Inclusion has become a “Star Wars” staple in front of the camera: Both “The Force Awakens” and “Rogue One” were led by female heroes and included co-leads played by minority actors. However, white males sat in the director’s chair and the hiring of J.J. Abrams to replace Colin Trevorrow as director of “Episode IX” suggests that will continue for many years to come.
Read More:‘Star Wars: Episode IX’: J.J. Abrams Officially Returning to Franchise As Director
J.J. Abrams is a talented filmmaker, and he’s a fine choice to close out the trilogy of films led by Daisy Ridley’s Rey. He also represents a kind of security that’s hard to resist. The director jumpstarted the new wave of “Star Wars” films with “The Force Awakens,” which earned unanimous acclaim from critics and fans on its way to over $2 billion worldwide. He knows the franchise, he’s beloved by fans,...
Read More:‘Star Wars: Episode IX’: J.J. Abrams Officially Returning to Franchise As Director
J.J. Abrams is a talented filmmaker, and he’s a fine choice to close out the trilogy of films led by Daisy Ridley’s Rey. He also represents a kind of security that’s hard to resist. The director jumpstarted the new wave of “Star Wars” films with “The Force Awakens,” which earned unanimous acclaim from critics and fans on its way to over $2 billion worldwide. He knows the franchise, he’s beloved by fans,...
- 9/12/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
It often feels like the Trump regime has monopolized the business of bad ideas, but Hollywood can always be counted on to remind us that there’s plenty to go around. When Variety broke the news that WB is circling “The Shallows” director Jaume Collet-Serra for “Suicide Squad 2,” the well-sourced rumor was troubling in its own way. For one thing, the news would mean that there is a “Suicide Squad 2,” and that’s a lot to handle at a time when most of us are hanging on for dear life. For another, Jaume Collet-Serra is a promising filmmaker at the peak of his talent and the height of his sway, and “Suicide Squad 2” is the kind of burden that shouldn’t fall to someone who has so much to offer. Or to anyone else, for that matter, because haven’t we suffered enough?
One of the precious few modern directors...
One of the precious few modern directors...
- 7/12/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Updated: When Lucasfilm says “soon,” they mean soon. Just two days after directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller left the long-gestasting Han Solo standalone spinoff project, a new director has already been named, according to new reports. When Lord and Miller left the film on Tuesday, an official statement from the pair and Lucasfilm promised that a new director would be named soon. Soon is today.
Both THR and Variety report that Ron Howard, rumored over the past two days to be the frontrunner for the project, will take over as director Asap. An official announcement is expected later this morning.
Update: The official Star Wars website has now shared the news that Howard is on board to direct the feature. In their official statement, Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy commented, “At Lucasfilm, we believe the highest goal of each film is to delight, carrying forward the spirit of the saga that George Lucas began forty years ago. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that Ron Howard will step in to direct the untitled Han Solo film. We have a wonderful script, an incredible cast and crew, and the absolute commitment to make a great movie. Filming will resume the 10th of July.”
The still-untitled feature was reportedly about 75% done with principal photography, with about four weeks left in the shoot and five weeks of reshoots already planned for later this summer (a standard move on such a massive feature film).
Read More: Han Solo Upheaval: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s ‘Star Wars’ Exit
THR reports that Howard “will meet with the actors — Alden Ehrenreich is playing the iconic smuggler, Donald Glover is playing Lando Calrissian, with Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton also on the roll call — to soothe a rattled set and will pore over a rough edit to see what the project has and still needs.”
Variety adds that “Howard will begin work immediately” on the film and “the exact amount of time and money that it will take to actually complete the production…will vary depending on how much rewriting and reshooting Howard deems is necessary after reviewing the script and shot footage.”
Read More: ‘Star Wars’: The Han Solo Movie We Will Never Get to See
Howard is already a part of the Lucasfilm fold, having worked with the studio on the George Lucas-penned 1988 fantasy “Willow.” He even appeared in Lucas’ “American Graffiti” in a small role. THR also shares that “Howard also revealed on a podcast in 2015 that Lucas had approached him to direct 1999’s ‘Star Wars’ prequel ‘The Phantom Menace,'” a gig that Lucas himself ultimately took on.
The filmmaker is a clearly a safe choice for a situation that seems destined to go down as an all-timer of a mess, yet the two-time Oscar winner’s filmmaking career has lately seemed to flatline. His last four narrative features have each made less than $50 million at the domestic box office, though his “Inferno” was a worldwide smash (it made over $220 million internationally). His last bonafide box office hit was 2009’s “Angels and Demons,” earning $133 at U.S. box office and nearly half a billion worldwide.
It is also still unclear how credits for the final film will shake out, a decision that ultimately rests with the Directors Guild of America.
The film’s release date is still tentatively set for May 25, 2018.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related storiesRon Howard's 'Star Wars': We Debate the New Choice For Lucasfilm's Han Solo Movie'Star Wars': The Han Solo Movie We Will Never Get to SeeHan Solo Upheaval: Here's Everything You Need to Know About Phil Lord and Chris Miller's 'Star Wars' Exit...
Both THR and Variety report that Ron Howard, rumored over the past two days to be the frontrunner for the project, will take over as director Asap. An official announcement is expected later this morning.
Update: The official Star Wars website has now shared the news that Howard is on board to direct the feature. In their official statement, Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy commented, “At Lucasfilm, we believe the highest goal of each film is to delight, carrying forward the spirit of the saga that George Lucas began forty years ago. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that Ron Howard will step in to direct the untitled Han Solo film. We have a wonderful script, an incredible cast and crew, and the absolute commitment to make a great movie. Filming will resume the 10th of July.”
The still-untitled feature was reportedly about 75% done with principal photography, with about four weeks left in the shoot and five weeks of reshoots already planned for later this summer (a standard move on such a massive feature film).
Read More: Han Solo Upheaval: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s ‘Star Wars’ Exit
THR reports that Howard “will meet with the actors — Alden Ehrenreich is playing the iconic smuggler, Donald Glover is playing Lando Calrissian, with Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton also on the roll call — to soothe a rattled set and will pore over a rough edit to see what the project has and still needs.”
Variety adds that “Howard will begin work immediately” on the film and “the exact amount of time and money that it will take to actually complete the production…will vary depending on how much rewriting and reshooting Howard deems is necessary after reviewing the script and shot footage.”
Read More: ‘Star Wars’: The Han Solo Movie We Will Never Get to See
Howard is already a part of the Lucasfilm fold, having worked with the studio on the George Lucas-penned 1988 fantasy “Willow.” He even appeared in Lucas’ “American Graffiti” in a small role. THR also shares that “Howard also revealed on a podcast in 2015 that Lucas had approached him to direct 1999’s ‘Star Wars’ prequel ‘The Phantom Menace,'” a gig that Lucas himself ultimately took on.
The filmmaker is a clearly a safe choice for a situation that seems destined to go down as an all-timer of a mess, yet the two-time Oscar winner’s filmmaking career has lately seemed to flatline. His last four narrative features have each made less than $50 million at the domestic box office, though his “Inferno” was a worldwide smash (it made over $220 million internationally). His last bonafide box office hit was 2009’s “Angels and Demons,” earning $133 at U.S. box office and nearly half a billion worldwide.
It is also still unclear how credits for the final film will shake out, a decision that ultimately rests with the Directors Guild of America.
The film’s release date is still tentatively set for May 25, 2018.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related storiesRon Howard's 'Star Wars': We Debate the New Choice For Lucasfilm's Han Solo Movie'Star Wars': The Han Solo Movie We Will Never Get to SeeHan Solo Upheaval: Here's Everything You Need to Know About Phil Lord and Chris Miller's 'Star Wars' Exit...
- 6/22/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: With “The Mummy” opening to mostly negative reviews this weekend, Universal’s attempt to kickstart its “Dark Universe” franchise is stuck in a rut. What would you do (or recommend the studio do) to make good movies out of Universal’s classic monsters?
Violet Lucca (@unbuttonmyeyes), Film Comment
The obvious response is “don’t try,” but since we’re a few years away from getting back to using original intellectual property in film, I’ll give them a few options.
One: ditch the self-seriousness of the modern action blockbuster and revive the genre mashup of the “Abbott and Costello Meet…” series. Get Channing Tatum...
This week’s question: With “The Mummy” opening to mostly negative reviews this weekend, Universal’s attempt to kickstart its “Dark Universe” franchise is stuck in a rut. What would you do (or recommend the studio do) to make good movies out of Universal’s classic monsters?
Violet Lucca (@unbuttonmyeyes), Film Comment
The obvious response is “don’t try,” but since we’re a few years away from getting back to using original intellectual property in film, I’ll give them a few options.
One: ditch the self-seriousness of the modern action blockbuster and revive the genre mashup of the “Abbott and Costello Meet…” series. Get Channing Tatum...
- 6/12/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
It’s called Celebration for a reason. Back in April 1999, when “The Phantom Menace” was about to become the first new “Star Wars” film to hit theaters in 16 years, Lucasfilm launched Star Wars Celebration to further stoke the fan fires (and to keep them rejoicing over a relaunched franchise). With over 20,000 attendees, the fan-facing convention was an immediate hit — but the popular event came and went, depending on what was then a very fickle “Star Wars” release schedule.
Today, with the “Star Wars” universe rapidly expanding with all the heat and mass of a black hole, the conventions have become annual affairs that bring fans together to celebrate their shared obsession with George Lucas’ decades-long creation. (Already, Star Wars Celebration Orlando is selling out tickets for 2017.)
What Is Celebration?
For the first time since 2007, the three-day event that is Star Wars Celebration Europe returned to London’s sprawling ExCel Exhibition Centre,...
Today, with the “Star Wars” universe rapidly expanding with all the heat and mass of a black hole, the conventions have become annual affairs that bring fans together to celebrate their shared obsession with George Lucas’ decades-long creation. (Already, Star Wars Celebration Orlando is selling out tickets for 2017.)
What Is Celebration?
For the first time since 2007, the three-day event that is Star Wars Celebration Europe returned to London’s sprawling ExCel Exhibition Centre,...
- 7/20/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Warren Beatty is a known entity in Hollywood. He’s a brilliant and controlling writer-director-producer-star who will talk anyone’s ear off. He’s indecisive. He will take as much time as he can get to burnish a movie to glossy perfection. And he’s hell-bent on success. That’s why he’s Warren Beatty.
But he’s less well known to the general moviegoing public.
While he’s consistently brilliant, from “Heaven Can Wait” and “Bonnie and Clyde” to “Dick Tracy,” he’s also known for dramatic box office highs and lows. He’s had amazing successes, such as 1982 classic period romance “Reds,” which won three Oscars (including Beatty’s only win, as Best Director). Over the decades Beatty has been nominated for 14 Oscars, and received the Thalberg Award. But he’s also responsible for such over-budget flops as $90-million “Town and Country” (2001, $6 .7 million domestic) which he produced and...
But he’s less well known to the general moviegoing public.
While he’s consistently brilliant, from “Heaven Can Wait” and “Bonnie and Clyde” to “Dick Tracy,” he’s also known for dramatic box office highs and lows. He’s had amazing successes, such as 1982 classic period romance “Reds,” which won three Oscars (including Beatty’s only win, as Best Director). Over the decades Beatty has been nominated for 14 Oscars, and received the Thalberg Award. But he’s also responsible for such over-budget flops as $90-million “Town and Country” (2001, $6 .7 million domestic) which he produced and...
- 7/20/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Warren Beatty’s been talking about Howard Hughes as long as I’ve lived in Los Angeles. When I was in high school, one of the things I did was devour entire careers on home video as a way of educating myself about various filmmakers and eras. I was aware of Warren Beatty before that, certainly, and remember Heaven Can Wait in particular as a big commercial moment for Beatty. I loved that movie and the weird goofball guy who starred in it, but it was almost a decade later when I finally plunged headlong into his filmography and suddenly realized that I kind of adore Beatty. And why not? Look at that body of work in front of the camera first. He’s been relatively selective over the years, and considering what a giant movie star he was considered at one time, he never really became omnipresent like some of his peers.
- 5/18/2016
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Lucasfilm
There are stories about what will happen. They may be true. They may be complete rubbish; a million voices crying out utter bulls*it.
Before Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there were A Lot of rumours. Some of them hit like Luke Skywalker firing at the Death Star (see: Han Solo dying); some were close to the mark (Kylo Ren and Rey being siblings); and others had all the accuracy of a Stormtrooper who’s just banged his head (the vast majority of Luke theories).
However, like the Empire and planet destroying weapons, the internet is definitely trying again. The Force Awakens may have been the most hyped film of all time, but it’s really just the beginning. It has reignited the saga, and now there’s going to be a new Star Wars movie every year until the Earth dies (or at least 2019).
There’s the standalone...
There are stories about what will happen. They may be true. They may be complete rubbish; a million voices crying out utter bulls*it.
Before Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there were A Lot of rumours. Some of them hit like Luke Skywalker firing at the Death Star (see: Han Solo dying); some were close to the mark (Kylo Ren and Rey being siblings); and others had all the accuracy of a Stormtrooper who’s just banged his head (the vast majority of Luke theories).
However, like the Empire and planet destroying weapons, the internet is definitely trying again. The Force Awakens may have been the most hyped film of all time, but it’s really just the beginning. It has reignited the saga, and now there’s going to be a new Star Wars movie every year until the Earth dies (or at least 2019).
There’s the standalone...
- 1/21/2016
- by James Hunt
- Obsessed with Film
Lucasfilm
So, Lucasfilm and Disney are setting their Star Wars stall out in a similar way to Marvel Cinematic Universe. Akin to the Avengers films, there’ll be the main event ‘Episode’ movies like The Force Awakens at regular intervals, but we’ll also get standalone films in between.
These have been dubbed the ‘Story’ films, the first of which is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This film, directed by Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards will take us back to the period of time between the first two trilogies to show us how the Rebels nabbed the Death Star Plans. There’s also a lot hype surrounding the upcoming Han Solo movie, which Lawrence Kasdan is writing for Phil Lord and Chris Miller to direct.
But beyond that, fans haven’t been given the vaguest clue about what these spin-off films will be. Star Wars history is stretches back much...
So, Lucasfilm and Disney are setting their Star Wars stall out in a similar way to Marvel Cinematic Universe. Akin to the Avengers films, there’ll be the main event ‘Episode’ movies like The Force Awakens at regular intervals, but we’ll also get standalone films in between.
These have been dubbed the ‘Story’ films, the first of which is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This film, directed by Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards will take us back to the period of time between the first two trilogies to show us how the Rebels nabbed the Death Star Plans. There’s also a lot hype surrounding the upcoming Han Solo movie, which Lawrence Kasdan is writing for Phil Lord and Chris Miller to direct.
But beyond that, fans haven’t been given the vaguest clue about what these spin-off films will be. Star Wars history is stretches back much...
- 1/15/2016
- by Rob Leane
- Obsessed with Film
Could the "Star Wars" universe finally be getting a woman behind-the-scenes.
With seven films down and two more on the way, one big surprise about the "Star Wars" films have been the lack of any women as writers or directors beyond an uncredited screenplay polish on "The Phantom Menace" by Carrie Fisher, and a very early (and discarded) "The Empire Strikes Back" draft by Leigh Brackett.
Today, The Los Angeles Times reports that Wme agent Adriana Alberghetti has reportedly managed to procure meetings for four female directors and three female writers for upcoming "Star Wars" film titles.
None of the seven women are named in the article, though Alberghetti represents the likes of "Buffy" writer Marti Noxon, "Jessica Jones" director S.J. Clarkson and "Suffragette" helmer Sarah Gavron.
Whomever is involved would join Gareth Edwards, Rian Johnson, Colin Trevorrow and the team of Phil Lord & Chris Miller at the helm of...
With seven films down and two more on the way, one big surprise about the "Star Wars" films have been the lack of any women as writers or directors beyond an uncredited screenplay polish on "The Phantom Menace" by Carrie Fisher, and a very early (and discarded) "The Empire Strikes Back" draft by Leigh Brackett.
Today, The Los Angeles Times reports that Wme agent Adriana Alberghetti has reportedly managed to procure meetings for four female directors and three female writers for upcoming "Star Wars" film titles.
None of the seven women are named in the article, though Alberghetti represents the likes of "Buffy" writer Marti Noxon, "Jessica Jones" director S.J. Clarkson and "Suffragette" helmer Sarah Gavron.
Whomever is involved would join Gareth Edwards, Rian Johnson, Colin Trevorrow and the team of Phil Lord & Chris Miller at the helm of...
- 12/4/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
“There’s nothing we’d like more than to find a female director for 'Star Wars,' ” producer and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy said earlier this year, and she's following through on that commitment. While it's a dude party directing the next batch of films — Rian Johnson ("Star Wars: Episode VIII"), Colin Trevorrow ("Star Wars: Episode IX"), Gareth Edwards ("Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (the Han Solo spinoff) — Kennedy very clearly has women in mind beyond that horizon. Read More: Carrie Fisher Says She Was Pressured To Lose Weight For 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' The Los Angeles Times reports that earlier this fall, 44 of Hollywood's movers and shakers got together to address the industry's much publicized and documented gender bias and gender gaps in hiring. Organized by Women in Film and the Sundance Institute, the meeting featured suits from Warner Bros.,...
- 12/4/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Mimi Steinbauer and her team will introduce buyers in Santa Monica to the action thriller starring Beau Knapp and Stephen Moyer.
CAA represents North American rights on Juveniles, which is in post-production and directed by documentary and music video director Nico Sabenorio from his own screenplay.
Steinbauer will show footage from the Disruptivela production about a promising student out to avenge his father’s death at the hands of a local crime lord.
Knapp stars for Ang Lee in the upcoming Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk while Moyer was a regular on True Blood.
Rounding out the Juveniles key cast are Martin Henderson, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Nick Eversman and Jessica Rothe.
Chris Miller, produced with James C E Burke, Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt and Scott Disharoon. Executive producer is the Oscar-winning visual effects ace for Babe, Scott E Anderson.
“Nico has written a powerful and moving script which is exquisitely captured on screen,” said Steinbauer...
CAA represents North American rights on Juveniles, which is in post-production and directed by documentary and music video director Nico Sabenorio from his own screenplay.
Steinbauer will show footage from the Disruptivela production about a promising student out to avenge his father’s death at the hands of a local crime lord.
Knapp stars for Ang Lee in the upcoming Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk while Moyer was a regular on True Blood.
Rounding out the Juveniles key cast are Martin Henderson, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Nick Eversman and Jessica Rothe.
Chris Miller, produced with James C E Burke, Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt and Scott Disharoon. Executive producer is the Oscar-winning visual effects ace for Babe, Scott E Anderson.
“Nico has written a powerful and moving script which is exquisitely captured on screen,” said Steinbauer...
- 10/30/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Directors J.J. Abrams (Star Trek), Rian Johnson (Looper), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (22 Jump Street), Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World), and Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) are all white dudes. All very talented white dudes, mind you, but they’re white dudes. This has caused a slight uproar amongst Star Wars fans, but Lucasfilm promises there will be a female Star Wars director. Read more […]
The post Lucasfilm Promises Female ‘Star Wars’ Director appeared first on /Film.
The post Lucasfilm Promises Female ‘Star Wars’ Director appeared first on /Film.
- 10/14/2015
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
Today was definitely Han Solo day! Entertainment Weekly posted some very interesting new details on not only the older version of the character that Harrison Ford will reprise in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but also our first real bit of info on Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s Anthology movie that will focus on the beloved space-smuggler as a youngster.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy promised that although it would be an origin story of sorts, they weren’t going to waste a lot of time going back over and explaining all of the events of the past and forcing connections with the later movies. From what she says, it does sound like they’re committed to staying as true as possible to what made the character so popular in the first place:
“I think the key here is that we are identifying an event or events in Han Solo...
Producer Kathleen Kennedy promised that although it would be an origin story of sorts, they weren’t going to waste a lot of time going back over and explaining all of the events of the past and forcing connections with the later movies. From what she says, it does sound like they’re committed to staying as true as possible to what made the character so popular in the first place:
“I think the key here is that we are identifying an event or events in Han Solo...
- 8/14/2015
- by Mark Cassidy
- We Got This Covered
Jj Abrams rules himself out of the running for the Star Wars: Episode IX job...
As things stand, we know the directors for the next four Star Wars movies. Jj Abrams, of course, is the man helming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, whilst Godzilla director Gareth Edwards has been working on 2016's Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One.
For 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII, it's Looper director Rian Johnson who's calling the shots, whilst 2018 will see a Han Solo Anthology movie, put together by Chris Miller and Phil Lord.
Which leaves the next thus far open assignment the small matter of 2018's Star Wars: Episode IX, that rounds off the new trilogy that begins later this year.
Two rumours have sprung up this far, and one of them is about to be nixed. Jj Abrams had been linked with the film, coming back to complete the trilogy he started. And...
As things stand, we know the directors for the next four Star Wars movies. Jj Abrams, of course, is the man helming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, whilst Godzilla director Gareth Edwards has been working on 2016's Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One.
For 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII, it's Looper director Rian Johnson who's calling the shots, whilst 2018 will see a Han Solo Anthology movie, put together by Chris Miller and Phil Lord.
Which leaves the next thus far open assignment the small matter of 2018's Star Wars: Episode IX, that rounds off the new trilogy that begins later this year.
Two rumours have sprung up this far, and one of them is about to be nixed. Jj Abrams had been linked with the film, coming back to complete the trilogy he started. And...
- 8/13/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
The Snes is arguably home to some of the best Japanese role-playing games ever made, but even among such revered company, Earthbound (known as Mother 2 in Japan) stands as one of the most memorable games released on the system. Here to help us discuss Shigesato Itoi’s masterpiece is guest host, Chris Miller. Before we get to the main event, we discuss The Adventures of Pip, a beautiful tribute to the 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit era that used to be. Closing the episode is our interview with Jeff Hansen, winner of the 1990 Nintendo World Championship. All this and more.
Listen on ITunes
Playlist:
00:00: Intro
00:30: Nintendosage: Review of Adventures of Pip
19:00: Sears Super Nes commecial
20:00: Earthbound theme song
21:00: Main Event: Earthbound review
78:00: “Mother” – John Lennon
79:00: Earthbound music
80:00: outro
Contact us @ feedback@soundonsight.org
Follow Ricky...
Listen on ITunes
Playlist:
00:00: Intro
00:30: Nintendosage: Review of Adventures of Pip
19:00: Sears Super Nes commecial
20:00: Earthbound theme song
21:00: Main Event: Earthbound review
78:00: “Mother” – John Lennon
79:00: Earthbound music
80:00: outro
Contact us @ feedback@soundonsight.org
Follow Ricky...
- 6/11/2015
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Tick tock. Tick tock.
Only one week left before Christmas.
Now it’s crunch time to get those holiday gifts and stocking stuffers on a short notice. And these Blu-rays will make fine gifts for any film aficionado.
Since it is the last minute gift ideas—we’re keeping this list to something simple and not those expensive collector’s edition or boxed sets. However, we do want the best Blu-rays that features the movie, downloadable and the best extra features out there.
So check out the following recommendations.
For the action movie lovers:
Godzilla
Gozilla fans can rejoice with the mega monster taking on creatures in the middle of San Francisco. Sure there’s a human story to it, but Godzilla should be the focus. Nonetheless the fight scene is impressive and far better than the forgettable one starring Matthew Broderick. The extra features have a few 1950s government...
Only one week left before Christmas.
Now it’s crunch time to get those holiday gifts and stocking stuffers on a short notice. And these Blu-rays will make fine gifts for any film aficionado.
Since it is the last minute gift ideas—we’re keeping this list to something simple and not those expensive collector’s edition or boxed sets. However, we do want the best Blu-rays that features the movie, downloadable and the best extra features out there.
So check out the following recommendations.
For the action movie lovers:
Godzilla
Gozilla fans can rejoice with the mega monster taking on creatures in the middle of San Francisco. Sure there’s a human story to it, but Godzilla should be the focus. Nonetheless the fight scene is impressive and far better than the forgettable one starring Matthew Broderick. The extra features have a few 1950s government...
- 12/17/2014
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
You might have thought, from the hilarious closing credits of this summer's "22 Jump Street"—which ran through over twenty fictional sequels to the movie, from "Foreign Exchange" to "Mariachi School"—that filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller had totally blown up the franchise. They mock the endless studio sequel factories, and even the idea of re-casting when contracts expire. Indeed, the sequel initially ended, per Buzzfeed, with the two quitting the force, with the sequel jokes a last-minute addition, put together only weeks before the film hit theaters. But that was before the film was a giant, giant hit. On only a $50 million budget, the film (which once again stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum) made over $190 million domestically, only a touch behind "Godzilla," "Dawn Of The Planet Of the Apes," and even Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," all of which cost three-to-four times as much to produce. And so it's with.
- 9/9/2014
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
We've officially reached the half-way mark of 2014. This time a year ago the only Oscar players on the table were Sundance debut "Before Midnight" and Cannes debuts "Nebraska" and "Inside Llewyn Davis," give or take a "Croods," "Great Gatsby," "Lone Ranger" or an "Iron Man 3" that would pick up support outside of the major categories. So what does the year have to show for itself so far this time around? Sundance feels like it might have an off year this season, though screenplay hopes and more abound for films like "Boyhood" and "Dear White People." "Whiplash" could find a stride depending on how Sony Pictures Classics' slate shakes out for them, but as ever, the year's first big splash for new films will make more of an impression in the documentary feature category than anywhere else. Not long after things wrapped up in Park City, Warner Bros. released...
- 6/30/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Dynamic directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller have done it again, turning a seemingly terrible idea (a sequel to a movie based on an eighties television show about teen cops? Surely you jest!) into one of the year’s best comedic outings and a financial juggernaut, as least week’s uproarious new release 22 Jump Street has already laughed its way to over $60M at the box office. Although the re-teaming of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill has plenty to offer — big emotions, sage commentary on the power of words, sad Dave Franco, lobsters, Ice Cube yelling a lot, a star turn from Jillian Bell – there’s one thing that everyone is talking about: its closing credits that imagine some of the other sequels the franchise has in store for us. Over at Mashable, Jordan Hoffman dives deep into the “best part” of the film — its crazy credits, naturally, although the entire film is a very funny...
- 6/16/2014
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
There’s been talk of a slow box-office this year. Indeed as of early June, despite big grosses for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Godzilla” and “X-Men: Days Of Future Past,” the box-office was down 12% from 2013. And it has been relatively soft: Tom Cruise’s “Edge Of Tomorrow” vehicle failed to open higher than $30 million and all of the aforementioned summer blockbusters are expected to not pass the $225 million mark at home (a relatively low performance considering the average tentpole). Could it be blockbuster fatigue has already set in? Evidence in favor of that posit is this weekend’s box-office as two non-traditionally loud and epic films took off massively to make for $110 million total. If you thought they were having a good year already, Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 2014 perhaps rivaled all other directors so far. Their “Lego Movie” was a massive smash ($256 million domestically, $462m globally) and now they...
- 6/15/2014
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
In terms of volume and quality, 2012 has been an absolutely stunning year for film. I cannot remember the last time there were this many films produced and distributed by some of the best directors in the business, all within one year. Ridley Scott returned to the sci-fi genre with Prometheus; Quentin Tarantino recently returned in full idiosyncratic fashion with Django Unchained; Ang Lee has blown the majority of us away with his glorious celebration of life in Life of Pi; Steven Spielberg tackled presidential history with Lincoln; Christopher Nolan bought the curtain down on the Batman series with The Dark Knight Rises and Sam Mendes breathed new life into 007 with Skyfall. Picking this list is not an easy one. The beautiful thing about a top 15 list is that it accepts films that are not exactly Oscar worthy candidates but were entertaining none the less.
So, these are what I consider...
So, these are what I consider...
- 12/31/2012
- by David Keeble
- Obsessed with Film
After much speculation, it seems that we now know the identity of Marvel's secret film that's been long targeted for a May 2014 release. And it's not "Ant-Man," or "Black Panther," or "Runaways," or "Doctor Strange." It's "Guardians Of The Galaxy," the cosmic adventure that was a favorite in the 1970s before being revived recently.
Originally, the Guardians were a group of superpowered individuals from an alternate timeline in the 31st century, including human astronaut Vance Astro, humanoid crystal Martinex T'Naga, soldier from Jupiter Charlie-27, and Yonda Udonta, a savage from Beta Centurai. The team (whose lineup would have other shifts), battled a number of adversaries, including alien race the Badoon, and teamed up with The Avengers before the series was cancelled in the 1990s. A more recent 2008 update relaunched the property with a new lineup, including long-time characters like Star-Lord, Adam Warlock, Gamora and Quasar, and it's been suggested that...
Originally, the Guardians were a group of superpowered individuals from an alternate timeline in the 31st century, including human astronaut Vance Astro, humanoid crystal Martinex T'Naga, soldier from Jupiter Charlie-27, and Yonda Udonta, a savage from Beta Centurai. The team (whose lineup would have other shifts), battled a number of adversaries, including alien race the Badoon, and teamed up with The Avengers before the series was cancelled in the 1990s. A more recent 2008 update relaunched the property with a new lineup, including long-time characters like Star-Lord, Adam Warlock, Gamora and Quasar, and it's been suggested that...
- 6/29/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
There are countless examples of how Hollywood likes to work in pairs - The Prestige and The Illusionist, Volcano and Dante's Peak, Antz and A Bug's Life - and this looks to be no different. Not to be confused with Chris Miller and Phil Lord's upcoming Lego adaptation for Warner Bros., Universal has acquired the rights to Lego's Hero Factory Robots and set Michael Finch and Alex Litvak to write a screenplay based on their adventures.
THR has the news, and they describe the Hero Factory line as an interactive series that includes toys, comics, a theme park, and of course an app. (Hero Factory is a follow-up to Lego's recent Bionicle series.)
The characters hail from a planet where a factory churns out robotic machines whose goal is to fight intergalactic evil. The heroes include characters such as Stormer, Bulk, Stringer, Furno and Breez with villains having monikers...
THR has the news, and they describe the Hero Factory line as an interactive series that includes toys, comics, a theme park, and of course an app. (Hero Factory is a follow-up to Lego's recent Bionicle series.)
The characters hail from a planet where a factory churns out robotic machines whose goal is to fight intergalactic evil. The heroes include characters such as Stormer, Bulk, Stringer, Furno and Breez with villains having monikers...
- 5/24/2012
- by benp
- GeekTyrant
Following a triumphant win at this year.s Oscar ceremony, Exclusive Media has sold international rights in a number of key territories to its Academy Award® Winning documentary feature film Undefeated, it was announced today by Exclusive Media, President of International Sales and Distribution, Alex Walton.
Deals have been completed with the leading documentary distributor Dogwoof in the UK and to Madman Entertainment in Australia as well as with Cdc in Latin America, Independent Films in Benelux, Impuls Pictures/Rialto in Switzerland, Sam Films in Iceland and United King in Israel. Additional sales were made withCathay in Singapore, Pt Amero in Indonesia, Lots Home Entertainment in Taiwan and M Pictures in Thailand. Negotiations are currently underway with a number of remaining territories.
On finalizing the sales, Walton said, .Undefeated is a universally crowd pleasing film exploring the triumph of the human spirit and it is attracting some of the leading...
Deals have been completed with the leading documentary distributor Dogwoof in the UK and to Madman Entertainment in Australia as well as with Cdc in Latin America, Independent Films in Benelux, Impuls Pictures/Rialto in Switzerland, Sam Films in Iceland and United King in Israel. Additional sales were made withCathay in Singapore, Pt Amero in Indonesia, Lots Home Entertainment in Taiwan and M Pictures in Thailand. Negotiations are currently underway with a number of remaining territories.
On finalizing the sales, Walton said, .Undefeated is a universally crowd pleasing film exploring the triumph of the human spirit and it is attracting some of the leading...
- 3/22/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
21 Jump Street (15)
(Phil Lord, Chris Miller, 2012, Us) Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson. 109 mins.
As with comic books, now that all the big titles have gone, it's down to TV's B-list to feed Hollywood's appetite for ready-made movie concepts. Based on the show that first traded on Johnny Depp's youthful good looks, it stars Hill and Tatum – a great odd-couple anchor – as two low-flying cops who are sent back to high school to infiltrate a drugs ring. The premise is an almost pitifully obvious excuse to aim for broad-appeal paydirt with a mix of fratboy crudity, teen-movie romance and crime-flick action, but for all the box-ticking, it has intermittently hilarious results.
Contraband (15)
(Baltasur Kormákur, 2012, Us) Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi. 110 mins.
Mark Wahlberg sticks to what he's good at, which is muscled, breathy and slightly high-pitched posturing in a brooding action thriller. Here he plays a smuggler lured...
(Phil Lord, Chris Miller, 2012, Us) Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson. 109 mins.
As with comic books, now that all the big titles have gone, it's down to TV's B-list to feed Hollywood's appetite for ready-made movie concepts. Based on the show that first traded on Johnny Depp's youthful good looks, it stars Hill and Tatum – a great odd-couple anchor – as two low-flying cops who are sent back to high school to infiltrate a drugs ring. The premise is an almost pitifully obvious excuse to aim for broad-appeal paydirt with a mix of fratboy crudity, teen-movie romance and crime-flick action, but for all the box-ticking, it has intermittently hilarious results.
Contraband (15)
(Baltasur Kormákur, 2012, Us) Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi. 110 mins.
Mark Wahlberg sticks to what he's good at, which is muscled, breathy and slightly high-pitched posturing in a brooding action thriller. Here he plays a smuggler lured...
- 3/17/2012
- by Damon Wise
- The Guardian - Film News
Shrek’s journey has been one of highs and lows, but it was running out of interesting places to go, something even Shrek the Third director Chris Miller would agree with. Concentrating on another of Shrek’s travelling companions was always going to be a tall order; making a supporting character stand alone in a film can go either way. Miller and co have definitely succeeded with Puss in Boots in the new 3D film of the same name, tapping into the older audience’s nursery-rhyme nostalgia while putting the ‘cool’ back into the time-old stories for the newer generation.
Long before he met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) was an orphan then a criminal then a local hero after an adventure to track down some magic beans and the Golden Goose with tough, street-smart Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and criminal...
Long before he met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) was an orphan then a criminal then a local hero after an adventure to track down some magic beans and the Golden Goose with tough, street-smart Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and criminal...
- 12/7/2011
- by Lisa Giles-Keddie
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
By Pete Hammond
Hollywoodnews.com: This cat may have the Halloween record in his hat. Despite the East Coast early snows and massive power outtages , Puss In Boots, Dreamworks Animation’s first spinoff of their cash-cow Shrek franchise is meeting Dwa boss Jeffrey Katzenberg’s highest expectations with an estimated $34 million for the opening weekend. If it holds on Monday that would be enough to best Saw III’s $33.6 million by just a hair (or whisker if you’re up for puns today). Audience and critics certainly liked what they saw. The sharply-written and animated ‘toon got a nice A- Cinemascore audience satisfaction rating and has scored a Rotten Tomato meter friendly 81% fresh ranking (86% among top critics). Does it deserve the love? Absolutely. Ever since his debut in Shrek 2 in 2004 as a supporting player this sly character voiced brilliantly by Antonio Banderas has proved no pussy. But sometimes when...
Hollywoodnews.com: This cat may have the Halloween record in his hat. Despite the East Coast early snows and massive power outtages , Puss In Boots, Dreamworks Animation’s first spinoff of their cash-cow Shrek franchise is meeting Dwa boss Jeffrey Katzenberg’s highest expectations with an estimated $34 million for the opening weekend. If it holds on Monday that would be enough to best Saw III’s $33.6 million by just a hair (or whisker if you’re up for puns today). Audience and critics certainly liked what they saw. The sharply-written and animated ‘toon got a nice A- Cinemascore audience satisfaction rating and has scored a Rotten Tomato meter friendly 81% fresh ranking (86% among top critics). Does it deserve the love? Absolutely. Ever since his debut in Shrek 2 in 2004 as a supporting player this sly character voiced brilliantly by Antonio Banderas has proved no pussy. But sometimes when...
- 10/30/2011
- by Pete Hammond
- Hollywoodnews.com
Austin, TX – The Foo Fighters have a documentary coming along which will coincide with the bands seventh studio album release this spring.
Foo Fighters: Back And Forth, chronicles 16 years of the Foo Fighters history, the formation, good times and rocky times for the band.
The film had its premiere here at the SXSW Film festival.
Iframe Embed for Youtube
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Exclusive Media Group’S Spitfire Pictures And RCA/Jive Announce Foo Fighters Feature-length Documentary
Film Theatrical Release Slated For Spring 2011
Directed by Academy Award winner James Moll
Produced By Spitfire Pictures
Co-Financed by Exclusive Media Group and RCA Records
To Have World Premiere at 2011 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX
Los Angeles, CA (February 1, 2011) – Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear a/k/a the Foo Fighters and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairman of Exclusive Media Group, announced today that Exclusive’s documentary film...
Foo Fighters: Back And Forth, chronicles 16 years of the Foo Fighters history, the formation, good times and rocky times for the band.
The film had its premiere here at the SXSW Film festival.
Iframe Embed for Youtube
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Exclusive Media Group’S Spitfire Pictures And RCA/Jive Announce Foo Fighters Feature-length Documentary
Film Theatrical Release Slated For Spring 2011
Directed by Academy Award winner James Moll
Produced By Spitfire Pictures
Co-Financed by Exclusive Media Group and RCA Records
To Have World Premiere at 2011 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX
Los Angeles, CA (February 1, 2011) – Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear a/k/a the Foo Fighters and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairman of Exclusive Media Group, announced today that Exclusive’s documentary film...
- 3/18/2011
- by Albert Art
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
There can be few more flagrant nor nauseating examples of the pernicious influence of American corporate capitalism’s influence on artistic output than the animated Shrek ‘franchise’-a good, original digital animation with amusing characters, witty dialogue, and a deftly chosen cast. The film proved a massive success for Dreamworks pictures, drawing critical praise and finding world-wide cross-generational appeal. In the decade since its release, however, the exploitation of the characters and story world of the original has been sufficiently ruthless that George Lucas himself may have balked at the bare-faced profiteering of the Three sequels that have buffered the franchise’s ubiquitous merchandising.
The flogging of the dead horse appears to be continuing unabated, however, as a spin off film, Puss In Boots, from the eponymous feline assassin- played by Antonio Banderas- who proved popular enough to paper of the cracks in the increasingly derelict edifice that were the Shrek sequels.
The flogging of the dead horse appears to be continuing unabated, however, as a spin off film, Puss In Boots, from the eponymous feline assassin- played by Antonio Banderas- who proved popular enough to paper of the cracks in the increasingly derelict edifice that were the Shrek sequels.
- 3/5/2011
- by Ben Szwediuk
- Obsessed with Film
Los Angeles, CA (February 2, 2011) – Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairmen of Exclusive Media Group (“Exclusive”), announced today that the company has brought Chris Miller on board to serve as President of Film Finance Operations for Exclusive, and as the new President of Spitfire Pictures. Miller makes the move to Exclusive after spending three years as the Head of Production for National Geographic Films Worldwide. While at National Geographic, Miller worked on several other high profile projects including Peter Weir’s The Way Back, a co-production with Exclusive Films, as well as on The Last Lions, a new Natural History film event by world renowned filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, to be released in North America next month. Prior to joining National Geographic, Miller in 2001 co-founded Visionbox Media Group and Visionbox Pictures, where he served as president for six years, creating original content in digital formats for the marketplace. Over the six years at Visionbox,...
- 2/2/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
San Diego Comic Con International has finally come up with the full schedule for the first full day of Comic Con 2009. From the programming list, it is revealed that Summit Entertainment as well as Walt Disney Pictures will be among those presenting their latest line-up of upcoming movies, such as "The Twilight Saga's New Moon" and "Alice in Wonderland", on Thursday, July 23.
Summit will make use of Hall H from 2:15 P.M. to 3:15 P.M. to give a special presentation as well as unveil exclusive footage of their three feature projects, "Astro Boy", "Sorority Row" and "New Moon". Especially for "New Moon", it is mentioned that surprise members of the cast will attend the presentation to answer questions.
In the meantime, Disney will dominate the Hall H from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. to present their upcoming slate, including "A Christmas Carol (2009)" and "Tron 2.0". Aside from the movies' presentation,...
Summit will make use of Hall H from 2:15 P.M. to 3:15 P.M. to give a special presentation as well as unveil exclusive footage of their three feature projects, "Astro Boy", "Sorority Row" and "New Moon". Especially for "New Moon", it is mentioned that surprise members of the cast will attend the presentation to answer questions.
In the meantime, Disney will dominate the Hall H from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. to present their upcoming slate, including "A Christmas Carol (2009)" and "Tron 2.0". Aside from the movies' presentation,...
- 7/10/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.