Quantcast
Channel: Movies
Viewing all 8368 articles
Browse latest View live

We'll Know The 'True Detective' Season 2 Cast Really Soon

0
0

True Detective Matthew McConaughey Woody HarrelsonTrue Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto has confirmed that he is halfway through writing True Detective's Season 2 episodes, and that this new storyline will center on 4 lead characters as they traverse the lesser-known parts of California. No one has been cast just yet, and the plot may not revolve around the secret occult history of the transportation system as previously rumored.

Now an Emmy nominee for his writing work on True Detective Season 1Nic Pizzolatto also hints that there may be multiple directors in the upcoming season. Cary Fukunaga, also nominated for an Emmy this morning, directed all 8 episodes of the first season by himself. Speaking with The Daily Beast shortly after the Emmy announcements were made, Nic Pizzolatto talked about the future of his hit show, a favorite amongst critics and audiences alike.

About the scripts, he offers an update on where he has landed in terms of the overall story.

"I'm hitting the halfway mark on the scripts. Not much [I can tell you]. We're not keeping any secrets, so when something concrete develops, we'll announce it to everybody. But everything has just been empty rumors so far."

When asked if the new episodes would focus on the U.S. transportation system, the creator got a little cagey,

"I would actually just stick with "set in California." I'd rather not to elaborate on that."

In a previous interview, Nic Pizzolatto claimed that he had characters he loved and cared about as much as Rust and Marty, which nabbed both Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey Emmy nominations this morning. He goes onto talk about these new characters and how they've continued to evolve.

Yep, but since then they've deepened and become richer. Creating new characters for Season 2 was the same experience as creating Rust and Marty. They didn't exist until I created them, then in their creation I developed a personal attachment to them. I think it's the same in anything you write. It's your job to come up with compelling characters who speak to an individual authenticity. If I'm not interested in the characters I can't go on. I have to be fascinated by them. It's the same job as Season 1 to me."

He then confirmed that there will be 4 lead roles,

"That ballooned a little bit. I would say there are four central roles."

Matthew McConaughey True DetectiveNic Pizzolatto refused to confirm if any of the new roles were women. Also commenting on the future of the show was HBO programming president Michael Lombardo, who claims that casting will be announced soon and that the first two scripts he's read for the new season far surpass previous episodes.

" The two scripts we have ... I hate to jinx it ... they are more exciting than the first season. [Creator Nic Pizzolatto is] an incredibly talented writer. And he's blown us away with the first two episodes."

About that upcoming casting announcement, he had this to say,

"The people we will cast will be well-known names, but [casting stars] wasn't our ambition. Great writing attracts great actors... Maybe people initially came for [Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson], but I think they stayed because the show was so compelling."

As for the multiple director aspect of the show, one person being eyed to board True Detective Season 2 is The Exorcist and The French Connection director William Friedkin. He had this to say about the prospects of joining the series.

"I am considering it. I like this writer [Nic Pizzolatto] very much. I've met him, and he's the real deal as far as I'm concerned. Now, all the new seasons are different so I'm not committed-this new season has nothing to do with the last one. Except for him and his sensibility, which I think is extraordinary... I can't say much more at this time. But I'm a fan of his writing, even though this will not be a continuation of what was done before. So what you can say is I'm a huge fan of his writing, I've met with him, I like him, I like the direction he's taking with this."

What do you think? Could True Detective Season 2 turn out to be better than the first?

SEE ALSO: HBO completely blew its chance to air "Breaking Bad"

Join the conversation about this story »


Why 'Planet Of The Apes' Is Still Relevant Today

0
0

dawn of the planet of the apes warDawn of the Planet of the Apes arrives in theaters tomorrow nearly fifty years after the release of original Planet of the Apes. It’s a perfect excuse to take another look at the 1968 classic and see what it may have to say about us in 2014.

Sometimes it can be hard for allegorical science-fiction to resonate past its then-and-there. Planet of the Apes, not surprisingly, doesn’t have that problem. For a film made fifty years ago— set millenniums in the future and on a planet ruled by simians—a lot of its conflicts, scenes and characters shed light on our non-ape ruled world in the present. Here are five examples where 1968’s Planet of the Apes speaks directly to us.

1. The Battle Between Evolution and Creationists Rages On

“How can scientific truth be hearsay?” asks Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) incredulously during a tribunal of orangutan elders who hold her in scriptural contempt for suggesting apes weren’t created, but evolved from a previous civilization. The apes of The Planet of the Apes, in other words, are creationists. That point-of-view should seem quaint and archaic watching the movie now, what with all that science and Inherit the Wind aiding the case for evolution, but the battle of beliefs continues.

It’s even been recently reignited in the public consciousness, thanks to Bill Nye’s Creationism vs. Evolution Debate with prominent creationist, Ken Ham, and the tantrum creationists are throwing over Neil deGrasse Tyson’s show Cosmos and its unwillingness to acknowledge Genesis. It seems five decades after Planet of the Apes’ release, Dr. Zaius’ insistence that there is “no contradiction between faith and science” is one still shared by many.

2. The Hunting of Living Things for Pleasure

Heston, Planet of the ApesAfter mercilessly hunting down a tribe of hopelessly undefended humans, three gorillas—all smiles, guns and beaming pride—pose for a photograph over the bodies of their captured prey. It remains an unsettling, cruel moment not just because of the apes’ indifference to the life at their feet, but how its an image instantly familiar today.

It seems we’ve been flooded lately with news of those who hunt living things for picture-worthy sport. Whether it’s the Texas Tech cheerleader who gleefully hunted, killed, posed with and hugged a variety of African wildlife, or TV show host Melissa Bachman posing with a lion she killed earlier this year, those who take maybe a little too much pleasure in the snuffing out of life would have a lot to talk about with those gorillas.

3. Disenfranchised Youth Have Always Existed

  • “What happened to honor?”
  • “You can’t trust the older generation!”
  • “Never trust anyone over thirty.”

Those are all things Lucius, Cornelius’ nephew, mutters disgruntled in his late and brief appearance in Planet of the Apes. His words are undoubtedly the disenfranchised attitudes of the hippie proxy he’s designed to be, but his words would seem no more out of the place in the mouth of millennials.

They’re part of a generation who have had their fair share of reasons to resent the elders who distrust them as workers, criticize them for living at home, and abandoned them with poor job and economic prospects. Planet of the Apes serves as a reminder that generational conflict has always been around.

4. The Statue of Liberty Always Gets It

Statue of Liberty, Planet of the ApesNo matter how many bridges, skyscrapers or other landmarks mankind has built, disaster movies continue to pick on the poor old Statue of Liberty. Planet of the Apes may not have been the first to do so (the 1933 film Deluge beat it to the punch), but it was the first to do it on such a widely seen scale, laying the foundation for decades worth of unfortunate Lady Liberty being submerged, nuked, drowned, and even awakened. 

5. Mankind Still Justifies "Planet of the Apes" Cynicism About Mankind

Taylor (Charlton Heston) — the movie’s conscience bullhorn — doesn’t think much of his species and spends much of his time writing them off. He admires how “space…squashes a man’s ego.” He wonders if when he returns to Earth two millennia later, man “still makes war against his brother? Keeps his neighbor children starving?”

He mocks America’s unjustified worship of itself and its self-made and aggrandizing heroes. He bemoans that the “world we made” had “lots of lovemaking, no love.” And all of that cynicism, all those criticisms, remain true. We still hate, we still mistreat others,the list goes on. And sure, nuclear annihilation is less a concern than it was during Planet of the Apes’ time (well, as long as Seth Rogen stops provoking North Korea), but our possible self-annihilation isn’t. Pick y(our) possible poison: global warming, resource exhaustion, sentient drones armies or algorithms. That’s why even though the endings of Planet of the Apes should have become inert as a cautionary tale thanks to its pop culture overexposure, it still remains a vision of a future that remains all too possible.

SEE ALSO: Scenes from "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" were directed over Skype

Join the conversation about this story »

The Special Effects In 'Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes' Are Amazing

0
0

dawn of the planet of the apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” is out in theaters this weekend. 

The film is the sequel to 2011’s reboot which featured James Franco. This time around Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, and Jason Clarke ("Zero Dark Thirty") join a new cast in what is surprisingly sounding like one of the better summer movies in a pretty lackluster season.

Currently, the movie sits at at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's not a feat many summer blockbusters have accomplished joining "X-Men: Days of Future Past" and "Edge of Tomorrow."

"Apes" is expected to make at least $50 million this weekend matching the amount of its predecessor. The 20th Century Fox movie cost an estimated $170 million to make.

And while the film isn’t being heralded by everyone as an overall masterpiece, there is one overwhelmingly positive reason to go out to see the film.

Critics are absolutely entranced by motion-capture wizard Andy Serkis and the apes on screen. serkis planet of the apes

L.A. Times:

"The film is so fortunate to have Serkis, whose work here and as Gollum in the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' films turns motion capture into an art form all by himself. He and his fellow mo-cap actors truly make us believe we are watching intelligent apes in action, and that is not something you see every day."

Time:

"Splendidly realized by actors transformed by visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, the simians are creatures of remarkable power and nuance. Serkis, who brought Peter Jackson’s Gollum and King Kong to pulsing life, and who deservedly gets top billing in Dawn, plays Caesar as a wise, wizened leader stooped by the burden of wielding power judiciously."

Indiewire:

"'Dawn' gives Serkis a bonafide performance that's like an organic special effect. Even James Cameron's blue-faced 'Avatar' creations didn't contain such facial nuances."

The Washington Post: 

“All of the apes are incredibly enjoyable to watch on screen. The apes’ feelings are conveyed beautifully, mainly through facial animation and sign language. Though only one or two of them actually speak, they are remarkably expressive characters.”

Associated Press:

"To a surprising degree, 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' belongs to the monkeys. In the uncommonly sure-handed fusion of computer-generated and live-action images, apes are the more fully realized, expressive characters. Given that the apes communicate in sign language and spurts of English, this may be the biggest summer movie with so many subtitles.”

AV Club:

"The undisputed king of motion-capture performance, Serkis makes this older, wiser Caesar both physically and emotionally convincing. A scene of him watching footage of his old “master” is a triumph of collaboration, the CGI animators capturing the small waves of sadness and affection dancing across Serkis’ digitally scanned face."

New York Times:

"His facial expressions and body language are so evocatively and precisely rendered that it is impossible to say where his art ends and the exquisite artifice of Weta Digital, the special-effects company, begins."

The biggest complaints pick at the film for feeling like a franchise vehicle and for offering bland human characters alongside such charismatic computer-animated apes.

Associated Press

"A failing of 'Apes," it's that it feels like yet another manufactured franchise. Talented people like Reeves and Serkis are brought in like HGTV fixer-uppers to restore mossy pop-culture properties."

EW:

If only as much care were put into the film's human characters. Oldman nearly pops a hernia from hamming it up so hard, and Clarke's melancholy eyes are so perpetually moist in his admiration of the apes, you want to offer a tissue.”

However, if you're to believe the New York Post, you would think it's one of the best movies you'll ever see.

"The eighth “Planet of the Apes” movie is easily the best, suspenseful and scary and cured of the silliness that infused all previous iterations, even the 1968 original — a fun kids’ movie oddly anointed a classic when those kids grew up while retaining their childish tastes.”

Check out a trailer for the film below:

SEE ALSO: How the apes in the sequel look without CGI

Join the conversation about this story »

Colin Farrell Is In Talks To Star In 'True Detective' Season 2

0
0

colin farrell swat

YesterdayTrue Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto revealed plenty of new information about Season 2, including the fact that it will feature 4 main leads. Today, it looks like one of those central characters will be portrayed by Colin Farrell.

Colin Farrell is currently in deep negotiations to portray one of the main characters, in a storyline that takes place in the lesser known areas of California. The story may also deal with the little known occult history of the U.S. transportation system, but Nic Pizzolatto doesn't want to confirm that just yet.

Colin Farrell will follow in the footsteps of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who both earned Emmy nominations for their roles in True Detective Season 1Colin Farrell will continue the HBO series' tradition of bringing in high caliber talent for just one 8 episode season. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain were previously rumored to be up for roles in True Detective Season 2, but that was never confirmed and said to be false by Nic Pizzolatto.

Speaking yesterday, Nic Pizzolatto did also confirm that True Detective Season 2 will have multiple directors, as opposed to Cary Fukunaga directing all of them, as he did for the first run of episodes. The Exorcist and The French Connection director William Friedkin will likely helm at least one of the new episodes.

HBO programming president Michael Lombardo also announced yesterday that the full cast would be revealed soon. So expect Colin Farrell to be officially confirmed sometime next week.

SEE ALSO: 'True Detective' May End After Season 3

Join the conversation about this story »

People Are Outraged On Facebook Thinking Steven Spielberg Actually Killed A Dinosaur

0
0

Steven Spielberg, Jurassic Park

There's been a lot of outrage on Facebook lately about people posting photos of hunting and killing animals.

There was Texas cheerleader Kendall Jones who had her hunting photos taken down by Facebook, 17-year-old Belgian soccer fan Axelle Despiegelaere whose hunting photos caused her to lose her L'Oreal modeling contract, and now Steven Spielberg for hunting... a dinosaur.

Obviously Steven Spielberg didn't kill a dinosaur for sport because, well, dinosaurs are extinct. But that didn't stop a whole lot of people on Facebook from thinking he did and being completely outraged by it.

A post by Jay Branscomb caused a huge stir on Facebook when the satirist posted a photo making Steven Spielberg look as if he had a "trophy kill" while sitting in front of a robotic Triceratops on the set of his 1993 blockbuster, "Jurassic Park."

"Disgraceful photo of recreational hunter happily posing next to a Triceratops he just slaughtered. Please share so the world can name and shame this despicable man," Branscomb jokingly wrote as the photo's caption.

steven spielberg dinosaur

A lot of people on Facebook didn't think it was a joke.

The post went viral with 32,000 shares and 5,700 comments, which varied from people in on the joke and many others who may not have been.

"That's Steven Spielberg, director of Jurassic Park!" one commenter wrote. This got a response of "I dont care who he is he should have not shot that animal."

Other commenters called Spielberg "inhumane" and "disgusting" and proclaimed they'd never watch his movies again because he's an "animal killer."

After the huge reaction to the photo, Branscomb posted another picture of Spielberg riding the shark from 1975's "Jaws," sarcastically asking for help to indentify this "vicious shark-killer shown posing with his illegal prey."

Steven Spielberg jaws hunter

Now, we can't tell which commenters were joking and which were serious, but regardless many had fun with all of the insanity.

"Seriously, those poor Triceratops," a commenter wrote. "If we don't stop this, they are gonna become extinct." 

SEE ALSO: 'Jurassic Park' Animator Shares How CGI Brought Dinosaurs To Life

Join the conversation about this story »

The Must-See Movie This Weekend Took 12 Years To Make And Has 100% On Rotten Tomatoes

0
0

Boyhood

If you're considering seeing "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" this weekend, you may want to hold off. While the movie is receiving good reviews, you should definitely turn your attention to indie "Boyhood." 

Director Richard Linklater has been working on the movie for the past 12 years filming the same actors as they aged for over a decade. Between 2002 and 2013, Linklater met up with the cast for a few days a year to film a several scenes with Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and then 6-year-old child actor Ellar Coltrane.

As viewers, we literally watch Coltrane grow up on screen as his character Mason deals with the pain of divorce, the awkward phase of puberty, and his first love.

Boyhood

The result is a work critics are calling an "epic masterpiece" unlike anything they've ever seen before. 

Wall Street Journal:

"This quietly gorgeous film—shot on 35 mm film by Lee Daniel and Shane Kelly—lets us feel stuff that many features try to reach, but few celebrate so stirringly: the sweetness and pain of family life, the joy of the now, the evolving wonder of personhood."

The New York Times

"The realism is jolting, and so brilliantly realized and understated that it would be easy to overlook."

Total Film:

"There’s no denying it’s a work of unprecedented scope and sensitivity, and to watch it is to be totally overwhelmed. Sometimes you feel, in a good way, like it’ll never end – in a sense it won’t."

The film has a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with 86 positive reviews and counting for it's unprecented filmmaking process.

boyhood rotten tomatoes

The movie, which cost an estimated $2.4 million to make, will only be in five theaters this weekend before expanding its release.

If you want to check it out this weekend, the film can be seen in New York at the IFC Center, Lincoln Plaza, and Bam Rose Cinemas. 

In Los Angeles, “Boyhood” is showing at the Arclight Hollywood and The Landmark theater.

Watch a trailer for the film below:

SEE ALSO: What reviews are saying about "Dawn of Planet of the Apes'

Join the conversation about this story »

Unreleased Bill Murray Movie From 1984 Is Now On YouTube

0
0

bill murray nothing lasts forever

Bill Murray and Dan Ankroyd are known for their 1984 hit "Ghostbusters," but the two also starred in another less well known sci-fi comedy the same year that was never released to the public.

"Nothing Lasts Forever" was directed by "Saturday Night Live" writer Tom Schiller and also starred Zach Galligan of "Gremlins."

According to the Telegraph, Schiller said he believed the film never made it to screen because "the film wasn’t 'commercial' enough" or that it used to many clips from old films that caused copyright issues and so it was ultimately shelved.

That hasn't stopped the cast and crew from putting on screenings of the film over the years in both New York and California. 

The movie itself skips back and forth between color and is made to look like an older movie.

Check it out below in its entirety before it's removed.

SEE ALSO: The must-see movie this weekend took 12 years to make and has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Join the conversation about this story »

'Planet Of The Apes' Shows That We Are Entering An Age Of Post-Human Filmmaking

0
0

dawn of the planet of the apes

For the second time in three weeks, Hollywood has offered us a summer blockbuster in which the CGI characters are more compelling than the human ones.

Last time, it was Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction, which accomplished the feat by presenting us with human beings duller and less expressive than a box of Hasbro toys. Matt Reeves’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, by contrast, marks a far more singular achievement, rendering its titular apes with such nuance and sophistication that it is easy to forget they are constructed out of pixels.

The evidence that we are entering an age of post-human filmmaking has been gathering for some time: last year’s Pacific Rim, say, or this spring's Godzilla. Replace a Charlie Hunnam here or an Aaron Taylor-Johnson there with any comparably Cybexed alternative and who would notice? Even a star as effortlessly magnetic as Angelina Jolie was to some degree swallowed up by the effects deployed around her in Maleficent.

It is true that—as was the case with this movie’s precursor, Rise of the Planet of the Apes—the human cast of the sequel is not particularly indelible. Aussie Jason Clarke is, at least at this juncture in his career, a better actor than he is a movie star. (He should have been nominated for an Oscar for his role as “Dan” in Zero Dark Thirty.) Keri Russell is perfectly adequate, too (though not one-fifth as memorable as she is on The Americans), as are Kodi Smit-McPhee and a mostly-here-for-the-paycheck Gary Oldman.

But any shortcomings on the part of the movie’s homo sapiens are more than made up for by their simian costars. Going back to his Gollum days, Andy Serkis has been a pioneer—really, the pioneer—in the hybrid form that’s now known as “performance capture.” So it’s fitting that he returns to lend his voice-, face-, and body-work to Caesar, the hyper-intelligent chimpanzee he played in the prior film. (It’s fitting, too, that for once he gets top billing in the credits.) 

Precisely how one should divvy up credit for the performance between Serkis and his special-effects team at Weta Digital is hard to discern. (Likewise, for Serkis’s fellow ape actors.) But ultimately it’s beside the point: The performers and digital artists are so utterly, intimately in sync that there’s more than enough credit to go around.

When last we saw Caesar, he was leading his rag-tag ape army over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Muir Woods, while the viral drug that had given him his intellect was having the unfortunate side effect of spreading lethally throughout the human population. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes picks up directly from that point, with a de rigeur bit of newscast exposition charting the progress of the plague: 5 million casualties, 150 million… There are meltdowns, both nuclear and social, and over the course of a decade (though only a few minutes of screen time) the human race is all but wiped out in the most perfunctory manner conceivable.

dawn of the planet of the apesLittle matter: Following this tedious calamity, we’re introduced to the arboreal city-state Caesar and his friends have built among the redwoods. The set design is impeccable—their cliff-clinging home is built on the remains of an old 76 gas station off route 101—and the apes themselves are nothing short of a revelation. (Particularly magnificent is Caesar’s old orangutan buddy, Maurice, again played by Karin Konoval: Somewhere, Dr. Zaius is eating his heart out.)

We witness the apes conversing with a combination of sign language, grunts, and occasional English words. We’re treated to a hunt with primitive spears, to the birth of a chimplet, and to a near-death by bear mauling. Mostly we just watch in awe as the apes lope majestically among the trees of Marin County. It’s actually a bit of a letdown when the human beings eventually show up.

But show up they do. A community of survivors has settled in the ruins of San Francisco and they send a small party, led by Malcolm (Clarke) and Ellie (Russell), to restart a hydroelectric dam in the apes’ territory in hopes of supplying power for the city. The plot that unfolds from this point will be familiar to anyone who’s seen Dances with Wolves, or Kingdom of Heaven, or Avatar, or any of a few dozen other movies about the need for peace and understanding between races/religions/species.

There are decent, tolerant souls among human and ape alike, and there are also suspicious, warmongering bigots. (The latter camp supplies a role for Oldman on one side, and features Koba, the escaped laboratory bonobo from the last film, on the other.) I’d like to say there are many unexpected twists along the way, but the script hews rather scrupulously to formula.

That said, Reeves’s direction is crisp (he’s best known for 2008’s Cloverfield), the action sequences superb (keep an eye out for the scene in which Koba commandeers a tank), the Michael Giacchino score intense and evocative, and the apes—well, they’re easily worth the price of admission on their own. Reeves has signed on to direct and co-write a third installment of the franchise, and there are intimations at the film’s conclusion that it may again feature an all-new cast of human foils for Caesar and the gang.

I can't help but think that it might be wiser still to forgo our species altogether and make the next movie all-ape. It is, after all, the logical next step in this particular cinematic evolution.

Join the conversation about this story »


Marvel Debuted 17 Minutes Of 'Guardians of The Galaxy' Free For Fans And They Loved It

0
0

guardians of the galaxy chris pratt

It looks like Marvel has another hit on its hands.

Disney premiered 17 minutes of unseen footage from its next film, "Guardians of the Galaxy," in theaters across the U.S. Monday evening. 

We won't give any spoilers, but we watched an action-heavy prison sequence followed by an extended trailer for the James Gunn-directed movie that didn't disappoint.

Unlike previous Marvel movies, "Guardians of the Galaxy" will follow a new roster of characters — Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and tree creature Groot (Vin Diesel) — who come in contact with one of the powerful Infinity gemstones that has been teased throughout Disney's Marvel cinematic universe.

Before the screening began, fans were asked to share their thoughts on the footage afterward using the hashtag #GuardiansoftheGalaxy.

Fans loved it.

From the small teaser, it's already clear Rocket Raccoon and Groot should be fan favorites. 

The chemistry between the quirky characters works and the entire scene we saw was a lot of fun. Focusing the film on an entire ensemble gives "Guardians of the Galaxy" an almost Avengers-like appeal that feels bigger in some ways than the singular "Iron Man,""Captain America," and "Thor," movies. 

guardians of the galaxy posterMinor details about the film follow.

A few non-Disney friendly moments may not make the film's final cut. Chris Pratt's middle finger, which was extensively blurred in trailers, was front and center for viewing. At another point, Pratt's character calls someone a bastard.

There is also one gimmick that could work in the film's favor or against it depending on usage. 

Diesel's tree-like character can only utter one sentence — "I am Groot." Cleverly placed, the catchphrase will work. One too many deliveries and it could become old real fast. 

However, we trust Gunn knows to use it both smartly and sparingly. 

Our audience loved it every time it was said.

Marvel has since released part of the extended footage shown at the screening.

Check it out below. 

"Guardians of the Galaxy" is in theaters August 1.

SEE ALSO: Disney has Marvel movies planned throughout 2028

Join the conversation about this story »

This Low-Budget Movie That Took Over A Decade To Make Crushed It At The Box Office

0
0

Boyhood Sundance

Audiences went out in droves to see the little indie movie "Boyhood" this weekend. 

The IFC film, which cost $2.4 million and took director Richard Linklater 12 years to makemade $359,000 upon debut.

While that may not sound like a lot, the movie only played in five movie theaters over the weekend in both New York City and Los Angeles, putting its intake per theater at $71,800.

In comparison, "Snowpiercer," another indie film we recently wrote about, performed debuted in eight theaters earning $171,187 or approximately $21,398 per theater.

The only other indie film to have a better opening weekend this year was Wes Andersen's brilliant "The Grand Budapest Hotel." That movie, starring Ralph Fiennes, took in a massive $811,166 opening weekend from four theaters. That's an average of $202,792 per screen.

"Boyhood" will expand into more theaters over the next few weeks.

SEE ALSO: Why you should see "Boyhood"

Join the conversation about this story »

Tommy Ramone — Last Remaining Member Of The Ramones — Dead At 65

0
0

Tommy Ramone

Tommy Ramone, the original drummer for the Ramones and the band's last surviving original member, died on Friday at the age of 65.

A spokesman for Ramone's family confirmed the news to Rolling Stone.

Tommy Ramone on Birth of the Ramones: 'It Was Time for Something New'

"Tom died yesterday, July 11, at 12:15 p.m. at his home in Ridgewood, Queens," Andy Schwartz, publisher of New York Rocker magazine, said on behalf of Ramone's family. "He was in hospice care following treatment for cancer of the bile duct." (Schwartz also confirmed Ramone's age as 65.)

Ramone was a founding member of the family of "brothers" who helped invent punk rock in New York's frenetic 1970s music scene. Harnessing a powerful combination of short, propulsive three-chord singalongs with playful lyrics on themes of adolescent angst, the Ramones created a durable sound in songs like "Beat on the Brat,""I Wanna Be Sedated," "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" that would go on to influence countless later bands. 

Born Erdelyi Tamas in Budapest in 1949, Ramone emigrated to America in 1957. He grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, where he began playing music with John Cummings (a.k.a. Johnny Ramone) while he was in high school. The two formed a garage band called the Tangerine Puppets before Tommy moved on to study recording engineering, finding work at the famed Record Plant studios.

In 1974, Erdelyi and Cummings joined together with two fellow Forest Hills compatriots, singer Jeffrey Hyman (Joey) and bassist Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee), and began playing simple, rapid-fire punk under a common surname. The band found a home and an audience at New York's CBGB and released their debut album, Ramones, in 1976. "Our music is an answer to the early Seventies when artsy people with big egos would do vocal harmonies and play long guitar solos and get called geniuses," Tommy, who was the main writer on many of the band's early hits, told Rolling Stone in a feature on the Ramones that year. "That was bullshit. We play rock & roll. We don't do solos. Our only harmonics are in the overtones from the guitar chords." 

The Ramones' Career in Photos

Tommy began his career in the Ramones as the band's manager, but soon took on drumming duty so Joey could concentrate on vocals. He played on the Ramones' first three studio albums, Ramones and 1977's Leave Home and Rocket to Russia, as well as the band's 1979 live record, It's Alive. 

Tommy left the Ramones in 1978 to concentrate on studio work. He had co-produced four albums for the band and would go on to co-produce their 1984 record Too Tough To Die. The following year, he produced the Replacements' major label debut album, Tim, and in 1987, he produced L.A. punks Redd Kross' album Neurotica. More recently, he formed the bluegrass and country band Uncle Monk with his longtime partner Claudia Tienan. The duo released a self-titled album in 2006 on their own label, Airday.

The Ramones officially disbanded in 1996 after releasing 21 studio, live and compilation albums. In 2001, Joey Ramone announced that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and died later that year. Dee Dee followed him the following year with a drug overdose and Johnny Ramone died in 2004 of prostate cancer. 

"After Joey’s passing, everything became just a shock," Tommy Ramone told Rolling Stone in 2009. "Dee Dee’s was totally unexpected. After that, I was numb. Johnny, once he started getting really sick, we started to anticipate it. It was a long mourning, really. I compartmentalized the whole situation."

From the Archives: The Ramones Are Punks and Will Beat You Up

In March of 2002, in the midst of those tumultuous times, the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"When we were inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it meant a lot to us," Ramone told Rolling Stone. "As contradictory as it may sound for a punk group to be getting an award like that, it mattered a lot to us because we knew we were good for the past 25 years or whatever. But it was hard to tell because we never got that much promotion and the records weren’t getting in the stores. We were kinda confused about how good we actually were. We thought we were good, but we could have been deluded. But the fact that we were inducted on the first ballot seemed to say, 'Oh, wow, it was real. We were as good as we thought we were.' It meant a lot to us. 'Wow, all that was worth it. We weren’t kidding ourselves.' It meant something in that way."

More From Rolling Stone:

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift Wrote An Op-Ed In The Wall Street Journal, And It's Filled With Fascinating Insights

Join the conversation about this story »

'Transformers: Age Of Extinction' Is Now The Highest-Grossing Movie Of 2014 After Just 2 Weeks

0
0

optimus prime transformers 4

Poor reviews haven't hurt "Transformers: Age of Extinction."

The Paramount film may sit at 17% on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, but the sequel is now the highest-grossing movie of the year after being at the box office for little more than two weeks.

That's due in large part to the film's phenomenal performance overseas in China.

While the movie has made $209 million domestically, the film has soared in the foreign country making more than $262 million

The film continues to slow down stateside while it has picked up in China.

transformers age of extinction box office

Paramount focused a lot of the film's marketing toward China. Not only was the film primarily made in the country, it also included Chinese actress Fan Bingbing in the sequel, and held a contest to include Chinese fans in the movie.

Here are the top movies of the year so far at the box office via Box Office Mojo:

MovieReleaseWorldwide Gross
"Transformers: Age of Extinction"6/27/2014$752.5 million
"X-Men: Days of Future Past"5/23/2014$731.4 million
"Captain America: The Winter Soldier"4/4/2014$712.4 million
"The Amazing Spider-Man 2"5/2/2014$705 million
"Maleficent"5/30/2014$669 million

SEE ALSO: "Age of Extinction" was the most difficult "Transformers" movie to make

AND: The most difficult "Transformer" in the movie to make

Join the conversation about this story »

Here's How The Apes In 'The Planet Of The Apes' Sequel Look Without CGI

0
0

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" came out this weekend and was a massive hit making more than $70 million. 

By far, one of the best parts of the movie was the incredible motion capture work used in the sequel.

Motion capture guru Andy Serkis, who is known for his work as Gollum / Smeagol in both "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit,reprised his role of Caesar the ape from the first film. 

andy serkis gollum

However, he's not just voicing an ape. Serkis acts out the entire role, crawling around and making very specific facial expressions to translate on screen. 

Everything the ape does, Serkis does along with the team of actors who lend their talents to the other apes in the film.

Back in May, 20th Century Fox released a splitscreen video that shows exactly how Serkis and actors Toby Kebbell, Larramie Doc Shaw, Terry Notary, and Karin Konoval bring the apes to life on screen.

It's pretty cool.

First, the actors get into full body motion capture suits. The white markers on the actor's faces help track their movement on the digital animal. The tracking picks up everything from spoken words ... 

andy serkis planet of the apes

... to movements ... Andy Serkis caesar planet of the apes

dawn of the planet of the apes motion capture

... and facial expressions.andy serkis caesardawn of the planet of the apes planet of the apes motion capturedawn of the planet of the apes motion capture

Watch the video below:

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is in theaters July 11. 

SEE ALSO: A trailer for the movie

Join the conversation about this story »

Sony's 'Amazing Spider-Man' Franchise May Be In Big Trouble

0
0

amazing spider-man 2

"So what do we do now?" That seems to be the question Sony is asking in the wake of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 . Expectations were high for the film, which ended up being the lowest-grossing in the franchise domestically and worldwide (including the Sam Raimi movies). Now Sony is looking at a release date for a third and fourth film, tentatively set for 2016 and 2018... and apparently reconsidering everything. And even the Spider-Man "braintrust" is wondering what the next step will be. 

IGN sat down for an interview with Roberto Orci, one of the members of that group of writers, who revealed that he's very much out of the loop in regards to plans for the next film. 

"I don't know what their plans are for that franchise. I don't ever want to say never, but we have to figure out what their scheduling is in terms of when they want each movie. I've read probably as much as anyone else. There's a love for The Sinister Six, the idea of Venom -- there's an idea of Spider-Man's going to be one of these characters that's part of our business. He's such a popular character. Spider-Man's not going to go away any time soon. When it all happens and how and all that has yet to be determined. I don't want to say anything about what they should do. I don't want them to think I'm spilling the beans about something."

That... does not sound promising. Of course, the reason Roberto Orci hasn't been close with Sony lately is because he's prepping Star Trek 3 . Plus, in April it was announced that Orci and Alex Kurtzman will no longer being working on movies together. Ultimately, his input on a Spidey movie coming in 2016 or 2017 was always going to be limited, even though he and writing partner Alex Kurtzman were hired to write that third film. This raises big questions about The Amazing Spider-Man 3, which Orci claims he is, "not officially involved in," and makes us wonder if it might not make its scheduled June 10, 2016 release date. 

So what is Sony thinking? The original rumor had them bumping Amazing Spider-Man 3 to 2017. But there was also talk about Drew Goddard beginning work on The Sinister Six in January 2015, suggesting that film was farther ahead and could potentially take Amazing Spider-Man 3's slot. They're apparently still weighing their options, though it does sound, from Orci's tender words, that the wall-crawler could be taking a hiatus. 

I imagine Sony is going to act gingerly moving forward. Despite the movie's disappointing numbers in all other categories, Amazing Spider-Man 2 did pull in a half-a-billion dollars exclusively outside of the states, and earnings like that suggest a heavy demand. The problem is that demand is for a character that, so far, only exists in movies that cost upwards of $200 million - with another $150 million plus needed for marketing and promotion. The problems are financial and creative. If Sony is smart, they'll look upon the character's fifty year history to reconsider how the character has been persevered over the years, and a new and improved Spider-Man will hit screens soon. Hopefully, that's not assuming too much. 

SEE ALSO: Read The Awesome Fan Letter 'Game of Thrones' Author George R.R. Martin Sent Marvel When He Was 15

Join the conversation about this story »

Original 'Amazing Spider-Man 2' Script Had A Surprise Twist Ending

0
0

The Amazing Spider-Man

When The Amazing Spider-Man 2 kicked off the summer movie season back in May, it was derided by fans and critics alike, despite making over $200 million at the domestic box office and just over $700 million worldwide. Last week, we reported that screenwriter Roberto Orci has pulled out of The Amazing Spider-Man 3, and that Sony isn't quite sure how to move this franchise forward at this time.

Badass Digest received an early draft of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 script by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, which reveal a number of changes made from this draft to the final product, including a rather surprising alternate ending. Of course, if you haven't seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2 yet, there will be spoilers below, so read on at your own risk.

In the movie, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) retires as a superhero, following the death of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), only to come back after finding a tape of Gwen's commencement speech. The ending in Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman's draft has the same events unfold, but with a surprising twist that provides Peter with the motivation to continue as Spider-Man.

"The finished film has a terrible bit at the end where Peter quits Spider-Man for a bunch of months, and this time passes by in a montage. The same thing happens here! But instead of finding a tape of Gwen's super on-the-nose graduation speech, Peter is approached by... his dad! Yes, Richard Parker shows back up at the end of the script, and he tells Peter he's been watching him for years. He's seen him become Spider-Man and everything. It's Richard who convinces Peter to become Spider-Man again, and in his last scene in the movie he tells Pete 'With great power comes great responsibility,' FINALLY working the famous phrase into this new series."

We also get details about the scenes featuring Mary-Jane Watson, who was played by Shailene Woodley before being cut from the sequel entirely.

"As we all know Shailene Woodley was cast as Mary Jane Watson, shot some days and then was cut from the movie. The original script includes all of the MJ scenes, and she's introduced as the Parker's new next door neighbor. Her dad is an abusive drunk and she's a waitress who builds motorcycles in her spare time. She has a Spider-Man tattoo on her wrist, and she's clearly interested in Peter, who is totally hung up on Gwen. At one point Spider-Man confronts MJ's dad, telling him to lay off the girl. At the end of the script Gwen comes to Peter's house before heading to London; he's gone but she meets the new neighbor. They have a friendly exchange and MJ says that she always attracts dickheads and asks Gwen what her advice is to get a guy like Peter. 'Date a nerd,' Gwen says before heading off to die, basically giving MJ the okay to get with Peter."

The Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson, played by J.K. Simmons in the original Spider-Man trilogy, was also featured in the early script, along with Robbie Robertson.

"JJJ's in the original script, as is Robbie Robertson. We see Peter, who is a student at Empire State University, bring his first Spider-Man pictures to JJJ, who gives him a tour of the Daily Bugle. JJJ complains that the internet is killing the newspaper business; later, Spidey and Electro's first fight send them crashing through the Daily Bugle offices and the printing presses."

Another major difference involves Peter giving his blood to Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), instead of Harry injecting the spider venom, and the Green Goblin suit is given a better explanation.

"In the original script Peter actually gives his blood to Harry Osborn. This is a huge improvement over the finished film, where Harry just injects himself with spider venom. In the original script the Goblin suit is better explained - it isn't for military use but was specifically built in secret for Norman Osborn. When Richard Parker wouldn't give his blood to Osborn (the Parker DNA still being the key to it all), the suit went into Norman's boathouse where Harry finds it."

The death of Gwen Stacy unfolds the same in this draft, although there is one final line delivered by Gwen that wasn't seen in the movie.

"It plays out mostly the same in the original script... but Gwen, back broken, hangs on to life long enough to demand that Peter never give up. Because this is the same character who promptly broke his promise to Captain Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter quits being Spider-Man in the next scene." 

This report also reveals that Rhino (Paul Giamatti) was relegated to a cameo appearance towards the end, and wasn't involved with the truck heist at the beginning of the movie. The young boy in the film, who is seen wearing a Spider-Man costume, standing up to Rhino, wasn't in this draft as well. There is also a one-year gap between Peter and Gwen's high school graduation and the rest of the movie, which better establishes that they are both college students now.

The script also gives more details about Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx), who lives at home with his handicapped mother. After he "dies" in the incident that turned him into Electro, Max sees his mother actually standing up while getting a big payout from OsCorp, which is what sets off his Times Square confrontation with Spider-Man. Dr. Ratha was also supposed to appear in this script, despite being killed in deleted scenes from The Amazing Spider-Man.

What do you think about these new details from The Amazing Spider-Man 2? Would you have liked the movie even better if these details were included? Chime in with your thoughts below.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was released May 2nd, 2014 and stars Andrew Garfield,Emma StoneJamie FoxxDane DeHaanColm FeoreFelicity JonesPaul Giamatti,Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb.

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

Join the conversation about this story »


New Leaked 'Jurassic World' Brochure Reveal Details About The Upcoming Movie

0
0

Jurassic World Brochure front

So, they talked about how bad an idea it is, but Jurassic World finally features a fully-functional dinosaur park. The events of the first film, which killed several people, haven't been acknowledged. The T-Rex that rampaged through San Diego in The Lost World? Not a biggie. So what is this park going to be like? Photos have been spotted of Isla Nublar's Jurassic World that give us a slight peek at what's in store. 

From Reddit (via MTV), we have our first glimpse at a brochure for those daring to tour Jurassic World. Apparently, FedEx is the sponsor signing off on all the merciless dinosaur-on-man death that's going to occur. FedEx – handling your packaging needs, and hoping to watch as a velociraptor tears your face off! 

Jurassic World bracelet
Holy crap, Starbucks is in on this too! So when these bracelets start malfunctioning, trapping Jurassic World visitors in a tight space with a clan of compsognathus, you'll have companies like Samsung to thank. If I could buy the world a Coke, that would be a ton of Coke bottles to throw at these rampaging gallimimus that are about to trample my ass. 

Jurassic World Brochure dinos
Now we're talking. Full-on dino glimpses. They brought back the Tyrannosaur Paddock, because that caused just about NO issues last time. Hopefully the Gentle Giants Petting Zoo doesn't ACTUALLY have a triceratops. Those things can run like crazy and stab you hard with those horns.

Along with the chance to "romp" with the gallimimus by car, this is kind of an encyclopedia of terrible, stupid things to do with dinosaurs. Extra points to the idiot who invented The Scrambler, however, which appears to be some fugazi-level amusement park ride that has nothing to do with dinosaurs. If it comes to sudden-death adventures with a long-extinct creature and getting on something that belongs next to a $5 Tilt-a-Whirl at the local fare, I know what I'm picking. 

Jurassic World more dinos
More rides! Apparently the Gyrosphere allows the Jurassic World people to be able to afford Jimmy Fallon. Oh great. Betting his "instructional video" involves Harrison Ford wearing a silly hat, or Elijah Wood playing Stratego with a dog or something. Maybe he sings. Oh god, maybe he sings! 

Jurassic World back page
Finally, the dinosaurs! It's good to know we're getting some old friends as well as new ones. Getting the vibe this Mosaurus is going to be a big breakout star of this movie. And we haven't gotten nearly enough stegosaurus in these films. Appreciate the warning, which reads, "PLEASE do not tap on the glass, cross barriers, throw anything into the exhibits, make excessive noise, tease or call out to the animals." Basically, if you bring your child to Jurassic World, it's because you hate them and want them to be eaten. 

Jurassic World eats kids on June 12th, 2015. 

SEE ALSO: 'Jurassic World' Director Reveals Bloody New Set Photo

Join the conversation about this story »

Here's How Hasbro Decides Which Toys It Will Turn Into Movies

0
0

bumblebee transformers age of extinction

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" is currently dominating at theaters. 

The Michael Bay-directed sequel is now the top-grossing movie of the year with more than $750 worldwide, and that's only after two weeks of release.

It's one of a few Hasbro brands that has been adapted to the big screen alongside G.I. Joe and Battleship. 

With several more brands set to get the movie treatment in the next few years, we spoke with Hasbro Chief Marketing Officer John Frascotti to find out exactly how the company selects which of its toy lines get adapted to the big screen and how you can possibly turn a board game into a movie.

"We look for those brands that have story and character at their foundation because inevitably for any type of storytelling format, whether it's a movie, a television show, a digital comic ... it has to have great story and great characters at it's foundation," says Frascotti.

Hasbro ToysThat's why Hasbro has chosen brands like Transformers, G.I. Joe, and My Little Pony which have all resonated with audiences for generations. 

All together, the "Transformers" franchise has brought in more than $2.5 billion worldwide. The two "G.I. Joe" movies combined have generated more than $600 million at the box office.

"When you look at brands like Transformers and G.I. Joe they actually have a lot of lore and storytelling behind them already. So, in the case of Transformers, it's a 30-year-old brand and it had a long history of storytelling," said Frascotti. "Very similar, G.I. Joe who was founded in the '60s. Since then there's been a lot of storytelling and development in terms of comic books and television shows and movies and all types of rich storytelling. In those cases, where there's already a lot of storytelling in place, I think the roadmap is a little more evident."

After the success of "Transformers" in 2007, Frascotti says Hasbro continued to pitch other brands while studios began approaching them as well.

According to Reuters, it's low risk strategy for Hasbro. The toy company pays around $1 million to develop script ideas and if a studio wants to go through with a film, Hasbro gets paid back the developing fee. After the film is in theaters, Hasbro reportedly receives 5% of the money a studio makes from theaters.

"We talk to our many relationships in Hollywood about ideas that we have for our brand and we also get approached by many creative stewards for ideas that they have for our brands," says Frascotti. "What's most important; however, is that we work collaboratively once that initial contact is made so the creative process is very much a collaborative process between our brand people and creatives here along with the creatives in Hollywood."

jem hasbro 1980s cartoonSince joining the company in 2008, Frascotti says he can't recall a Hasbro movie idea a studio has turned down. 

Next in line is a live-action adaptation of '80s children television series "Jem" which will be directed by Jon Chu. Hasbro is also working on bringing its popular card game Magic the Gathering to the big screen.

Of course, that doesn't mean the company is just pitching whatever brands come to mind. 

"We're very selective. It's not a shotgun approach," he says. "We don't throw a bunch of things at a wall and see what sticks. We do a lot of creative development ourselves before we even have discussions with third parties." 

Not all of Hasbro's blockbuster ideas have churned out box-office gold. Just look at 2012 board game adaptation "Battleship." Despite a huge cast of characters in Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard, and singer Rihanna along with a well-known game, the $220 million movie (without ad costs) made $300 million at the box office, receiving mostly poor reviews.

While "Battleship" sunk the reality of other board game adaptations for a while, it hasn't halted them all together. Hasbro has plans to bring at least two more of its board games to life: Ouija, with Universal which has continued to get its release date pushed back, and Candy Land at Sony with Adam Sandler. 
candy land

The idea of bringing a board game to life may not seem like a hit movie, but Frascotti points out how inspiration for films can come from just about anywhere. 

"In cases like Ouija for example, what's essential is that there's a brand beneath it that has a lot of potential for storytelling," says Frascotti. "So you have brands like Harry Potter that come from books. You have other brands that are founded in movies like James Bond. You have 'Pirates of the Caribbean' which started out as a theme park ride and you have other properties that come from either comics or brands. 

"It really is a wonderful opportunity to give our fans yet another opportunity to experience the brand in another format," he adds. "Today's generation of consumers expect multi-platform multi-screen opportunities to go deeper in the brands they love." 

SEE ALSO: 'Age of Extinction' was the most difficult "Transformers" movie to make

Join the conversation about this story »

The First Trailer For Disney's Next Animated Movie, 'Big Hero 6'

0
0

big hero 6

Disney has just released the first trailer for its next animated movie, "Big Hero 6."

Unlike previous films, this will be the first animated picture the Mouse House releases from Marvel Studios who brings us live-action versions of its comics to the big screen. 

Based off a comic series of the same name, the movie will take place in San Fransokyo, a hybrid mashup of Tokyo and San Francisco and follow the adventures of Hiro Hamada and his robot.

Here's the official synopsis via Disney:

"'Big Hero 6' is a heartfelt comedy adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tamago, clean freak Wasabi No-Ginger, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion—a cutting-edge robot named Baymax—and transforms the group into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery."

The movie is in theaters November 7.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Hasbro decides which toys it turns into movies

Join the conversation about this story »

Chris Pratt Auditioned For 'Star Trek' And 'Avatar' Before 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'

0
0

Guardians Of The Galaxy Chris Pratt

Between Guardians of the Galaxy and 2015's Jurassic World, Chris Pratt is ready to break out as one of the biggest movie stars in the world. After years of putting in amazing work on the small screen, playing the hilarious Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation, Hollywood is finally realizing his true potential as a leading man. The reality, however, is that this could have happened a while ago - provided that J.J. Abrams and James Cameron actually paid attention to the talent that was right in front of them. 

The most recent issue of Entertainment Weekly features a spotlight interview on Chris Pratt, and in the feature the actor reveals that he has been auditioning for blockbuster roles for a long time, and was among the candidates considered for Avatar (playing Jake Sully - a part that was eventually played by Sam Worthington) and Star Trek (playing the new Captain James Kirk - a part that was eventually played by Chris Pine). So what was it that prevented Pratt from landing the gigs? Said the actor, 

"They said they want somebody that says ‘that thing,’ that ‘It factor’… I walked into that room knowing I did not have that thing, and i walked out thinking I would never have that thing, probably."

While not landing the Avatar and Star Trek roles didn't exactly help Pratt's career, he has still managed to pack some really great feature work into the last few years to pair with his television gig. Choosing to take more "sidekick" type parts, Pratt stole scenes in great movies like MoneyballHer and even The Delivery Man

Now, of course, all of that is changing in a big way. In addition to having both Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World on the horizon, earlier this year Pratt voiced the lead character in the hit The LEGO Movie. Basically, people are getting very used to the idea of Chris Pratt carrying movies - and in no way is that a bad thing. The guy has proven again and again to be incredibly funny and charismatic, and that factor will help boost many films in the future. 

Beyond GuardiansJurassic World and the final season of Parks and Rec, Pratt doesn't have anything firm on his upcoming schedule, but we can expect that bubble to burst very soon. If the latest Marvel Studios film is as successful as everyone expects it to be, Pratt will likely find himself given all kinds of offers for all kinds of different projects. Who knows - maybe he could end up with a part in Star Trek 3 or the Avatar sequels. 

Guardians of the Galaxy will be hitting theaters on August 1st, while Jurassic World is penciled to arrive in theaters on June 12, 2015. 

SEE ALSO: The New 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Trailer Is Awesome

Join the conversation about this story »

Someone Made A Fake 'Batman V Superman' Trailer And It's Pretty Good

0
0

With San Diego Comic Con a week away, fans are expecting a sneak peek at upcoming movies including "Batman V Superman"— so it's no surprise that a "leaked" fan trailer for the film has landed online.

Normally, we'd dismiss fan trailers, but whoever made this went above and beyond to make it look legitimate. The trailer footage is shown as if someone taped it while sitting in a theater to give it that raw, taped-on-your-cell-phone look.

Take a look:

What did I just watch?

The trailer takes footage from "Man of Steel," replaying the warning message that General Zod transmitted to the entire world about Superman's alien powers. It only makes sense that the Caped Crusader also saw the footage and it would be a possible way to pit the superheroes against one another.

How you know it's not real:

The trailer opens with the Legendary logo which helped bring "The Dark Knight" trilogy to life under director Christopher Nolan. 

Legendary recently ended its eight-year partnership with Warner Bros. last year. In doing so, the company gave up any rights on "Batman V Superman" in order to keep a stake in Nolan's next film Instellar which is being co-produced by Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. 

When will we get a real teaser trailer for "Batman V Superman"?

The movie isn't out until 2016, but since Warner Bros. is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Dark Knight, we would be surprised if something doesn't come out of SDCC. 

If we do receive some news, we'll most likely hear it Saturday, July 26 during one of the Warner Bros. panels.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Hasbro decides which toys it will turn into movies

Join the conversation about this story »

Viewing all 8368 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images