The game where I throw out one of cinema's more obscure quotes and you try to guess it. Readers are currently 20 for 27. Let's see if you can name the film this quote is from:
"You killed him? No, I shot him. Bullets and the fall killed him."
Friday, May 10, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Badass Digest broke the new logo and synopsis of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes sequel. Production started a few days ago and with any luck the project will capitalize on the intriguing premise set below:
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes stars Gary Oldman, Judy Greer, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke and Andy Serkis as Caesar. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves takes over the reins from Rupert Wyatt.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Courtesy of @WBPictures, this is the first look at Gravity before the release of the trailer of Thursday. Updated: the trailer is below.
Astronauts attempt to return to earth after debris crashes into their space shuttle, leaving them drifting alone in space.
Gravity opens in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D on October 18.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Two more posters for some of the summer's most anticipated films. One for Zack Snyder's Man of Steel and the other for Edgar Wright's The World's End. The banner for Man of Steel doesn't reveal much, it's just stylish, but the new poster for World's End reveals a look at the villains previously unseen in any promotional materials. The glowing eyes don't give away enough to say definitively, but could it be aliens?
(Courtesy: IMPAwards.com)
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is in the middle of a panic of sorts. He is suffering what most would call a crisis of confidence. The Avengers left Stark with a distinct impression that there are, in fact, things he cannot control. The suit won't always be around and Tony has loved ones who are exposed. With Rhodes (Don Cheadle) piloting around the world as Iron Patriot, and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow, getting her best part yet in the series) running Star Industries, Tony is firmly set in his R&D lab trying to figure out how to keep them all safe.
In the isolation of his fortress, the global reign of terror brought about by The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) is off Tony's radar, panic attacks and insomnia are more present worries. The slightest mention of New York City is enough to send him searching madly for his iron cocoon. Tony being Tony, trouble doesn't stay in his rear-view for long. He finds himself in the middle of a press conference where he gives the world his address and begs the Mandarin to man up and come at him. Lo and behold, trouble knocks on his door. Loudly.
The similarities between Shane Black's last team-up with Robert Downey Jr. (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) are quite instant. The film begins with a voice over and treads back into a more familiar starting point, just like the 2005 release. And the similarities don't end there, every nudge and wink about genre tropes from that film is present in Iron Man 3 as well. Everything is played up for laughs in this sequel and one wonders if there is a spot where Murtaugh comes in to tell everyone "he's too old for this shit" left on the cutting room floor.
At first glance, Black looks like he may scale back the over the top nature antics of Iron Man 2 in favor of a real-world threat like terrorism. Such expectations are lost during the third act as one villain is successfully defanged to the point of laughter and replaced by a much more vanilla nemesis with questionable motives. How much you enjoy this trickery will define the film's reception.
Excess is abound, villains come back from the dead multiple times, seemingly every character in the Iron Man universe has a power or suit of their own. There's just too much of everything. It's a shame considering that Downey is perhaps at his most Tony and left to fend for himself without the crimson and gold for large portions of the film. These moments are where Iron Man 3 shines.
Marvel has effectively made Iron Man into the James Bond franchise of comic book franchises at the film's conclusion. Robert Downey Jr.'s contract is up after this picture and, should he decide to walk away, this film easily serves as a tidy wrapping for this particular interpretation of the character. Though with Avengers 2 looming, it's likely Marvel will back in the dump trucks of cash to bring him back. Hopefully they do, as RDJ says "I am Iron Man" and the franchise would be lost without him.
**1/2 out of ****
Friday, May 3, 2013
The game where I throw out one of cinema's more obscure quotes and you try to guess it. Readers are currently 19 for 26. Let's see if you can name the film this quote is from:
"Alva, there is no one else in this entire office that I could possibly ask to share such a horrible job. You're the lowest on the totem pole here, Alva. The lowest. Do you realize that? Every other secretary here has been here longer than you, Alva. Every one. And even if there was someone here who was here even one day longer than you, I still wouldn't ask that person to partake in such a miserable job as long as you were around.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
School will be out soon, the heat is coming and what better way to pass the time in a cool movie theatre? We all know about the big franchise releases this summer: Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Fast and Furious 6, Man of Steel, The Hangover Part III, but what about some of the lesser-known pictures coming out during the warmest season? Here is your itinerary for what to watch this summer:
Iron Man 3 (May 3rd)
Following the events of The Avengers, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) may believe he faced his largest challenge ever, but The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) threatens to tear Tony's world apart. With his back against the wall, Tony may have to protect his loved ones without his iron suited alter-ego.
Star Trek Into Darkness (May 16th)
Maybe the most anticipated sequel of the year finds Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and crew facing their most destructive threat yet in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch. J.J. Abram's is playing things close to the chest, but with the film playing in IMAX, we're in for a blast.
Before Midnight (May 24th)
The third feature in Richard Linklater's series of serendipitous encounters between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy). Nearly twenty years have passed since they first met in Vienna, is the spark still there nine years following Before Sunset?
Much Ado About Nothing (June 7th)
At first Shakespeare and Joss Whedon may seem like an odd match, that is until the distinct voices of each writer find their way into your head. Whedon regulars like Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof make up the modern retelling of classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different romantic mindsets and a way with words.
Man of Steel (June 14th)
Superman has had his story told over and over again through various mediums, but Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan aim to make the Man of Steel modern again. The biggest complaint against Superman Returns was that it lacked action and a formidable opponent, judging by the trailers, that won't be a problem at all for Man of Steel.
This Is the End (June 14th)
When a party at James Franco's house turns into the apocalypse (what else is new?), who better to have around than Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Jay Baruchel? Those hoping for a Freaks and Geeks reunion will get their wish when a cavalcade of celebrities battle their way across Los Angeles just to survive.
Lone Ranger (July 5th)
In this re-imagining of John Reid's Lone Ranger, Tonto tells the tale of how one U.S. Marshal became a legend. The rapport between Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer and all the money spent during production looks like it went to good use. Gore Verbinski proved he had Western sensibilities with Rango and I look forward to seeing what he could with an actual Cowboy film.
Pacific Rim (July 12th)
Monsters rising from the sea, giant robots being built to battle them, it must be a Guillermo Del Toro picture. Advanced screenings at Comic-Con revealed soaring heights and monsters on a scale unseen before in a blockbuster and all the critical gushing has fans putting this 3D release on many summer watch-lists.
The Conjuring (July 19th)
Typically horror releases don't find their way onto screens until Halloween, but this paranormal investigation will be competing against Red 2 and R.I.P.D. in one of July's busiest weekends.
The World's End (August 23rd)
Edgar Wright's Blood and Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) is drawing to a close and how the world will end is this feature is anyone's guess. A group of friends (Pegg, Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan) reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years ago and, in the process, become humanity's only hope for survival.
Also published on Film Annex
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