Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962.
“Thor: The Dark World” is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Alan Fine, Nigel Gostelow, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Craig Kyle. The film releases November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Disney Store invites guests to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd and to visit their local Disney Store where they can recycle five plastic bags in exchange for a free reusable shopping tote (up to 200 totes, one per guest per store). Guests can pick between a Disney·Pixar Brave reusable tote featuring everyone’s favorite heroine, Merida, or a Cars reusable tote featuring Lightning McQueen. Disney Store’s reusable tote bags are made of 80% recycled materials.
To further inspire guests to be eco-conscious, Disney Store welcomes guests to explore the Disney Store “Track My T” program, featuring t-shirts made from organic cotton, certified under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Select tees for the whole family include a label with a special code allowing guests to follow their shirt’s creation from its very beginning. Guests can learn more about the Track My T program by visiting www.disneystore.com/trackmyt.
“Disney Store encourages guests to celebrate Earth Day, but also to make eco-friendly choices in their households every day of the year,” said Paul Gainer, Executive Vice President of Disney Stores Worldwide. “Earth Day is an opportunity for everyone to come together and think about how small changes can make a big impact for our planet.”
Disney Store offers products to help the whole family be eco-friendly:
Reusable totes featuring beloved Disney characters, $3.50
Tees for kids and adults, made from organic cotton, $12.50 and up
Disney Store’s Disney Baby apparel collection, made from organic cotton, $12.50 and up
Reusable aluminum bottles in Disney character styles, including favorites Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse,: $8.50 and up
A brand-new Star Trek story awaits players of STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME, which is available on Tuesday, April 23, for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Written by BAFTA-award-winning writer Marianne Krawczyk, it whisks players into the heart of an adventure that takes place in the time between 2009’s blockbuster film Star Trek and the upcoming Star Trek: Into Darkness.
In a new video feature released today by Paramount Pictures, STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME executive producer Brian Miller delves deeper into this rich, exciting story and examines the plot that awaits players.
It’s finally here. The first teaser poster for Thor: The Dark World. We are so excited to share this with our readers.
Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962.
“Thor: The Dark World” is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Alan Fine, Nigel Gostelow, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Craig Kyle. The film releases November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Coming off a transformative year in which it launched the global blockbuster HUNGER GAMES franchise, acquired Summit Entertainment and continued to build and diversify its television business, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today unveiled its new corporate logo as the Company took center stage at the CinemaCon theatrical convention as one of the world’s most dynamic entertainment brands.
The logo kicked off Lionsgate’s introduction of its upcoming feature film slate to the theatrical exhibition community during its star-studded CinemaCon presentation inside The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
“2012 was a transformative year that reflected 13 years of patient and disciplined growth, and our new logo reflects the limitless opportunities we see in our future,” said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer, who introduced the new logo at CinemaCon. “The breadth and excitement of the film slate that we previewed today reflects our continued momentum and is just one example of our emergence as a global content leader.”
Designed by Devastudios, under the direction of Lionsgate Chief Marketing Officer Tim Palen, the new logo is being launched during a watershed period in the Company’s growth. Led by its blockbuster HUNGER GAMES and TWILIGHT SAGA young adult franchises, Lionsgate grossed $1.24 billion at the domestic box office in 2012, becoming the first nontraditional major studio to break the billion-dollar mark at the domestic box office in a single calendar year, and generated more than $2.5 billion at the box office worldwide.
Lionsgate’s feature film leadership is complemented by a television business that encompasses 28 shows on 20 different networks, including the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men as well as Nurse Jackie, Anger Management, Nashville and the upcoming Orange Is The New Black for Netflix.
“Lionsgate has always distinguished itself in the marketplace with bold, original and provocative films and TV shows, and our Company’s character is defined by our innovation, ingenuity and willingness to think outside the box,” said Palen. “We wanted a logo that captured all those traits while still paying tribute to our entrepreneurial and independent roots.”
Lionsgate’s momentum has carried into calendar 2013 as the Company kicked off the year with hits such as TYLER PERRY’S TEMPTATION, WARM BODIES, SNITCH and TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D. The upcoming slate is anchored by: the next installment of the blockbuster HUNGER GAMES franchise, THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE; emerging young adult brands such as DIVERGENT and ENDER’S GAME; star-driven action films including NOW YOU SEE ME, featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, and RED 2, starring Bruce Willis, John Malkevich, Helen Mirren and Mary Louise-Parker reprising their roles from the original hit; continued strength in African-American fare with TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS, the Tyler Perry-produced PEEPLES and comic superstar Kevin Hart’s LET ME EXPLAIN; the horror thriller YOU’RE NEXT; and the comedy THE BIG WEDDING, featuring an all-star cast including Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton.
THE DIRECTOR, is premiering this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21st. THE DIRECTOR, from producer James Franco and director Christina Voros, is the story of Gucci under Frida Giannini: the portrait of a designer who has nurtured a deep connection to the past in order to carry forward a legacy into the future.
An intimate portrait of Gucci’s Creative Director, Frida Giannini, THE DIRECTOR spans 18 months behind the walls of the iconic Italian fashion house, exploring the intricacies and inspiration behind the quietly brilliant power woman, whose own evolution as the creative force behind force the brand is as nuanced as that of the storied fashion house itself.
It’s 1984 and young Billy has been forced to decide between making his father and family happy by growing up as an average small-town fighting boy that frequents boxing class or rather follow his dreams by not following the status quo and joining ballet class. His adventurous yet secret plan to train as a dancer may be the only way to unite his coal-mining town under union dispute.
Billy Elliot The Musical follows the battle of a boy who must face his ignorant family of meat-head men who only believe ballet is for sissy’s and a grandmother who stars as the beginning motivation for Billy to go toward the right direction. The story truly deals with relationships between Billy (currently alternating between Ben Cook, Drew Minard, Noah Parets and Mitchell Tobin) and his family at home of his dad (Rich Herbert), grandmother (Patti Perkins), and brother, Tony (Cullen R. Titmas).
The aspiring ballet dancer quickly begins ballet class when he stays late after boxing practice. Here he meets offbeat teacher Mrs. Wilkinson (Janet Dickinson). Meanwhile he finds support from unique, one-of-a-kind, eccentric friend Michael (Sam Poon) and a group of ballerinas all while struggling with the recent death of his mother.
As Billy hides his passion for ballet and sneakily takes his ballet lessons, his father and the rest of the community has been in a large battle between the British National Union of Mineworkers and Margaret Thatcher whom wants to destroy the unions. This has brought the town to shambles. It will ultimately come down to a decision for Billy’s family to decide if this is the best path for him to take.
The musical is based off the internationally acclaimed film by the same name; however the stage production was of course adapted as a musical. Billy Elliot the Musical is the winner of 81 awards worldwide including best musical awards in London and Australia and of course ten 2009 Tony Awards.
With that being said, I actually was not aware of much about the show. I have seen the movie, but had no idea of the music style or even who composed the score. Psst… it was Elton John. This always makes a show more exciting for me and yet can give me doubts as well. I really didn’t know how Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films, Old Vic Productions and NETworks Presentations, LLC. would be able to capture the raw emotion delivered in much of the film.
Little did I give thought about how the musical adaptation could build emotion just with the music let alone add to areas in which the movie was weak. There were some pretty memorable parts of the film that the audience misses out on in the stage production. A perfect example would be the incredible tear-jerking moment in the bathroom with Mrs. Wilkinson and Billy as he yells at her for pushing him through ballet only to end up falling into the brace of her arms as both cry. Of course the availability of close-ups definitely help, but I saw a lack of tension here and almost felt the importance of this scene was hardly touched upon.
I was also hoping for a better climactic moment when Billy’s dad finally sees him practicing his large ballet number. Unfortunately that moment still feels abundantly anticlimactic. This isn’t to say the scene isn’t still notably amazing and powerful in its own right. In fact, every large dance number by Billy (Mitchell Tobin performed the night reviewed) was absolutely breathtaking! There is also several dance numbers and a bit of a montage scene with the ballerinas from Billy’s class that were dare I say, adorable, yet also quite comical while still proving most talented.
It was the moment where the set was completely, and quickly, transformed during a big tap-dance spectacular that had me saying “wow” and smiling from ear-to-ear. Ian MacNeil did a fantastic job creating a believable scenic design with many creative elements within in a small space while being able to give the illusion of full immersion. Of course the captivating story, music and lighting help set the mood as well.
The first act, 84-minutes-long by the way, builds a great amount of momentum as the musical numbers build larger and larger with a very creative and powerful act-one finale. I couldn’t help but just say “yes” to Billy Elliot at the end act-one. The momentum continues in act-two, but loses itself after the first two numbers. There may just be a little too much intended awkward pauses that appear unclean and imprecise. Some of these moments are creating comical moments however are lost by the reaction of the performers. There were areas that I felt would have benefited from some over-the-top performances. I definitely felt Mrs. Wilkinson character could be a little more outlandish, but instead I felt they were holding back.
Luckily there really isn’t anything major to express concern about. It was even a challenge to bring up the few negative comments above as Billy Elliot truly was phenomenal. The performances by most were strong and memorable. It’s the children that really make this show though. You won’t get over at how talented these young performers are. It’s not a short show, but I left wanting more! More of the emotion, the singing, and most definitely the dancing! Billy Elliot brings delivers that little spark that we should do what we love and not listen to what others have to say about it. Yet there are many underlying subplots that aren’t terribly deep, but add to the show. Billy Elliot is undoubtedly an exciting time at the theatre that remains entertaining from start to finish.
Be careful bringing children as there is some bad language, but just remind them that it’s Northern England in 1984.
Follow more of my adventures throughout Southern California on Twitter @OCescapism.
Billy Elliot The Musical is now playing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall
April 16 – 28, 2013
Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, April 27 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes “Man of Steel,” starring Henry Cavill (“Immortals,” TV’s “The Tudors”) in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”).
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
The film also stars four-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams (“The Master”) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane (“Unfaithful”) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”).
The film will be released in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX®, and is slated for release on June 14, 2013.
Check-out the new Movie Trailer which was unveiled at CinemaCon 2013 in Las Vegas.
Just released, these new Character Posters from The Lone Ranger. In Theaters July 3, 2013!
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.
Check out these official theatrical Iron Man 3 posters in LEGO® form! These iconic characters are exclusive LEGO minifigure replicas found in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes sets based on the much-anticipated film hitting theaters on May 3rd .
I imagine that most people would expect a film called Lincoln to be a biopic of the infamous president. However, Steven Spielberg has pulled off something highly unexpected and far more compelling. By focusing on the final months of Lincoln’s life, we are given great insight into this obviously complex individual through the prism of his final and greatest political act. This of course being the abolishment of slavery through the passing of the 13th Amendment.
This film is a meticulous recreation of the events leading to that momentous vote, culminating in the vote itself. It is a testament to the work of Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner that they are able to wring such great intensity out of a sequence wherein the audience knows the outcome. By the time we get to this point, we have witnessed Lincoln’s incredible political maneuvering, manipulating the people in conjunction with a potential end to the Civil War as if playing a personal game of chess. It is this buildup that makes the vote itself so powerful, with every “aye” and “nay” the culmination of everything that has come before.
Of course, none of this would be as effective without somebody phenomenal playing Lincoln. It has become a cliche to say, but Daniel Day Lewis does not play Lincoln in this film; he becomes him. This goes beyond mere performance or mimicry. By embodying the very essence of the man, it feels as if Spielberg was able to get Linoln himself to play the part. It is rare to see an actor disappear so completely into a role, but there is no trace of Day Lewis in this performance. With a higher voice than I have ever seen portrayed, and a gleeful playfulness to the character, there is a humanity to this representation of Lincoln that is instantly compelling.
Part of the charm of the film comes from Lincoln’s giddiness at his own rambling stories. Lincoln knew that this was a pivotal moment for the ages, but he was never above telling a good story, whether it applied to the situation or not. This juxtaposition between the intensity of the political landscape along with the joy Lincoln experienced with his own intellectualism creates a fascinating portrayal of a man that I will never be able to forget.
While Daniel Day Lewis is of course the standout, Spielberg has populated the film with an ensemble of incredible character actors. Some stand out more than others, such as Tommy Lee Jones brilliantly gruff portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens or Sally Field as Lincoln’s long suffering wife Mary Todd Lincoln, but none of the actors phone in their performances. It is obvious that this film meant a great deal to everybody involved and it’s thrilling to watch such an eclectic group performing at the top of their game.
The newly released 4-Disc Blu-Ray is a terrific set, containing the Blu-Ray, a bonus disc of additional features, a DVD, and a Digital Copy of the film. As expected, the picture and sound are flawless, with Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography a particular standout. For lack of a better word, this is a very “talky” film, but Kaminski manages to capture his typically amazing imagery even while filming people just sitting in a room. It’s not a showy film, but it’s a beautiful one.
The bonus features themselves treat the subject matter very seriously, as they should. There are 6 main features, between which everything you could want to know about the film will be explored. Spielberg, Kushner, producer Kathleen Kennedy, etc. all speak very candidly about the process and their perspectives regarding the film’s production and significance. There are detailed looks at the development of the character, the details of the world, the editing, production design, John Williams score, and on and on.
Every year, it feels like there are certain films that are made with the specific purpose of receiving an Oscar. I was afraid that this film would be one of those; a heavy-handed, preachy, over-the-top melodrama. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is an important film, one that should be required viewing in every high school. Surprisingly entertaining and insightful, this a masterpiece of modern film-making, proving that in the right hands, even watching people vote can be a thrilling cinematic experience.
Stay with me here, but A Monster in Paris is a computer animated film that tells the story of a giant mutated flea named Franc roaming the streets of a flooding Paris in 1910, all while being pursued by the police and discovering his gift for song. Throw into the mix a projectionist, an inventor, a soul singer and a monkey and you have an idea just what a unique film this French import from the director of Shark Tale really is, at least in theory.
Having said all that, one would expect such an off-the-wall premise to lend itself to a creative and exciting film, and yet somehow the proceedings feel deathly dull. I can’t imagine children being entertained by the clunky animation and lackluster dialogue. The story might be outlandish, but the script itself is completely perfunctory in the execution. With an ending that feels all too obvious, the story never really goes anywhere all that exciting.
The only life to be found in the film is from the voice acting. Having been dubbed into English by the likes of Danny Huston, Catherine O’Hara, and Adam Goldberg., the voice cast seems to be having a ball bringing a high energy to the film that overshadows just how little is actually happening. Maybe it’s the French sensibility, but this film just didn’t really work for me at all. Everything feels off, from the animation, to the score, to the tone of the film itself.
Having seen Paris brought magnificently to animated life in Ratatouille, it’s a huge disappointment to see this cartoonish caricature of such a fascinating locale. I’m probably being too harsh, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around what I was seeing. When Franc mutates into the title “Monster” of the film, I was already feeling myself check out at the sheer randomness of the whole situation.
I would have liked some behind-the-scenes footage or at least a commentary track to provide some insight into what I had just seen, but the recently released Blu-Ray doesn’t have any extras at all. Featuring the Blu-Ray in 3D, the standard Blu-Ray, the DVD and a Digital Copy of the film, that’s all you get. It’s nice that they provide every viewing option, but I have come to expect at least something besides the film, and was very surprised to find the film lacking in that regard.
Overall, I really can’t bring myself to recommend this film. The premise was just weird enough that it could have been something special, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. With a resume that now includes this along with Shark Tale, a completely dreadful film that makes this look like a masterpiece in comparison, I don’t have high hopes for the future output of director Bibo Bergeron. I had never heard of this film prior to this viewing, and I don’t anticipate hearing much more about it in the future.
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...
