We’re just a little over a month away from the start of production on Star Wars Episode VII, and news has still been very light on the film’s front. While the worst kept secret in Hollywood right now is that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher are all returning to a galaxy far, far away, the only thing we know for sure right now is that J.J. Abrams is directing the film, off a script he co-wrote with Lawrence Kasdan, the man behind Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and that John Williams is returning to score the new trilogy. But now it looks like we have our second bit of official casting news, the first being the return of R2D2, which was announced last year.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Peter Mayhew, the man who brought everyone’s favorite Wookie, Chewbacca, to life in four of the Star Wars films to date is returning once again for Episode VII. This is certainly great news, especially with rumors that Mayhew’s health may have hindered him from returning to the role. This is coming off the news a few days ago that Disney CEO, Alan Horn, revealed that Episode VII has already begun filming, and that while all the casting isn’t finished, they’ve got the main cast members locked in.
The air of secrecy around this film is incredible, and while the film is likely only shooting some second unit footage, it’s amazing to think that the film has begun quietly shooting at all without any real fanfare. With the start of the official production being May 14, 2014, we should be hearing more official casting news soon. Maybe on May 4, known as Star Wars Day around the world. It would be a great time to release news in bulk, and take the world by storm. Star Wars Episode VII is currently set for December 18, 2015.
This past weekend, Marvel Studios released the ninth film in their ever growing cinematic universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which saw Chris Evans returning for the third time as Steven Rogers, the first Avenger, in a battle will forever change the MCU forever. The film ended up breaking opening weekend box office records for April, making $96.2 million, so it shouldn’t be surprising that Marvel has already set the date for Captain America 3, which they announced today. Marvel announced the film on their website today, stating that the film would open on May 6, 2016. Here’s the official press release:
Following the record-breaking premiere of Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” this past weekend, the First Avenger will jump into his next big screen solo adventure in just a little more than two years on May 6, 2016!
Before the untitled “Captain America 3” hits theaters, though, fans can next see Cap when he joins the rest of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes once more in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015!
While that’s all we can tell you about Captain America’s next outing at the moment, True Believers, you can get your tickets at your nearest theater to experience “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” all over again, and for the latest news on the Fighting Avenger as it breaks stay tuned to Marvel.com, follow @CaptainAmerica on Twitter and like Captain America on Facebook!
What’s interesting is that this now officially sets the film against WB’s sequel to Man of Steel, Batman vs. Superman, which stars Henry Cavill, who returns as Superman, with Ben Affleck as Batman, and Gal Gaddot as Wonder Woman. It’ll be interesting to see if WB will blink and now shift their release date, because they can play chicken all they want, but pitting these two films against each other will hurt both films, and neither studio wants that.
But it’s great to know Marvel is ready to move forward with the third Captain America movie. They have been working on the script since last year, and the Russo Brothers, who directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, are already set to return, with Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie, and Sebastian Stan all set to return for the film. The for now untitled Captain America 3 is set for release on May 6, 2016. Are you excited for Captain America 3?
We were invited to a pre-launch event in Hollywood on March 2nd, where we got a brief demo of the upcoming FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff mobile game from TinyCo and Fox Digital Entertainment.
FAMILY GUY: The Quest For Stuff is now available on the Apple App store and Google Play store. The game features all-new, original content written and voiced by FAMILY GUY talent updated regularly to play off current events, pop culture and the show’s 200+ episode catalogue.
Peter and Ernie The Giant Chicken have gotten into another epic battle. As a result of their fight, Quahog has been destroyed and chaos ensued. It’s the player’s job to rebuild the town.
With the town of Quahog in ruins, you need to help Peter rally all your favorite FAMILY GUY characters (even Meg) to rebuild the town and restore order. Your actions can trigger events that affect the entire town, and even the world. Stop alien invasions, religious cults and more calamities from further destroying Quahog!
● Help Peter realize his lifelong dream of becoming a pirate
● Quagmire searches for the fabled Gold Digger Island
● Travel through the multiverse with Stewie and Brian
● Get revenge on the Giant Chicken
● Survive Quahog’s Running of the Bulls thanks to Mayor West
As you venture through Quahog, you’ll unlock bonus character outfits and interact with all your favorite characters (with some celebrity cameos). Stop waiting a whole week for new FAMILY GUY jokes – get your daily FAMILY GUY fix on your mobile device.
Hands-on Game Review by Richard Lau – Media Correspondent
The game starts after Peter and Ernie the giant chicken get into another one of their infamous fights. Now with Quahog destroyed the game starts with us helping Peter rebuild the town, along the way other iconic characters from Family Guy will come along and help. As the game progresses you will be able to unlock special abilities and will be asked to perform certain tasks to advance in the game.
The version that I was able to play was still in BETA so completing the different tasks was very simple and quick by hitting the fast forward button provided. I do assume that once it officially goes live the same task that I played will maybe take a few minutes to perform or possibly a few hours. Game play was very quick and easy to pick up, I am not the best with most games at first but I quickly picked it up, maneuvering around Quahog and learning how to help the different characters advance by helping them perform their task(s) at hand for you to advance in the game. I do not want to divulge too much fun information about this game but apparently I was the first to unlock Glenn Quagmire at the launch party. Giggity. To me this game will make you feel like your one of its citizens interacting and helping rebuild the town of Quahog.
TinyCo. says that Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff will keep players busy for at least the next 9 months if not more. They are also working closely with Fox, Family Guy writers and cast to make this the most unbelievably addicting game to any Family Guy fanatic.
I am looking forward to downloading this game on to my iPad and play it on April 10th. A nice surprise is that Buzz Killington does appear, but only once so keep a monocle out for him.
“The price of freedom is high… and it’s a price I’m willing to pay! You told me not trust anyone and this is how it ends: EVERYTHING goes!”
The best feeling in the world is going into a movie that you have high expectations, and walking out satisfied. It’s a whole other thing entirely to leave the theater slack jawed by what you just saw, just taken aback by how great a movie is. It’s one of the highest compliments you can give a film, and it’s one that ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, the ninth entry in the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe series, has earned. Chris Evans once again returns as Steve Rogers, a man out of time, dealing with what it means to be alone and who feels lost to the world around him. Along for the ride are returning cast members Scarlett Johansson as Agent Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, while also introducing us to Anthony Mackie, the man who will become known as the Falcon.
Following the events of ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Evans) has begun working as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. full time. But the longer he’s inside the system, the less he trusts it, because the farther in he digs, the more that seems to be hidden from him. It doesn’t take long for that paranoia to reach a new high when an attempt on Nick Fury’s (Jackson) life, by a phantom assassin known as The Winter Soldier, turns the world upside down. Steve finds himself on the run, and with the aid of Natasha (Johansson), and his new friend Sam Wilson (Mackie), the group plans on finding out the truth behind what S.H.I.E.L.D. is hiding, as well as finding out who lies behind the Winter Soldier’s mask.
The most impressive thing about ‘The Winter Soldier’, other than the fact that the movie is so great, is that it was directed by two guys who have never made an action movie before in their life. Joe and Anthony Russo, whose most notable work comes from work on sitcoms such as ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Community’, are in a whole new element with this film, but you would never know it. The film is so exceptionally directed, that you’d think it was being done by someone who had been making action movies their entire lives. You can tell that the Russo Brothers have a keen eye for action, and they deliver it beautifully here. It’s well shot, tense, and unrelenting, but never to the point that it’s too much. There are some larger than life set pieces in the film that rival some of the best action films, while bringing ‘The Winter Soldier’ incredibly close to ‘The Avengers’ level of fun. In particular, the freeway chase, and eventually firefight between Steve, Black Widow, and the Falcon, against the Winter Soldier and his men, really stands out as the most memorable action scene in the film. It’s just so well put together, and the hand-to-hand combat between Steven and the Winter Soldier is so well choreographed.
It definitely helps though that for all the action, there’s a very intriguing story underneath it all, giving it a chance to breathe, and settle down before it pushes us forward. There’s an aura of the classic political thrillers that many of us grew up that just fully encompasses this film. It’s part Tom Clancy, mixed with ‘Three Days of the Concord’, with a bit of ‘Enemy of the State’ thrown in for good measure, which makes the film twist and turn in the best of ways. While the middle does meander a little bit, making sure we’re always invested in the story, it’s never enough to hurt the film. The pace, even in the slower parts, moves solidly, and before you know it, the movie is off and running again, and you’re trying to catch your breath. It’s also really good when a film can suck you in using real issues we’re facing ourselves, which this film does magnificently. The idea of government surveillance, cyber spooks, and cyber terrorists is a very real problem that our world has been facing, and it’s one that fits this world so perfectly. Seeing the themes like that handled so well, and delicately, is really impressive, and makes for a really compelling viewing.
You can tell that one thing that the Russo Brothers did bring to the table from their TV days was how to work with actors, because they managed to get some of the best performances in the MCU out of this cast. Chris Evans is the best he’s ever been as Steve Rogers. The character’s high morales have always been a big part of him, and this film not only forces him to call them into question, but also call into question the morality of those he’s working for. It’s a great story arc, and it gives Evans a lot to work with. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role at this point. Samuel L. Jackson also got a lot more to do than he has before as Nick Fury, and he’s great this time around. His character has a great story, one that parallels much of Steve’s, but also dealing with the Sins of the past, and it works. It’s nice to see Fury really getting out behind the desk and into the action as well, really rounding out a character we’ve barely gotten to know.
Scarlett Johansson is quite good as the Widow, and while we don’t get a lot more of her backstory as we did in ‘The Avengers’, she’s still a lot of fun. She works will with Evans and Mackie, and her character gets a lot of action, and you can tell she’s really enjoying herself in the role. But it’s really Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, or The Falcon, who really steals the show. Mackie is so great in the role, and he’s a perfect fit for the MCU. The way he and Evans play off each other is electric, which makes you like the character even more. This could become a really great onscreen duo down the road, and it’s one that needs to be utilized even more in future films. It would be a shame to see so much potential not get used. Of course, you can’t not mention the great Robert Redford, who turns up as one of the head’s of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the film. The man is a legend, and he’s so good as Alexander Pierce, you never want him to leave the screen. It’s great seeing him doing a role like this, when he seems to be so choosy in his roles, and helping legitimize the comic book genre for people who may not see it that way.
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ is easily in the top two of the Marvel Studios films to date. But not only that, it’s one of the top films in the comic book genre, period. Marvel has proven now that of all their characters, Captain America is the one they get the most, and he is the one who is really pulling the best films in the MCU series, thus far. Filled with excellent action, a fantastic script, and great performances from everyone involved, it’s hard not to absolutely love this movie. This is more than the typical popcorn blockbuster, which is something we should all be thankful for. The Russo Brothers have proven their skills to an insane degree here, and it’ll be great to see where they go from here. For those who may be disappointed in Marvel’s Phase 2 so far, this one will turn you around. This is just an insanely great film, check it out.
The newest addition to the Direct-To-Video Tinkerbell saga, Pirate Fairy is by far the most ambitious of the series to date. That isn’t to say it’s entirely successful in it’s attempts, but at least they’re finally branching the story out of Pixie Hollow and into the world of Neverland as a whole. As the title implies, this is a film about pirates. And what would a pirate story set in Neverland be without the infamous Captain Hook?
Yes, we are finally bringing Tinkerbell’s adventures in line with the Peter Pan narrative we all know and love. Right off the bat, I was impressed with the musical cues, introducing the film with the themes of the original Peter Pan film. Segueing from this fantastic opening, we are transplanted into a standard Tinkerbell narrative, dealing with an inquisitive fairy named Zarina who is determined to unlock the mysteries of pixiedust. She’s instructed not to mess with the blue dust which serves as a multiplier of the standard dust. Of course, she rebels and begins experimenting with the different dusts in an attempt to create various colors to explore their properties. Disaster ensues, and she is fired from her job as dust keeper.
So far, this is a pretty typical narrative for this series. However, things take a different direction when a title card pops up reading “one year later.” During that time, Zarina has become the captain of a pirate ship containing a young man who will grow up to become Captain Hook. This isn’t exactly Hook’s prequel story, as Zarina is the focus, but there is a lot of groundwork laid for the future adventures we have come to know.
Throughout the film, we take to the skies of Neverland, spend a great amount of time in Skull Rock, and get a chance to experience the world away from Pixie Hollow. Unfortunately, the setup is more impressive than the execution. Zarina utilizes her understanding of multi-colored dust to cast a spell on all of the fairies, causing their respective powers to shift amongst themselves. It’s a silly gimmick that doesn’t really add much to the story. On top of that, nothing much really “happens” during the movie. This is a film with a setup in search of a narrative.
Despite my misgivings with the film, the casting was incredibly impressive, adding Christina Hendricks (Joan from Mad Men) as Zarina, and Tom Hiddleston (Loki from Thor) as young Hook. They both give inspired performances, never once performing as if simply for a paycheck. They sound as if they are having a blast, with vocal performances full of energy and excitement. There is only one musical number in the entire film, and while it’s very out of place, Hiddleston performs it beautifully. An ode to piracy and their new ability to fly their ship, this song burrowed it’s way into my head over a week ago and I still can’t get it out. It’s infectiously catchy, and a terrific moment despite coming out of nowhere.
As for the animation, it looks far better than a direct-to-video film should look. There are some beautiful shots involving the pirate ship, both on the seas and in flight. Skull Rock is appropriately intimidating, and I was consistently impressed with the significant amount of water animation. This is obviously a film that the filmmakers took great pride in getting right, probably knowing they would receive an increased audience from the voice casting. Their efforts paid off on a technical level, but I can’t help but wish that more effort was put into the story itself.
As this is a Direct-to-Video effort, one would expect that there would be a significant amount of extras. Unfortunately, there really isn’t that much of note. I suppose that makes sense as this is a kid’s film, and kids won’t really be seeking out bonus features anyway. However, if they do, they could choose from deleted scenes, a sing-along feature, a “funny documentary” about the crocodile of the film and the crocodile’s real-world counterparts, a short feature on Neverland and the filmmakers attempt to broaden the scope of the franchise, and the making of the musical number mentioned above, “The Frigate that Flies.” The two most interesting to me were the features on Neverland and the making of the musical number. Neither one was particularly insightful, but at least it gave some insight into the process behind the film, including live video of Hiddleston singing “The Frigate that Flies.”
Overall, this is my favorite of the Tinkerbell films to date just for it’s attempts to be something different. This still feels like a Tinkerbell movie in terms of tone, but they’re starting to break out of their box in what can only be a good way for the future of the franchise. I’m not going to say that I’m excited for the next film, but I’m definitely curious about the long-term plans for the series, and I am looking forward to seeing just how long it takes to bring Pan himself into the mix. This is definitely a step in the right direction for the franchise, and anything that pushes the series forward can only be a good thing.
The first wave of Family Suites at the brand new Cabana Bay Beach Resort opened at Universal Orlando on March 31, 2014! The new resort is the 4th onsite hotel at Universal Orlando and will have 2 pool complexes with sand beach and interactive features, a themed lazy river experience and 10-lane bowling alley. As with all Universal Orlando Onsite Resort hotels, guests at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort will be just a brief walk from the Universal Orlando theme parks and Universal CityWalk. They will enjoy benefits that include Early Theme Park Admission, transportation to the theme parks, a Universal CityWalk party pass, complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the Universal Orlando Resort to their hotel, and resort-wide charging privileges with their room key.
Travel back to the 1950’s and 1960’s for endless family fun at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. With its ideal location near Islands of Adventure and fun retro atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy everything the Universal Orlando Resort has to offer, at a price you are sure to love. The value and moderate accommodations feature both family suites (sleeping up to 6) with kitchenettes and standard rooms (sleeping up to 4).
Family Suites opened on March 31, 2014 and Standard Rooms open on July 31, 2014. Stay at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort during the Preview period of March 31-June 14 and get a Family Suite at a Standard Room price! Do you prefer to travel in the Fall instead? On select travel dates between 9/1 – 10/2/14 and 11/30 – 12/11/14, discounted rates start at $131 per night in a family suite or $90 per night in a standard room. A minimum 4-night stay is required.
To celebrate the grand opening of the Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando, get a $50 Gift Card or a $50 discount off your package price for all Cabana Bay Beach Resort packages of $2500 or more booked between now and April 30, 2014. This is in addition to any promotional offers being offered by Universal Orlando! Book your Cabana Bay Beach Resort package today!
When Heather isn’t busy sharing Planning tips about Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort, Universal Orlando, and more, you can find her planning Disney and Universal Orlando vacations. Contact her on Facebook at Heather Abbott-Agent with Destinations in Florida. For more info and to book your travel, use the Price Your Vacation Form in the Sidebar or click here. You can also call 877-918-8941 and ask for Heather to book. Make sure to mention that you were referred by Socalthrills.com! Safe travels everyone!
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort officially welcomes its first guests today. This brand-new value and moderately-priced property is the fourth on-site hotel at Universal Orlando Resort and evokes the classic, retro-feel of iconic beach resorts from the 1950s and 60’s.
Located on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, the new hotel is a destination within itself – featuring a stunning design with bold colors, retro-inspired architecture and sweeping vistas that transport guests back to a time of relaxation and endless family fun. Cabana Bay guests can experience incredible amenities throughout the hotel, including:
· Bowling a strike at the 10-lane Galaxy Bowl
· Channeling the godfather of fitness at the Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio
· Racing down the iconic dive tower waterslide and splashing into a 10,000 square foot zero-entry pool in the Cabana Courtyard
· Enjoying a retro-themed specialty cocktail from Swizzle Lounge or Atomic Tonic
· Finding something delicious for the entire family at Bayliner Diner, a food court with something for everyone to enjoy including a salad bar, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, pasta and grab-and- go items
· And this summer, guests will be able to enjoy even more incredible amenities, including a second 8,000-square-foot zero entry pool, Universal Orlando’s first lazy river at an on-site hotel, The Hideaway Bar & Grill, and additional moderately-priced family suites and value-priced standard guest rooms. When complete, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort will feature a total of 1,800 rooms – 900 family suites and 900 standard guest rooms.
Starting today, guests can stay in a family suite, which sleeps up to six people and includes a fold-out foam bed, kitchenette, a sliding partition for privacy, two flat-screen TVs and a bathroom with preparation spaces for three people at once. Cabana Bay guests also get exclusive benefits only available to on-site hotel guests at Universal Orlando, including Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens.
Rates for the family suites begin at $174 per-night, and can run as low as $134 per-night depending on the length of stay. Rates for the standard guest rooms – which will be available this summer – begin at $119 per night, and can run as low as $93 per-night depending on the length of stay.
“We’ve sought to create a special place where families can spend time together and create long-lasting memories outside of the theme parks,” said Russ Dagon, Vice President and Executive Project Director, Universal Creative. “From the moment they step inside, families will be transported back to a different, more relaxing time.”
“We are thrilled to finally welcome guests into Cabana Bay Beach Resort,” said Adnan Bizri, Managing Director, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. “This is the perfect addition to Universal Orlando’s already stellar line-up of properties, allowing families to continue a wonderful vacation well beyond the theme parks.”
For more info and to book your travel, use the Price Your Vacation Form in the Sidebar or click here. You can also call 877-918-8941 and ask for Heather to book. Make sure to mention that you were referred by Socalthrills.com! Safe travels everyone!
Few actors have been nearly as endearing and iconic as Humphrey Bogart, who had a long, and successful, career at Warner Bros. In fact, his relationship was so good with them, that he managed to make four of his most iconic and memorable films with them during his career. These four films are considered classics by every film fan across the globe, and ones that left an impact on filmmaking for future of cinema. In honor of this legacy, Warner Bros. has decided to bring us a collection featuring The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and The African Queen, for the first time together on blu-ray. The set is one that fans, who don’t already own these films, is really going to love.
It’s always great to see some of these timeless classics on blu-ray, and thankfully with this collection, Warner Bros. have given each of these films a very nice high definition presentation. These films have never looked better, especially The African Queen and Casablanca, which have both been meticulously remastered from the ground up. I say this as someone who grew up watching all these films on VHS, and then later DVD. None of these films have ever, or will ever, look better than they do on the set. But The African Queen and Casablanca both look absolutely breathtaking, and you can tell how much time and love was put into bringing these two films to look the best they possibly could. There’s not a single problem to be found with the presentations of these films. Just because those two are getting the most praise though doesn’t mean that Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Maltese Falcon are lacking at all. While they didn’t get the fully meticulous restoration of their two counterparts, they look the best they’ve ever looked as well. There’s a common misconception that older films don’t benefit from high definition transfers, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth, as this set shows. The fact that these four films have never looked better than this actually shows that older films actually benefit more from their high definition transfers, when done correctly, than any other films out there. All four of the films also feature great HD lossless audio, which brings these movies to life better than ever before. They’re all true to their source, mono tracks, so it’s not going to light up your home theater system, but they sound excellent. They’ll at least use your front speakers well, and you won’t be upset about it not using anything else.
Thankfully, this set isn’t just great audio and video. All the films have some excellent special features, rounding out these set in a great way. It’ll be much easier to break this down by each film, so here we go.
The African Queen
The African Queen comes to blu-ray with only one special feature, and while that may not sound like a lot, it’s actually a great hour long documentary, Embracing Chaos: The Making of ‘The African Queen’, which looks back at not only the making of the film, but the impact and legacy it’s had. It features filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Humphrey Bogart Biographer Eric Lax, crew from the film, and so much more, who take us through a verbal history of the film. It’s so much fun to watch, and is offered in high definition, which makes it even better. It’s a great retrospective for the film, and one that fans will love.
Casablanca
Of al the films in this set, ‘Casablanca’ is the film that is the most jam packed with special features. The disc features two commentaries, one from the late film critic, Roger Ebert, and one by film historian Rudy Behlmer, which are both really fun and insightful looks into the film. The disc also holds the 1953 premiere episode of the TV show, ‘Who Holds Tomorrow?’, a Warner TV adaptation of the film. There’s also a handful of deleted scenes and outtakes. That’s a bit of the smaller things on the set, but it’s the bigger things where the disc soars. It features an 80 minute documentary, Bacall on Bogart, which sees Lauren Bacall talking about not just Bogart the man, but the actor as well. It’s very interesting, and a lot of fun to watch. Another great feature is, You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca, which features some more insights into the film, and looking back at the film. Cinephiles and fans will really love it. The disc also has Warner Night at the Movies, which will let you experience the film the same way it opened in the 1940s. It features a trailer for ‘Now, Voyager’, has a classic war reel, three Merrie Melodies shorts, and when the play all button is selected, it will segway straight into the film, the same way it did back in the Golden Years of cinema. That’s probably my favorite special feature out of the bunch, because it’s a truly different and fun experience. There’s also a few audio only features, featuring a radio production and scoring sessions.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The disc, as the Casablanca disc before it, Treasure of the Sierra Madre features an audio commentary on the film, this time featuring Eric Lax, the Bogart biographer. It also has two documentaries, the first being, Discovering Treasure: The Story of ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’, which is an almost hour long in depth look at the making of the film. It’s great fun, and very interesting. But even more interesting is the two hour documentary, John Huston: The Man, The Movies, The Maverick, an incredibly in depth look about the man behind the camera, and underrated director by many, John Houston. It’s one of the most informative documentaries I’ve ever gotten to watch, and delves into so much of his life, as well as his work, it’s hard to believe how many people forget about him as a director. Also, as the previous ‘Casablanca’ disc features, this movie also has another Warner Night at the Movies, which recreates what you saw before the film opened in 1948. This time, you have a trailer for ‘Key Largo’, another vintage news reel, another Warner cartoon, and a Joe McDoakes short, entitled, So You Want to Be a Detective?. Again, the Warner Night At the Movies proves to be one of the most fun and interesting special features on the disc, giving me a chance to relive what a film night would have looked like back in the golden era of film.
The Maltese Falcon
As with The Treasure of the Sierra Madre disc before it, The Maltese Falcon features a commentary by Bogart biographer Eric Lax, which is a very good listen. There’s also a half hour featurette, The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird, which features a historical look back at the making of the film. But one of the more interesting features on the disc is entitled, Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart, which is about forty five minutes long, and chronicles the way that Warner Bros. marketed Bogart’s films. It’s fascinating seeing how different some of the campaigns were, and for someone who loves move marketing and movie trailers, it’s a great watch. Cinephiles and film fans will certainly love this as well. And, as the last two discs had, once again we have another Warner Night at the Movies, this time featuring the Sergeant York trailer, another vintage Newsreel, a musical short called, A Gay Parisian, and two more Warner cartoons, Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt and Meet John Doughboy. The Warner Night Out features are honestly my favorite amongst the set, just because it’s fun to have that vintage look into what it was like to going to the movies during that time, because it’s so different now.
The Best of Bogart blu-ray collection is a great value for fans and cinephiles who don’t already own these films on blu-ray, and it’s great having them in one collection. But for fans who already own these titles, there’s nothing new to see here, so you might as well stick with your copies you already have. It’s a great set all around though, and features four timeless classics that all film fans should see. It was great revisiting these films, and getting to delve into the special features, which really makes the set even more special. Fans of Bogart who don’t own these films should definitely pick this up.
Last month, we were invited out to Beverly Hills to attend a press junket for ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, Marvel Studios’ newest film, the follow up story for Captain America, played by Chris Evans, coming off of ‘The Avengers’. This is a remarkably well made film, and you can read my full movie review here. The junket had a lot of great information.
One of the questions brought up was framed with how well Marvel makes strong female characters, and they asked the studio head, Kevin Feige, about the possibility of a solo Black Widow film, that would star Scarlett Johansson. This has been coming up a lot in recent weeks, and Feige had this to say:
Uh, I think it could be great. We’ve got various outlines and ideas on where to take that. And Scarlett has already said there’s a big element of exploring more of her backstory in another upcoming Marvel feature. So the question really is, when would we want to take her out of that ensemble to go and do her own thing, and in fact, as you saw in this movie, and as you’ll see in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, she’s key to so much of the broader world.
So while a Black Widow movie could happen, it may not be any time soon, because Natasha is a big part of the universe as it is, and works so well in the confines of this ensemble. But never say never, Marvel is certainly thinking about it. Not long after that, Chris Evans was asked about his original reluctance to take the role because of typecasting and signing for so many films, and now that he’s done the role three times, how does he feel now. Chris was very open and honest:
Had I not done the movies, it would have been the biggest mistake of my life. It really would have been the biggest regret to date, and there are plenty. It’s changed everything for me. Not just what it’s enabled me to do outside of these movies, but it’s so comforting knowing you’re making good movies. It would be a nightmare to be trapped in these contracts when you’re making movies you’re not proud of. But Marvel has the Midas touch, so you know every time you suit up, you’re making some of quality. It’s rewarding on every level, so thank God I had the right people in my life pushing me to make the right decision.
It’s great see Evans is still this ecstatic over the role, and the opportunities it’s presented him. He seems very humble and grateful to have been giving the chance to take a part in this every growing Marvel Universe, and it’s great to know that we still have at least three more films with him in the role as Captain America.
One of my favorite questions of the day came from one reporting what it was like working with the Legendary Robert Redford, who plays the character, Alexander Pierce, in the film. He spends most his time with Evans and Samuel L. Jackson in the film, so they both had this to say:
Evans:
He’s amazing. He was pretty intimidating that day, because he is a living legend. But it is always such a treat when someone you look up to that much lives up to the expectation. I mean, he could have easily come on set and hijacked the film, not just as an actor, but given his past as a director and his experience, he very easily could have taken over. He showed up with the utmost professionalism. I think the first day we shot was until one in the morning, and he stuck around for all the camera stuff. It was like it was his first movie. So he really is an example of what it is to be great.
Jackson:
Yeah, pretty much the same. I met Robert in a lot of different situations when I was going to Sundance, when I was a young actor. I missed the opportunity to do several films with him over the years. And that morning when I got to work with him the first time, we sat down and talked about a lot of different things. We talked about golf, we talked about life, about movies, so by the time we got on set, it did seem like we spent time together, or had some sort of past. It was a great experience. He’s everything Chris said, he’s professional, knew his lines, he wanted to make things better, and that’s part of coming into the Marvel Universe.
The question than came up to Kevin Feige, asking how much influence he has on the other Marvel films outside of the Marvel Studios banner, such as Fox’s X-Men films, and Sony’s Spider-Man films. Feige was honest, and upfront:
It’s limited. It’s very limited with the other studios. Mainly for two reasons. One, because we’re quite busy building our own cinematic universe, and also the contracts are very old, so the approvals are very limited. It sort of is what it is, the contracts are very old with those studios, and I expect they’ll be making Spider-Man movies at Sony for a long time and X-Men movies at Fox for a long time. And hopefully we’ll keep making MCU movies for a long time.
I’m glad Feige was upfront and to the point about it. He doesn’t see them getting back those two big franchises anytime soon. It’s a bummer for some, because it would be great to see those characters all come together under the Marvel banner, but the fact of the matter is, those contracts are ironclad and tight, and Marvel probably won’t be receiving the rights to them anytime soon.
Samuel L. Jackson was then asked what his thoughts and feelings were the first time he read the script for the new film, and what excited him most about it:
Man, that’s a lot of questions. I’m always excited to do more movies, and Nick seems to grow with each film. And I realized when I was reading that it was a bit more than just a comic book feature. That it had intrigue, and I’m sure that a lot of young people are going to be surprised when they get in the movie and watch it that they actually have to think about something, what’s going on, or they can’t figure out the plot, and that always excites me. It’s always a great, great joy that I’m going to be back in a space with all the people I enjoy working with, and being able to do the things that I did on a very small scale when I was a kid. It’s a dream come true. You sit there and read comic books when you’re a kid and you wonder if there’s a world like that, you grow up as an actor and they start making movies like that and you wonder, “How can I get in that movie?”, and the next thing you know you’re inside it going, “yeah!” So, it’s all plus there.
There’s a lot of great information that came out of this press junket, and as it wrapped, one thing was abundantly clear to me: people love working for Marvel Studios, and working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They’re doing so much great work, and this is their ninth film in the ever growing sage of the MCU, with another on the way this August, with Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, and then all coming tying together the end of Phase 2 next May with, ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. The studio, the directors, and all the actors know that they’re doing something very special here, and the love is flowing out of it. They’ve gained the trust of the audience, and now they’re hoping to keep them on board and giving them two more building blocks every year for the foreseeable future. It’s a great time to be a fan of the Marvel characters, and it’s great to see so many of them done justice on the big screen. I know for me personally, I love seeing my favorite comic book company taking on translating what made their comics so popular on the big screen, and I hope it’ll continue for a long time.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
MARVEL STUDIOS Genre: Action-Adventure Rating: PG-13 U.S. Release date: April 4, 2014 Running time: 136 min. Cast: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell with Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Producer: Kevin Feige, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Stan Lee Screenplay by: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely
Photos were taken by Chris Mansker – Socalthrills.com, at the Captain America: The Winter Soldier Press Junket on March 12.
The life-size Christmas gingerbread house is legendary at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, but we can’t wait for the 3rd annual Easter egg display in the spacious lobby with springtime edible works of art, this year April 4 – 22.
Under the guidance of Master pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek, the pastry team at the Grand hand-paints the enormous eggs (16 to 20 inches tall) with tinted cocoa butter to amazing themes – the “Frozen” egg is sure to be a big hit this year. Look for eggs telling the stories of “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” “Pocahontas,” “Lady and the Tramp,” all created with modeling chocolate, fondant, sculpted sugar and royal icing.
There are 18 eggs in all this year, and each takes 18 to 20 hours to create, says Chef Erich. And, best of all, they’re completely edible.
*Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
This weekend, Disney’s “Frozen” officially became the highest grossing animated film of all time, and with $1,072.4 million worldwide, it has also entered the list of the top 10 biggest films of all time. The Walt Disney Studios’ seventh billion-dollar release, “Frozen” has earned an estimated $398.4 million at the domestic box office and $674 million internationally.
“Frozen” is the first billion-dollar film for Walt Disney Animation Studios and its first film to receive the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. “Frozen” opened wide domestically on November 27, 2013, posting the #1 all-time Thanksgiving debut ($93.6M five-day, $67.4M three-day) and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ biggest opening ever. It remained in the top 10 films at the domestic box office for 16 consecutive weeks, the longest run by any film since 2002.
Internationally, “Frozen” is the biggest Disney or Pixar animated film of all time in 27 territories, including Russia, China, and Brazil. In Korea, where the film has grossed an estimated $77.1 million, “Frozen” was #1 for the first five weeks of release and is the biggest animated film, the second biggest non-local film, and Disney’s biggest release of all time. It’s also the highest-grossing animated film of all time in Denmark and Venezuela. Since its debut March 14 in Japan, “Frozen” has claimed the #1 spot in its first three weekends and continues to play strongly with an estimated $50.5 million to date.
Released on digital February 25 and on disc March 18, “Frozen” is the fastest-selling digital release ever and sold over 3.2 million Blu-ray/DVD units in its first day, putting it on track to be one of the biggest home entertainment sellers in a decade.
The Platinum-certified “Frozen” soundtrack returned to the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart last week for a seventh time with more than 1.6 million copies and over 5 million individual tracks sold. The album has also held the #1 position for five nonconsecutive weeks at Spotify and is approaching 110 million streams worldwide. The Oscar®-winning song “Let It Go” has sold over 2.6 million copies, and the film clip of the song has been viewed over 160 million times on YouTube.
With original songs from Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and an original score by Christophe Beck, “Frozen” is directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, written by Jennifer Lee, and produced by Peter Del Vecho. It features the voice talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad.
“Frozen” is available in theaters in 2D, 3D and Sing-A-Long, as well as on Digital HD & 3D, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On Demand.
If you joined us when we announced our celebration of the 50th anniversary of “it’s a small world,” you saw the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing a portion of the song in our worldwide video. It was so good, we’ve decided to kick off our new video series of “it’s a small world” sing-along videos with more of their performance. Enjoy.
*This video was originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog
In an exciting new collaboration with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the Winchester Mystery House is launching "Festival Fright Nights." This all-new Halloween event will...
“The price of freedom is high… and it’s a price I’m willing to pay! You told me not trust anyone and this is how it ends: EVERYTHING goes!”
The newest addition to the Direct-To-Video Tinkerbell saga, Pirate Fairy is by far the most ambitious of the series to date. That isn’t to say it’s entirely successful in it’s attempts, but at least they’re finally branching the story out of Pixie Hollow and into the world of Neverland as a whole. As the title implies, this is a film about pirates. And what would a pirate story set in Neverland be without the infamous Captain Hook?
