Category Archives: Movies

Seth MacFarlane is hosting the Oscars

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It was announced today that Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, is set to host the 85th Academy Awards. MacFarlane is hot off his Saturday Night Live hosting stint and his motion picture directorial debut Ted which garnered over $420 million worldwide.

Oscars producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron had this to say about the newly minted host. “We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars. His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh. He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him.”

MacFarlane responded to the news like this: “It’s truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars. My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don’t find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast.” And with a video featuring his dad, embedded after the break.

In addition to his many voices (Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show), MacFarlane has a Grammy-nominated big-band jazz album under his belt, Music Is Better Than Words, so you can expect the jack of many trades to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps with a musical number, amongst other gags.

The Oscars air live Sunday, February 24 on ABC. Continue reading Seth MacFarlane is hosting the Oscars →

James Gunn confirms his involvement in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

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Marvel’s second phase of film offerings includes mostly sequels to already established franchises like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Two of them–namely Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy–have the potential to become franchises of their own. On Tuesday director James Gunn (Slither, Super) confirmed speculation by announcing via Facebook he will in fact helm the adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy:

For a month or so there’s been a lot of Internet speculation about my involvement with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Until now I haven’t said anything, because I’m trying to be less expulsive about this project than I am about the rest of my life. But last night I got the go-ahead from Kevin Feige to let you all know that, yes, indeed, I am rewriting and directing Guardians of the Galaxy. As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I’ve been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we’re committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique. I am incredibly excited. I am also incredibly grateful to the fans and the press for all their words of encouragement and support regarding my involvement with this project since the news first leaked. Thanks – you have, honestly, touched and overwhelmed me. And that’s it for now. Other than the occasional photos of my dog and cat here on Facebook, I’ll talk to you again in August 2014 when Guardians is released!

Concept art for the flick includes a superhero team made up of Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Gamora. Yes, a gun-wielding raccoon is involved. And with Gunn directing, things are about to get wild, wacky, and extremely radical. Hear what Avengers helmer Joss Whedon has to say about Gunn’s involvement in a video interview posted after the break. Continue reading James Gunn confirms his involvement in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ →

Movie trailer round-up: Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’, Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Mama’, hot comedy ‘The Oranges’ & ‘Wreck-It Ralph’

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Steven Spielberg has found his stride again. In Lincoln he tells the historic tale… As the Civil War nears its end, President Abraham Lincoln clashes with members of his cabinet over the issue of abolishing slavery. Daniel Day-Lewis plays our sixteenth President to a T, Sally Field is Mary Todd, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Robert Todd, and Tommy Lee Jones is Thaddeus Stevens. Rounding out this all-star cast is Lee Pace, Jackie Earle Haley, Gregory Itzin, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, and Jared Harris as Ulysses S. Grant.

Lincoln is out November 9.

Jump after the break for more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’, Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Mama’, hot comedy ‘The Oranges’ & ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ →

‘Entourage’ movie update: Creator Doug Ellin is almost done with the script!

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If you thought you’d never see the boys again, you thought wrong. Entourage creator Doug Ellin spilled to Deadline that his plans to bring back Vince, Drama, Turtle, E, and Ari for one last big screen hurrah are chugging along at a brisk pace. As of this past Wednesday he claimed to be on page 110 of the screenplay and that he has hopes to finish it by this Sunday. Though the plot is being kept under wraps, Ellin teased what’s in store for fans of the hit HBO series. If you recall, during a post-credits sequence agent Ari Gold received an important phone call from John Ellis asking if he would succeed him as the head of a studio. “There are interesting developments about Ari as a studio head, and that’s still the first page for me,” said Ellin. “But foremost is the friendship between the guys who are still hanging out and going to fun parties, and it continues with the same characters.”

And now we wait with bated breath for HBO to greenlight Entourage: The Movie. When there’s more, you’ll know. For now, smoke more weed Turtle, seriously.

[Via Deadline]

New ‘Hobbit’ movie in the trilogy gets titled and dated

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Last month Peter Jackson announced that his adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit would be a three part epic instead of an originally planned two part journey. Since that news settled, Warner Bros. and MGM stepped out again to reveal the name of the new movie in the trilogy. So here it goes.

Part one, An Unexpected Journey, is still due out December 14 of this year. Part two, (drum roll please) The Desolation of Smaug, occupies the vacated space left by the originally planned sequel There And Back Again releasing almost exactly one year later on December 13, 2013. There And Back Again is now the name of the third film which will hit theatres in the summer on July 18, 2014. All three films will incorporate footage shot during principal photography which completed on July 5. Additional scenes will be shot for part three, which plans to incorporate expanded stories told in Tolkien’s appendices.

[Via Deadline]

‘The Avengers’ GAG REEL! [Update: it’s pulled]

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Well this is certainly the best thing you’ll see all day. It’s The Avengers GAG REEL! These guys looked mighty and impressive on the big screen, but when they’re goofing around on set in their super hero costumes they just look downright silly. This is the kind of thing that only lasts so long on the Internet, so watch it while you can. Once it’s gone, you’ll be forced to shell out some money for the upcoming Blu-ray release.

AVENGERS ASSEM… oh f**k what is the line?

Update: I warned you! The movie studios have been on the prowl for all leaked versions of the Avengers gag reel from the Blu-ray release, and the two versions I previously embedded above were quickly pulled from the Internet. Now you’re left with that magnificent still from the bonus material as you count the days leading to September 25.

It’s official: Joss Whedon will return to write & direct ‘The Avengers 2’, develop a Marvel-based TV series

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What a day! Arrested Development keeps its head down and powers through and Disney and Marvel announce that The Avengers helmer and geek god Joss Whedon will return to write and direct the anticipated sequel tentatively titled The Avengers 2. The superhero summer blockbuster hasn’t even hit Blu-ray yet, and we still have to get through Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Ant-Man, but just knowing that the mastermind behind arguably the greatest superhero movie of all time is going to do it again. And if that wasn’t enough, Whedon also plans to develop a live action drama series set in the Marvel universe for ABC (it may or may not star members of the elite Avengers team).

After Disney CEO Bob Iger spilled the beans during the company’s earnings call, Marvel released the following statement nicely summing it all up: “Joss Whedon has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015. As part of that deal, Whedon will write and direct Marvel’s The Avengers 2 as well as help develop a new live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. He will also contribute creatively to the next phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe.”

That last bit is interesting, isn’t it? Will Whedon be free to dip his toe in Phase Two waters? Whatever comes of that, rest assured knowing that the man behind Firefly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon Marvel fans. And for you Whedon fans, perhaps his recent shift in luck will amount to a TV series lasting more than a few seasons (Buffy and Angel notwithstanding).

Update: Save the date; The Avengers 2 (that’s a tentative title) releases May 1, 2015. Now cry because that’s so far from now. And then later recover because you know that new installments from the other Marvel franchises are on the way.

[Via Deadline 1, 2]

‘Paranormal Activity 4’ trailer is in the present with demon Katie’s presence

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All of the activity has led to this, or so says the tagline of the upcoming Paranormal Activity film. In the fourth installment of the scary franchise, returning directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost (Paranormal Activity 3, Catfish) jump back to the present making PA 4 a true sequel to PA 2 (if you can recall, last year’s PA 3 took movie-goers to the ’80s as they discovered protagonist Katie’s backstory. 27 seconds into this extended, delightfully frightening trailer you can clearly see the camera’s timestamp display November 2011 so you can expect a story that will take place following the scares as seen in the second film. Katie (Katie Featherston) and her son Hunter are back to terrorize a mother and daughter in their demonic ways. Zack Estrin (The River, No Ordinary Family, Prison Break) wrote the script.

Paranormal Activity is out this Halloween season, as is tradition, on October 19. Spy the poster after the break. Continue reading ‘Paranormal Activity 4’ trailer is in the present with demon Katie’s presence →

Peter Jackson opens up ‘The Hobbit’, now a trilogy

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Peter Jackson is making it a point that his upcoming Hobbit story is indeed an unexpected journey. On Monday via Facebook he announced that his film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit is expanding from two movies to three. Here’s an excerpt from his statement:

It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie – and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life.  All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’

Jackson will expand the Hobbit universe by using stories gathered in Tolkien’s additional appendices, a total of 125 pages the author inserted into a later publication of The Return of the King.

Part one, An Unexpected Journey, comes out December 14, 2012. Part two, There And Back Again, comes out one year later on December 13, 2013. Part three, still un-subtitled, will follow in Summer 2014. Jump after the break to read Jackson’s three-film statement in full.

[Via Facebook; Deadline] Continue reading Peter Jackson opens up ‘The Hobbit’, now a trilogy →

A 5-minute 41-second trailer for ‘Cloud Atlas’, a genre-defying film from The Wachowskis & Tom Tykwer

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Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.

That is the official synopsis out now for the upcoming film Cloud Atlas. Written for the screen and directed by siblings Andy and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix) and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), Cloud Atlas is adapted from a 2004 novel written by David Mitchell. The epic tale tells multiple stories and intricately weaves them all together. It spans across centuries and travels between the past, present, and future. And it cannot be delegated to a single genre; Cloud Atlas is a romance story with elements of action-adventure, fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi. It’s also being described as political and philosophical. “Why keep genres separated?” exclaims Andy Washowski.

It’s got a great cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, Zhou Xun , Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, and Hugh Grant. And get this: The majority of these actors will be playing multiple characters in the film. “We all see this amazing opportunity to use the entire cast in multiple roles,” the filmmakers explain. “We love actors and we saw this chance to not just play different characters, but different ages, different races, different genders. Representing a core concept of the book: an idea of connectedness and karma, each character inheriting the consequences of their lives.”

To spread the word of their upcoming genre-defying epic, the Wachowskis and Twyker released a very long trailer maxing out at 5 minutes and 41 seconds. You’ll really get a sense of the massive scope Cloud Atlas brings to the table, both visually and in its storytelling format. For more, jump after the break to watch the filmmakers discuss how the movie came together and what movie-goers can expect from such a unique work of art.

Cloud Atlas hits theatres October 26. Continue reading A 5-minute 41-second trailer for ‘Cloud Atlas’, a genre-defying film from The Wachowskis & Tom Tykwer →