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It Took Over 4 Months To Build The Elaborate Battle Suits Worn In 'Edge Of Tomorrow'

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Tom Cruise, Edge of TomorrowThe only items more prominent than Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in their new movie "Edge of Tomorrow" are the giant functional battle suits used by the military in the film. 

Called ExoSuits, Major William Cage (Cruise) and Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Blunt) use them to wage war on aliens known as Mimics.edge of tomorrow tom cruise

The suits come in different shapes and sizes, and while you may think some of the suits are CGI or visual effects added in over actors, they are very real.

While the ExoSuits are never explained in depth in the film, a huge amount of detail and time went into creating them.

The film's production notes break down the process that went into making the intricate gear.edge of tomorrow tom cruise

Since it was necessary for actors to move around in the suits, director Doug Liman had a few requirements for the design. First, it would have to be an open suit rather than a complete body suit. It would also need to adhere to the working joints of the human body for movement.

"We were looking for something high tech, but in the style that the military would arrive at," said director Doug Liman. "The military is not trying to sell their product to anyone, so they have a much more utilitarian approach and attitude to design. That is how I wanted the armor to look, simplified and raw, not like something sleek."

Production designer Oliver Scholl and costume designer Kate Hawley oversaw the production of 70 ExoSuits. Another 50 suits were made out of softer material.edge of tomorrow exosuit

"Just building the ExoSuits alone took four to five months," said Liman. "Once we committed to a design, we couldn't come up with a new idea and expect it to happen any time soon."

Cruise himself also helped develop the battle suits. He said the average suit weighed around 85 pounds; however, depending on the suit it could weigh up to 120 or 125 pounds.

A total of three different types of suits were made categorized as "grunts,""tanks," and "dogs." Each one included different weapons. 

For example, the "dog" suit includes rocket-launching guns that pop up from the suit.tom cruise edge of tomorrow

The tank features huge machine guns while the grunt has smaller pistols. 

Special attention was given to make Emily Blunt's suit stand out from the rest. Since her character Rita is seen as a symbol of the fight against the Mimics, production wanted to avoid making her suit look too "girly."

To accomplish that, red slash marks were put on the chest of her suit. They're supposed to show Rita's journey "to hell and back."emily blunt edge of tomorrow

In addition to guns, Rita was also given a sword made out of the rotor blade from a helicopter.

Once the suits were complete, it took a team of four people to get each individual cast member into their suit. edge of tomorrow filming

Cruise said it initially took 30 minutes to get into his suit and another 30 to get out. He eventually started timing the entire crew until they could get in and out of the garb in 30 seconds.

"Creating a fully-functioning ExoSuit was such a complicated process, but in the end we were all incredibly proud of the work we did," said Hawley. "'Form follows function' was the lesson we learned in the end.'"

SEE ALSO: Warner Bros. abruptly delayed one of its biggest movies of the summer until next year

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'Batman V Superman' Is Bringing Together 8,500 Military Extras Next Week In Detroit

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man of steel superman henry cavill

In case you didn't already know, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is going to be a massive, massive film.

The folks behind Warner Bros. and DC Comics need to find a way to make their superhero movies compare to The Avengers and the universe established by Marvel Studios, and their big way to do that is to bring Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and who knows however many other heroes together on the big screen for the first time.

With a big cast of heroes and a big budget also comes big, epic action sequences as well, and apparently director Zack Snyder has a doozy planned out. Reports have surfaced saying that Batman v Superman will be bringing together 8,500 extras together for a sequence shooting in the Detroit area later this month. 

This news comes to us via ManOfSteelFanPage.com, which traces this story all the way back to April when the casting company Crown City Pictures held auditions looking for Detroit-based extras. The search was specifically looking for both men and women who could fit into the mold of "military and business executive types." Weirdly enough, the production is only calling up those who have actual military background at this time, but they are needed by the thousand. The original story says that those involved have been called to report on June 11th - next Wednesday - for a shoot that will be filming all day and into the evening (which is a pretty long day during the summer months) 

Much like everything else about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we don't really know any details about what is going to be going on in the scene, but I wouldn't be too surprised if that info leaks out next week. Bringing together as many as 8,500 extras means that the production is likely going to be taking place outside, and that means we could end up seeing a whole bunch of amateur photos flood the internet. 

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is already in production with a cast that includes Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Lawrence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons, and Jesse Eisenberg. While David Goyer and Zack Snyder developed the original story with Goyer penning early drafts of the screenplay, eventually the pen was handed over to Chris Terrio, who won an Academy Award for his Argo screenplay. While cameras are rolling now and will be for the next few months, sadly the finished result remains far, far away. Warner Bros. currently has the film set to be released on May 6, 2016, though that's liable to change given that it is the same release date that Marvel Studios previously planted their flag for the untitled Captain America 3

SEE ALSO: Here's The Official Name For The Big 'Batman / Superman' Movie

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Disney Will Start Selling Princess Leia 'Star Wars' Toys For Girls

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Princess Leia, Star Wars, New Hope

In response to Twitter hashtag #WeWantLeia, which was spurred by Disney telling a parent in May that “there are no plans for Leia products” at the Disney Store, the corporation has announced “several items that will feature Princess Leia.”

“The current assortment of ‘Star Wars’ products at the Disney Store launched earlier this year, and is just the beginning of what is to come,” a Disney spokeswoman told TIME. “We're excited to be rolling out new products in the coming months, including several items that will feature Princess Leia, one of the most iconic characters in the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy.”

Also read: Josh Trank to Direct ‘Star Wars’ Movie

The social media movement came just weeks after fans of the muli-billion dollar franchise created by George Lucas were disappointed by the lack of female actresses named in the first casting announcement for “Episode VII,” which J.J. Abrams is directing.

At the time, newcomer Daisy Ridley was the only other female named with Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher.

See photos: ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Timeline – From Greenlight to J.J. Abrams’ Cast Revealed

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and “Game of Thrones” star Gwendoline Christie have since joined the cast, which also includes Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow.

The moral of the story seems to be that hashtag activism works — when virtually picketing a corporation, at least.

Also read: Gareth Edwards to Direct ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff Film

Here's what “Star Wars” fans have been saying on the subject: 

SEE ALSO: It Looks Like The Millennium Falcon Will Be In 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

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'Fault In Our Stars' Author Says He's Grateful To Shailene Woodley For Delivering His Favorite Line 'So Beautifully'

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SHAY

Wildly popular young adult novel "The Fault In Our Stars" has been lifted from the page to the big screen, opening in movie theaters today.

It's a love story with a bittersweet twist— both of the main characters have cancer, and while there are uplifting moments throughout both the book and the film, don't be surprised if you find yourself sniffling amongst your fellow movie-goers this weekend.

TFIOS

Lots of the best lines from the book made it into the movie, but author John Green admitted there was one line in particular that he was glad Shailene Woodley (who plays main character Hazel Grace Lancaster) was able to deliver.

"I fell in love the way you fall asleep; slowly, and then all at once," Hazel says about Augustus Waters.

"Shailene just says that line so beautifully,"Green said,"so I am very grateful to her for that."

Here's Green on his favorite line:

 

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20 Non-Blockbuster Movies To See This Summer

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a most wanted man

The summer movie season has officially begun, which means you, the moviegoer, will be forced to make some tough decisions over the next three months: Do you go see the new Seth Rogen raunch-comedy or the latest superhero blockbuster? Are you more in the mood for transforming robots or evolved apes? A cackling Angelina Jolie or a riotous Melissa McCarthy? Channing Tatum's bulging pectorals or Dwayne Johnson's bulging pectorals?

Naturally, we have your back when it comes to breaking down the big-budget blockbusters and big-name studio releases that will be taking over your multiplexes from Memorial Day until Labor Day — but what if you're looking for something besides the latest pop-franchise installment or A-list star vehicle to see?

Check out the best indie movies here >

Man can not live on cheeseburgers alone, and the same goes for the movies: occasionally, you crave something without giant lizards and blue-skinned mutants.

So we've put together a list of 20 off-the-beaten-path films coming out between now and the end of August that will satisfy your alternative-viewing needs — the documentaries, indies, foreign-language flicks and a few straight-up unclassifiable projects that will also be coming to a theater near you soon. Some have recognizable names attached, while others are the cinematic equivalent of a blind date. All of them will offer you a break from the blockbuster blues.

More From Rolling Stone:

'Night Moves' (May 30)

A young environmentalist ("The Social Network's" Jesse Eisenberg) and his female companion (Dakota Fanning) meet up with a reclusive, off-the-grid ex-Marine (Peter Sarsgaard).

Identities are assigned, "ingredients" are procured, maps are consulted regarding some sort of locale — but what exactly is their goal here? Anyone familiar with filmmaker Kelly Reichardt's work ("Wendy and Lucy,""Meek's Cutoff") knows to expect atmosphere over easy answers, but the bigger questions she brings up in this slowburn thriller — at what point does activism become terrorism? Do the ends always justify the means? — leave a banquet's worth of food for thought.

Watch the trailer.



'We Are the Best' (May 30)

A sheer blast of punk-rock giddiness, this tribute to grrrl power from Swedish director Lukas Moodysson (Together) takes you back to early-Eighties Stockholm, when liberty-spike mohawks and screaming about the status quo were already culturally passé.

That doesn't stop two disaffected young women from recruiting the school's guitar virtuoso and starting an all-girl punk band — never mind that only one of them has talent. It's a valentine to a bygone era of Euro-rock rebellion, an affectionate look at female bonding and one of the single best movies about punk as an empowering force ever made.

Watch the trailer.



'Borgman' (June 6)

Have you heard the one about the vagrant who enters a well-to-do family's ecosphere and completely changes everyone's lives? Of course you have — Dutch filmmaker Alex van Warmerdam is banking on the fact that people know this narrative, all the better to f--- with audiences' heads.

After the titular character (played by Belgian actor Jan Bijvoet, in a star-making turn) shows up, bearded and filthy, on the doorstep of an upper-middle-class couple, you expect a certain amount of uncomfortability. Instead, you get a bona fide creepfest and the kind of assault on bourgeois values that would make Buñuel beam. Unless Michael Haneke releases a film in the next six months, this will be the feel-bad movie of the year.

Watch the trailer.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Miracle Cancer Drug In ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ Doesn’t Really Exist

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the fault in our stars

If you get swept into the teen frenzy of "The Fault in Our Stars" this weekend, two things will happen.

The first is that it will reduce you to a puddle of tears.

Second, it will make you wonder if there's a miracle cancer treatment drug called Phalanxifor.

The adaptation of the best-selling young adult novel by John Green tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus (Ansel Elgort), who meet at a cancer support group. 

You soon learn that Hazel, diagnosed with thyroid cancer that spread to her lungs, is alive because of the experimental drug called Phalanxifor.

Fans of the book going into the movie know it's a fictional drug.

Green makes note of this in his acknowledgments at the end of the novel, saying he made the drug up simply because he would like it to exist. However, not everyone who sees the film is going to know that.

Business Insider headed to the inaugural Book Con (think of it as Comic Con for bookies) last weekend to see "The Fault in Our Stars" author himself speak on a panel for the film.

john green book con
We caught up with Green on the phone the following day to discuss the book, its film adaptation, crying, and the fictional drug he put in the book. 

He tells us that while Phalanxifor may not be real, it is inspired by very real cancer treatments.

"It's based on a couple of drugs that have emerged in the past decade or two that are extremely well-targeted drugs for very specific kinds of cancers like Herceptin, used for certain kinds of breast cancers," says Greene. "Then there's one that treats abdominal cancer."

"In both of those cases, people who are very, very sick and very close to death were able to maintain and recover their health and live, still with cancer, but with much longer lives," Greene added.

According to a pharmacist we spoke with, Herceptin is an IV drug used to treat patients with breast cancer who have the HER2+ gene.

If you're wondering why the drug is called Phalanxifor, look no further than the root word of the fictitious drug.  

"I was imagining, the way that those drugs usually work, they connect to something in the molecule and the phalanx means like finger," says Greene. "I was imagining a drug that sort of connects like a key into a keyhole."

SEE ALSO: The only 10 shows you should watch this summer

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'Edge Of Tomorrow' Is Doomed At The Box Office

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edge of tomorrow explosion

Tom Cruise's latest sci-fi action movie, Edge of Tomorrow, is getting fantastic reviews, but it has a weak box office forecast. What gives? Is it doomed to be underrated, at least here in America? 

The Wall Street Journal's Ben Fritz wrote today that the movie, which stars Cruise and Emily Bunt, is "poised to be Hollywood’s first big budget flop of the summer."

Doug Liman's film, in which Cruise's character is forced to live the same day battling aliens over and over again, cost $178 million, making a predicted box office haul in the $20 to $30 million range look pretty paltry. Fritz credits two reasons for its potential for an underwhelming gross: the fact that it is not a sequel or part of a franchise and the fact that it stars Tom Cruise. Another potential stumbling block: it's going up against The Fault in Our StarsVariety's Brent Lang is giving an "edge" to Fault, which has a "crack social media campaign," and will "almost certainly double or triple its $12 million production cost in a single weekend." 

But what about those great reviews? Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations Co. told The Wire that Edge of Tomorrow's "prospects have been rising in the last couple of weeks," after box office sages lowballed its opening numbers initially. Bock now thinks it will open in the low- to mid-$30 million rage  Meanwhile, Managing Editor of IMDb Keith Simanton told us that he estimates a $35 million or higher opening weekend, with the "inordinately good" word of mouth going around. 

Still, consensus in the press remains that the movie is going to have to do well overseas, where it has already opened, to be considered a success with its budget. Even that's not a sure thing. The movie only raked in $20 million in its opening in 28 markets last weekend, struggling up against Maleficent and Days of Future Past. At least it is doing well in South Korea.  

"I think part of it is Tom Cruise has sort of lost his luster at least domestically," Bock told us, adding later: "I think there comes a time when star power just fades." Cruise's last big hit domestically was 2011's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, which brought in $209.4 million, but that had the franchise aspect that Edge of Tomorrow does not, making the new film harder to market. Cruise's last two action movies, Jack Reacher and Oblivion didn't break $90 million domestically. (The less said about his musical Rock of Ages, the better.) For what it's worth, Simanton doesn't think that Cruise is "done," adding: "in some weird ways, he's in this kind of Charlton Heston sci-fi phase." 

What's unfortunate for Edge of Tomorrow is that a summer blockbuster has to have a strong opening weekend to have any chance of sustaining itself, Bock explained. Next weekend it will face off against the sequels 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2. "Sci-fi is not known for having a very long life at the box office," Bock said.

SEE ALSO: It Took Over 4 Months To Build The Elaborate Battle Suits Worn In 'Edge Of Tomorrow'

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Lex Luthor's LexCorp Will Reportedly Be An Edgy Startup Company In 'Batman V Superman'

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jesse eisenberg lex luthor batman superman movie

Production is well under way on director Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but there has been very little information released about what is currently being shot. An unidentified insider from Batman-News reveals that the production will be shooting scenes at the LexCorp offices starting next week.

The offices are being described as a "Google-type" workplace with an edgy, youthful vibe filled with an eclectic mix of employees ranging from rock and roll types to hipsters and nerds. The scenes will be filmed on June 12 and 13, with the actors wearing layers with long sleeves, blazers and lightweight jackets. Jesse Eisenberg is reportedly involved in the scene, but that has not been confirmed.

Back in February, we reported that the first scene in the movie takes place at the LexCorp offices, where Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) takes a meeting with Lex Luthor, with Wayne seeking to join forces with Luthor to help rebuild Metropolis, in the aftermath of the devastation shown in Man of Steel. Could this be the scene they are shooting next week? It's anybody's guess at this point, but we'll keep you posted if new details emerge.

In related news, another report from the Man Of Steel Fan Page reports that a scene involving the military will be shot on June 11 in Detroit, with the production seeking extras with military backgrounds. Jesse Eisenberg previously revealed that he will start shooting on June 11, so it's possible that he will be involved in this scene as well.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice comes to theaters May 6th, 2016 and stars Henry CavillBen AffleckAmy AdamsDiane LaneLaurence FishburneGal Gadot,Jesse EisenbergJeremy Irons. The film is directed by Zack Snyder.

SEE ALSO: 'Batman V Superman' Is Bringing Together 8,500 Military Extras Next Week In Detroit

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'The Fault In Our Stars' Got Its Name From This Shakespeare Line

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the fault in our stars

The Fault In Our Stars laugh-cries its way into theaters this weekend, and it seems by now we’ve spent enough time with the film’s cast and crew and the novel’s author to know everything there is to know about the story, its characters, and what it means in the wider scopes of death, love, and modern fandom.

But there are always more questions to be asked, so let’s take a second to delve into The Fault In Our Stars origins. More specifically, its name. 

Though John Green didn’t exist until the 20th Century and the novel didn’t exist until the 21st, the book’s title has its origins in the 16th: It was inspired by a line in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, thought to be written in 1599:

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars/ But in ourselves.

The book takes on that concept by presenting its opposition: Two teenagers whom “fate” has dealt a fundamentally unfair hand. The fault there isn’t with Hazel or Augustus, or any of the other humans operating in their world; they didn’t give themselves cancer, the “stars” gave it to them, giving new meaning to the term star-crossed. Fittingly, the Norwegian title for both the book and movie is F--- Fate

SEE ALSO: The Miracle Cancer Drug In ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ Doesn’t Really Exist

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'Edge Of Tomorrow' Is Tom Cruise’s Best Movie In Years

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edge of tomorrow tom cruise

Tom Cruise's new movie, "Edge of Tomorrow," is out in theaters Friday and it's getting really good reviews.

That may come as a surprise. 

If you've seen any trailers for the film, you may have done an eyeroll as the film has the feel of 1993's "Groundhog Day." The premise sees Tom Cruise's character, Major William Cage, relive the same day over and over again until he can find a way to defeat a threatening alien menace. 

The film is based on Japanese sci-fi novel "All You Need Is Kill" and cost Warner Bros. approximately $175 million, so the studio needs this to be a big hit.

Though Cruise's movie is estimated to bring in $30 million, it looks like Shailene Woodley's tear jerker "The Fault in Our Stars" will rule the weekend.

Here's why the movie sounds like a must-see.

Don’t be worried about it feeling like "Groundhog’s Day" or any other déjà vu flick. edge of tomorrow tom cruise
The Wrap
:

“For a film about repetition, “Edge of Tomorrow” never feels tired or familiar.” 

Variety:

"The scribes have solved the problem of how not to make the film play like a repetitive slog; aided enormously by James Herbert and Laura Jennings’ snappy, intuitive editing, they tell their story in a breezy narrative shorthand (and at times, sleight-of-hand), transforming what must surely be an unbelievably tedious gauntlet for our hero into a deft, playful and continually involving viewing experience." 

Total Film:

"The time-loop works. Far from being the multiplex equivalent of a trek to the laundry, the spin-cycle lends a fresh tilt to the time-worn Us vs. Them genre, with Liman and Cruise serving humour and invention to ensure each rewind veers into territory as unexpected as it is familiar."

It’s funny with laughs from both Cruise and Bill Paxton.

bill paxton edge of tomorrowCinemablend:

“The script crackles with humor and variations, making Cage's (Cruise) deaths and resurrections as funny as they are shocking.” 

Film School Rejects: 

“Liman’s movie moves fast, and not only because it has a ton of set pieces, but also a sharp sense of humor … Bill Paxton gets some huge laughs.” 

The design of the aliens look awesome. 

Variety 

“The excellent production package is distinguished by the expertly designed Mimics, which resemble overgrown, radioactive crustaceans that got caught in an oil spill.”

This is one of Cruise’s most fun and enjoyable performances in a long time. tom cruise edge of tomorrowEmpire

This is his strongest performance in some time and he revels in the character’s development. He starts out as a smug, smirking, weaselly coward, not above trying to blackmail an implacable general (Brendan Gleeson).” 

Film School Rejects

“Most A-listers would demand a more conventionally heroic character from the start, but not Cruise. He plays up Cage’s cowardice whenever he gets the chance, to both great comedic and dramatic effect.”

Emily Blunt is great, too. emily blunt edge of tomorrow

The Playlist:

“She is a rich, beautifully realized female character, strong and smart and sensitive, which is already a welcome change from the summer movies we've seen thus far, where women are mostly seen falling from tall buildings and hiding from giant monsters.”

The one disappointment from multiple reviews? The ending isn’t anything too special.

The Wrap:

"If there's anything disappointing about the film, it involves the ending; it's a defensible one, but everything leading up to it fooled me into expecting something smarter or more daring." 

The Hollywood Reporter: 

"Unfortunately, the final stretch becomes dramatically unconvincing and visually murky, … where a seriously underwhelming and downright odd final reckoning takes place.”

Overall, the film sounds like a solid action flick from Cruise that should do well overseas and at home. 

Empire

“A playful and frantic science-fiction twister which mimics the best (Aliens, The Matrix, Groundhog Day) while offering something fresh and — most importantly — thrilling.” 

Film School Rejects:

"Director Doug Liman hasn’t forgotten how to craft real escapist entertainment, despite his last popcorn film Jumper suggesting otherwise. His latest, Edge ofTomorrow, is maybe his most accomplished work to date, a massive blockbuster with scale, heart, plenty of humor, and no shortage of coolness. This, ladies and gentleman, is what we call a summer blockbuster.” 

The Playlist:

"It's snappy and funny and violent and weird and sets the bar impossibly high for the rest of this year's summer movie crop."

Watch a trailer for the movie below:

SEE ALSO: "X-Men: Days of Future Past" is the movie of the summer

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Here's What 62-Year-Old Mark Hamill Will Look Like With A Lightsaber In 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

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star wars

We know Mark Hamill is reprising his iconic role of Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars: Episode VII," but we don't know much else about what his role will entail.

Now, we have a little bit of an idea of how the 62-year-old actor will look wielding a lightsaber once more.

Disney is currently celebrating Star Wars Weekends at its parks through June 15. Hamill will be appearing at Disney's Hollywood Studios June 6-8.

Naturally, Hamill made the trip and posed with a Jedi Mickey Mouse along with a lightsaber.

To jog your memory, here's how Hamill looked in the original "Star Wars" films:mark hamill star wars

And, here's how the 62-year-old actor looks today via a Disney Parks' video:mickey mouse mark hamillmark hamill mickey mouseIt looks like Hamill will be sporting a beard in the new film, which has had fans wondering whether the actor could play an older Jedi mentor like Obi Wan Kenobi to one of the new, younger cast members. 

SEE ALSO: It looks like the Millennium Falcon will be in "Star Wars: Episode VII"

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Why The End Of ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ Is A Huge Letdown

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tom cruise edge of tomorrowWarning: Spoilers ahead.

If you head out to see Tom Cruise’s new movie “Edge of Tomorrow” this weekend, you’ll probably have a good time until the end.

It’s not that it’s all out terrible, but it is kind of confusing.

(If you’ve read the graphic novella the film is based on, “All You Need is Kill,” you may have a difference in opinion.)

Last chance to head back before major spoilers.emily blunt tom cruise edge of tomorrow

As you’ve probably seen in trailers, the movie follows Cruise’s character Major William Cage as he relives the same day over and over again trying to figure out how to defeat an alien race called the Mimic.

The movie avoids getting caught up in the usual monotone drone of its own déjà vu, moving the plot along to feel fresh. It’s particularly fun watching Cruise get beat up again and again until he masters the suit used by military to take on the Mimics. 

The movie hits nearly every beat until the final stretch.

At the film’s end, Cage risks his life to kill an alien species at the Louvre while dying in the process.edge of tomorrow end

However, his blood mixes with that of a specific alpha alien’s blood. Earlier in the film, it’s explained this is what causes a person to relive days over and over again.

Afterward, Cage wakes up a few days prior at the movie’s start, except this time, he finds that the future is completely changed. There are no oncoming alien attacks. There’s been an explosion in Paris. 

The movie ends and the viewer is left with a lot of questions:

  1. Why did Cage get sent back to the beginning of the film as opposed to any other point in time?
  2. Does Cage still have the ability to relive days over and over again?
  3. And, most importantly, are the aliens actually dead?

It’s not a great ending.  emily blunt edge of tomorrow

Honestly, the film could have (and probably should have) ended a few minutes earlier with Cage dying, mixing his blood with that of aliens, and fading to black to let the viewer wonder what happened next.

Reviews have pointed out it was the weakest part of the film:

The Hollywood Reporter

“Unfortunately, the final stretch becomes dramatically unconvincing and visually murky, … where a seriously underwhelming and downright odd final reckoning takes place.”

IGN:

"Lazy, obvious plotting supplants innovation and ingenuity as the end nears, making for a film that comes close to greatness, but sadly falls short at the final hurdle."

Paste:

"Eventually our hero has to reach the final level of this feature-length video game and complete his mission, and that’s where Edge of Tomorrow disappointingly succumbs to the routine territory of third act showdowns in post-apocalyptic sci-fi. You know the drill: nest invasion, bomb drop, heroic sacrifice, last-minute twist."

If you weren’t impressed with the movie’s end either, there’s a simple explanation for why it paled in comparison to the rest of the film.

Screenwriters couldn’t get it right to make Warner Bros. happy.edge of tomorrow filming

The script for “Edge of Tomorrow” was reworked so many times that when the movie started filming the ending to the movie still wasn’t sorted out.

According to the L.A. Times, two-thirds of the original script was tossed out six months before filming began. 

"A mere eight weeks before physical production began on 'Edge of Tomorrow,' with screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie taking over from 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' scribe Simon Kinberg, who had in turn taken over from sibling writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, the film was still without a final act that [Doug] Liman [the director] found satisfactory."

When "Edge of Tomorrow" finally began filming, it was without a finished script that the L.A. Times says resulted in "a testy exchange" between the director, Cruise, and Blunt.

The current end to the film bears little resemblance to the novella which sees Cruise's character live while Blunt's dies in a sacrifice for his life.

SEE ALSO: It took over 4 months to build the elaborate battle suits worn in "Edge of Tomorrow"

AND: "Edge of Tomorrow" is doomed at the box office

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Here's A Great Infographic Showing How 'Ghostbusters' Came To Be

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Today marks the 30th anniversary of the ghoulish comedy classic, "Ghostbusters," which has earned over $291 million worldwide since its 1984 release.

In celebration of the film starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Sigourney Weaver, designer Mike Seiders put together an awesome infographic that goes over the movie's making, history, and impact.

Everything from how John Belushi and Eddie Murphy were originally supposed to star in the film to the cost of the Stay Puft Marshmallow suits (three suits at $20,000 each), are included in the infographic — so enjoy it below.

Just make sure you don't cross the streams.

Ghostbuster infographic

SEE ALSO: Harold Ramis' Character In 'Ghostbusters' Would Probably Be A Tech Billionaire Today

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Meet The 16-Year-Old Girl Who Lost Her Battle With Thyroid Cancer — And Inspired 'The Fault In Our Stars'

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The character of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old battling cancer in the new film 'The Fault In Our Stars' based on the book of the same title, is played by Shailene Woodley. 

SHAY

But Woodley's character channels someone else, someone real; a young woman named Esther Earl from Beverly, Massachusetts, who lost her battle to thyroid cancer in August of 2010. Earl was 16 when she died.

Esther Earl

John Green, who wrote the book, had met Earl at a Harry Potter conference back in 2009. Earl supported Green's decision to write "The Fault In Our Stars;" the two remained friends until Earl passed away.

Green paid tribute to her on his website and also by being a major donor to the charity Earl's parents started in her memory called "This Star Won't Go Out."

Esther Earl

Earl, it seems, gave a real face to cancer while she was alive. She experienced her fears and her pain very publicly, sharing them with the world on social media. 

People reports,

Earl had a very big Internet presence on multiple platforms including Twitter and Tumblr. However, her friends, family, and fans got to know her best through her funny and empathetic videos. "I'm not always amazing," she said. "I'm not always strong and you guys should know that." 

In fact, Earl's videos remain live on YouTube, though she passed away nearly four years ago.

She's incredibly candid, and talks about how lonely it was at the end. On August 9th, she put up a video where she admitted she had lost touch with most of her friends.

Esther Earl

"I just sit on my bed," she says, "and sometimes my couch. And I am mostly just hanging out with my family."

Here, she reacts to learning about Esther day, which John Green dedicated to her on August 3rd of 2010. She died just 3 weeks later.

Esther 2

 

Her parents published a book called "This Star Won't Go Out: The Life & Words of Esther Grace Earl," a collection of Esther's drawings and notes along with family stories. John Green wrote the introduction.

One letter in the book was written when she was 14 to her 17-year-old self. She had instructed her parents to read it if she died before she was able to open it.

"If you haven't done something amazing, don't forget to try," 14-year-old Esther tells her future self. "The worst that can happen is you fail, and then you can just try again until you succeed."

You can learn more about Esther in People Magazine or on This Star Won't Go Out. 

SEE ALSO: The miracle drug used in "The Fault in our Stars" is based on real cancer drugs

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5 Foreign Film Gems To Check Out On Netflix

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Those who claim to have exhausted their Netflix queues — fear no more! The foreign section of Netflix features literally hundreds of fantastic films from all over the world, and many have managed to slip under the radar. Here are five fantastic (and recent) foreign films now available for streaming on Netflix

The_Hunt_(2012_film)THE HUNT (Denmark)

THE HUNT was Denmark’s submission to the Academy for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscars, and it’s no surprise that it got the nomination. The film is a bleak, impeccably acted drama featuring Mads Mikkelsen (of NBC’s criminally underseen HANNIBAL) in the lead role as a schoolteacher falsely accused of committing a pedophilic act. It’s incredibly tense and at times very difficult to watch, but those who endure the struggle will be rewarded with what is easily one of the best films of last year. Despite its Oscar nomination (which came after its initial theatrical release), the film was released in only 47 theaters.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE TOTAL: $618,308 

 


The_Silence_film

THE SILENCE (Germany)

Although completed in 2010, THE SILENCE didn’t see a US release until Music Box Films snagged up the rights and snuck it in to just under a dozen theaters in early 2014. It’s a shame it didn’t get a wider release, as it is one of the most haunting and well-told kidnapping films I’ve ever seen. The film explores the similarities between two kidnappings set in the same place but several years apart. Saying any more would take away from the enthralling storytelling, but be sure to watch it in HD if  possible, as the cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. 

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE TOTAL: $232,418

 

 

 

 

Stranger_by_the_Lake_poster

STRANGER BY THE LAKE (France)

After making a splash at last year’s Caanes film festival (helmer Alain Guiraudie won the award for Best Director), STRANGER BY THE LAKE was picked up by Strandand released in only sixteen theaters nationwide. It didn’t take long for the film to pop up in the “Gay and Lesbian” section on Netflix, and I sat glued to the screen for its entire runtime. It’s a darkly hilarious, suspenseful and unsettling thriller that reminded me of the films made by Roman Polanski in his heyday. This thing is practically dripping with atmosphere and sexual tension, and it’s gorgeous to lookat throughout. I’d argue that the film is eons better than BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, another LGBT French release from last year that got way more press and attention.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE TOTAL: $325,196 

 

 

Post_Tenebras_Lux_(film)POST TENEBRAS LUX (Mexico)

This is easily the most surreal and “experimental” film on the list, and as such is the one that I find myself revisiting the most. POST TENEBRAS LUX is an often perplexing but hypnotically entertaining stream-of-consciousness type film with a narrative that would be impossible to make sense of on paper. The film is torn between two worlds — one fantastical, and the other realistic, and is constantly shifting between the two in an attempt to create meaning. This is the most “avant garde” art-house release I’ve seen in years, and if that sounds like your cup of tea, you won’t be disappointed. During its entire theatrical run, it only played in six theaters nationwide. 

DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE TOTAL: $39,185 (WORLDWIDE FIGURES UNAVAILABLE) 

 

440px French_film_poster_for_L'enfant_d'en_hautSISTER (Switzerland) 

SISTER is a small but affecting film that thrives on its restrained and careful approach to storytelling. All the big reveals in the film occur in such a natural manner that it’s near impossible to not be completely enveloped and engrossed by as the story chugs along. SISTER explores the connection between an impoverished woman and her 12-year-old brother, but soon their relationship becomes more complex and we learn who these people really are. The film may be slow moving and depressing but that only makes it all the more powerful and memorable by the end. Before hitting Netflix, the film was released in the states in only fourteen theaters. 

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE TOTAL: $554,550

SEE ALSO: What's New On Netflix Streaming In June

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Tear-Jerker 'The Fault In Our Stars' Blasted Past Tom Cruise’s New Movie At The Box Office

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Fault in our stars, kiss

Teen phenomenon “The Fault in our Stars” had a huge opening weekend at the box office. 

The adaptation of John Green’s best-selling novel about two cancer stricken teens who fall in love made a big $48 million this weekend. 

The 20th Century Fox movie cost an estimated $12 million to make. 

The Shailene Woodley film passed both “Maleficent” ($33.5 million) and Tom Cruise’s new sci-fi flick “The Edge of Tomorrow” ($29.1 million). 

Other than the “Twilight” franchise, “The Fault in our Stars” had the largest opening weekend for a teen romance since 2001’s “Save the Last Dance.” 

Last Tuesday, “The Fault in our Stars” became Fandango’s largest pre-selling romance movie ever, beating 2012’s “The Vow” with Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. 

That movie debuted to $41.2 million.

SEE ALSO: Meet the 16-year-old girl who lost her battle with thyroid cancer — and inspired "The Fault in our Stars"

AND: "The Fault in our Stars" author explains the miracle drug used in the film

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'Game Of Thrones' May Get A Theatrical Release

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game of thrones joffrey tyrion jack gleesonGame of Thrones is about to get so much bigger: According to multiple sources, because of the series’ popularity (it just beat The Sopranos for HBOs most popular show) it may end up getting a theatrical release. That’s right — you could get to see Game of Thrones at the movie theater. I’ll let you take a moment to imagine watching that drama unfold ON THE BIG SCREEN. 

The details? No, GoT isn’t getting a movie spinoff — the show is still very much that, a show. However, Cinemark CEO Tim Warner does think finales of popular shows, like GoT, should be broadcasted at the theater because that would be the most epic viewing party ever

Game of Thrones on the big screen would be so exciting,” he says. “It’s not that you can’t go to the bar and watch this stuff, but you can’t have that premium experience.”

What would that “premium experience” look like? Well American theaters can model it after Canada who is already set to screen the GoT finale at theaters later this month. According to The Telegram, “Admission is $10, which includes a concession voucher for the same value, plus entry into a draw for Game of Thrones prizes.” Warner is very pumped about this idea, lamenting that GoT built up “this huge fan base and there’s nowhere for the fan base to go.” 

As someone who’s been to midnight releases of various books and movies — namely Harry Potter — I can vouch for how much fun having a fandom collect at an event can be. Waiting for the movie to start or the book to come out is half the fun because, while waiting, you get to be around people who love what you love. 

The one thing that could possibly stand in the way of the finale coming to American screens, according to Huffington Post, is that “media conglomerates just don’t mix their cinema and broadcast divisions.” But Warner says it’s time for that to change. “They’re going to have break down that barrier within the studios, so that all the content providers take a look at whatever content they’re doing and say, ‘Should this be going into this platform?’” 

And if the logical reasoning fails, you can always point back to money. Media conglomerates need/love money. As Warner says, “They’ve got to think of the theatrical platform as the largest pay-per-view platform in the world.” 

Hopefully the money argument can help with the case, because the thought of watching Game of Thrones on a huge theater screen instead of a tiny TV screen would undoubtedly make the experience so much better than any of us ever thought possible. DRAGONS ON THE BIG SCREEN.

SEE ALSO: 'Game Of Thrones' Is Officially The Most Popular Show In HBO History

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Why Latinos Are The Most Important Moviegoers For The Box Office

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lego movie characters

Hispanic moviegoers are the most important audience in the United States, according to a diverse panel of experts who spoke Sunday at the Produced By Conference in Los Angeles. They go to the movies more often and in larger groups, they spend more at concession stands and they talk about movies more on social media, panelists said.

“Hispanics are far and away the most important consumer at our cinemas,” John Fithian, CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners told the crowd at Warner Bros. Fithian cited a wide variety of statistics to reaffirm his point, and broke into Spanish on a couple of occasions.

Also read: TV Chiefs Want More Diverse Showrunners – ‘Latinos In Particular,’ Says ABC Boss

Univision's Peter Fillaci initiated the discussion with a presentation that stressed the financial incentives for Hollywood to aggressively court Hispanic customers.

The Hispanic population will grow to 56 million by 2030, augmenting what is already the fastest-growing group in the United States. While one in every six Americans identify as Hispanic — 34 million give or take — one out of every four babies born are Hispanic.

Though Hispanics are not a monolith uniform in taste, panelists agreed they are generally more family-oriented and more active on social media. Nielsen executive Ray Ydoyaga said data revealed heightened use of both social media and mobile devices among Hispanics, a point also made by a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

Also read: Why Hollywood, Cable Companies Are Not Satisfying Hispanics

Ydoyaga has spent the past several years researching the Hispanic market for Hollywood studios, and he has concluded that Hispanics are the “most valuable” and “most avid” moviegoers.

They go to the movies six times a year on average, as compared to four for everyone else, and they show up on opening weekend more than anyone else (47 percent to 37 percent).

While Hollywood devotes a lot of time figuring out what fanboys want to see, Hispanics have driven many of the year's biggest hits, such as “The Lego Movie.”

“Who would have thought a family title could do $250M in the dead of winter?” Fithian said, referencing “Lego.” “It did, and Hispanics had a lot to do with that.

Also read: How Warner Bros. Tweaked ‘The Lego Movie’ for Foreign Audiences

Hollywood's reticence in targeting Hispanic moviegoers stems from several myths the panelists worked hard to disprove.

Many executives believe Hispanics only go to see certain movies of a certain genre, but Fithian cited data demonstrating they like the same genres as everyone else. Many executives believe Spanish-speaking audiences will not see English-language movies, but producer Roberto Orci noted Spanish-speaking audiences love seeing marketing that targets them specifically because it is so unusual.

He then noted a few marketing campaigns that failed because companies did not do sufficient market research. Chevy released a car called the Nova while “No va” in Spanish means does not go.

“Sometimes you can't just take a general market ad and translate it into Spanish,” Orci said.

Though Hollywood must recognize Hispanic moviegoers are distinct, they should not treat them as some foreign group. Most identify strongly as both Hispanics and Americans, as Spanish-speakers and English-speakers.

Orci, the Mexican-born producer of “Star Trek” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” described the two main characters in “Star Trek” as “two brothers from different cultures.” Spock is a legal immigrant who makes best friends with a Gringo.

“That's a universal theme, and it's informed by my experience and my culture,” Orci said. “Is that a Hispanic touch? I dunno.”

The only subject on which there was not universal agreement is whether Hollywood has been supportive enough of Hispanic filmmakers.

Fithian cited directors such as Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo Del Toro as evidence that “Hollywood has diversity right on Hispanics.” Yet the number of Hispanics behind and in front of the camera for major studio releases remains small.

SEE ALSO: Here Is The Number Of LEGO Bricks It Took To Make ‘The Lego Movie’

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Sigourney Weaver Will Return For All 3 'Avatar' Sequels In A New Role

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sigourney weaver avatar

Sigourney Weaver will be back for all three "Avatar" sequels in a new role, 20th Century Fox announced late Monday.

The news may come as a surprise since Weaver's character, Grace Augustine, was killed in James Cameron's 2009 film.

However, Cameron says Weaver will return as a "more challenging character" in the upcoming sequels.

“Sigourney and I have a long creative history, dating back to 1985 when we made 'Aliens,'” said Cameron in a studio statement. “We're good friends who've always worked well together, so it just feels right that she's coming back for the Avatar sequels.”

Weaver will reteam with Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Stephen Lang.

"Avatar" became the highest-grossing film ever making $2.8 billion at theaters.

The next three films are due out December 2016, 2017, and 2018.

SEE ALSO: James Cameron explains how he wrote three "Avatar sequels simultaneously

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Why 'The Fault In Our Stars' Author Wrote A Fictional Book About Cancer

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the fault in our stars poster

"The Fault in our Stars" had a huge opening weekend at the box office this weekend.

The adaptation of the best-selling novel by John Green follows a young teen diagnosed with cancer who goes about living her life as normally as she can.

Though the book is inspired by a young woman who lost her battle with thyroid cancer, the story is a work of fiction.

Recently, we caught up with Green and asked about his decision to write a fictional book about cancer.

To research the book, Green says he spoke with a lot of people familiar with the disease and read a lot of material on the subject.

john green the fault in our stars"It was very important to me to talk to a lot of people who were living with cancer or who had children, other family members, die of cancer," said Green. "I also talked to a lot of oncologists and I read a lot about the disease. I read a lot of memoirs, textbooks about the disease so that I could try to understand it."

Ultimately, Greene says his decision behind writing the book was to write about illness.

“I guess I wanted to show that people living with illness are also doing many other things," Green told us. "They aren’t entirely defined by their illness or by their disability. A lot of times I think that, from the outside, maybe we imagine sick people as being defined by their illness or as being simply, merely sick. Particularly people who are dying. My experience has always been, that the people who are chronically ill are also many other things. They’re capable of love and they have all the same desires as other people. Their lives are every bit as rich and complex and important and meaningful as any others."

"One of the really difficult things about doing this is that it can be socially isolating," Green added. "So in addition to having to deal with the physical effects of illness and disability you also have to deal with the social stigma and that's really unfortunate."

SEE ALSO: "The Fault in our Stars" author explains the miracle drug used in the movie

AND: Meet the 16-year-old girl who inspired the book

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