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Here Is The 'Star Wars' Sequel That Almost Replaced 'The Empire Strikes Back'

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star wars darth vader

With all of the talk of Episode VII’s casting and the expanded universe not being an official influence in film canon, a lot of fans are going to be playing the ever-popular game of "What If?"

The strange thing is, it’s a game George Lucas played himself, and he played a particularly interesting round of it back in the 1970’s. It was a game that would not only determine the fate of what would eventually be Episode V of theStar Wars saga, but would also provide a crucial (if not ill-fitting) piece of the extended universe. 

Screen Crush recently recounted the story (which might be familiar to die-hard fans) of how famed science fiction novelist -- and film adaptation czar to the original trilogy -- Alan Dean Foster was tapped to write a backup plan for a smaller scale follow up. They even grabbed some new quotes from Foster via a phone interview. This second option, as the author explains, was drafted smaller in case the returns from the first Star Wars were less than stellar, and was titled Splinter Of The Mind’s Eye.

Focusing more on Luke and Leia, seeing as Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were the only two stars contractually on board at the time, we saw the pair stranded on the swamp planet of Mimban. Through their adventure, Luke and Leia discovered Mimban was a strategic mining outpost for The Empire. The story ended with a climactic lightsaber battle between Darth Vader and Princess Leia herself, after Luke ends up pinned down by a rock. 

The script wasn't going to be used so in 1978 Splinter of the Mind's Eye was published as a novel, making it the first ever installment in the Star Wars Extended Unvierse.

What’s interesting is the Skywalker family as we know it is isn’t defined in this book, as displayed by a rather interesting passage of prose where Luke and Leia got up close to each other for warmth. While this book doesn’t completely fit the established universe canon, it does seem like an inspiration for the entries in the series that succeeded it. Try not to think of Dagobah when hearing the "swamp planet" description of Mimban, or try not to think of the Endor subplot of espionage guerrilla warfare in Return of the Jedi

Of course, this matters even less in the modern era, thanks to the decision to sideline the expanded universe canon, but the "what if’s" are too awesome to ponder. This is especially true when there’s a brand new story waiting to be told in that same galaxy far far away. If history repeats itself, we might just see some elements from the expanded universe creep into the official universe, except maybe in slightly different contexts. (And if J.J. Abrams or Lawrence Kasdan are looking for any specific pieces of expanded universe canon to pick from, may we suggest Shadows of the Empire.) 

Much like The Star Wars comic series from Dark Horse Comics, you can read Splinter Of The Mind’s Eye in Comic or Novelized form. 

SEE ALSO: Here Are The Original 'Star Wars' Casting Announcements From 1977

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Happy May The 4th! We Found A Real-Life R2D2

Forget iTunes: Here's Why I Became A Huge Fan Of Redbox And Will Never Go Back

Future Spider-Man Villains Are Teased During The 'Amazing Spider-Man' End-Credits

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electro the amazing spider man 2Warning: There are some minor spoilers ahead. 

Since Sony Pictures announced its plans to expand the Spider-Man universe on screen, we knew “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” would be teasing off some characters and villains from future movies.  

Back in December, we wrote about a scene we spotted in a trailer for the film showing a brief glimpse of some of Spidey’s biggest villains.  

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it image put a few classic bad guys from Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery front and center.  

Here you’ll spot the Vulture and Doctor Octopus’ famous gear. spider man vulture doc octopus

If you see the movie this weekend, stick around through the series of initial credits. If you’re a big Spider-Man fan you’ll be briefly rewarded.  

The credits sequence ever-so-subtly hints at who else will be joining the Sinister Six gang through a series of vague images. 

Alicia Keys released a video for her new single from the film, “It’s On Again.” If you Shazam the song during the credits, you’ll be able to gain access the end-credits sequence. 

The folks over at Comingsoon.net first spotted that you could Shazam the song now, ahead of the film’s release. Here are the images you’ll see.  

This appear's to be the Vulture's wing:

Vulture spider-man 2 credits

Most recognizable is this nod to the Green Goblin's glider.green goblin spider-man 2 credits 

Here we see Doctor Octopus' tentacles.doctor octopus spiderman

This is where it starts to get tricky. Some think the next three are possible nods to Mysterio or maybe the Chameleon and Kraven the Hunter. However, it makes more sense that one of the final two images alludes to the Rhino. (We'll explain.)

sinister six amazing spider mansinister six amazing spiderman creditssinister six credits

Honestly, the image getting passed around from December gives a better look at what to expect from the future Sinister Six gang. Regardless, it's still causing a lot of excitement. 

The big takeaway here is that since there are about 10 variations of the Sinister Six group in the comics, everyone wants to know which characters will make the cut. 

By process of elimination from what we already know, it’s not too difficult.  

So far we know the Green Goblin (Harry Osborn) will be leading the group.  

dane dehaan green goblinThe Rhino will be next to join the team as he’s introduced in the film briefly. We can almost certainly count on Vulture and Doc Ock being a part of the six, too. That leaves two spots open. 

Rhino, Amazing Spider-man 2

Electro may or may not be back as a member. It’s kind of open ended at the end of the sequel, but anything’s possible in a superhero movie. We should also remember that the Lizard from the first “Amazing Spider-Man” is also out there somewhere. 

When Green Goblin led the team in the comics, there were as many as 12 members in the crew including Electro, Lizard, Vulture, Venom, and Chameleon. Since the release of the end-credits, Kraven the Hunter, Chameleon, and Mysterio are receiving a lot of buzz.

We'd be pretty upset if Venom wasn't included — especially since there's been talk about the character getting his own film. 

Who do you think is a part of the Sinister Six and does this hold a flame to Marvel's "Avengers" squad?

SEE ALSO: Why an 'X-Men' teaser will play at the end of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

AND: "The Amazing Spider-Man" sequel is blowing a huge opportunity

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Steven Spielberg Published This Awesome Ad Congratulating George Lucas When 'Star Wars' Beat 'Jaws' — And Started A Tradition

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It's well known that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are close friends, so when Lucas' "Star Wars" eclipsed Spielberg's "Jaws" as the all-time box-office leader back in 1977, Spielberg took out a full-page ad in Variety magazine congratulating his old pal.

The ad has R2-D2 from "Star Wars" reeling in the giant shark that terrorized beachgoers in "Jaws." Spielberg also writes a brief inscription saying that Lucas' "hyperspace performance package really did the trick" and signs it "your pal, Steven."

Check out the vintage full-page ad:

Spielberg congrats Lucas for Star Wars

Once Spielberg's "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" reclaimed the box-office throne in 1982, Lucas returned the favor by taking out his own full-page ad in Variety.

George Lucas congrats variety ad

Lucas kept the tradition alive, taking out this full-page ad when, in 1998, James Cameron's "Titanic" sank the reissue of "Star Wars" to become the top box-office movie of all time.

"It was an extremely gracious gesture," Cameron said in a recent Reddit AMA. "I sent him a thank-you note after."

George Lucas Titantic ad

SEE ALSO: Here Are The Original 'Star Wars' Casting Announcements From 1977

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Why DreamWorks Animation Keeps Failing And How It Plans To Bounce Back

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mr peabody and sherman

DreamWorks Animation announced Tuesday that it will take a writedown on its recent release, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman."

It’s the studio’s latest animated feature they’ve had to take a writedown on after underperformances on 2012's "Rise of the Guardians" and last summer's underwhelming "Turbo." That accounts for three of DWA's last 4 animated pictures. 

"The Croods," which made $587 million last year, stands out as the company's only real successful original film since 2010's break-out hit "How to Train Your Dragon" and 2008's "Kung Fu Panda."

During the company's Q1 earnings call, CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg didn't shy away from addressing the studio's recent failures. He outright acknowledged them saying his number one priority is getting DWA's feature film business back on track.

Here's four ways DreamWorks Animation plans to turn it around.

1. Cut production costs on movies

dreamworks animation madagascar 3DreamWorks Animation’s last four titles have cost an estimated average of $140 million each.

Starting in November, Chief Operating Officer Ann Daly says the studio’s average movie will cost $125 million or less to produce. The first feature release under this new structure will be “Home,” a film about aliens invading Earth, that will feature the voice talents of Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”), Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez. 

“Our objective is to ensure that our box-office successes will be more lucrative," says Daly. "And in the case where a film performs below expectations that it can still be profitable.” 

2. More sequels and fewer movie releases

how to train your dragon 2Rather than rely on more risky original pictures, DWA will start rolling out more sequels to its most lucrative franchises. So expect to see more “Madagascar,” more dragons, and, yes, more “Shrek” spin-off movies. 

The upcoming movie slate includes “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” How to Train Your Dragon 3,” “Penguins in Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda 3,” a sequel to 2013’s “The Croods” and another to Shrek character “Puss in Boots.”  

Katzenberg said the studio needs to be “more flexible” with the number of movies it releases in a given year.  

Daly says the studio plans to average one franchise film every year through 2018.

3. More efficient marketing

Katzenberg says he wants to be executing strong marketing for "event movies" as far as 18 months before their release in order to ensure their releases "standout to audiences as must-see theatrical experiences.”

4. Original movie ideas will go through the wringer to make sure they’re worth releasing

Katzenberg:

“Movies that are not sequels, we are – I think really triple or looking at those to make sure that they are big concepts and highly marketable concepts."

"So, even an original movie like 'Boo,' which is coming next summer is a ghost movie. It’s a flat-out comedy with Seth Rogen, Melissa McCarthy, Bill Murray, big visual fun kind of Ghostbusters ideas, it’s a little early, its more than 15 months out from release in it. But it feels like a very big idea. It feels like a very marketable idea, it’s got very strong elements to it.

"When we’re looking at original movies they actually need to check-off a lot more boxes than they’ve had to in the past.”

SEE ALSO: DreamWorks Animation will lose $57 million on latest movie

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'Star Wars: Episode VII' Director J.J. Abrams Teases More Cast Announcements To Come

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May the Fourth be with you!

In case you didn't know, Sunday, May 4 is Star Wars day.

While a lot of the cast for "Star Wars: Episode VII" was announced earlier last week, director J.J. Abrams and writer Lawrence Kasdan released a short video from the film's set to wish fans a happy Star Wars day and tease that more casting announcements are coming soon.

Check it out below:

After the initial cast was released, many noted the lackoffemale cast members.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, there's at least one major female role still to be named.

SEE ALSO: The "Star Wars" cast announced so far

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May The 4th Be With You: The History Of 'Star Wars' Day Explained

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darth vader star wars

May the 4th Be With You!

Fanboys around the world are celebrated the annual Star Wars Day holiday yesterday, which kicked off with a trailer for the upcoming TV series Star Wars Rebels. But do you know how Star Wars Day came to be? 

Entertainment Weekly has a breakdown of the history behind this beloved holiday, which has origins that some fans may find surprising.

Star Wars Day was born through an ad in the London Evening News on May 4, 1979, which was taken out by the U.K.'s Conservative Party, to congratulate Margaret Thatcher on being elected Prime Minister of the U.K., which read, "May the 4th Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations."

The phrase didn't catch on until several years later. In 2011, Toronto Underground Cinema put together a celebration of this holiday and a film festival, and now several businesses are capitalizing on the event by offering special deals discounts for fans.

In the 1980s President Ronald Reagan was inspired by the beloved franchise's character Grand Moff Tarkin to create a Strategic Defense Initiative known as Star Wars. While it was never deployed, it did pave the way for strategic missile systems that are in place today.

How do you plan on celebrating this holiday? Chime in with your plans below.

Star Wars: Episode VII comes to theaters December 18th, 2015 and stars Mark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherJohn BoyegaDomhnall GleesonDaisy Ridley,Adam DriverOscar Isaac. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Director J.J. Abrams Teases More Cast Announcements To Come

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The Abandoned Subway Station In 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' Actually Exists

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Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead.

If you see "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," there's a scene midway through the movie that shows Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) exploring an abandoned subway station in New York City that supposedly ran along the D line.

Peter Parker amazing spider man 2amazing spider man 2 subway station

Parker heads to the Roosevelt station to find out the truth about his deceased parents and stumbles upon a secret subway car that served as his father's secret lab.

amazing spider man 2 roosevelt stationamazing spider man 2 subway

If you're not familiar with New York City — and even if you are — you're probably wondering whether the Roosevelt station is real.

It is.

While there are plenty of abandoned subway stations in NYC, these are the two likeliest locations the film refers to.

1. The Roosevelt Ave. Station

In Queens, there's a Roosevelt Ave. station that was built for the Independent subway system. It consists of a trackless tunnel that was never finished after the Great Depression and World War II. Instead, it's used for storage.

From Columbia.edu:

The Queens Boulevard subway was part of the Independent Subway planned by the Board of Transportation in 1924. It opened in August 1933 as far as Roosevelt Ave, December 1936 to Union Turnpike, and April 1937 to 169 St in Jamaica. The subway has several provisions for extension to additional Independent Subway routes announced in 1929 and known as the Second System.

At Roosevelt Ave, an upper level terminal station was built for a Second System route and never used. The upper level station is on the same level as the mezzanine of the open station and is sited just east of it. The terminal had a center island platform with a trackway on each side.

NYCsubway.org has some photos you can view of the abandoned station. You can check them out here.

2. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's secret station

Underneath the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, there's a hidden station called Track 61.

It was built as a private railway that traveled to and from nearby Grand Central Station.

President FDR reportedly used the track for transport to hide the fact he had Polio while campaigning for his fourth term. The track is supposedly still in use as an escape train for presidents visiting NYC and was most recently used by President Bush.

At one point in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," Parker considers FDR has something to do with the hidden station, basically just because of the name Roosevelt.

Take a look at it:

The BBC did a special on Track 61 where they headed to Grand Central station to check out the hidden platform.

They traveled down a secret historic passage that Grand Central won't admit exists.

grand central station hidden terminalgrand central station track 61Here's what the space looks like once you get to the bottom:

track 61track 61 grand central station

According to Grand Central Station's Dan Brooker, the platform had one customer, President Roosevelt.

Brooker says his private train held a special train car that held his limo.

franklin d roosevelt limo

The President and his limo would head into this elevator and be lifted right into the Waldorf-Astoria.track 61 elevator

The armored train car still sits in the station. 

track 61 train car

Gothamist has some more great photos of Track 61.

SEE ALSO: Future Spider-Man villains are teased during the "Amazing Spider-Man" end-credits

AND: "The Amazing Spider-Man" sequel is blowing a huge opportunity

Join the conversation about this story »

The Science Behind A Real-Life Spider-Man Is Absolutely Terrifying

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the amazing spider man 2

There’s a lot being made of superhero science, both by me and also the rest of the world.

Now that superheroes have become a regular thing in the multiplex and not just something that nerds on the fringe of society reads, it’s not uncommon for someone to ask what a real-life superhero would be like.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 marks the fifth time the Marvel web-slinger has made his way onto the modern movie screen. While some of the changes made by Sam Raimi for his series have been switched back to the traditional model (like the organic web shooters being replaced with mechanical ones), the superhero is basically the same. Bitten by a genetically-altered spider, Peter Parker is imbued with special powers unique to spiders.

Watching the new movies and contemplating the powers Peter Park has and doesn’t have got me thinking… Ignoring the actual process of infection for Peter Parker, how likely are his powers really ones that realistically come from spiders?

What would a real-life “Spider Man” be like?

The Answer: Absolutely horrifying. Seriously, the stuff of nightmares.

amazing spiderman 2 The key powers that Parker gets that make him like a spider include incredible strength and agility, the ability to climb walls, precognition via spider-sense, and the ability to jump incredible distances. While many spiders seem to have these kinds of abilities, they would not transfer so easily to a human being.

In particular, some spiders’ incredible – dare I say, amazing – ability to jump great distances relies on them having an exoskeleton and open circulatory system. While spiders have their own versions of muscles, as arthropods they carry their skeleton on the outside in the form of a chitinous shell. You know the crunch you hear and feel when you squish a spider? That’s its exoskeleton rupturing, spilling out all of their vital juices onto the shoe you just used to kill it.

Rather than using their muscles to make this leap, spiders control their blood pressure. Unlike a human’s circulatory system with a network of veins and arteries to carry their blood, spiders use an open circulatory system, which means their insides are filled with an open bath of blood. Spiders use this to make their great leaps by contracting muscles in their abdomen. This creates an area of negative pressure, which draws the blood from their legs, causing them to extend completely and propel the spider into the air.

So in order for Peter Parker to jump like a spider, his entire circulatory system would have to revert to the open circulatory system used by arthropods. Then, to keep all of his blood and internal organs from spilling all over the streets of Manhattan while swinging overhead, he’d have to develop a hard exoskeleton.

Since this would require changing his external form, he might as well develop the rest of the spider’s external features, including coarse hairs all over his body and six-to-eight eyes that detect rudimentary images, from light and shadow to some pigmentation.

This isn’t even beginning to address Parker growing additional limbs, which was addressed in the comic books during the Six Arms Saga, along with a few of the less grotesque characteristics of spiders.

What about the web shooters?

amazing spider-man 2 new costumeWhen Sam Raimi added organic web shooters to his version of Spider-Man, it was a great source of debate among fanboys, so much so that Marc Webb went back to mechanical web shooters for The Amazing Spider-Man series. However, Raimi might have been onto something.

There are few things that are characteristics to all spiders, including eight legs, two body parts (a cephalothorax and an abdomen), and the ability to produce silk. All species of spiders produce silk, even those that do not spin webs to catch their prey. The need for mechanical shooters would be unnecessary because silk production should be an essential element of Peter’s borrowed spider biology.

However, there’s a catch. A spider does not shoot webbing out of its appendages. It spins silk from the bottom of its abdomen, right between its sex organs and its anus. That’s right: were Peter Parker to develop realistic spider abilities, his skin-tight costume would need to have an easy-access opening to shoot webbing from his taint.

Simply going by outward appearance, a realistic Spider Man would be a massive arthropod covered in an external shell with coarse hairs, eight eyes, and webbing shooting out of his crotchless Spidey-Suit. Not exactly the superhero you want saving the day.

But would this Spider Man even be a hero?

the amazing spider man 2Hardly. As Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) says in David Cronenberg’s The Fly: “Have you ever heard of insect politics? Neither have I. Insects… don’t have politics. They’re very… brutal. No compassion, no compromise. We can’t trust the insect.”

Sure, he’s talking about a different type of arthropod, but arachnids don’t fall very far from that tree. Spiders may keep the insect population under control, but they are a brutal order of animals.

Firstly, with the exception of the Bagheera kiplingi spider in Central America, all species of spiders are carnivorous. They either actively stalk their prey or passively capture it in their webs. Because spiders lack any sort of hard mandibles, they must liquefy their food before they can feast. This involves sometimes injecting their prey with venom to dissolve the body into liquid form. Again, similar to Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) in The Fly, Gwen Stacy would likely run screaming from a dinner date with Peter Parker.

And that would be a wise move on her part because the after-dinner sex would be equally as horrifying, and most likely unfulfilling for the both of them. Male spiders fertilize the females’ eggs by spinning what is known as a “sperm web,” a silken structure upon which they ejaculate and mop up with structures known as pedipalps so they can later deposit it in the female. Some spiders even leave their palps on the female to continue distributing sperm while they run away. Turned on yet?

Of course, the love-making only lasts for so long with some species as the female is likely to attack and consume the male after doing the deed. I suppose buying her dinner beforehand would be a waste of money.

The only thing keeping our Spider Man alive at this point is that Gwen Stacy is a full-blown human, and if the liquefaction of live prey at dinner didn’t send her running, the thought of a sperm web from a Brundlefly version of Spider Man surely would.

SEE ALSO: Spider-Man Fan Built His Own Webshooting Gloves

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Wes Anderson Is Creating A Week-Long 'Grand Budapest Hotel' Cruise

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the grand budapest hotel

Are movies better – or possibly worse – when you watch them at sea? 

It’s a question audiences might be able to ask aboard the majestic ocean liner the Queen Mary 2, which is poised to host a transatlantic screening series for Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel

Variety reports that Anderson, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman are expected to participate in a week-long screening cruise – along with Special Photography Unit helmer Roman Coppola – that will venture from New York to England beginning on June 13. The cast and director will participate in Q-and-A sessions, and The Grand Budapest Hotel will be screened for patrons on the boat. 

Um, why didn’t Wes Anderson do this for The Life Aquatic



Or hop on a train with the cast of The Darjeeling Limited



What could have been. This is the latest offbeat promotional tour stop for what has become Wes Anderson’s most successful film (financially speaking). The movie has made north of $133 million at the box office since opening in March. Perhaps in part to the movie’s willingness to go find its audiences.

Anderson took The Grand Budapest Hotel to Berlin earlier this year. The director also participated in an extended Q-and-A session at the South By Southwest film festival, where the movie screened. You can watch that session, moderated by director Richard Linklater, here:



The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most Wes Anderson-y film we’ve seen to date. It stretches over the course of several generations, it tells the story of an unsolved crime that takes place in the titular hotel, bringing a world of hurt down on the facility’s chief concierge, Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes). The Queen Mary 2 screening series is unusual. A lengthy Oscar run for Anderson’s latest film would not be unusual. Stay tuned. 

SEE ALSO: How Wes Anderson Built ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’

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The 5 Best Outdoor Movie Screenings In NYC

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outdoor movie screening bryant parkIt’s that time of the year again — when heading into a pitch-dark movie theater loses all of its appeal compared with the breezy charm of a screening under the stars. So grab a picnic blanket, invite some friends along, and check out our guide to the best outdoor film screenings in New York this summer. 

SummerScreen in Williamsburg

Featuring cult classics such as The Big Lebowski and Zoolander, SummerScreen in Williamsburg caters to a generation that grew up quoting the Dude. Six films will be screened this July and August on Wednesdays; the final one will be selected by popular vote from the audience — nominees include millennial favorites such as Spice World, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, and Mean Girls. 

summerscreen.org

Summer on the Hudson: Pier I Picture Show

The annual festival by the Hudson River includes concerts, yoga classes, and dancing, but we especially love the open-air screenings on Pier I. This year’s selections are favorites from the Riverside Park’s staff and by the look of the lineup (The Outsiders, The Princess Bride, Clueless), it’s nostalgically channeling the eighties and nineties. 

nycgovparks.org

Hudson River Park’s River Flicks 

The Hudson River is a popular spot for a big outdoor screening — just a little farther downtown there’s the River Flicks festival that will showcase last year’s biggest hits, including the silly but satisfying This is the End, as well as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and American Hustle,which both feature America’s BFF, Jennifer Lawrence.

riverflicks.com

Rooftop Films Summer Series

If blockbusters aren’t your thing, Rooftop Films Summer Series has a selection of independent, short, and foreign film screenings all over the city — with most of them featuring Q&As with the directors right after. The lineup includes Obvious Child, the romantic comedy about a fateful one-night stand, with Jenny Slate, and there seems to be something for everyone including a documentary on mushroom foraging (The Last Season) and an Iranian vampire Western (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night).

rooftopfilms.com

HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival and Central Park Film Festival

Two of the most popular outdoor fests in New York have yet to announce their lineups, but the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival will kick off on Monday, June 16, while Central Park’s usually begins, and lasts for one week, in late August. We suggest heading there early, as choice spots on the lawn tend to fill up fast. 

bryantpark.org
centralpark.com 

More From Vogue:

SEE ALSO: Wes Anderson Is Creating A Week-Long 'Grand Budapest Hotel' Cruise

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There Are A Ridiculous Amount Of Similarities Between ‘Frozen’ And ‘The Lion King’

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elsa disney

“Frozen” is now the highest-grossing animated movie ever.  

The Disney picture has made more than $1.1 billion worldwide. If you’ve seen the movie, you may have thought it felt a bit like another huge Disney hit, 1994’s “The Lion King.” 

Tumblr user marauders4ever pointed out a number of similarities between the two box-office hits which has since gone viral.

Here are a few:

Both open with catchy, alluring tunes in different languages. The start of "Frozen" immediately makes you recall another time Disney opened with a huge number.

Both films have royal families ...frozen lion king families

... and experience a tragic death.Frozen boat scene 
the lion king

The hero runs away ...frozen the lion king run away

... and sings a song about being free ...

... without realizing their home is in peril.

frozen kingdomlion king homeYou can see the rest of the comparison here

While both films do share a few things in common, they're far from the same story. 

Here's what the movies are actually based off of:

"The Lion King"

the lion king scar simbaOn the two-disc platinum edition of "The Lion King" the filmmakers have said the movie has been inspired by both "Hamlet" and the stories of Joseph and Moses from the bible.

The Shakespearean play is the most obvious source of inspiration as it shows Claudius kill his brother King Hamlet. Similarly, the prince, also named Hamlet, is told by the ghost of his father to avenge his death after being sent away. (In “The Lion King” Simba’s father Mufasa tells him to take back his rightful place as King.)

Many have also compared "The Lion King" to Japanese series “Kimba the White Lion” from the ‘60s. Disney has cited similarities are coincidental

"Frozen"

frozen poster"Frozen" is loosely based off of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen."

Disney has been trying to adapt the story for years, putting the project on hold numerous times. "The Snow Queen" centers around two children — a boy and a girl, Kai and Gerda. One day the boy’s demeanor changes after splinters from a magical troll mirror gets lodged in both his heart and his eye. Kai is kidnapped and stowed away by the evil Snow Queen until rescued by Gerda. 

A few of the main character's names also appear to be nods to "The Snow Queen" creator.

Hans is the name of film's antagonist while Kristoff (Christian), Anna, and Sven (Andersen) are among the movie's protagonists.

SEE ALSO: 15 movies you should see this summer

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There Are At Least 3 ‘Star Wars’ Spin-Off Movies In The Works

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carrie fisher mark hamill star warsDuring Disney’s Q2 earnings call, CEO Bob Iger spoke briefly about the future “Star Wars” movies saying there are at least three spin-off films in the works.

“We're in development on spin-off films which we have not gotten specific about,” he added. “But we feel that we've got at least three that we're targeting to go into production. That pipeline is going to be rich certainly through the end of this decade." 

He also hinted that the "Star Wars" saga may not end with episodes VII, VIII, and IX.

“We intend to make at least three of the 'Star Wars' saga, 'VII, VIII, and IX.’” said Iger. "This should be roughly every other year.” 

Previously, Iger would not comment on the number of spin-off films, but has said the standalone pictures will follow individual characters. 

It’s been rumored the movies may follow Yoda, Han Solo, or Boba Fett. 

Last week, Disney and Lucasfilm announced initial cast for the film which will see many of the original cast, including Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, reprise their roles.

“Star Wars: Episode VII” will be released Dec. 18, 2015.

SEE ALSO: Who will star in "Star Wars: Episode VII"

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Tour The New York Filming Locations Of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’

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andrew garfield amazing spiderman 2

Unlike other superheroes, Spider-Man makes his home in a very real place: New York City.

So when the production set out to make the "Amazing Spider-Man 2," it was important to include as much of the Big Apple as possible.

Production of the film ranges from the boroughs of Manhattan to Long Island and upstate in Albany and Rochester.

There may be some mini-spoilers.

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is the first film in the franchise to shoot entirely in New York.

(Source: "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" production notes)



The sequel is also the largest film to ever shoot in the state of New York.

(Source: NY.gov)



Production used all of New York from Manhattan to upstate in Rochester.

(Source: "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" production notes)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Disney Has Been Hiding A Secret Message In Its Movies For Years

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Woody, Toy Story, number

Pixar has been known for its Easter eggs — hidden messages in films — but one of its best has to do with A113.

A video on Disney Pixar's YouTube page shows A113 can be found in almost all of Pixar's films, from "Toy Story" to "Finding Nemo."

What does it mean?

Pixar's John Lasseter has explained A113 is the number of the animation classroom at the California Institute of the Arts.

Many animators like Lasseter attended school there, and by including the number they are giving a subtle shoutout to their alma mater.

The number has been used for many different things in Pixar films, such as Andy's mom's license plate in 1995's "Toy Story."

Woody, Toy Story, number

It was on a camera in 2003's "Finding Nemo."

finding nemo, number

A113 is the number of a train in 2006's "Cars."

train, cars, number

It can also be found on a box that Flik walks by in 1998's "A Bug's Life."

a bugs life, number

Here's Sully from 2013's "Monsters University" entering a classroom whose number is A113.

monsters university sulley

However, Pixar films aren't the only ones to hide the number in plain sight. Here's Tiana from Disney's 2009 "The Princess and the Frog" jumping on a trolley car marked A113.

Princess and the frog, number

"The Simpsons" used it for Bart Simpson's mug shot.

the simpsons, number

It even shows up on a door in 1987's "The Brave Little Toaster."Joe Ranft, who went on to work on Pixar movies including "Toy Story,""A Bug's Life," and "Monsters, Inc.," and Dan Haskett, a character designer on "Toy Story," worked on the film.

the brave little toaster

You can also notice the number on a chewed-up vehicle in Warner Bros.' 1999 movie "The Iron Giant." The director, Brad Bird, later made Pixar hit "The Incredibles."the iron giant a113

Even live-action films like 2012's "The Avengers" had a file labeled A113.

the avengers, number

Finally, here's a photo of Lasseter and Pixar animators Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter standing outside the famed classroom:

Pixar animators

SEE ALSO: How Napkin Sketches During A Pixar Lunch Meeting Led To Four Of The Studio's Greatest Movies

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Lionsgate To Reboot 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' As Movie Franchise

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power rangers

Here’s a hypothetical for you: you’re a powerful magician from outer space who’s locked in a battle of wills with diabolical powers who want to destroy earth and its friendly human inhabitants. You’d want teenagers to help you fight, right? And not just any teenagers, but teenagers with attitude, correct?

Of course you would. That’s why the Power Rangers are so popular, and have been for two decades. Now on the franchise’s 21st birthday, creator Haim Saban has announced that he’s partnering with Lionsgate to make a feature film with the karate chopping team that combines their individual battle vehicles into a mechanical beast worthy of Pacific Rim.

This new Power Rangers movie marks the third feature film for the franchise, although the first two came back-to-back in the mid-90s when the series was first hitting its stride. Both were also low budget affairs that sought to bring the TV show into theaters, and while the first was a minor success, the second was a forgettable flop.

It’s unclear at what level this particular incarnation will be. In the press release, Saban name-drops The Hunger Games and Divergent, which seems like wishful thinking from a man trying to sell plastic toys and playing cards. On the other hand, if Lionsgate has faith in the property and gives it a $35-50m budget, then we could be talking about a serious stab at making this a viable action movie instead of an upgraded DTV affair.

So what’s in store for the movie? According to the release, “The new film franchise will re-envision the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a group of high school kids who are infused with unique and cool super powers but must harness and use those powers as a team if they have any hope of saving the world.”

In this case, it looks like they’re using “re-envision” to mean “envisioning the same thing again.” As of right now there are no other details beyond the plan to bring MMPRs to the big screen. Naturally, the only question on anyone’s mind is what role Amy Jo Johnson will get to play.

If there’s a second question, it’s whether the team’s costumes will still reflect their ethnic backgrounds.

I’m not hip to what the kids are doing these days, but is this franchise still popular? Or is it another sign that nostalgia creep is starting to slip into the 1990s for sustenance?

SEE ALSO: Mattel Is Banking On Barbie Being The Next Big Movie Franchise

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This Deleted 'Amazing Spider-Man 2' End-Credits Scene Gives A Huge Hint At The Next Sequel

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amazing spider man 2 gwen stacy andrew garfield

Apparently, there are a lot of scenes that didn’t make it into "The Amazing Spider-Man 2."

We know Shailene Woodley’s Mary Jane didn’t make the cut, but there was also supposed to be a scene that ran somewhere during the credits alluding to the direction of “The Amazing Spider-Man 3.”

Some spoilers from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” follow.

If you’ve seen the film, you know Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper) passes away from an incurable illness in the film. It’s that same illness that gets passed along to his son Harry (Dane DeHaan), and leads to his eventual turn as the Green Goblin.

Before the movie’s release, we heard a lot about an anticipated end-credits sequence showing Norman Osborn’s head cryogenically frozen in a jar after his death. We were pretty psyched about it; however, moviegoers will know it’s nowhere in the sequel or afterward in the credits.

Here’s how the scene plays out, according to GeekTyrant:

The “Man in the Shadows” / Gustav Fiers (Michael Massee) we’ve seen in both the first film and second speaking with the Osborns is seen walking up to Norman Osborn’s head and saying “Wake up old friend” before walking away.

norman osborn head amazing spider-man 2Here's a closer look:norman osborn frozen head

It would have been a perfect end-credits sequence showing that the character may still be in play in the future. Also, it’s interesting that we see him in chamber 3. That suggests he’s part of the Sinister Six crew.

As seen in the film, there are, at least, six chambers in Oscorp headquarters storing gear for future Spidey villains.the amazing spider man 2 sinister six

Instead of the Norman Osborn scene, you'll see one from the upcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past" featuring Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) due to a deal between Sony and Fox.

Check it out below:

SEE ALSO: Here's why you'll see an "X-Men: Days of Future Past" teaser at the end of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

AND: The future villains hinted at during the "Amazing Spider-Man 2" credits

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Here’s Why An ‘X-Men’ Teaser Is Playing At The End Of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’

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spider man jennifer lawrence x men

When you head out to see “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” in theaters, stay after the movie for an end-credits scene. 

No, we’re not getting a tease of Spidey, Venom, or any of the web slinger’s Sinister Six crew.  

Instead, fans will see a brief scene for “X-Men: Days of Future Past” featuring Jennifer Lawrence’s character Mystique. 

This is confusing for fans who know that Sony Pictures distributes the Spider-Man films while Fox handles the X-Men franchise. 

What’s going on? Are Spider-Man and the X-Men teaming up in a future movie to take down Disney’s Marvel titan at theaters? 

Not yet, comic fans.

You’ll see Mystique at the end of the film because of a deal between Sony and Fox due to “Amazing Spider-Man” director Marc Webb. 

From Variety: 

“Webb had an existing contract with Fox Searchlight to helm another film following 2009′s “500 (Days) of Summer.” After “The Amazing Spider-Man” in 2012, Webb’s negotiations briefly stalled with Sony as he was caught in a tug-of-war with Fox. Eventually, Fox agreed to allow Webb to direct Sony’s “Spider-Man” sequel, but only if Sony would promote its “X-Men” film for free.”

Yes, Sony agreed to run a promo for "Days of Future Past" after "Spider-Man."

The only problem is that viewers may be confused into believing there’s an X-Men / Spider-Man crossover in the works. 

If you missed the scene in theaters, 20th Century Fox released the bit on YouTube Tuesday.

Check it out:

SEE ALSO: The deleted end-credits scene from "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

AND: The future villains that get teased in the sequel

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How Brad Pitt In 'Fight Club' Changed Hollywood's Male Action Movie Body Type

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Brad Pitt, fight club

Back in the 1980s, Hollywood action movies preferred their male leads to have gigantic arms. They wanted Hulk Hogan lookalikes with Popeye biceps who could conceivably one punch any human being into a coma. More recently, however, the standard of badass bodies has changed quite a bit.

Now, Hollywood action movies prefer their male leads to have more chiseled stomachs and well-defined features. Why the change? Well, apparently Brad Pitt had a whole lot to do with it. 

It sounds counterintuitive, but instead of gaining weight to play the muscular Fight Club star Tyler Durden, he actually shed pounds. Audiences couldn’t tell that on the big screen. Instead, they simply saw a dude who was as cut as possible, and that role completely changed the game for both actors and stars looking to land parts as physically intimidating alpha males. 

Here’s a reminder of what Brad Pitt looked like for the role… 

Brad Pitt, tyler durden, fight club

And here’s what trainer to the stars Mark Twight told Men’s Journal about that lean, hungry body… 

"Everyone thought he was huge, but he was, like, 155 pounds. If you strip away fat and get guys to 3, 4 percent body fat, they look huge without necessarily being huge."

Twight isn’t the only one who saw his body as a gamechanger either. Every single trainer interviewed for the magazine’s exhaustive story on the evolving masculine body in Hollywood openly spoke about Pitt’s influence and how they still strive to make their clients look like he did in Fight Club. Why? Because it’s actually way easier to do. Actors often spend about two months or so getting in shape for action films.

That abbreviated time schedule doesn’t allow the necessary workouts for the actors to put on ten or fifteen pounds of straight muscle, no matter how hard they try. So, trainers instead push "calorie-conscious diets and exercises" that can drop body mass indexes and let the camera capture the muscle naturally embedded beneath the stomach. 

The alteration has been a giant blessing for many actors who couldn't have otherwise done action movies, and it's been a bit of a blow to the big hulking dudes who normally would have cleaned up on all of those roles. That being said, it seems like in a perfect world, there will always be a place for both of those groups. Now, the landscape has just changed enough where no one can get the lead role in a blockbuster film based on his body alone. 

For most actors, inspiring much of Hollywood to change its shape would be enough of a legacy, but Pitt didn’t stop there. Apparently, he added one little extra flourish to the whole process. Just seconds before filming for Snatch and many of his other films, Pitt would drop to the ground and start firing off push-ups. At the time, those on the set apparently thought he was showing off, but actually, he was increasing blood flow to his arms and various other muscles so as to look as jacked as possible for the final cut. Now, that pre-shot routine is standard operating procedure for action movies. 

Let me just sum up this entire conversation by saying Brad Pitt is a total badass, and if you haven’t seen Fight Club before, you should drop what you’re doing and go knock that out right now. 

SEE ALSO: Brad Pitt To Star As Gen. Stan McChrystal In Film About Army Officer's Infamous Downfall

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