along with an all-star voice cast including French Stewart and Nat Faxon, present a sneak peek at FOX's new animated series that tells the story of the most pretentious 7-year-old of our time. Exclusive preview of Allen Gregory animation will be followed by a fan Q&A session. Room 25ABC 11:15-12:15 Supernatural Screening and Q&A— For the first time ever, the Supernatural panel will be in Hall H! Series stars Jared Padalecki (Friday the 13th [2009]) and Jensen Ackles (My Bloody Valentine 3D) and additional cast members and executive producers present an exclusive sneak peek at footage from the highly anticipated seventh season of this thrill-ride series. The panel will answer questions from the audience, show a portion of the special features from the upcoming Supernatural: The Complete Sixth Season DVD and Blu-ray release (in stores September 13), and give Comic-Con fans a sneak peek at Supernatural: The Anime Series, coming to DVD and Blu-ray on July 26. Supernatural airs Fridays at 9/8c on The CW and is produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television. Hall H 11:45-12:45 One-on-One with Castle Star Nathan Fillion— Nathan Fillion (Firefly) and the cast of Castle offer a lively discussion about their popular ABC crime-solving series. If you at last year's panel, you'll remember the fun and surprises. Enjoy a sneak peek into season four and walk away with Double Rainbow! Room 6BCF 12:30-1:30 BBC America's Doctor Who— Stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, along with writers and producers, make their first Comic-Con appearance for a panel and Q&A! They're bringing exclusive new footage of the new season to be shown ahead of its late summer return on BBC America. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the mysterious traveler who journeys throughout all of time and space, picking up companions along the way and almost always sidestepping danger. From award-winning lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and starring BAFTA nominee Matt Smith as the Doctor and Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond, the second season's Part One delivered record ratings for BBC America and marked the first time Doctor Who filmed on American soil. Also starring Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston, the Part One finale ended with the unveiling of a massive secret and the words "Let's Kill Hitler" on screen. Part One is now available on Blu-ray/DVD/iTunes, and Part Two premieres late summer on BBC America's Supernatural Saturdays. Hall H 1:00-2:00 International Hit Merlin Returns to Comic-Con with its Popular Cast— Global sensation Merlin comes back to Comic-Con in advance of its fourth season premiere, offering more sneak peaks, greater behind-the-scenes reveals, and an unprecedented four members of its internationally beloved cast. Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) returns with three of his fellow castmates -- Colin Morgan, the beloved title character of Merlin; Bradley James, who portrays Prince Arthur; and Katie McGrath, the now-villainous sorceress Morgana. Co-creators and executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy join their cast to provide an exclusive Comic-Con glimpse into the twists and turns of the upcoming season, offer a special advance look at new footage, provide a few unique prizes for fans, and supply some special surprises from the series that airs in more than 180 countries. Room 6BCF 1:45-2:45 The Cleveland Show— The cast and executive producers offer a look at The Cleveland Show's not-to-be-missed parody of Die Hard, followed by a discussion with panelists Mike Henry, Sanaa Lathan, Kevin Michael Richardson, Reagan Gomez, Rich Appel, and Kara Vallow. Hall H 2:15-3:15 The Looney Tunes Show Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con can be a crazy place, but it's about to get Looney! After an extended break from the limelight, animation's favorite mismatched duo of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck (along with all your other favorite Looney Tunes characters) return in The Looney Tunes Show, an animated half-hour comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation. Following a special screening, the laughs continue when supervising producers Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone (both from Duck Dodgers), story editor Hugh Davidson, writer Rachel Ramras and other members of the creative team take the stage to answer your questions. Just don't ask them, "Eh, what's up, Doc?" From Warner Bros. Animation, The Looney Tunes Show airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Cartoon Network. Room 6A 2:45-3:30 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia— Join the hilarious cast -- Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito -- for a Q&A panel session. Hall H 3:30-4:00 Sons of Anarchy— Get an inside look into the world of FX's highest-rated series ever, Sons of Anarchy, with creator Kurt Sutter (The Shield) and stars Charlie Hunnam (Children of Men), Katey Sagal (Married...With Children), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy). Hall H
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Quaid's son lands Hunger Games role
May 20, 2011 5:00am ESTThe youngster will play Marvel in the project's trilogy. He joins leading lady Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks among the cast of the new film, which will be directed by Gary Ross.
