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Tag: cinema

  • Weekend Box Office: The Fifth Estate Fails Miserably

    Nothing changed this past weekend, in regards to the top two spots as Gravity and Captain Phillips both held onto their first and second position.

    Probably the biggest shock / surprise of the weekend was the 8th place finish for the Wikileaks movie, The Fifth Estate. To put this into perspective for you, it debuted with a per-screen average nearly equal to Prisoners, a film in its FIFTH week of release. Another interesting nugget is that Machete Kills has already fallen off, just a week after its release.

    You can peruse the weekend box office numbers below:

    1.) Gravity – $31 M
    2.) Captain Phillips – $17.3 M
    3.) Carrie – $17 M
    4.) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – $10.1 M
    5.) Escape Plan – $9.8 M
    6.) Prisoners – $2 M
    7.) Enough Said – $1.8 M
    8.) The Fifth Estate – $1.7 M
    9.) Runner Runner – $1.6 M
    10.) Insidious: Chapter 2 – $1.5 M

    This coming weekend we get Ridley Scott and writer Cormac McCarthy’s all-star thriller “The Counselor” as well as “Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa”.

    Are you planning on seeing one of the new releases this coming weekend? Let us know in the comment area below.

    (Lead image via Screen Robot)

  • “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” Gets A New International Trailer

    Chris Pine, probably better known as Captain Kirk these days, is set to step into the roll made famous by Harrison Ford, in the new film “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”.

    The new international trailer we see Ryan during his first covert mission, where he’s looking to thwart a terrorist plot looking to collapse the US economy. Ryan is recruited by a CIA handler, played by Kevin Costner, to lead the mission to go after the Russian criminal, played by Kenneth Branagh, who has also just taking his fiancée hostage. You can check the trailer out for yourself below:

    Below is the official synopsis for the film:

    “Based on the character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, “Jack Ryan” is a global action thriller set in the present day. This original story follows a young Jack (Chris Pine) as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot. The story follows him from 9/11, through his tour of duty in Afghanistan, which scarred him forever, and into his early days in the Financial Intelligence Unit of the modern CIA where he becomes an analyst, under the guardianship of his handler, Harper (Kevin Costner). When Ryan believes he’s uncovered a Russian plot to collapse the United States economy, he goes from being an analyst to becoming a spy and must fight to save his own life and those of countless others, while also trying to protect the thing that’s more important to him than anything, his relationship with his fiancée Cathy (Keira Knightley).”

    “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” was directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh, Colm Feore, and David Paymer among others.

    The film is slated to hit theaters on Christmas Day.

    (Lead image via PunchDrunkCritics)

  • “The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty” International Trailer Now Online

    One movie opening later this year that is starting to be talking about is “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. The film centers on an underachieving office worker, played by Ben Stiller, who goes to great lengths in his mind to catch the attention of a fellow co-worker, Kristen Wiig.

    In the trailer below we see Walter gets assigned to work on the final issue of Life Magazine, and goes on a search for a missing photo negative. In his quest for the long-lost photo, he seemingly finds himself.

    Below is the films official synopsis.

    “Walter Mitty, a timid accountant with an overprotective mother, has elaborate daydreams of himself as the hero of great adventures. His dreams come to life when he meets a mysterious woman who gives him a little black book that supposedly contains the location of the Dutch crown jewels that we hidden during World War II, and Walter finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy.”

    “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is an adaptation of James Thurber’s classic story of the same name. The film is slated to hit theaters on Christmas Day.

    (Lead image via Billboard)

  • Hercules: The Legend Begins Trailer Now Online

    Following the trend of everything else in Hollywood these days, we’re now slated for two Hercules movies in 2014. One is a big budget film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and the other is Hercules: The Legend Begins starring a guy from Twilight. Unfortunately we’ll be talking about the latter of the two.

    Hercules: The Legend Begins stars Kellan Lutz as the Greek demigod and was directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2). The film seems to be an ultra-stylized, 300-ish, re-imaging of the classic story. You can check out the three-minute long preview for yourself below:

    You can read the films official synopsis below:

    “In Ancient Greece 1200 B.C., a queen succumbs to the lust of Zeus to bear a son promised to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king and restore peace to a land in hardship. But this prince, Hercules, knows nothing of his real identity or his destiny. He desires only one thing: the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete, who has been promised to his own brother. When Hercules learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: to flee with his true love or to fulfill his destiny and become the true hero of his time. The story behind one of the greatest myths is revealed in this action-packed epic — a tale of love, sacrifice and the strength of the human spirit.”

    Hercules: The Legend Begins is slated to hit theaters sometime in 2014, though it’s likely to not see a wide-release.

    (Lead image via GeekTyrant)

  • Gravity Can’t Be Held Down At The Weekend Box Office

    Overall it was a strong weekend for the adults, as for the second weekend in a row, Alfonso Cuaron’s space drama, Gravity, takes the number one spot at the box office followed by Tom Hanks’ high sea drama Captain Phillips.

    Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony Pictures, tells Sacbee.comWe think the success of ‘Gravity’ will also bode well for ‘Captain Phillips … this is the extraordinary kind of film that we think audiences will flock to over the next several months moving forward.” It’ll be interesting to see if Captain Phillips can make up some ground on Gravity over the next few weeks.

    The only other new release was Machete Kills, which earned a lowly $3.8 million, which is far less the predecessor, 2010’s Machete which came in at $11.4 millions it’s first weekend. It feels as though Machete Kills could make a killing (no pun intended) when it hits Blu-Ray and Redbox though.

    You can check out the full top-ten below:

    1.) Gravity – $44.3 million
    2.) Captain Phillips – $26 million
    3.) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – $14.2 million
    4.) Machete Kills – $3.8 million
    5.) Runner Runner – $3.7 million
    6.) Prisoners – $3.7 million
    7.) Insidious: Chapter 2 – $2.6 million
    8.) Rush – $2.4 million
    9.) Don Jon – $2.3 million
    10.) Baggage Claim – $2 million

    This sees the following films hitting your local multiplex:

    Carrie
    The Fifth Estate
    12 Years a Slave
    Escape Plan
    All Is Lost
    Kill Your Darlings

    Do you plans to see any of the above titles?

    (Main image via YouTube)

  • The Avengers: Age Of Ultron Comic-Con Teaser Trailer

    The Avengers: Age Of Ultron Comic-Con Teaser Trailer

    This past summer Joss Whedon surprised fans when he revealed the title of the sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers, “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”. He also upped the ante for the fans as he also unveiled very pre-teaser trailer. You can check out the trailer for yourself below:

    http://youtu.be/CJq28hCsH2s

    Below is a synopsis of the film below:

    “The film reunites the mighty Avengers when they have to go against an advanced high-tech security system gone wrong called Ultron (voiced by James Spader,) which has taken over the government and looks to wipe out the human race. Joining the Avengers are two new mutants, a silver-haired speedster named Quicksilver (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his sister, a magical mistress named Scarlet Witch (played by Elizabeth Olsen).”

    The Avengers: Age of Ultron is slated to hit theatres on May 1, 2015.

  • ‘Jurassic Park 4’ Renamed To ‘Jurassic World’, Hits Theaters In June 2015

    Universal Pictures announced yesterday that it will release Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic World” (re-titled from “Jurassic Park 4”) on Friday, June 12, 2015, in 3D.

    The film is set to be directed by “Safety Not Guaranteed” helmer, Colin Trevorrow. The screenplay was co-written by Trevorrow and Derek Connolly.

    Aint It Cool points ot that the title confirms that this will likely be a reboot of sorts, and not just a sequel. They go on to say that it will likely be a “bigger, badder version of JURASSIC PARK”.

    The first three films in the Jurassic Park series made over $1.9 billion at the box office, with this year’s 3D-release of the original included in that figure.

    At the time of this writing no actors/actresses are rumored, and no other film is set to be released during that weekend in 2015.

    For your viewing pleasure, you can check out the trailer for Jurassic Park below:

  • Jared Leto’s “Mr. Nobody” Sci-Fi Drama Trailer Released

    A new trailer has been released for Mr. Nobody, a mind-bending sci-fi drama starring Jared Leto.

    The film takes place in the future where most of the population are essentially immortal. Leto stars as a main who believes he’s only 34 years-old, when in reality he’s a 120-year-old John Doe suffering from dementia. The movie shows random flashbacks from various points in his life, some more clouded than others.

    You can check out the trailer for yourself below:

    You can read the official synopsis of Mr. Nobody below:

    “In this sprawling sci-fi epic, the last mortal in a world of immortals reviews his life at age 120, considering multiple diverging realities that spring from a pivotal moment on a train platform.”

    Mr. Nobody was directed by Jaco Van Dormael and also stars Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger, Linh Dan Pham, Rhys Ifans and Juno Temple. The film will hit iTunes / VOD on September 26, 2013, followed by a theatrical run on November 1, 2013.

    Let us know your thoughts of the trailer in the comments section below.

  • Dakota Fanning transitions into a young lady

    If you are an avid chick flick fan like myself, you probably remember Dakota Fanning as Ray, from her role in Uptown Girls in 2003, or her role in War of the Worlds in 2005. This probably depends on whatever your movie genre preference.
    (image)
    Fanning, as Ray. (2003, Uptown Girls) Photo from International Movie Database.
    Look familiar?

    Now 19-year-old Dakota Fanning is showing off her more mature self, making an appearance at the 2013 Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo Del Cinema, on Saturday, August 31 in Venice, Italy. Dakota was wearing a ravishing midnight ball gown at the premiere for her role as Dena Brauer in Night Moves. Appearing with director Kelly Reichardt and her co-star, Jesse Eisenberg. Fanning wore a spectacular Elie Saab gown and Jimmy Choo shoes on the red carpet.

    Earlier on Saturday, Reichardt, Eisenberg and Fanning were out for the film’s photo call held at the Palazzo de Casino. This time, Dakota dressed in an Alexander McQueen double-layered-skirt dress with eye-catching embroidery, and Rupert Sanderson heels.

    Fanning was known for being so talented at such a young age, and taking challenging roles or that were out-of-the-box. Not just for the money. Now seeing her all grown up, Fanning viewers find it awkward seeing her, and how much she has changed from a youthful child into a young lady, in a good way.

    Her newest movie, Night Moves, has another upcoming preview date on September 8 at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. Fanning also has two upcoming American films, The Last of Robin Hood and Every Secret Thing, which currently have no specific release dates in the U.S. One upcoming foreign film, Effie Gray, which is due to release in October 2013 in the UK.

    If you’re like me, you will look forward to further appearances. Where some Hollywood children grow up, sometimes too fast and become not so “classy.” Fanning continues to show us that she is growing up beautifully and can hold her own.

  • Now Streaming: Rare Hitchcock Film “The White Shadow”

    Now Streaming: Rare Hitchcock Film “The White Shadow”

    Thanks to the efforts of the National Film Preservation Foundation, you can now watch a recently-recovered mid-twenties Alfred Hitchcock film for free online.

    Well, kind of and kind of.

    Hitchcock is not the credited director of the film, called The White Shadow. That honor goes to Graham Cutts, a popular British director of the era. Hitchcock worked with Cutts on the film, and is the writer, assistant director, editor, and production designer of the 1924 drama.

    And the film is incomplete. All that survived were 3 of 6 reels, making for a 42-minute running time. Still, a lot of it is there and it is definitely worth a view for any Hitchcock fans or simply fans of classic cinema.

    Originally made in six weeks as a vehicle for star-of-the-times Betty Compson, The White Shadow follows the success of 1923’s Woman to Woman. It didn’t receive the same box-office take, however. From the NFPF:

    “Dazzled by their own success, producers Michael Balcon and Victor Saville rushed a second Compson picture into production — The White Shadow — and whisked it to theaters with a conspicuously clunky advertising tag: ‘The same Star, Producer, Author, Hero, Cameraman, Scenic Artist, Staff, Studio, Renting Company as Woman to Woman.’ It also had the same Paris setting, and again Hitchcock’s scenario was based on a work by Michael Morton, this time his unpublished novel Children of Chance. The box-office results were definitely not the same, however: ‘It was as big a flop,’ Balcon wrote in his memoir, ‘as Woman to Woman had been a success.’ This notwithstanding, plans proceeded for three more Cutts-Hitchcock pictures, commencing with The Passionate Adventure in 1924.”

    Thought to be lost, the film was discovered in August 2011 among a bunch of nitrate prints which were said to have been left at the New Zealand Film Archive in 1989.

    You can watch the film on the NFPF site.

    [h/t The Verge]

  • Alexa Vega, Spy Kids Star, Gets Divorce, Posts Revealing Pic

    Alexa Vega, the star of “Repo! The Genetic Opera” and several films in the “Spy Kids” franchise apparently got married to 36-year-old producer Sean Covel when I wasn’t looking. Now, less than two years after tying the marital knot, the two are calling it quits. Although neither Vega, 23, nor Covel have commented on the split, the boys and girls working behind-the-scenes at TMZ managed to get their hands on a copy of the court documents.

    According to the paperwork the “Sleepover” actress recently filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the couple sited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. The documents also state the two decided to separate on March 5th, 2012, which means they’ve spent several months apart before making their decision official. Honestly, it’s a little hard to imagine Vega being old enough to get married, as I still toss in the third “Spy Kids” flick from time-to-time as background noise. And, no, I’m not ashamed to admit it.

    In other Vega news, the actress was recently cast in director Robert Rodriguez’ “Machete Kills”, the sequel to the surprisingly successful action epic “Machete”. Alexa will reported portray a character named Killjoy in the upcoming flick. If you’re curious to see the actress dressed as the curvy vixen, direct your attention to the photo below. Again, it’s hard to believe this is the same girl from “Spy Kids”. Stuff like this makes me feel old.

    Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of love to be found for Alexa Vega on Twitter, most of which are centered around her recent Instagram post. You can check out some reactions to both the divorce and the aforementioned Instagram photograph by taking a look at the posts below. Try not to stare too long at Vega’s bikini pic, especially if you’re at work.

    (image)

  • Sherman Hemsley: Five Obscure Movies You May Have Missed

    Sherman’s Hemsley’s death has saddened me, and I’m usually not one to get overly emotional when a celebrity passes away. However, I spent a large portion of my childhood watching television sitcoms, including “The Jeffersons”. Although a lot of the humor went straight over my head as a kid — I never could understand why George was so upset about Tom and Helen Willis’ marriage — I was still thoroughly amused by Hemsley’s wild antics. My love of the actor’s work carried over into my budding obsession with film, which leads us to the live trailers you see below.

    What a lot of people don’t realize is that Hemsley worked steadily in cinema before and after his stint on the groundbreaking sitcom. Although some of these movies are better left undiscovered, Hemsley always managed to entertain, even when the material was working against him. If I told you how many times I’ve seen his 1987 horror/comedy “Ghost Fever”, you’d probably conclude that I have wasted a fair amount of my life on subpar motion pictures.

    I know a lot of people may think I’m attempting to be funny by including some of these titles on my list, but, in all honesty, I love each and every one of them. In fact, I own quite a few on VHS (yes, VHS), though I’ll refrain from disclosing which movies are in my collection. I’ll let you puzzle over that one while you’re spending a small chunk of your morning revisiting some wonky efforts featuring the talented Sherman Hemsley.

    Keep in mind that our hero may not be in featured in the trailers you see below, but I can assure you that he’s in there somewhere. I’ve seen all of these movies several times over (stop laughing), and I seriously doubt I would have bothered with them had Hemsley not been involved. So kick back, relax, and check out some of the movies you may have missed from the talented actor’s prolific career. He will be sorely missed.

    Ghost Fever (1987)

    Club Fed (1990)

    Combat High (1986)

    Mr. Nanny (1993)

    Love at First Bite (1979)

  • Cybill Shepherd Signs on for Marriage Number Three

    Cybill Shepherd, an accomplished actress with a string of hit television programs under her belt, once said that she thought she’d never marry again. Welcome to the summer of 2012, which finds the “Moonlighting” star preparing to walk down the proverbial aisle with therapist Andrei Nikolajevic. It’s always kind of funny how things turn out.

    “He was a jeweler. Now, he’s a psychologist. He’s Serbian,” she said of her future husband. Regarding the proposal, she added, “It was very romantic and on one knee. I never thought I’d get married again.” And here you thought I was making that last part up. Shame on you.

    Shepherd, in case you don’t recall, was previously married to David Ford and Bruce Oppenheim. From these marriages, “The L Word” star produced three children. Looking at photos of Cybill today, it’s hard to believe she’s really 62 years-old.

    Unfamiliar with the actress’ work? Have a look at some trailers for movies featuring Shepherd that come highly recommended from yours truly. Do keep in mind, however, that I am a huge Steven Seagal fan, so my opinion on anything cinematic should be taken with a grain of salt. I just wanted to put that out there in case you claim my recommendations suck. Because, you know, most of the time, they do. I apologize in advance if you hate ’em.

    Image provided courtesy of Broadway World

    The Last Picture Show

    Taxi Driver

    Chances Are

    Once Upon a Crime

    Hard Luck

  • Gangster Squad Scene Removed in the Wake of Colorado Shooting

    “Gangster Squad’ scene depicting a group of gun-totting criminals bursting into a theater and shooting movie-goers has been removed from the version scheduled to arrive this fall. Director Ruben Fleischer’s period drama, which stars Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Giovanni Ribisi, Sean Penn, and Josh Brolin, explores “LAPD’s fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.” To replace the missing footage, Warner Bros. is ordering reshoots.

    The scene in question is also shown in the trailer for the flick, which has been pulled following the events at an Aurora, Colorado showing of the “The Dark Knight Rises”. According to Variety, a few additional changes will be made to the film before its theatrical bow, though it’s unclear whether or not the film will be delayed from its September 7th release date.

    MTV is reporting that several television networks are pulling episodes from popular programs that may bear a striking resemblance to last week’s massacre. Although some critics on Twitter are complaining about such behavior, it is, perhaps, a little too soon for some people to see this sort of violence depicted on-screen. Honestly, it’s probably the right thing to do, though it sucks that someone’s vision has to be altered thanks to the actions of one lunatic.

    If you’re at all interested in reading what people think of the changes being made to “Gangster Squad”, check out some of the Twitter reactions embedded below. And while I don’t necessarily agree with a lot of things people are saying on the subject, I do understand how these sort of changes can rub some folks the wrong way.

  • Kaitlyn Leeb Wants You to Know She Doesn’t Have Three Breasts

    Kaitlyn Leeb might want to get used to people staring at her chest. After her turn in director Len Wiseman’s remake of the Paul Verhoeven sci-fi classic “Total Recall”, she’s probably going to get a lot of strange looks and peculiar questions. Which, I guess, is to be expected from the moviegoing masses, as most people seem to have a hard time not treating actors like their characters. As soon as they come face-to-face with an actress who had three breasts in a film they saw on the big screen, they’re immediately going to start eyeballing her cleavage.

    If you walk away from this article having learned one simple lesson, let it be this: never believe the things you see in movies. It’s a very good rule of thumb to live by, especially if you’re into motion pictures which feature women with three breasts. Although logic and common sense would dictate that Leeb doesn’t have the extra equipment, that hasn’t stopped gawkers and fans from making uncomfortable inquiries about her chest.

    “There were a bunch of people at Comic-Con asking if I had surgery for the third one. Others thought that the two on the side were real,” Leeb explained. “I guess that’s the one thing that bothers me the most is that they think I’m out there prancing around Comic-Con with my breasts out. They really are not mine.”

    Fans of B-movies and low-budget, direct-to-video cinema might be familiar with some of Leeb’s previous work. In addition to starring in the mixed martial arts prison flick “Locked Down”, she was menaced by inbred mutant hillbillies in the straight-to-DVD sequel “Wrong Turn 4”. Honestly, fending off ugly, foul-smelling weirdos in the latest installment of the “Wrong Turn” series probably helped her prepare for her stint at Comic-Con.

    “It feels amazing that you’re recognized,” the actress formerly known as Kaitlyn Wong said. “It’s surreal, the past couple of days. It’s all new and exciting.” Her’s hoping she has the same winning attitude when someone tries to investigate the truth behind her three breasts first-hand.

    Curious to see what all the fuss is about? Take a look at the image embedded below. It might not be safe for work, so tell everyone to turn their heads while you have a look-see.

    (image)

  • Emma Watson to Star in Fifty Shades of Grey?

    Emma Watson, the actress who stole many a geek’s heart with her turn as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” franchise, is apparently looking to shed her nice girl image by taking the lead role in “Fifty Shades of Grey”. If you’re unfamiliar with the book and its controversial content, then you may not fully understand why Watson’s involvement with the flick has caused numerous eyebrows to raise in curiosity. Although the role may completely change the public’s perception of her acting abilities, her hardcore fans may not be ready for all of that BDSM.

    Slowly but surely, Watson is moving away from the sort of stuff that put her on the map. In addition to starring in the cinematic adaptation of “Perks of Being a Wallflower”, she will also take a turn in both Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah” and “The End of the World”. Although these roles are a little edgier than what we’re used to from Watson, seeing her portray Anastasia Steele would certainly be a total shock to the system.

    Of course, my thoughts on the subject have been tainted by my adoration of the “Harry Potter” series. I’m sure that’s precisely the sort of thing Watson wants to get away from right now. Practically her entire childhood was devoted to the life and times of Hermione Granger, so it would only make sense that she would want to distance herself from that role as an adult. Still, seeing Watson in bondage would just be freaking weird.

    Below you can find some Twitter reactions to the casting rumor. Keep in mind that nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, which means she could completely bail on the project in a matter of hours. However, don’t let this derail your enjoyment of these 140-character responses.

  • Dark Knight Rises Brings in an Estimated $160 Million in Ticket Sales

    “Dark Knight Rises”, the last installment of director Christopher Nolan’s epic big-budget trilogy, reportedly enjoyed more than $160 million in ticket sales over the weekend. As a result, the film is now considered to have the third highest-grossing debut ever, falling behind Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” and the last entry in the “Harry Potter” series. What’s particularly cool about this feat is that it was accomplished without the assistance of 3D ticket prices, proving once again that movie-goers don’t need expensive gimmicks to get them into theaters.

    The previous entry in the series, 2008’s “The Dark Knight”, opened with $158 million in domestic ticket sales, which helped it to become one of the few films in existence to cross the $1 billion mark in worldwide sales. “Batman Begins”, meanwhile, opened with almost $50 million when it arrived in theaters back in 2005.

    Of course, the $160 million is considered an estimate, since Warner Bros. and other major Hollywood studios have not yet released box office figures in consideration of last week’s shooting in Aurora, Colorado. According to the Los Angeles Times, these numbers come from anonymous industry insiders, and should not be considered fact until the company has confirmed the results. That being said, I’m sure the number isn’t too far off the mark.

    Despite the tragedy at the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises”, people still turned out in droves to check out the flick. Kristina Hershey, manager of Entertainment Cinema in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, said attendance has been surprisingly brisk. “We’ve had a handful of customers ask if we’re checking the emergency doors,” she explained. “I don’t think it’s hindering a lot of people here from going to the movies.”

    Overseas, business has been good, as well. The film enjoyed $80 million in ticket sales from 17 foreign markets, including the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia. Next week, the movie will expand to 57 different territories, though Italy and China will have to wait a little longer for their opportunity to screen Batman’s latest adventure.

    Paul Glantz, the chairman of Emagine Entertainment, seemed to think that most customers believe the Colorado shooting to be an isolated incident. “I think there was a perception among our guests that they weren’t going to allow the horrific act of one deranged individual stop them from living their lives.”

  • Box Office Results on Hold Following Colorado Shooting

    Box office results are being put on hold for the moment following the tragic shooting at a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado, a decision supported by the majority of Hollywood studios. Monday mornings are usually when movie-crazed individuals such as myself ravenously pour over figures in an attempt to see which motion picture dominated ticket sales over the weekend. However, given the events surrounding Christopher Nolan’s superhero epic, worrying about money seems a bit trivial at this point in time.

    The Associated Press reports that Sony, Fox, Disney, Universal, Fox, and Lionsgate have all joined Warner Bros. in keeping last weekend’s box office results from the public eye out of respect for the victims of the Colorado shooting. Although executives at Paramount have not said whether they intend to do the same, one can only imagine the backlash the company would receive if it decided to reveal totals when everyone else is choosing to remain silent.

    Of course, the decision to officially withhold the results hasn’t stopped others from speculating about the amount of money “The Dark Knight Rises” brought in over the past three days. Trade publications such as Variety and Hollywood Reporter stated Nolan’s trilogy-ending entry brought in anywhere from $75 million and $77 million on Friday alone. Midnight screenings across the country reportedly brought in $30.6 million. Analysts believe the flick could give be on track to overpower Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” as the highest-grossing film of the summer.

    The shooting in Aurora has impacted movie fans across the globe. In addition to canceling the film’s premiere in Paris, Warner Bros. decided to cancel Batman-related events in Mexico City and Tokyo. Additionally, the studio has opted to remove the trailer for the Ryan Gosling action flick “Gangster Squad” from theaters due to the gun-related violence contained within the clip.

    Box office results are expected to be released later in the day.

  • Manos: The Hands of Fate Video Game Coming to iOS

    Ask any film nerd with a penchant for B-movie tomfoolery about the worst movie they’ve ever seen and, chances are, they’ll fire back with “Manos: The Hands of Fate”. Written and directed by Harold P. Warren, the film follows a group of individuals who stumble across a group of devil-worshipping lunatics lead by a guy called The Master and his faithful sidekick, Togor. Shot for $19,000 in just under two months, it’s easy to see why the film is hated by so many people. It rarely makes sense, and when it does, you’re still left with tons of unanswered questions.

    That being said, the film has its fans, and I am one of them. Director Quentin Tarantino says “Manos” is his favorite comedy, and actually owns one of the few 35mm prints thought to be in existence. The folks over at FreakZoneGames are apparently fans of the movie, as well. In fact, so devoted are they to this cinematic misfire that they’ve crafted their own 8-bit retro platformer, which is currently scheduled to arrive on iOS on July 26. If their endeavor is well-received, the designers intend to port the game to Android and Xbox Live, as well.

    Here’s a synopsis for the flick, courtesy of IMDb:

    A family driving through a small town gets lost and winds up at a backwoods shack managed by Torgo, who takes care of it while The Master is away. The Master worships Manos, an evil deity, and he also wears a neat cape. When Torgo lets the family stay, The Master awakens and does mean stuff like burning off Torgo’s hand and sicking his dog on the family pet. Meanwhile, The Master’s wives wrestle for his favor.

    Now that you’re up to speed with what the movie is supposed to be about, you can enjoy the description of the game, which comes from the FreakZoneGames YouTube channel:

    The Hands of Fate is an homage to the great games you remember from your childhood! Remember how every film and cartoon had it’s own platform game adaptation? When every man, woman, child, animal and inanimate object were out to get your character? When the streets were filled with bats, ghosts and Frankenstein monsters? MANOS will take you back to the fantastically absurd games of the past!

    Lost on their vacation, Mike and his family have wandered the desert trying to find a place to stay, only to wind up in the haunted Valley Lodge. Maintained by Torgo, an unusual man/satyr who “takes care of the place while The Master is away”, the hotel is swimming with paranormal activity which Mike has to brave through to find his now missing family. Who is The Master, and what does he want with Mike’s family? Armed with his trusty revolver, Mike will have to wander the haunted halls, venture out into the desert, uncover a dark temple and battle the forces of darkness to find out!

    When you’re ready to see the game in action, take a peek at the video embedded below. For those of you out there with roughly 70 minutes to waste on a poorly-constructed motion picture, the entire audio/visual experience known as “Manos: The Hands of Fate” has been included, as well. Unless you’re a diehard fan of cheap, low rent motion pictures crafted during the mid-60’s, I’d probably skip this one entirely.

  • Colorado Shooting: Movie Industry Responds, 911 Calls Released

    Colorado shooting: As police continue to investigate the tragedy that took place at a Colorado movie theater during a midnight screening of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises”, the movie industry has begun issuing statements regarding the incident. Additionally, officials have released the 911 calls, which, I might add, are not for those with weak stomachs. Hearing the panic and fear in these callers’ voices is nothing short of heart-wrenching.

    Warner Bros., the studio who bankrolled and released latest Batman endeavor, has issued a statement regarding the shooting. “Warner Bros. and the filmmakers are deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident,” the company wrote. “We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to the victims, their loved ones and those affected by this tragedy.”

    Dan Fellman, head of distribution for the studio, said, “Everybody is very saddened by the event. We were obviously looking for a very happy occasion for us. It’s a difficult way to begin. We’re just more concerned now with the well-being of those that were injured, of course.”

    Neither Christopher Nolan nor the film’s stars have been reached for comment. However, I suspect that some sort of joint statement will be issued before too long.

    Cinemark, the company which owns the theater where the shooting took place, said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and loved ones, our employees, and the Aurora community. We are grateful for the quick and professional reaction of all local law enforcement and emergency responders. Cinemark is working closely with the Aurora Police Department and local law enforcement.”

    The killing spree perpetrated by suspect James Holmes has shocked the entire nation; even those with no personal ties to the incident have felt the emotional impact of this impossibly unfortunate scenario. All these peopled wanted to do was sit down and watch a movie, an event that is usually associated with happiness. That’s something we can all relate to, I think.

    If you’re curious to hear some snippets from the 911 calls, the video is embedded below. Again, WebProNews offers its condolences to the victims and their families.

  • Dark Knight Rises: Twitter Reacts to Colorado Shooting

    The Dark Knight Rises, the last chapter in Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy, enjoyed a number of sold-out midnight shows across the country, though one Colorado screening ended in tragedy when a man wearing a gas mask entered the theater and opened fire on those in attendance. When James Holmes’ shooting spree came to an end, 14 people had lost their lives and 50 were injured, including a 6 year-old child. All they wanted to do was watch a movie.

    Roughly thirty minutes into the feature, Holmes entered the theater through the exit door. “The suspect throws tear gas in the air, and as the tear gas appears he started shooting,” explained Lamar Lane, who was watching the flick with his brother. “It was very hard to breathe. I told my brother to take cover. It took awhile. I started seeing flashes and screaming, I just saw blood and people yelling and a quick glimpse of the guy who had a gas mask on. I was pushed out. There was chaos, we started running.”

    Holmes proceeded to open fire on anybody and everybody, shooting people at random as the movie played on. Those who attempted to flee the scene were systematically gunned down for their efforts. According to reports, the reign of terror lasted around fifteen minutes, after which police found the suspect standing near his car. Holmes claimed that he “may” have explosives in his car and at his apartment. Although authorities did not find anything in the parking lot, they have confirmed that additional weaponry was found at his place of residence.

    The tragedy has prompted President Obama to issue a statement. “Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded.”

    I honestly cannot express my sadness enough. It’s actually kind of hard to wrap your head around it. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives attempting to watch a movie they’d waited for years to see. To those who were injured in the shooting, I wish you nothing but speedy recoveries. Below you can find some Twitter reactions to this senseless act. As you head into the weekend, try to keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers.