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These Nighttime Photos Of The International Space Station Look Like Something Out Of A Horror Movie

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ISS at night

While his five colleagues were sleeping, astronaut Alexander Gerst photographed the International Space Station (ISS) at nighttime — and ended up with this enchanting series of images. 

Gerst, a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut from Germany, is coming to the end of the six-month long Blue Dot Mission— and will return to Earth on 10 November.

Gerst has been shooting his surroundings while working at ISS and these pictures are a spooky insight into the research centre after hours; capturing the silent, floating world of living in space.

In October, the ESA reported Gerst left the relative safety of the station to venture into open space with NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman. 

Two suited astronauts float quietly in the darkness.



A green, mesmerising hue makes the station look like something out of the movie "Alien".



A lone astronaut peers up from a door.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's The Scene The MPAA Wanted To Give 'The Hobbit' Sequel An R-Rating Over

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A little more than an hour into "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," there's a scene that takes place between Elvenking Thranduil (Lee Pace) and his son Legolas (Orlando Bloom) where they're interrogating a captured Orc.

Thranduil ends up killing the Orc by brutally taking off his head. As the camera pulls back on the scene you can see the Orc's lifeless body twitching in its last moments of life until Thranduil steps on his foot to make him stop.

the hobbit desolation of smaug orc

According to director Peter Jackson, the brief scene was the one in the film that worried the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) the most.

On the Blu-Ray commentary for "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," Jackson refers to the Orc's appendage as the "R-rated twitching foot."

"When the film went to the MPAA, the thing that they were most concerned about was the twitching leg," Jackson explained. 

hobbit desolation smaug foot

The director; however, was intent on leaving the scene in the film.

"It's strange," he said. "I don't know what the thinking was behind that."

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD Nov. 4.

SEE ALSO: Peter Jackson explains how the crazy barrel scene in "The Hobbit" sequel came together

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Here's The Note 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Cast And Crew Received After Filming

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“Star Wars: Episode VII” isn’t in theaters until next December but filming is already wrapping up for some of the cast and crew and they’re going home with a nice little perk. 

Cinemablend noticed crew member James Rose shared an image on Twitter showing off a note and Episode VII hat cast and crew members received. The note is signed by director J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and producer Bryan Burk.

Here’s the note in full:

To the Extraordinary Cast and Crew of Episode VII:

It is a true honor and absolute joy to come to set every day and work alongside each of you. Your professionalism, passion and patience is more deeply appreciated than we could ever express. From the deserts of Abu Dhabi, to the Forest of Dean, to the stages of Pinewood, you have risen to every challenge and been as wonderfully kind as you are brilliantly talented.

Our ambition her is large of course, and it must be: we are here to make a film that entertains millions of people, of all ages, for generations. To create an experience people will cherish watching as much as we will cherish having made it, together. How lovely it would be if you had, in addition to your name on the screen, some actual real, tangible proof that you were part of it!

Here, then, is that proof. Wear it well, wear it healthily, wear it proudly. But, mostly, thank you.

With love,

JJ Abrams 

Kathleen Kennedy

Bryan Burk

"Episode VII" actress Lupita Nyong'o recently shared an image of the crew hat on Instagram while showing her love for Han Solo.

Geeking out! #SWVII

A photo posted by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:47am PDT

“Star Wars: Episode VII” is in theaters December 18, 2015. 

SEE ALSO: A major 'Star Wars' villain may return in "Episode VII"

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Tom Hiddleston Will Play Loki In All 3 'Avengers' Sequels

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idris elba thor the dark world

Actor Idris Elba has let slip that both he and Tom Hiddleston's characters from the “Thor” movies will be featured in Disney and Marvel's upcoming “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

And Hiddleston's “Thor” character will be featured prominently in the next installment of the Thor franchise “Ragnarok,” as well as in both parts of series finale, “The Avengers: Infinity War”, according to the Huffington Post.

The news of the castings comes just days after Marvel rolled out a slew of new movies, castings and release dates in unveiling Phase 3 of the Marvel cinematic universe.. And it doesn't sound like Marvel gave Elba the green light to announce the roles in “Ultron,” which will open on May 5, 2015.

See photos: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron': Marvel Unleashes 8 Action-Heavy Character Portraits

“I'm in ‘Avengers',” he said in an interview with London's Telegraph, referencing an appearance by his character from “Thor,” the guardian god Heimdall.  ”And I'm doing a scene with Chris Hemsworth (who plays Thor) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki), and they're like, (whispers) – ‘Aren't you [meant to be] in Ibiza?”

Elba (below) was talking about a trip by the trio to a nightspot in Spain's Ibiza.

loki sceptre the avengers

Elba also addressed the difference in appearing in a small, prestige film as he did in last year's “Mandela,” and shooting a blockbuster-to-be like “Ultron.”

“I'm actually falling down from a spaceship, so they had to put me in harness in this green-screen studio,” he said. “And in between takes I was stuck there, fake hair stuck on to my head with glue, this f—— helmet, while they reset. And I'm thinking: '24 hours ago, I was Mandela'.”

SEE ALSO: We finally know the identity of the mystery woman in "The Avengers" sequel trailer

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Get Ready For A Wes Anderson Theme Park

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royaltenenbaums

Imagine the rollercoasters: cinema's king of whimsy, Wes Anderson, is planning to build a theme park with musical collaborator Mark Mothersbaugh.

Mothersbaugh, who also fronts the band Devo and is a visual artist, has scored four of Anderson's most iconic films: his debut feature Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

In the foreword to his new art book published this week, Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, Anderson wrote that he hoped to work with Mothersbaugh on a new project entirely.

"I hope to soon secure the means to commission the construction of an important and sizeable theme park to be conceived and designed entirely by Mark Mothersbaugh," Anderson said. "For 40 years he has set about creating a body of work which amounts to his own Magic Kingdom, where the visitor is amused and frightened, often simultaneously."

Anderson's work has already ventured outside the cinema, with a book, The Wes Anderson Collection, released last year.

His most recent film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, which starred Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton, was his biggest live-action success in the UK to date, reaching number one at the box office.

In his five-star review of the film, Telegraph film critic Tim Robey said, "Anderson doesn’t milk nostalgia, in the misty-eyed old Hollywood mode, but turns it on its head. We find ourselves situated in a roomy and delectable vision of the past, feeling oddly nostalgic for the present."
darjeelingWhile Anderson states the creative design will be wholly Mothersbaugh's, we must surely hold out for the inevitable Bill Murray cameo.bill murray owen wilson the life aquatic wes anderson

Grand Budapest Hotelmoonrise kingdom

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'Interstellar' Is An Ambitiously Beautiful And Wacky Adventure Into Space

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matthew mcconaughey interstellar

“Interstellar” is one of the year's most-anticipated films. It's expected to have a huge opening weekend making north of $50 million. So far reviews have been somewhat mixed and that may be because "Interstellar" is the sort of film that deserves to be watched twice, as is the case with many of director Christopher Nolan's complex films ("Inception,""The Dark Knight" trilogy).

The space voyage is easily one of Nolan’s most thought-provoking films yet. It’s definitely his most ambitious.  

In the not-too-distant future, we’re not fearing for our lives from zombies or a virus, but rather a food shortage brought on by the adverse effects of Mother Nature. Devastating dust storms that leave piles of soot and cause lingering respiratory issues are our biggest concern. 

interstellar dust covered truck

Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former test pilot and engineer, is told his daughter’s generation will be the last to survive on Earth. Their only hope is for Cooper to head to the stars and traverse through a wormhole in search of a habitable planet along with five other companions. 

At its best, "Interstellar" is a joyride through the great unknown while tearing at your heartstrings. The farther you get into the film the more abstract it becomes until you're floating, literally, into the bizarre unknown. There's a moment near the film's climax where you'll probably look at the screen, stop, gauge the audience's reaction, and then look back and wonder what the heck is going on because it's that out there.

The film's 2-hour and 47-minute runtime plays out in what I like to refer to as five acts. It builds as a slow crescendo from family film on Earth to space exploration with an unexpected twist to Kubrick-level crazy before coming back down to Earth for its final leg. 

At the surface level, “Interstellar” is Steven Spielberg’s "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" meets Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey.” It has the innocence and mysteriousness of an other-worldly being’s presence in “Close Encounters,” while there are an endless amount of comparisons to be made to “2001.” Nolan has said both served as inspiration for the film, along with other sci-fi films including "Metropolis" and "Star Wars,” and it shows. Many visual cues in space are taken from “2001” and a scene toward the final act feels like it could have had a place in the 1968 film. 

interstellar saturn

On a deeper level, Jessica Chastain may have said it best when telling Entertainment Weekly that  “Interstellar” is a love letter from Nolan to his daughter, Flora. The film’s production title was “Flora’s Letter.” Underneath it all, that's what "Interstellar" really is — a father-daughter story reflected in the relationship between Cooper and his daughter, Murph (MacKenzie Foy), the two lead characters at the center of the film.  

There's a line about half way into the film delivered by Anne Hathaway's character, Amelia Brand, in which she says "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space." That quote is very much the heart of "Interstellar," as McConaughey fights to get back home to his family.

Nolan’s movie isn’t just a letter to his daughter, it’s also one to the planet to make sure we don’t end up depleting our own resources foolishly. There are minor jabs to our heavy focus on gadgets and new devices consuming us.  

Time serves as a constant antagonist of the film. Cooper and Brand frequently discuss how much time it will cost them to travel to X planet vs. Y planet. It will take eight months to get to Mars and two years to get to Saturn. An hour scouring one foreign planet will cost them seven Earth years.  

We watch as time steals away precious moments Cooper has with his family while he fulfills a duty he feels obligated to do — save mankind. As he watches transmissions from his children over the years as they grow and he appears to stay the same, you can't help but want to tear up alongside the rough and tough McConaughey who is reduced to a puddle of tears onscreen. 

interstellar matthew mcconaughey

And while this may not be another Oscar-winning role, McConaughey delivers again. He has this easy-going, rugged demeanor that can equally charm you while he's embracing his daughter close or joking casually with one of two military droids and disarm you when butting heads with Brand. At this point in his ongoing McConaissance, he just has to show up to win you over.

Michael Caine — a Nolan favorite now appearing in six of the director's films — and Jessica Chastain also deliver strong performances, but the real breakout star is 13-year-old MacKenzie Foy, who plays Cooper's young daughter. 

mackenzie foy interstellar

You may recognize Foy from the "Twilight" franchise as a young vampire, but boy does she stand out here as a feisty and stubborn yet brilliant young girl who follows in her father's footsteps with a love for science. 

Comedian Bill Irwin is also a welcome delight bringing to life TARS, a sarcastic giant military droid whose concrete slab appearance parallels Kubrick's mysterious monolith from "2001." You'll probably be taken aback when you first see him moving strangely around on screen but you'll be entranced when you see him scurry back and forth on a water-logged planet.

TARS interstellarTARS interstellar

The Moment Audiences Will Be Talking About

As cool as TARS and his counterpart CASE are, one of the best parts of the film happens about half-way through when a huge actor reveal occurs, shaking up Cooper’s mission. If you’ve been following along with casting announcements, you won’t be surprised, but a good many people should be shocked as the big star goes uncredited in the film. 

The Music Makes the Movie.

You can't talk about "Interstellar" without mentioning the music. The two go hand in hand, really. Nolan's fifth collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer is dynamic. His soundtracks always breathe life into Nolan's films and this time is no different. 

There's something about the ability of Zimmer's scores to make the film feel bigger than it really is and that's one perk of seeing it in IMAX. You can instantly be filled with an eerie sense of wonder of what it's like to be in space but at any second Zimmer can crank up the noise gradually or suddenly so that your heart tightens in your chest and your fingers clutch nervously at your sides.

Some of his darkest tunes in "Interstellar" bring to mind "Gotham's Reckoning" from "The Dark Knight Rises" soundtrack, another collaboration with Nolan.

You can sample a bit of what I'm talking about here:

The Moment That Will Make You Scratch Your Head

I mentioned earlier there's a strange moment that may make you raise your eyebrow and wonder what's going on. Without spoiling much, there's a moment late into the film that screams Kubrick. It's so bizarre and wacky at first that you'll either embrace this moment as a brilliant risky move or dismiss it as jumping the shark in trying to tie together the film's vast plot. I'm still grappling with whether or not I liked this Kubrick-esque fourth act in the film. A second viewing may help me enjoy it more.

Should you see it in IMAX?

People over the next week will surely ask whether or not they should see “Interstellar” in IMAX 70mm or which of the other five formats I recommend. Before seeing the film, I was ready to tell everyone to see this movie on the largest screen possible. After viewing it in IMAX 70mm at AMC's Lincoln Square, I'm not so sure that's the case.  

I know Nolan filmed the movie in both 65mm IMAX film and 35mm anamorphic film, but since the film goes back and forth between space and Earth and other planets in between, not every moment is filmed in IMAX. There were a handful of moments where I felt watching in IMAX was absolutely necessary: when you see the scale of the other planets being explored ranging from a water planet with waves cresting at what appear to be 100 ft tall or more to a tundra with clouds made of sharp ice.

interstellar ice planet

There are two other moments in the fourth and fifth legs of the film, the latter housing an “Inception”-inducing moment from the collapsing dreams. (You’ll know it when you see it.)

There’s one must-see scene in IMAX about an hour into the film, when Nolan first takes us into space. When McConaughey, Hathaway, and the rest of their 6-team crew first shoot through the stars you feel like you’re right there with them, soaring through that wide expanse of space. And it’s such a strange and wonderful feeling because you’re not wearing 3D glasses or IMAX 3D glasses. You’re experiencing it all on screen with the naked eye. It’s a beautiful, mesmerizing depth perception trick that repeats when the crew heads through a wormhole soon afterward. Nolan says his main focus for the film was to try and put the audience in space and he succeeds in doing just that.

interstellar sky

Will you get the best experience out of one of the IMAX screenings? Probably. Since Nolan filmed a large chunk of the movie that way you may as well pay to see it the way the director intended. It’s not like you’re shelling out the big bucks to see a post-converted 3D film. I just wasn't as blown away during my experience at the Lincoln Square theater as I was by last year's space epic "Gravity."

The film is not without its faults. 

Early on, Cooper just happens to stumble upon NASA at the exact moment when they need a pilot to command a space shuttle leaving in search of a new planet to sustain life. The whole bit seems rather convenient and contrived. Even Cooper points this out; however, it’s something that makes a bit more sense by the end of the film. 

matthew mcconaughey interstellar nasa

Nolan consulted theoretical physicist Kip Thorne who serves as an executive producer on the film, but the science itself can be a bit dense and go over the average viewer's head as a NASA team tries to solve an equation about gravity and there are discussions about finding the shortest route to embark on their journey.

And while the many nods to Kubrick's filmmaking are there, I'm not sure if it works all the time. There's a particular scene where the camera cuts multiple times from no sound in space to sound onboard the shuttle with McConaughey, Hathaway, and others and it's a little bit jarring. Nolan says the scene is supposed to "emphasize the claustrophobia of the ships"; however, I'm not sure that completely works. Then again, there are some on Twitter suggesting the IMAX sound mix of the film may not be the best.

Perhaps, one of the biggest flaws in "Interstellar" is that it feels slightly formulaic.  

Whenever I watch a Christopher Nolan film I’ve grown accustomed to obsessively looking for clues in the beginning of the film that will tell me something about its end. If you’ve seen the brilliant mind-boggling 2001 indie “Memento” or equally mind-bending “Inception,” you know how a Nolan film works. You need to go back and watch the film a second and possibly third time because there’s always something at the start of the film which may allude to the end. This is true of "Interstellar." I won't give anything away, but pay close attention to the start. *mini-spoiler*If you do, you won't be completely surprised by its end.*mini-spoiler* This common element makes Nolan's filmmaking process a bit predictable. Stick a hint about the end of the film at its start. Where's the fun in that for his biggest fans?

Overall, “Interstellar” makes you think a lot about survival, the future of the human race, and the lengths we’ll go in order to ensure that future.  

You'll leave the film thinking about it long after you've seen it. You may not even want to leave the theater right away. That may be why Nolan's credits are simple white text on black to let you ruminate on everything you just saw.

Is it Oscar gold? In the visual department, sure. It makes for one of the best cinematic experiences you'll see all year; however, in having so much occur in a nearly 3-hour film, Nolan's ambitious space film may have attempted too much. 

"Interstellar" is being released in in 70mm IMAX film, 70mm film, and 35mm film Nov. 5. It's everywhere Nov. 7.

SEE ALSO: Early "Interstellar" reactions are hailing it as the must-see event of the fall

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Here's How Jake Gyllenhaal Lost 30 Pounds For His New Movie 'Nightcrawler'

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Jake Gyllenhaal's creepy new indie movie "Nightcrawler" just hit theaters on Friday and has already raked in over $11 million at the box office.

In the film, Gyllenhaal appears gaunt and as a much slimmer version of his usually more buff self.

jake gyllenhaal clappingJake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler

For the majority of this year, Gyllenhaal was sporting a much leaner look while he shot "Nightcrawler."jake gyllenhaal

"Nightcrawler," in which Gyllenhaal both stars and is a producer, is the story of a career-hungry young man who stumbles upon the underground world of L.A. freelance crime photojournalism.

Gyllenhaal spent three months in pre-production brainstorming with screenwriter and first-time director Dan Gilroy on the appearance of his character, Lou.

“I knew that [Lou] was literally and figuratively hungry,” Gyllenhaal told Us Weeklyadding that he got into character by transitioning into a "mode where I was always a bit hungry." 

In order to drop 30 pounds from his 180-pound frame, Gyllenhaal told Variety: “I would try to eat as few calories as possible. I knew if I was hungry that I was in the right spot. Physically, it showed itself, but chemically and mentally, I think it was even a more fascinating journey. It became a struggle for me.”Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler

"He'd have a bowl of luxury chewing (gum) and they were, like, really elaborately flavored, to trick his brain into thinking he was having a meal,"Gyllenhaal's co-star Riz Ahmed told The Canadian Press at the Toronto Film Festival this week. "So he was on his exercise bike having chewing gum and, like, almond tea with one calorie."

He also said Gyllenhaal was aware and apologetic about his sometimes-sour demeanor, "So he was like: 'Sorry I'm grumpy, I haven't eaten."'

On some nights during shooting, Gyllenhaal told Variety he wouldn’t eat at all, or he’d only take small bites of meat, crackers, or kale salad. To stay lean and fit, he would run 15 miles from his house to the film's set.

“There was a general sense that he was a coyote,” Gyllenhaal says. “I just wanted to live that way.”

Gilroy adds: “When you watch the film and see the angularity of his face, the hollow cheeks, the way that his eyes become prominent  it’s such a haunting look for a night shoot.”Nightcrawler Jake Gyllenhaal lighter

Gyllenhaal's co-star and Gilroy's wife, Rene Russo, told E! Online"It's incredible what he put his body through. I actually was worried."

But this isn't Gyllenhaal's first physical transformation for a film.

In 2010, the Oscar nominee added major muscle to his physique for "Prince of Persia." The actor told UsWeekly at the time that he would eat six small meals loaded with protein, carbs, and fats.

Prince of Persia Jake Gyllenhaal
Gyllenhaal, however, says there was no special diet to shed pounds for "Nightcrawler.

"I just love this movie," he said. "That’s how I did it. There really was no technique."

Watch the "Nightcrawler" trailer below. Gyllenhaal's performance is already being called "stunning":

SEE ALSO: Jake Gyllenhaal Goes Psycho In His Dark New Movie 'Nightcrawler'

MORE: Here's How Chris Pratt Got Ripped For Marvel's 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'

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NASA Had Almost Nothing To Do With 'Interstellar'

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interstellar matthew mcconaugheyFor his latest trick, Christopher Nolan brings audiences to a new galaxy, as the tattered remnants of NASA’s space program (personified by Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway) target new and hospitable planets in a neighboring solar system to which Earth’s remaining citizens can move. Given the heavy scientific bent of Nolan’s Interstellar, which opens in theaters later this week, you would think that the director had NASA experts on speed dial, asking them to fact check all of the data in his screenplay. 

You would be wrong. 

In an interview with Yahoo Movies, NASA’s Bert Ulrich explained how Hollywood and the government’s chief space agency work hand in hand when it comes to their storytelling efforts. Ulrich serves as the multimedia liaison for film and TV collaborations, though he admitted that Christopher Nolan and his brother, Jonathan, didn’t really get involved – to a deep extent – with Interstellar during the picture’s development. Ulrich says that NASA "did help [Nolan] with footage, clearing footage and rights and stuff." But when it came down to getting the details of space, space travel and such down pat, NASA wasn’t involved. Ulrich said:

"If a movie wants to go for accuracy, we’re there to help them, and we’re also here to provide them with scientists or astronauts to get it right, or other NASA personnel. But if they don’t, that’s fine, too."

Meow! Bert Ulrich clarified that NASA frequently will "reach out to a production" if they hear that it will be set in outer space so that NASA "can say we’re here if you need any help." But the organization, by no means, forces its knowledge on a filmmaker. Which explains how movies like Jason X can exist. Ulrich said:

"Of course, we respect the creativity of the director and producer. If they want to have their independence, then by all means, we’re not gonna force them."

If you haven’t watched the full Interstellar trailer, give it a spin: 

Instead of leaning on NASA, Christopher Nolan leaned on theoretical physicist Kip Thorne, who acted as mentor and consultant on the film. It was Thorne who opened Nolan’s eyes to the possibility of wormholes and interstellar travel – of going through portals and coming out the other side, unaffected by dimensions of time and space. Did it work? In Eric’s review, he complained that Interstellar "is high-minded, but ultimately taken down by a mix of both obvious and overly-confusing plot maneuverings." Is he right? Find out when the movie begins screening tonight, Nov. 4. 

SEE ALSO: "Interstellar" is an ambitiously beautiful and wacky space adventure

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Why You Will Not See 'Interstellar' Or Any Other Christopher Nolan Movie In 3D

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christopher nolan interstellarWhen I went to a screening of "Interstellar" Monday, two women sitting behind me were surprised we weren't seeing Christopher Nolan's film in 3D. 

When the the director's newest film rolls out in theaters nationwide Friday, you'll be able to see it in six formats, but not one of those will be 3D.

You will never see a Nolan film in 3D, at least not for now, anyway. 

In a 2012 interview from the Associated Press, the "Inception" director explained why his films aren't seen in digital 3D.

"The question of 3-D is a very straightforward one,"said Nolan. "I never meet anybody who actually likes the format, and it’s always a source of great concern to me when you’re charging a higher price for something that nobody seems to really say they have any great love for."

Nolan has explained his view on 3D many times. In 2012, he told the Directors Guild of America why he refused to use 3D in "The Dark Knight Rises":

Warner Bros. would have been very happy, but I said to the guys there that I wanted it to be stylistically consistent with the first two films and we were really going to push the IMAX thing to create a very high-quality image. I find stereoscopic imaging too small scale and intimate in its effect. 3-D is a misnomer. Films are 3-D. The whole point of photography is that it’s three-dimensional. The thing with stereoscopic imaging is it gives each audience member an individual perspective. It’s well suited to video games and other immersive technologies, but if you’re looking for an audience experience, stereoscopic is hard to embrace. I prefer the big canvas, looking up at an enormous screen and at an image that feels larger than life. When you treat that stereoscopically, and we’ve tried a lot of tests, you shrink the size so the image becomes a much smaller window in front of you. So the effect of it, and the relationship of the image to the audience, has to be very carefully considered. And I feel that in the initial wave to embrace it, that wasn’t considered in the slightest.

Without the added boost of 3D ticket sales, "The Dark Knight Rises" made over $1 billion at the box office worldwide.

It's not that Nolan necessarily dislikes the format overall.

At CinemaCon earlier this year, the "Inception" director praised Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" in 3D after its release.

“My resistance to 3D is purely based on what I feel is right for the films I want to make," Nolan told The Wrap earlier this year.

The director said he even tested out "Inception" to be in 3D but ditched the idea saying there wasn't enough time to do "a quality 3-D conversion."

SEE ALSO: Our review of "Interstellar"

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'The Babadook' Is Horror At Its Finest

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babadook sundance

"The Babadook" is not your average horror movie.  Imagine finding a book show up on your doorstep only to find it's more than what it seems, possessed by a ghoulish demon who will haunt whoever dares to read the innocent-looking pop-up book. 

While there are plenty of jump-scare moments, "The Babadook" is gripping on an emotional level. It's more psychologically horrifying than anything else, as the film poses serious questions about what it means to be a mother in a very complex and disturbing situation. 

The film opens with a horrific car accident scene that is so visceral and well put together that it's hard to believe first-time director Jennifer Kent pulled it off. This introduces us to Amelia and her husband, who are on their way to the hospital to deliver their first child when an awful crash occurs. Amelia's husband is killed, and we fast forward six years later as Amelia cares for her son Samuel alone. The young boy has quite the imagination, constructing homemade weapons to defeat a monster that appears in his dreams. When a mysterious children's pop-up book about a creature called Mister Babadook appears on their doorstep and Amelia reads the spooky dark tale to her son, the scares begin. 

babadook sundance

The Babadook is a creepy, crawly shadowy figure who lives not only in the pages of the book, but who comes out, mostly at night, to terrorize Amelia. He crawls on ceilings and floats menacingly in doorways and back seats of cars.

While "The Babadook" certainly exists in the world of the film, it's really just a manifestation of Amelia's fears of raising her son alone. The film spends most of its 94-minute run time showing us how difficult it is for Amelia to deal with her son, and the relationship between the two of them could not be more complex. She of course loves Samuel, as any mother would, but there's also resentment since her husband died while en route to deliver him. 

As Samuel becomes more of a handful for his mother, her visions and interactions with the mysterious Babadook creature grow more frequent. There's a direct coorelation between Amelia's psyche and the presence of the Babadook, so the horror can be interpreted as evidence of her deteriorating mental state. Amelia is overworked as is, so when she comes home to Samuel's antics, she's essentially pulling overtime — it never stops. 

Essie Davis is fantastic as Amelia. Davis can express volumes with simply a look, and it's impossible not to feel for her as she becomes possessed by the Babadook. A lead performance this captivating is hard to come by in the genre and really raises the stakes. 

babadook dinner tableTechnically speaking, "The Babadook" is incredibly well-shot and gorgeous to look at. Kent makes tons of intriguing stylistic choices throughout the film; her editing is lively and demands attention. There's a shot of Amelia lying in bed, haunted by her past, that perfectly conveys her mental state solely through the visual.

The expressionist feel makes the environment pop so that every creak and shadow is just as unsettling as the monster itself.  The horror elements work themselves into the film naturally and never feel out of place despite the fact that the film is more often than not an intense character study of a troubled single mother. 

"The Babadook" is an exceptional horror film that is scary enough to satisfy horror laymen and has plenty going on beneath the surface to appeal to the arthouse crowd as well. 

Watch the trailer below.

SEE ALSO: Jake Gyllenhaal Goes Psycho In His Dark New Movie 'Nightcrawler'

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A Huge Actor Has A Surprise Cameo In 'Interstellar'

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Warning: Huge spoilers for "Interstellar" follow.

Director Christopher Nolan's films are known for being shroud in secrecy. You usually know very little about the plot even after the first trailers are revealed and sometimes a few big names pop up in unexpected roles. 

So it should come as little shock that a huge actor makes a surprise appearance halfway through "Interstellar."

In fact, he's been hiding in the "Interstellar" trailers and no one has even realized it.

Last chance to head back before spoilers.

matt damon interstellar

Around the two hour mark in "Interstellar," Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway's characters, in search of a habitable planet to save mankind, land on a foreign planet covered in ice where another astronaut, Dr. Mann, has been stranded for an undetermined amount of time. 

Up until this point, viewers know little about the mysterious Dr. Mann other than he's a supposedly brave astronaut who set off on a similar mission in the past. 

When Cooper and Brand come across Mann, he's sealed in a cryogenic hibernation pod. As they awaken him, you have a feeling it's about to be a huge actor reveal.

Sitting up, staring us straight in the face is Matt Damon.

What??

This won’t be a surprise to everyone. The Playlist reported back in summer 2013 that Damon joined the cast in a small, secret role; however, no one really made a big deal out of it.

Damon's role is so secretive that he isn't mentioned anywhere in Paramount's lengthy production notes for the film handed out to press at screenings. In fact, he's listed as an uncredited actor in the film.

It's surprising more people haven't been discussing it online yet, because if you've steered clear of trailers and news, you'll be genuinely shocked. It's surely one thing people will be talking about after seeing the film.

The best part? Damon's been staring at us in the trailers.

Sort of. 

There are at least two instances of his character I've managed to spot after going back and re-watching the trailers.

Here on the icy planet you can spot four astronauts. There's McConaughey and Hathaway's characters, along with another astronaut played by David Gyasi. If memory serves correct, Damon is in the lead as he shows off the planet to the others.

interstellar matt damon

In another more prominent scene that stands out in multiple trailers, you can see his figure as he reacts to an explosion.matt damon interstellar

I won't give too much more away about Damon's role, but I will say there is a scene where Damon and McConaughey fight in their astronaut suits and for some reason all I could think was that two of People magazine's former Sexiest Men Alive were having it out. 

It wasn't too long ago that Matt Damon was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, starring in everything from "Invictus" and "Informant!" to "True Grit." Now, McConaughey has sort of taken that crown from him during an age that has been coined the McConnaissance, so to watch the two duel it out in a battle royale of sorts is kind of fitting.

Of course, I'm sure this isn't what Nolan intended. But now you’re going to think about it, too.

I wouldn't be surprised if we start to see more of Damon in marketing after the film's nationwide release in theaters this Friday, Nov. 7.

SEE ALSO: Our review of "Interstellar"

AND: Why you won't see "Interstellar" or any other Christopher Nolan movie in 3D

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Why 'Interstellar' May Have A Bigger Opening Weekend Than 'Gravity'

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interstellar matthew mcconaughey cooper

This weekend is going to be one of the biggest we've seen at the box office in a while.

Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated "Interstellar" will be going head-to-head with Disney's next animated movie, "Big Hero 6," and box-office estimates are calling for both to make over $50 million opening weekend.

How big is that?

There hasn't been a weekend yet this year where two films have grossed over $50 million in their first weekend. The closest we came was back when in June when "22 Jump Street" was released opposite "How to Train Your Dragon 2."

Analysts appear very uncertain as to how Nolan's latest film will perform. We've seen tracking range from $50 million all the way to $76 million for the weekend.

Fandango reports weekend ticket sales for Nolan's film are outpacing not only last year's "Gravity" but also Nolan's "Inception" and "Prometheus.""Gravity" made $55.8 million opening weekend last year.

Here's how each of those movies performed opening weekend. 

MovieOpening WeekendWorldwideEstimated Budget
"Inception" (2010)$63 million$825.5 million$160 million
"Prometheus" (2012)$51 million$403 million$130 million
"Gravity" (2013)$55.8 million$716 million$100 million
"Interstellar"n/an/a$160 million

In comparison, Fandango says "Big Hero 6," an adaptation of a comic, is outselling Disney's previous hits "Wreck-It Ralph" and "Tangled." Neither of those films hit $50 million opening weekend.

Missing from that list is Disney's most recent flick "Frozen" which brought in $67 million opening weekend.

According to a Fandango survey of more than 1,000 advance ticket-buyers for "Interstellar," 78% are Christopher Nolan fans.

In a separate stat given to Business Insider by Fandango, 64% say Nolan is the main reason people are seeing the film.

christopher nolan interstellarThat could be troublesome if Nolan fanboys are coming out early to see the film. However, since 2010's "Inception" and "The Dark Knight" trilogy, the director has built up a respectable reputation that may transcend diehard Nolan fanboys to appeal to a larger general audience. A big factor with "Interstellar" will be to see how it holds after early showings into the weekend.

Another big test for the film will be how it holds up against less than stellar reviews overall. Some of the film's "too big" concepts could drive audiences away. Word of mouth could swing people one way or another affect it as the weekend progresses. Fans are already torn apart over the film on Reddit.

And then there's Disney's "Big Hero 6."

It's been a while since audiences have had a big family film to head out and see, and while the film's reviews aren't perfect, kids are going to definitely want to head out to see the Mouse House's cuddly-looking white robot, Baymax. Unlike "Interstellar,""Big Hero 6" also has the addition of 3D ticket sales on its side and families heading out to see the film together.

In short, it's going to be a very close and exciting weekend at the box office.

SEE ALSO: A huge star has a surprise cameo in "Interstellar"

More on "Interstellar": Check out our review

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New 'Star Wars' Movie Will Be Called 'The Force Awakens'

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star wars episode VII cast

Disney has announced the official name for "Star Wars: Episode VII"!

The "Star Wars" Twitter account tweeted out the official name for the seventh installment of the franchise.

It will be called "Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens."

"Star Wars: Episode VII" wrapped up filming earlier this week. 

The cast and crew received "Episode VII"hats and notes signed by director J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and producer Bryan Burk.

star wars cast crew note

Here's a look at the hat from actress Lupita Nyong'o.

Geeking out! #SWVII

Une photo publiée par Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo) le Oct. 10, 2014 at 11:47 PDT

The news of the "Star Wars" title comes ahead of Disney's Q4 earnings Thursday.

"Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens" will be in theaters Dec. 18, 2015.


NOW WATCH: The Walking Dead' Creator Answers Our Burning Questions About The Future

 

SEE ALSO: Here's The Note "Star Wars: Episode VII" Cast And Crew Received After Filming

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Why Christopher Nolan Insisted On Making 'Interstellar' Available On Old-School Film

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interstellar matthew mcconaughey

Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" is in theaters Friday, Nov. 7, and when it comes out, you'll be able to see it in six different formats including 35mm.

Despite the fact the format is almost dead, Nolan, along with directors like Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, J.J. Abrams, and a few others, vow to keep the format alive by continuing to shoot on film the old-fashioned way. 

Nolan's campaign to save the ailing format picked up steam when Paramount announced last month theaters equipped with 35mm and 70mm projectors will get the film two days early.

"We are taking a moment to acknowledge the huge heritage of film ... filmmakers like Chris and J.J. want to make sure that film is a part of the business going forward," Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore told The Hollywood Reporter.

35mm and 70mm film can look brighter and clearer than digital projection, though the latest IMAX and 4K digital projection technology comes close. Digital projection has caught on because it's cheaper to distribute, among other reasons.

In an interview with the Director's Guild of America magazine, Christopher Nolan himself outlined why he prefers film:

"For the last 10 years, I’ve felt increasing pressure to stop shooting film and start shooting video, but I’ve never understood why. It’s cheaper to work on film, it’s far better looking, it’s the technology that’s been known and understood for a hundred years, and it’s extremely reliable. I think, truthfully, it boils down to the economic interest of manufacturers and [a production] industry that makes more money through change rather than through maintaining the status quo. We save a lot of money shooting on film and projecting film and not doing digital intermediates. In fact, I’ve never done a digital intermediate. Photochemically, you can time film with a good timer in three or four passes, which takes about 12 to 14 hours as opposed to seven or eight weeks in a DI suite. That’s the way everyone was doing it 10 years ago, and I’ve just carried on making films in the way that works best and waiting until there’s a good reason to change. But I haven’t seen that reason yet."

SEE ALSO: A huge actor has a surprise cameo in "Interstellar"

AND: "Interstellar" is a beautifully ambitious and wacky adventure into space

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Disney Announces 'Toy Story 4' Is Coming June 2017

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toy story buzz lightyear

Another "Toy Story" sequel is coming!

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced "Toy Story 4" will be released June 2017 during the company's Q4 earnings call Thursday.

The Disney and Pixar sequel will be directed by John Lasseter, Walt Disney Studios Animation's chief creative officer who created the franchise.

2010's "Toy Story 3" made more than $1 billion worldwide at theaters.

Lasseter directed the first two "Toy Story" films. 

“We love these characters so much; they are like family to us,” said Lasseter in a statement. “We don’t want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what’s gone before."

disney john lasseter

"‘Toy Story 3’ ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another ‘Toy Story’ movie," Lasseter added. "But when Andrew, Pete, Lee and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.”

Disney announced the film will come to theaters June 16, 2017 and confirmed Woody and Buzz Lightyear will return. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have voiced both characters on screen, respectively.

The "Toy Story" franchise has grossed nearly $2 billion worldwide combined.

SEE ALSO: "Star Wars: Episode VII" will be called "The Force Awakens"

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'Frozen' Is Still A Huge Hit For Disney

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elsa disney

Disney announced its Q4 earnings Thursday and "Frozen" continues to be a big driving force.

Operating income for the studio more than doubled, a figure the Mouse House attributed to both home entertainment sales and the theatrical run of "Frozen."

The film has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide becoming the highest-grossing animated movie ever.

The worldwide success of the film has also helped consumer products, and Disney's interactive gaming segment.

Disney recently announced sales of more than $3 million "Frozen" dresses. "Frozen" toys are expected to be a huge hit this holiday

In addition to the company's successful "Disney Infinity" video game, growth was also attributed to a "Frozen Free Fall" mobile game.

Figurines for "Frozen" characters were also recently released for "Disney Infinity."

Next year, Disney will release an animated "Frozen" short called "Frozen Frenzy."

SEE ALSO: Disney Earnings Beat Expectations

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The New Hobbit Trailer Has Arrived — And It Looks Epic

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Hobbit

A trailer for the new Hobbit film has finally arrived, as fans eagerly await the third instalment of the JRR Tolkien novel retelling. 

Warner Bros' "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" is out on Dec. 12 and is directed by Oscar-winner Peter Jackson.

It sees an all-star cast return, including Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the dragon.

The trailer, published on Nov. 6, is a dramatic, formidable three minutes of fire, sweeping views of mystic mountains and fortresses, and battling armies engulfed in smoke and anger. 

Watch it here: 

 

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The Success Of Disney's 'Big Hero 6' Lays In The Hands Of A Cuddly, White Robot

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big hero 6

Los Angeles (AFP) - The huge cuddly white robot in "Big Hero 6" could hardly be less like a typical Marvel superhero -- and yet the Michelin man-style star could be a sure winner for studio giant Disney.

The movie, to be released on Friday in the United States, is Disney's first based on Marvel comic book characters since it bought Marvel Entertainment Inc. in 2009.

Set in fictional San Fransokyo, the Japanese-themed film tells the story of young Hiro Hamada, a robot-obsessed nerd who is devastated when his older brother Tadashi dies in an accident.

Baymax is the inflatable robot Tadashi was working on before his death. He is designed to care for sick humans, which he promptly does for the depressed teenager.

Along with six friends, Hiro and Baymax embark on a dangerous mission to hunt down the thief who stole Hiro's latest creation: tiny microbots which can form themselves into any shape and be controlled telephathically.big hero 6 characters

Hiro's friends are voiced by a star-studded cast, with Jamie Chung voicing for GoGo Tamago, Damon Wayans Jr. for Wasabi, Genesis Rodriguez for Honey Lemon and T.J. Miller for Fred. 

The movie is directed by Don Hall, whose past credits include "Winnie the Pooh," and Chris Williams, who co-directed "Bolt." 

It is produced in part by the team which won Disney's first animated Oscar with princess blockbuster "Frozen."

Manga, karate and kabuki 

big hero 6 The filmmakers submerged themselves in the world of manga, karate and kabuki theater to create "Big Hero 6," and the cast is clearly proud of what they have made.

"It's nice to see two very strong male Asian protagonists, characters, in an American production," said Daniel Henney, who voices Tadashi and whose mother is American-Korean.

"It makes me very proud because for a long time I feel like we can be misrepresented at times in the media, and this movie is not doing that."

At a roundtable discussion in Los Angeles before the film's release, the cast underlined the strength of both its male and female characters.

"It's very empowering for little girls. I remember I was a Disney princess my whole life... I was one of them, I wanted to be a part of that world," said Rodriguez.  

"I hope that this world is a little bit more attainable for them. These kinds of skills are realistic for a girl to want to be like."

The film also unashamedly takes the side of tech geeks. 

big hero 6

"These kids are not born with any superpowers, they're just born like any normal kid. But they are just very studious and they fall in love with science," Rodriguez added.

"They have very curious minds... so I hope that inspires kids to want to be curious and to want to explore the science and technology and to want to create and invent something new," she said. 

The band of diminutive heroes eventually hunts down the evil thief, but not without some plot twists, and plenty of cute action involving the bumbling Baymax, voiced by Scott Adsit.

Audience in preview screenings have been won over -- the movie has a whopping 98 percent approval rating on film review site Rotten Tomatoes, while 87 percent of critics are positive.

"East meets West to immensely satisfying effect in the vibrant mash-up of an animated romp," said the Hollywood Reporter. 

Others were equally as glowing. 

"It's a movie that's as fun to watch as it is funny," said the Washington Post. 

"(It) is fresh and inventive enough in every important way... to satisfy even the most jaded animation fan."

SEE ALSO: The new "Star Wars" movie will be called "The Force Awakens"

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There Are 6 Different Ways You Can See 'Interstellar' — Here's How To See It

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interstellar matthew mcconaughey cooper

"Interstellar"is in theaters and if you head out to see it, you'll have a total of six different ways to view the film.

None of them will be in 3D, since director Christopher Nolan isn't a huge fan of the format. Rather, Nolan's a big advocate of IMAX and traditional film, making the movie on both 35mm film and 65mm IMAX.

You'll be able to view the film in 70mm IMAX, traditional 70mm, traditional IMAX, 35mm, 4K digital, and standard digital.

If none of that means anything to you, here's a graphic Paramount recently released breaking down slight differences between each format.

interstellar graphic

How should you see it?

A lot of that is going to depend on where you live and what format is actually available to you.

70mm Film

If you want to see it on 70mm film, it's only playing in that format in five states in addition to Toronto, Canada. 

There are 11 theaters in total showing "Interstellar" in 70mm.

interstellar 70mm where to see it

Here are the California and New York locations.

California 
Hollywood: Arclight Hollywood
Oakland: Renaissance Grand Lake Theatre

New York City
Bow Tie Ziegfeld Theater
City Cinema 1, 2 & IMAX 3

Average ticket price in NY: $15

Here's the full list of theaters showing "Interstellar" in 70mm.

70mm IMAX

42 theaters in 20 states and Canada are showing the film in full-blown 70mm IMAX. 

This is how we saw the movie. We were definitely blown away by the IMAX scenes. Nolan shot a large portion of the film in IMAX so while tickets may be a bit pricier, you're getting your money's worth.

If you're in California and New York, here's where you can catch it.

California
Dublin: Regal Hacienda Crossings Stadium 21 & IMAX
Hollywood: TCL Chinese Theatres IMAX
Irvine: Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 IMAX & RPX
Sacramento: Esquire IMAX
San Francisco: AMC Meteon 16 & IMAX
San Jose: Hackworth IMAX Dome, The Tech Museum
Universal City: AMC Universal Citywalk Stadium 19 & IMAX

New York
New Rochelle: Regal New Roc Stadium 18 & IMAX
New York City: AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX
Rochester: Cinemark Tinseltown USA & IMAX
West Nyack: AMC Loews Palisades 21 & IMAX

Average ticket price in NY: $20.99

Here's the full list of theaters showing the film in 70mm IMAX.

35mm

If you want to go old school, just under 200 theaters are showing the film in 35mm. Paramount's website clocks the number in at 198 screens.

Since the movie is heavily influenced by Stanley Kubrick's 1968 "2001: A Space Odyssey," and Nolan filmed much of the movie in this format, there's something nostalgic about seeing the movie on original film. 

If you're in NYC, and are a Nolan fan, you may want to head to Chelsea's Bow Tie Cinema where the director himself tested the film out.

Average ticket price in NY: $15

Here's the full list of theaters showing the film in 35mm.

IMAX

313 theaters are showing the film in regular IMAX. These showings are more easily available to the public, but honestly, you're better off seeing it in the 70mm IMAX. 

Most "IMAX" theaters across the country aren't real IMAX sizes so if you want to see "Interstellar" in all of its IMAX glory, it's probably best to watch it on the largest screens possible. In NYC, that's the AMC Lincoln Square theater. In California, the TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and AMC Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles offer large IMAX screens.

Average ticket price in NY: $19.99

Here's the full list of IMAX theaters.

4K Digital and Digital 

This is how the movie is widely being distributed where it's not avaialable on film and/or IMAX. Again, since Nolan put the effort into making the movie both in film and in IMAX to be viewed in those formats, it feels like you're losing something by seeing "Interstellar" in digital. 

The average ticket price in New York for digital is $14.99 which is essentially the same price as a 35mm ticket ($15.00).

SEE ALSO: Our "Interstellar" review

AND: A huge actor has a surprise cameo in "Interstellar"

More Interstellar: Why you can't see the movie in 3D

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'Birdman' Starring Michael Keaton Is The Best Movie Of The Year

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birdman norton keaton fight

"Birdman" could have easily fallen victim to its own gimmicks and wild ambitions. For starters, it's an incredibly self-aware film that stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up actor best known for portraying a superhero, which sounds a bit too on-the-nose on paper for the "Batman" star.

The film is shot in such a way that it's meant to appear as one continuous shot, and the score is essentially just one really long drum solo. Additionally, the film's full title is "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," which reeks of pretension but actually makes perfect sense by the end credits. In the hands of a less assured director, "Birdman" would surely fail, but with Alejandro González Iñárritu at the helm, the movie is pure cinematic bliss. 

We first meet Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) as he levitates (yes, levitates) in his dressing room with only the gruff voice that exists within his head to keep him company. Thomson is a movie star who seems to have vanished from the public eye since the wildly popular "Birdman" series was released some years ago. In an attempt to win back his spotlight or just prove something to himself, he stages an elaborate Broadway production based on a Raymond Carver short story that he plans to produce, direct, and star in. 

Keaton's performance is bold, unapologetic and, best of all, just plain entertaining. The role is quite complex, as Thomson seems to fade in and out of reality. His "Birdman" character seems to have crossed over into his real life and manifests itself in stressful moments. It's an alter ego of sorts; Birdman's voice acts as an entirely unique personality that exists within him. Is Thomson schizophrenic, or is Birdman simply a manifestation of the mind caused by Thomson's overwhelming audacity?

birdman posterBesides Keaton, the supporting cast is arguably the film's next greatest asset. Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, and Naomi Watts all turn in terrific performances, but Edward Norton steals the show. Norton's take on an over-the-top method stage actor is a breath of fresh air and probably the best performance of his career. The playful exchanges between him and Keaton as they rehearse had me and the audience in stitches.

During the press conference following the screening, I asked Norton if he had any particular inspiration for the character, to which he replied, "I basically just looked 4 feet to my left at Alejandro ... I'm wearing his scarf in the movie, I'm wearing his jacket, everything I say in the movie I've heard him say or I know he wants to say." 

This led Iñárritu to interject with his favorite on-set moment, which occurred during the scene where Norton questions Keaton's direction choices: "I was explaining to Edward how the movement of the camera works and everything and he began to question me about it ... so suddenly he was basically directing me saying what the actor was saying and I was looking at the page saying 'oh my god this is a mirror in a mirror in a mirror.'"

Some of the film's best moments are when it leaves our world and veers off into the weird and wild unknown. The scenes that feature Keaton battling the voices in his head are full of magical realism. At one point, Iñárritu chooses to break the fourth wall and create a diegetic moment in which the film's drummer actually appears on screen. This interruption could have taken the viewer out of the film, but in context it works and adds to the meticulously orchestrated madness. 

The camerawork throughout the film is breathtaking. Every sequence drips with chaos and energy, as the camera forces its way into the action. The smooth, sprawling transitions from one scene to the next are visually impressive and fit the tone set by the frenetic score. These elements combine to form a style that is unique and a technical marvel.

In addition to the chaotic structure, the sharp, funny, and occasionally revelatory dialogue keeps the film moving fast. We learn what we know about Thomson and those who inhabit his life through meaningful exchanges, which is how filmmaking is supposed to work but has become rare and worthy of praise in a market saturated with big budget blockbusters and their sequels.

birdman keaton watts galifianakis "Birdman" is very much about these topics without ever explicitly stating it; it's about as meta as it gets and functions as a send-up of the very idea of criticism. In the bottom right corner of the mirror in Thomson's dressing room, there is a note visible throughout the film that says, "A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing," which would be the film's thesis, if it had one. At the press conference, Iñárritu further commented on this notion by stating that "the film is what it is" and no amount of criticism can change that. At times, the film plays like catharsis for the director, and while that's true to an extent, there's much more to it than that. 

In the case of "Birdman," this critic can't recommend it enough.

"Birdman" opens nationwide on Oct. 17. 

SEE ALSO: Steve Carell And Channing Tatum Give Their Best Performances Yet In Thought-Provoking 'Foxcatcher'

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