Movie trailer round-up: ‘Now You See Me’, ‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ & ‘Oz: The Great and the Powerful’

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If you’ve seen Christopher Nolan’s The Illusionist, this new magic flick should inspire you to visit theatres soon. Now You See Me tells an intriguing story about a group of magicians who perform seemingly impossible tricks on the road. In this first trailer for the movie, we see them performing on stage in Vegas and somehow they are able to magically rob a bank in France and teleport and shower the money all across their astonished audience. A large ensemble cast includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Laurent, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, Common, Michael Kelly, and Elias Koteas; rounding out the cast are Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, giving this even more of a Chris Nolan feel. But he is not at the helm; Louis Leterrier (Transporter, The Incredible Hulk) is.

So how do they do it? Is it magic? Is it technology from the future? Morgan Freeman opens the trailer with this:  “Come in close, because the more you think you see, the easier it’ll be to fool you.” And he ends it like this: “Look closely, because the closer you think you are, the less you’ll actually see.” You figure it out when Now You See Me hits theatres on June 7.

Jump after the break for more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Now You See Me’, ‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ & ‘Oz: The Great and the Powerful’ →

TV PSA: ‘Revolution’ gears up for midseason finale on Monday, won’t return until March

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The battle for power begins on Monday, November 26 as we head toward the midseason finale of NBC’s buzzy new drama Revolution. So says the promotional artwork whipped together for next week’s pivotal episode titled “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.” Following the Led Zeppelin heavy “Kashmir” episode that aired earlier this week, Charlie, her uncle Miles, Aaron, and Nora have finally made it to Philadelphia  the city where Sebastian “Bass” Monroe has set up camp. Will Charlie (at long last) rescue her captive brother Danny? Will Miles succumb to Monroe’s pressure and rejoin the Republic (as was hinted at in last week’s hallucination)? What is Monroe’s ultimate plan when/if he gains power via the pendent with Rachel’s help? These are the questions you should be asking heading into Monday’s episode. Expect a major cliffhanger at the end–why?–because new episodes won’t return until March 25 and NBC has to leave viewers begging for more during such an excruciatingly long hiatus.

Revolution‘s midseason finale airs Monday, November 26 at 10PM on NBC.

[Image via TVLine]

First look: Freddy Highmore & Vera Farmiga in ‘Bates Motel’

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Here we have our very first look into Bates Motel, A&E’s Psycho prequel series from Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights). The image captures Freddy Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as a young Norman Bates and Vera Farmiga (Up In The Air) as his mother Norma in the brush that crawls up to the now-infamous house on top of the hill.

Bates Motel is described as “a contemporary exploration of the formative years of Norman Bates’ relationship with his mother, Norma, and the world they inhabit. Viewers will have access to the dark, twisted backstory and learn firsthand how Norma helped forge the most famous serial killer of them all.” Norman and his mother move into the eerie home following the death of his father.

Also starring is Max Thieriot as Norman’s older brother, Nicola Peltz as Norman’s friend, and Olivia Cooke as one of his classmates.

Bates Motel’s 13 episode order premieres in 2013. Click after the break to view the first print ad for the anticipated series courtesy of THR. Continue reading First look: Freddy Highmore & Vera Farmiga in ‘Bates Motel’ →

Showrunners confirm ‘Last Resort’ & ‘666 Park Avenue’ will receive proper endings

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Last week ABC cancelled two of their high profile, creatively ambitious new shows Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue. Instead of axing them from the schedule, however, the network is going to allow both shows to play out their respective 13 episode arcs. Are you wondering if they will deliver answers and give at least some closure to fans who have been following since September? Ponder no more. TVLine has scooped that the sub drama and the supernatural thriller are tweaking their final episodes so that they serve as proper series finales.

“We have time to tweak,” says Last Resort creator Shawn Ryan. On the day of cancellation Ryan tweeted, “We’re going to give you no-holds barred kick-ass ending.” 666 executive producers David Wilcox and Matt Miller say that their show “is building to a powerful and surprising series finale, where all your questions will be answered. We hope fans of the show continue watching all the way to the end of Jane and Henry’s incredible journey to the dark side.”

After the November 4th installment of 666 saw DVR numbers jump a whopping 77 percent, ABC president Paul Lee called the ratings surge “amazing” but then went to say basically state too little, too late. “It’s wonderful to see the passion [these] shows have,” he said. “We just have to make sure we monetize it.”

Even though these shows have been cancelled, if you’ve been watching since the beginning there is no reason to stop now. Not only is the network going to air all 13 episodes of each, they will also produce answers to most (if not all) of the most juicy questions posed during the first half of their respective seasons. And who knows… if ratings climb, ABC is keeping the option open to bring them back next year if its schedule calls for it.

Chevy Chase exits ‘Community’

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On Wednesday news broke that Pierce Hawthorne dropped out of Greendale Community College for good. Chevy Chase, who plays the bumbling, bigoted former CEO of a Moist Towelette company, will no longer take part in the NBC sitcom Community effective immediately. The actor and the show “are parting ways by mutual agreement,” according to Deadline. The site also reports that as of Wednesday only one or two episodes of the thirteen that comprise the long-delayed season 4 have yet to be filmed so Chase’s character will in fact appear in most of the upcoming episodes. Additionally, episodes were shot out of order; though Chase won’t appear in some episodes leading up to the season finale, he will (likely) be present in the May capper which has already been shot and wrapped.

If you’ve been following the tumultuous news coming out of Community even before series creator Dan Harmon was ousted this news shouldn’t really come as a total surprise. Prior to Harmon’s exit, there was a very public beef between the showrunner and Chevy Chase involving a nasty voicemail left by Chase. With Harmon out of the picture, just last month Chase went on a tirade in the middle of production vocally sharing his displeasure of the way his character was being portrayed; the N-word was tossed around on a set that includes two African American stars. In between there have been numerous reports of Chase storming off the set, and he has made it known that he’s not a fan of the TV sitcom in general. All in all, Chase’s exit was inevitable.

With the series creator and one of the show’s main stars out of the picture, can Community survive past a fourth season. We’ll see how it performs when it finally returns to NBC’s schedule February 7 at 8PM. Harmon had fun with Pierce Hawthorne and he made a formidable antagonist last season, but perhaps the character has run its course and the show will be better off without a hot-headed presence around. With a strong ensemble cast led by Joel McHale, the prospect of six seasons and a movie still lies ahead methinks.

The Weeknd drops 33-track ‘Trilogy’, three music videos, a message to the fans

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On November 13, Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, re-released his three mixtapes as one collection in Trilogy. The 33-track album contains mixed and mastered versions of every song from House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence plus three, never-before-heard bonus tracks “Twenty Eight,” “Valerie,” and “Till Dawn (Here Comes the Sun).” At $9.99 Trilogy, which also includes the music video for “The Zone” featuring Drake, is the definition of a steal. Digital and physical ($11.99) copies are available. Trilogy was released under Universal Republic Records and Tesfaye’s own XO label. If you enjoyed his mixtapes, support a growing, talented artist by picking up Trilogy today.

In addition to dropping the album, The Weeknd also directed three music videos to promote the release. Clips were shot for “Rolling Stone,” “Wicked Games,” and the previously aforementioned “The Zone” featuring Drake. In a note directed at his fans, Tesfaye opens up and sheds light on the symbolism behind the “Rolling Stone” clip. He acknowledges that signing to a major record label and releasing a studio album in Trilogy takes him away from “the underground” and into the spotlight, but promises that “this does not mean what you think it means.” In other words, he will not be affected by his new-found fame and next-level success. “YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GET WHAT YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASK FOR. I’LL NEVER MAKE YOU WAIT AGAIN,” he shares in all caps.

Click after the break to view the note in full and all three music videos. In addition, you’ll find a new track “Enemy” outed last month that is not included on his first major release. Continue reading The Weeknd drops 33-track ‘Trilogy’, three music videos, a message to the fans →

Nintendo’s Wii U launches this Sunday

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The next wave of video game home consoles begins this Sunday, November 18 when Nintendo ships the successor to the Wii dubbed Wii U. We know pretty much all there is to know about the Wii U already: the HD console’s main selling point is its tablet-like controller that enables new forms of gameplay and second-screen interactivity; the Nintendo Network will finally usher Mario and the gang into the modern online gaming era; over 30 launch day games will be available for purchase alongside the system; and Nintendo is offering two SKUs starting at $300 for the basic set. For all things Wii U, refer to these marked posts.

Leading up to release day, Nintendo shed light on a couple new system features. First, up to 12 players can register on a single console. Your personal profile is directly tied to your game saves, settings, play history, and Internet browser bookmarks. Next, we already know that the Wii U GamePad enables video chat with its front-facing camera, and now Nintendo has divulged that the magic happens with an app called Wii U Chat. With an Internet connection, users can connect to other Wii U owners and video chat across their GamePads and TV screens. Using the GamePad you can draw on top of your recipients face and they will see your creations in real time. If you’re playing a game, you’ll be notified of an incoming call when you see the controller’s Home button flash a blue hue.

Besides online gameplay via the Nintendo Network, another way the house that built Mario is jumping ahead is by offering up entertainment consumption apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and its own interactive second screen experience that curates video content called Nintendo TVii. Originally it was planned that these apps would arrive via a software update on launch day, but this week Ninty shared unfortunate news spilling that they will be delayed until December. Netflix told Engadget that their app will indeed ship when the console does on Sunday, but as for the rest of them we’ll have to wait a few weeks.

With its unique GamePad, the Wii U hopes to once again revolutionize the way gamers play games. And with their newfound approach to providing entertainment content, Nintendo offers yet another way to consume movies, TV shows, and sports. With Xbox SmartGlass just finding its feet, will the Wii U steal the spotlight and provide an even better second screen experience with games and other content? The second screen is built into the Wii U’s DNA and that’s what Ninty is banking on. Get in line, pick one up, and give it a spin. (If you didn’t preorder, you’re likely out of luck, unless of course you live in the NYC area and are willing to participate in Nintendo World’s midnight launch event!) PR after the break.

Update (11/18): If you managed to pick up a Wii U today, you should know that the console does not come preinstalled with many of its touted software-based functions. In order to access and run Miiverse, Nintendo eShop, the Internet browser, and WiiU Chat, you must download and install a chunky software update. This update also enabled backwards compatibility with Wii games and even reproduces the last-gen Wii menu interface when a game disc is inserted. Netflix is also available via a separate update, and the other video consumption apps Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and Nintendo TVii are coming later this year as previously reported.

Update 2 (11/22): Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube have officially joined Netflix on the Wii U. When Nintendo TVii decides to drop, you’ll know! Continue reading Nintendo’s Wii U launches this Sunday →

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ generates $500 million in 24 hours, continues the record-streak

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Another Call of Duty game released, another record is set. On November 13 Call of Duty: Black Ops II came out and in 24 hours the shooter generated more than $500 million worldwide. For the fourth consecutive year, Call of Duty is the biggest entertainment launch of the year following Modern Warfare 2 (generated $310 million in 24 hours in 2009), Black Ops ($360 million in 2010), and Modern Warfare 3 ($400 million in 2011). “Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise have exceeded worldwide theatrical box office receipts for Harry Potter and Star Wars, the two most successful movie franchises of all time,” said Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in a press release.

In other video game sales news, Halo 4 released last Tuesday on November 6 and raked in over $220 million on launch day. This makes it the most successful Halo launch in the franchise’s history, narrowly beating sales of Halo: Reach which generated $200 million in 2010. It was expected that Halo 4 sales would surpass the $300 million mark during its first week on the market, but that figure has not been made official yet. Stay tuned.

Xbox LIVE turns 10

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On November 15, 2002 Microsoft turned on Xbox LIVE and over the past ten years what began as a multiplayer service for video gamers has evolved into an entertainment service that provides not only live multiplayer gameplay around the world but also a hub for the latest in movies, TV, music, and sports. Microsoft took a gamble when they charged gamers to pay a yearly fee for an online subscription; after ten years of supporting blockbuster games and other entertainment outlets it turns out that the price of admission was well worth it.

Here are some fun facts about LIVE Microsoft is sharing today:

  • Initially available to U.S. and Canadian Xbox players, the service is now available in 41 countries and territories around the world.
  • In the 10 years of LIVE, nearly 14.5 billion Achievements have been unlocked worldwide, accumulating a total combined Gamerscore of more than 270 billion.
  • This year we had an average of 9.4 million people a week using multi-player gaming on Xbox LIVE.
  • During the week of Nov. 6 through Nov. 13, our members spent more time on Xbox LIVE (gaming and watching entertainment) than any other week in the history of our service: a total of 442 million hours.
  • Halo 4, which broke entertainment industry numbers, resulted in the LIVE community unlocking 43 million achievements in just the first five days of gameplay.

In an open letter to Xbox LIVE members, Microsoft’s Marc Witten shared his enthusiasm about the service and how far it’s come. “Over the last 10 years you’ve helped us define LIVE as the best place to play online and the definitive online gaming experience for two generations of Xbox consoles, and you’ve helped us evolve LIVE into a full entertainment service, delivering amazing games, sports, movies, TV and music,” he said. “If the last 10 years is any indication of what’s possible in the next 10 years, imagine the innovation yet to come,” he continued. “One thing is for sure – we will continue to offer some of the best entertainment, from premium games, sports, TV, movies, web to music. To the members who’ve been with us since the beginning – I sincerely thank you, both for your support and your feedback. And for those of you that have just become members, a very warm welcome.”

To celebrate Xbox LIVE’s 10 year anniversary, Microsoft is offering special deals on Xbox LIVE Arcade games and you can win a custom-designed Xbox 360 console. Head over to the anniversary portal for more.

A grander look at ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (trailer #2)

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Rockstar Games knows how to make ’em. Here’s our second official look at the next Grand Theft Auto. It’s number 5 if you’re counting and can’t read Roman numerals. The developer says that Los Santos, the new LA-influenced setting for the game, is the most ambitious and expansive open world they’ve ever created. After you watch this trailer you’ll see exactly what they mean. Also, it looks like we’ll be following three different protagonists this go-around. If you were blown away by the game’s visuals the first time around (over a year ago!), just wait and see what this peek has to offer.

And now we have a release window. GTA V is slated to drop Spring 2013 for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Powerful Droid DNA by HTC coming to Verizon this month at $200

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The latest member to join the Droid smartphone family is the Droid DNA by HTC and it’s the most powerful one yet. Right off the bat you’ll notice its 5-inch, true 1080p HD super LCD 3 display (440 pixels per inch) with Corning Gorilla Glass 2 protection. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, specifically a quad-core 1.5GHz CPU that’s paired with a high-performance GPU. Android’s latest and greatest Jelly Bean operating system comes preinstalled along with HTC Sense 4+. The backside camera specs go like this: 8-megapixel f/2.0 28mm wide-angle lens, 5-level automatic flash, backside illuminated sensor (BSI), superfast autofocus, 1080p HD video capture. The 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera features f/2.0 88-degree ultra-wide angle lens and also captures full HD video. Beats Audio is on board, as is “a unique, 2.55-volt, built-in headset amplifier and dedicated amp for the external rear-speaker to help boost the audio signal to deliver crystal clear sound with less distortion, even at maximum volume.” WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC are here as well. It is 4G LTE capable. It packs a 2,020mAh battery. And as far as measurements go, the DNA is 9.73mm thick and weighs 4.86 ounces.

The Droid DNA is arguably the best and most powerful handset Verizon Wireless offers today. Well, technically it releases Wednesday, November 21st, but you can preorder it now if you like. Sign a new two-year contract and it’s yours for a reasonable $199.99. PR after the break. Continue reading Powerful Droid DNA by HTC coming to Verizon this month at $200 →

ABC grants full season order to ‘Nashville’, cancels ‘Last Resort’ & ‘666 Park Avenue’; NBC picks up ‘Chicago Fire’; CBS cancels ‘Partners’; and other order updates

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As we start to approach midseason, broadcast networks take a close look at the ratings and decide whether or not to keep the new shows they introduced earlier this fall. In addition to reporting the latest pickups and cancellations, I will take a grander look at the status of each network’s programs to give you an idea as to what is likely to stay and go before the new year rolls around.

ABC: On Monday, ABC picked up the Connie Britton-Hayden Panettiere country music drama Nashville. This serialized soap had a ton of buzz going into the pilot and word of mouth helped this show perform to respectable ratings; leading up to its back-nine order it was averaging 9.4 million viewers and a 3.2 in adults 18-49.

PREVIOUS: The Alphabet is still sitting on new dramas Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue as ratings continue to bottom-out for the submarine and supernatural thrillers. Ratings are not good for either shows. This week Last Resort drew a 1.3 in adults 18-49 (a series low) and 666 saw that same number in its most recent outing. While Last Resort continues to fluctuate, it appears as though 666 has found the bottom since this is the second consecutive week it scored a 1.3 in the coveted demo. Insiders bet that ABC will likely renew Last Resort and dump 666 when all is said and done, but with ratings so neck-and-neck, it’s a tough call at the moment.

UPDATE: As I was putting together this post, news broke that ABC has cancelled both Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue. That 1.3 demo ratings must’ve really spooked the execs at top and gave them no choice but to let the Colorado and Drake go. It’s sad, really. Both of these shows were refreshingly ambitious in their storytelling. Fans will likely be vocal about this somber news because over the course of the last few weeks both shows managed to get ahead creatively and their potential to grow into truly memorable series jumped significantly. The acting on Last Resort (a show from The Chicago Code creator  Shawn Ryan who just can’t catch a break) is superb led by Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman. In 666, the enigmatic Rachael Taylor only just ventured down the rabbit hole. I tip my hat to ABC for giving these serialized dramas wrapped in mystery and intrigue a shot in its schedule; it’s unfortunate that neither of them managed to retain an audience. They will sorely be missed.

Now here’s a sprinkle of good news on top of all this: ABC will allow both series to finish out their respective 13-episode runs; whether or not this gives the writers and producers enough time to properly wrap some things up remains to be seen. Also, ABC is not letting go of these show entirely just yet; the network has the option to revive them next season, but without a back-nine order now this is likely a formality and you shouldn’t hold your breath.

Elsewhere, The Neighbors miraculously received a pickup and the new Reba McEntire sitcom Malibu Country dropped significantly after opening to huge ratings a couple weeks back; ABC recently ordered three additional scripts.

NBC: Last Thursday, NBC gave a back-nine order to the Dick Wolfe drama Chicago Fire. Though the procedural didn’t have much buzz a the get-go, it managed to reach 8 million viewers on average and a decent 2.4 rating in the adults 18-49 demo leading up to its pickup. NBC’s other new drama Revolution was picked up over a month ago and continues to be a strong performer for the network.

Elsewhere on the Peacock, comedies Go On and The New Normal were also granted full season orders. Animal Practice has been cancelled, and multi-cam comedy Guys with Kids is still alive. Though it has been sitting on the fence ratings-wise (it attracted 3.8 million viewers and a 1.3 demo in its last two installments), this week NBC has shown a spark of faith by ordering an additional four scripts increasing the Jimmy Fallon-produced comedy episode count from 13 to 17. It’s not a back-nine order, but it’s certainly good news for fans of the show. Whether or not the network decides bring the season’s episode count up to the typical 22 remains to be seen.

CBS: Today, CBS cancelled the David Krumholtz-Michael Urie comedy Partners after six episodes. Though it averaged 6.5 million viewers and a 2.4/6 in adults 18-49, in its most recent outing it sunk to 5.6 million viewers and a 1.8. With ratings giants like The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men on its schedule, Partners is obviously a weak link for the network and did not perform up to its high standards. The show has been pulled from the schedule effective immediately and CBS comedy repeats will air in its Monday at 9:30PM slot starting next week. Though the sitcom was packed to the brim with gay jokes, I enjoyed engaging in the excellent rapport between stars Krumholz and Urie and I will sorely miss seeing the stunning Sophia Bush on a weekly basis. Also cancelled by CBS earlier this season was Made in Jersey.

CBS dramas fared better this season as the network picked up the Sherlock Homles-inspired Elementary and the Dennis Quaid-Michael Chiklis period drama Vegas. This week the network played around with these series’ episode orders: Elementary has gained an additional two episodes bringing its grand season 1 total to 24 and Vegas is losing one so its debut season will consist of 21 episodes.

FOX: Nothing new to report here. Comedies The Mindy Project and Ben And Kate were given “full season orders;” Mindy will run 24 episodes and Kate 19. The Mob Doctor continues to practice, for now.

The CW: Over at The CW, Arrow and Beauty and the Beast have been given the back-nine. Emily Owens, M.D. is still awaiting its fate.