"People Like Us" In Theatres

A businessman discovers a ruinous family secret during a return trip home to attend the funeral of his estranged father. In the wake of this life-altering revelation, he embarks on a transformative journey that will forever alter the way he looks at life, love, and family. Star Trek screenwriter Alex Kurtzman makes his feature directorial debut with this heartfelt drama co-written by Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert, and featuring Elizabeth Banks. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

"MAGIC MIKE" REVIEW

Most stripper movies are about women and the lion's share follow one of two formulas: the good girl gone bad or the bad girl who wants to go good. The only other recent male stripper film I can remember is The Full Monty and it is so different from Magic Mike that comparisons are pointless. This movie neither lionizes nor demonizes male dancing. It attempts an evenhanded approach, perhaps because lead actor Channing Tatum's real-life experiences were used in developing the story. Magic Mike offers the three reasons why some young men are drawn to stripping: women, money, and a good time. It also shows the downside, which begins with drugs and ends with exhaustion and depression.

Magic Mike is an allegory and its appeal lies in part in its message. You don't have to be a stripper to recognize what the filmmakers are saying. When it comes to choosing a career path, most people elect the road to lucre rather than the route to satisfaction and fulfillment. At first, the tangible benefits outweigh the soul-sucking negatives but, over time, it can be difficult to maintain any enthusiasm for a job that is held purely for its paycheck. Movies love to tell the story of a character who follows his dream. Magic Mike is a little different; it's not so much about following the dream as it is about developing the courage to turn away from the money and look in another direction. That makes for a satisfying ending because it isn't so unbelievably optimistic as to be saccharine.
Magic Mike tells of the rise of newcomer Adam (Alex Pettyfer) in the stripping business. A down-on-his-luck 19-year old, he comes to Tampa to live with his sister, Brooke and meets "Magic" Mike at a construction site. He tags along with the good-natured, good-looking 30-year old to the club where he takes it all off for tips. The club's owner, Dallas, sees "something" in Adam and gives him a shot. After a briefly shaky beginning, he's soon dazzling audiences. Meanwhile, his "big brother," Mike, is becoming disillusioned about the stagnation of his life, especially when he realizes a relationship with Brooke is impossible as long as he continues on the stage.

The choreography in Magic Mike is surprisingly complex and the dance routines are lively and engaging in their own right, capturing as they do some of the energy that makes clubs like this popular. Soderbergh, who wears the cinematographer's cap in addition to sitting in the director's chair , brings as much verisimilitude to this location as any recent filmmaker has, although there may be a little white-washing in order to get the R-rating.The nudity in the dances is surprisingly tame (butt shots only). Overall, Magic Mike is an equal opportunity offender when it comes to flesh. Naked men and women get about the same amount of screen time, and Channing Tatum's fans get an eyeful.
This is the first film in some time to give Tatum an opportunity to display his dramatic capabilities and spending so much time in unimaginative mainstream fare has not blunted his talent. His rhythm and athleticism help to make him a very convincing Magic Mike. Alex Pettyfer is not as convincing, but he's more than balanced out by a hyperkinetic Matthew McConaughey, who literally spits fire and throws himself into the part with a passion we have rarely seen from the often laid-back performer. I don’t know if this the best performance McConaughey has given but it's certainly his most memorable one. Cody Horn does some interesting things with her "love interest" part; I don't know whether it's her style or the way Soderbergh directs her, but she comes across as unpolished, as if she's improvising every line.

From time-to-time, Soderbergh seems to forget that he's making a mainstream movie, not an art house film. He uses some inventive shots,which is fine. He also employs a filter that makes the film look like it was shot through sunglasses, which isn't as appealing. When it comes to two more important elements - emotion and energy - he's on the mark. Magic Mike gets the tone right. It's not too serious but it respects the characters and their situations. The storyline is derivative but there's enough to like about Magic Mike. by reelviews.com

"TED" Movie Review

The funniest movie character so far this year is a stuffed teddy bear. And the best comedy screenplay so far is "Ted," the saga of the bear's friendship with a 35-year-old manchild. I know; this also was hard for me to believe. After memories of Mel Gibson's bond with a sock puppet, "Ted" was not high on the list of movies I was impatient to see.
The opening scenes find the right tone. A treacly narrator Patrick Stewart describes a Christmas that reminds us of a "A Christmas Story". We meet young John Bennett, most unpopular kid in the neighborhood, disliked that while a Jewish kid is being beaten up, John feels envious.

All  John wants is a true friend for life. For Christmas, his parents give him an enormous teddy bear the size of a first grader, and that night under the sheets with a flashlight, John asks Teddy to be his real and true forever friend. Teddy comes to life and agrees.

The miracle of a walking, talking teddy bear of course makes the little stuffed creature an overnight celebrity, and he appears on the Carson show. But his fame fades, and he settles in as John's roommate for life. Years pass. Teddy is now a little frayed, and John (Mark Wahlberg), at 35, has a counter job at a rental car agency. Against all odds, he also has a fragrant girlfriend named Lori Collins, who has been waiting four years for a marriage proposal.

John and Ted lead an "Animal House"-like existence, inhaling wholesale quantities of weed and recalling their early years as "Flash Gordon" fans. American movies have recently featured a lot of male characters who are victims of arrested adolescence, but few who have resisted growing up more successfully than John.

The laughs in "Ted" come largely through the teddy bear's dialogue. With an edgy Beantown accent and a potty mouth, Ted insults and offends everyone he comes into contact with, and sees Lori as a threat to his friendship with John. This despite his own pastimes, which include drugs, hookers, and as we later discover, a torrid early 1990s affair with absolutely the last female vocalist you could imagine having sex with a teddy bear.

The movie was co-written and directed by Seth MacFarlane, who also provides Ted's voice and gives himself the same freedom he has in animation. The bear itself is a CGI creation, striking a reasonable balance between the agility of a sexual athlete and the clumsiness of Pooh. It appears that Ted is stuffed with cotton wool and feels no pain when an ear is ripped off, but he behaves as a living, breathing best buddy.

The plot of "Ted" is fairly standard but greatly embellished by MacFarlane's ability to establish comic situations and keep them building. One crucial scene occurs when Ted persuades John to leave Lori at a party come to Ted's own party, where their childhood hero has turned up. This is Sam J. Jones, star of the 1980 movie "Flash Gordon," who in middle age has become a party animal. How this situation ends up with an enraged duck attacking Ted you will have to discover for yourself.

There's also peril involving Donny, a creepy dad (Giovanni Ribisi) who as a child passionately wanted Ted to be his own teddy, and his pudgy spoiled son, who wants Ted now. Their desire is pitched at such a perverse level that it approaches teddy-bear predation.

What's remarkable about "Ted" is that it doesn't run out of steam. MacFarlane seems unwilling to stop after the first payoff of a scene. He keeps embellishing. In Ted, he has an inexhaustible source of socially obnoxious behavior and language, and it's uncanny the way a teddy bear can get away with doing and saying things that we wouldn't necessarily accept from a human character. This is partly because Ted is a stand-up insult comedian trapped inside the body of a teddy bear.by roger ebert

Ice Age: Continental Drift in Theatres July 13th 2012

Scrat's acorn obsession sparks a continental catastrophe that sends Manny (voice of Ray Romano), Diego (voice of Denis Leary), and Sid (voice of John Leguizamo) on an epic adventure involving a ship full of fearsome pirates, and an unexpected reunion as the Ice Age saga continues in this eye-popping sequel. Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, and Josh Peck reprise their roles, with Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lopez, and Aziz Ansari heading up the rest of the voice cast

COLLABORATOR July 6th 2012

Plot

Robert Longfellow (Martin Donovan) is a famous playwright who can't seem to catch a break. His recent Broadway play was met with horrible reviews and an early cancellation, and his marriage is being tested as an old flame (Olivia Williams) has reentered his life during a particular moment of weakness. Retreating back to his childhood home to visit his mother (Katherine Helmond), Robert crosses paths with his childhood neighbor, Gus (David Morse). A right-wing, ex-con who still lives at home with his mother, Gus is Robert's polar opposite in every possible way. When Gus holds Robert hostage at gunpoint during a drunken reunion gone terribly wrong, the drama unfolds as social status, celebrity and the imminent threat of violence converge, building up to a climax that will leave both men forever changed.

Katy Perry: Part of Me JULY 5TH 2012

Synopsis

Filmmakers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz follow wildly popular singer Katy Perry during her yearlong California Dreams tour. During 124 sold-out shows in arenas around the world, the constant camera presence creates both a front-row seat and a backstage pass as Perry performs for thousands of fans, then returns to the reality of her everyday life. Interviews with family and friends complete the picture, as Perry gives her all onstage, then faces the pressing personal challenges that await.

The Amazing Spider-Man JULY 3RD 2012

Teenage social outcast Peter Parker spends his days trying to unravel the mystery of his own past, and trying to win the heart of his high school crush, Gwen Stacy. Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase belonging to his father, who abandoned him when he was a child, which leads him to his father's former partner, Dr. Curtis Connors. The discovery of his father's secret, coupled with an encounter with a genetically altered spider, will ultimately shape his destiny to become "Spider-Man" and bring him face to face with Connors, who becomes the vicious and vengeful Lizard

Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures Blu-Ray September 18th 2012

n September, Paramount Home Media Distribution will bring Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures to Blu-ray. Director Steven Spielberg's beloved adventure series stars Harrison Ford (Blade Runner) as the title character, an archaeologist and college professor whose perpetual search for rare and mysterious treasures puts him in great danger.

The set will include all four of Indy's adventures, including:

• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The collection will make the Blu-ray debut of the first three pictures; only Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is now available on the format.

Paramount's four-disc package offers each film in its 2.39:1 original aspect ratio with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks. Steven Spielberg and his sound designer Ben Burtt supervised the A/V restoration work; Paramount's press release describes the work done on Raiders of the Lost Ark, noting that the feature "has been meticulously restored with careful attention to preserving the original look, sound, and feel of the iconic film. The original negative was first scanned at 4K and then examined frame-by-frame so that any damage could be repaired. The sound design was similarly preserved using Burtt's original master mix, which had been archived and unused since 1981. New stereo surrounds were created using the original music tracks and original effects recorded in stereo but used previously only in mono. In addition, the sub bass was redone entirely up to modern specifications and care was taken to improve dialogue and correct small technical flaws to create the most complete and highest quality version of the sound possible while retaining the director's vision."

While Paramount has yet to provide a complete list of supplementary details, the studio has indicated in the Indiana Jones press release that the collection would contain a "collection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes, and new bonus features."by josh katz

The Five Most Important Things We Learned From 'The Amazing Spider-Man'

Five years have passed since director Sam Raimi and his leading man, Tobey Maguire, put the finishing touches on their Spider-Man trilogy. But because the lucrative Spider-Man 3 took such a beating from critics Sony Pictures wisely decided against extending the series and, instead, went back to drawing board on a re-imagined reboot.

director Marc Webb was brought on board. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone were hired to play Peter Parker and his teenage crush, Gwen Stacy, respectively. But from the very first scene in The Amazing Spider-Man, it's crystal clear that Webb is viewing our hero’s origin through a different prism. The reboot is necessary to better understanding this rejuvenated take on a classic Marvel mythology.

We were lucky enough to sit down with the cast of Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man during a recent press day in New York City. And while we talked at length about the importance of Spider-Man to our superhero-obsessed culture and the direction of this new franchise, we found five extremely important items revealed by the actors during a busy press day. Here’s what we learned about The Amazing Spider-Man. We hope it helps get you excited for this thrilling chapter in the spectacular hero’s historic journey.

1. No one is bigger than the mask

Andrew Garfield has been telling anyone who’ll listen how excited the 28-year-old actor is to be playing teenage Peter Parker. And one of the great thrills, according to Garfield, was trying on the Spider-Man mask for the first time. One thing I thought Webb got right over Raimi, however, was allowing Garfield to leave his mask on in key fight sequences. It seems in the original three Spider-Man films, Tobey Maguire was removing his mask every chance he got. The conclusion to Spider-Man 3 essentially boiled down to Maguire vs. Topher Grace instead of Spider-Man vs. Venom. And nobody wants to see that. Garfield keeps the mask on, and he tells me the reason for that is because no actor is bigger than the mask, itself.

“I think the only time the mask comes off is when it’s necessary,” he says. “There’s a scene with a boy on a bridge where I need to chill him out and say that I’m just a dude. My mask gets taken off by Capt. Stacy. And then there’s another mask-off moment which had a justification before but they cut out that moment. But yeah, I feel like that’s a very important thing because the mask is always going to be much bigger than the actor. Even Peter Parker can’t live up to the mask. The mask is everything, and it gives him the power and the anonymity that he needs.”

2. Emma Stone knows this doesn’t end well for Gwen Stacy

As does everyone who’s ever read Spider-Man comics. In The Amazing Spider-Man #121, Gwen Stacy’s knocked off the George Washington Bridge by The Green Goblin. It’s a devastating moment, a crucial component to Peter Parker’s emotional formation, and a turning point that helps turn him into the selfless hero he is to become. (Raimi sort of tried to pay homage to this scene in his first Spider-Man movie, only he used Mary Jane Watson. Then he let her live, which was so dreadfully wrong, you have to wonder why he even bothered staging the famous bridge sequence in the first place.)

Stone doesn’t die in Webb’s Spider-Man, but there are enough indications in this film to suggest that future installments will bring in Norman Osborn and his alter ego, the Green Goblin … and if that’s the case, Gwen Stacy’s probably in for a fall.

When I asked Stone about this, she was honest. “We’ve discussed a lot of this,” she says about conversations with producers regarding Gwen’s future. But when I push and ask how much she can discuss with me, she says with a smile, “Probably none of it. But what you are referring to is one of the reasons why I wanted to play the character.”

I give it one last push, saying that this movie goes to great lengths to say that those close to Peter might one day be in danger, assuming this is a direct reference to Gwen. “I’m assuming, too,” Stone replies, as the smile grows wider.

Gotcha. Mums the word … for now.

3. Character comes first

conservations swirling around the first three Spider-Man films usually focused on the villains, whether it was Alfred Molina’s masterfully subtle turn as Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 or Topher Grace’s woeful miscasting as Venom. That hasn’t been the case with Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man.

The focus, so far, has been on Garfield’s fragile Peter Parker and his tangible chemistry with Stone’s headstrong Gwen Stacy. It’s part of the reason Sony went with Webb, who seamlessly paired Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Zooey Deschanel in Summer. And it’s the reason Denis Leary wanted to make The Amazing Spider-Man his first post-Rescue Me project.

“Normally with these bigger-budget action films, it’s impossible to take one of those on when you’re writing your own dramatic TV series,” Leary tells me. “But I got a call from Marc. And I hadn’t even thought about this until he started talking about it. Most of the time, when you look at a movie like this, you have to be concerned because it’s probably six months worth of work, and most of it is run-and-gun, and there’s very little acting involved. But Marc was talking about making some kind of character-actor piece. Which I didn’t think was really the truth until we started shooting. And that’s what we did. We were always concerned about the emotional foundation of the story. So it did not feel like we were shooting this big movie. It felt like we were telling the story of these people, which is unusual in this arena.”

4. The Lizard isn’t all bad

You can’t say this about most of Spidey’s enemies. The Green Goblin’s sinister, and Venom’s a murderous sociopath. But the Lizard wants to do the right thing, and that was key to Rhys Ifans figuring him out.

“What I saw in the material is that this wasn’t a run-of-the-mill, cloak-and-dagger bad guy,” Ifans tells me about Dr. Curt Connors and his reptilian alter ego. “He’s a human being with very real emotions, issues, anxieties, hopes and dreams, which he’s pursuing throughout the film. You know, unfortunately, to the detriment of himself and others. But we all make mistakes! … Up until the very last moment, [Connors] is acting selflessly, and on behalf on humanity. What he doesn’t recognize is that … he doesn’t look ahead to the chemical makeup of a reptile, and how that affects his humanity.”

5. Spider-Man has more in common with Shakespeare than you thought

 an iconic actor who has forgotten more about film and theater than most of us will ever know. And when it came time to approach the pivotal, tragic role of Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, Sheen says he looked to Shakespeare … and the audience should, as well.

“If a story is really, really good, it will hold up to being retold,” Sheen says about Spider-Man. “We know, for example, how Hamlet ends. Why do we go see it again? We know how Aida ends. Why do we go? Because it’s part of our culture. We want to see it reinvigorated. We want to breath new life and energy. We want to see new faces play these parts. That’s all part of our expanding imagination. And we have the capacity to do unbelievable things now with special effects. The good thing about these franchises, the ones that are successful, is that they secure the studio’s investments in other films. If, for example, Sony gets a huge return on Spider-Man, you know that they’re going to make a lot more and different films, which employ a lot more people. And that’s the best news about these movies.”by sean o 'connell

Dolby's New Revolutionary Sound System

we shared a sneak peek video of how Dolby’s new Atmos surround system would work. The whole thing sounded pretty amazing, but it’s hard to get a feel for just how cool it is from reading about it or watching a video on your computer.
That being saiif you happened to catch Pixar’s Brave this weekend, you may have gotten your first exposure to the new system. The Disney partner’s animated tale has the distinction of being the first film to use the new technology – which makes the traditional 7.1 surround sound system most theaters use today seem pretty lame in comparison.

At the heart of the new tech is the system’s reliance on more speakers than ever before – 64 in all, including ones across the ceiling of the auditorium – which will allow sound designers to mix in up to 128 sound elements into a scene. This is an unprecedented level of precision for sound technicians to work with and should lead to the creation of some  realistic sound effects in movies.
IEEE Spectrum spoke to Will Files, the re-recording mixer who oversaw the Atmos version of Pixar’s film.

“Since you can’t make the audience feel heat or cold, or smell the ocean, you use sounds to help provide the feeling you want the audience to have. Take the concept of visual resolution – it’s the same idea with sound. Many more points of sound in a room create a higher resolution field that sounds more natural.”
As an example of this in action, there’s a scene in Brave where the wind blows through the castle. With Atmos, the sound has a more natural and realistic effect as it jumps from speaker to speaker in correlation with the onscreen action as opposed to the 7.1 set-ups “zones.”

If you're unsure if there's a Dolby Atmos-equipped theater in your area, here's a list of locations.

Expect Atmos to become the new theatrical standard for sound moving forward – the early reaction appears to be positive. Did you see Brave in Atmos this weekend? If you did, let us know what you thought of the experience by leaving a comment below.by mike bracken

TED June 29th 2012

Synopsis

A man wrestles with the lingering consequences of a childhood wish in this live-action comedy from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. As a young boy, John Bennett wanted nothing more than for his beloved teddy bear Ted (voice of MacFarlane) to come to life. Incredibly, that wish was granted. But now that John (Mark Wahlberg) is all grown up, his boyhood dream has become a nightmare nuisance. Mila Kunis, Joel McHale, and Giovanni Ribisi co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows Blu-Ray Review

director Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows will prove woefully inadequate. If you've never watched a single episode of Sherlock, though, Ritchie's Game of Shadows will prove... mildly inadequate. More action-packed, bullet-riddled, convoluted and over-the-top than the first Robert Downey Jr./Jude Law Holmes/Watson team-up, the sequel ups every ante imaginable, often to its detriment. Ritchie and company all but forsake Arthur Conan Doyle's original detective stories and re-purpose Holmes as a spinning, grinning, gunslinging martial arts master, leaving one to wonder why Ritchie didn't replace good sir Robert with Jackie Chan. Gone too is much of Sherlock's deductive wiles, replaced by even more voracious wit, silly disguises and butt-of-the-joke comedy. Mysteries unravel with nearly nonsensical complexity too, clues take a back seat to whatever furious fisticuffs lie in wait around the next corner, and Moriarty, Holmes' great nemesis, is the only real scene-stealer to be had. Oh, it's all wildly entertaining, in a brainless summer blockbuster sort of way. But it misses the mark again and again, muddying the waters with wall-to-wall action, abandoning reason with rapidfire flashbacks and impossible logic puzzles, and tossing aside almost everything that makes the Steven Moffat-run BBC series an accessible cerebral thrill-ride and Ritchie's first Sherlock Holmes, flawed though it may be, a fun, popcorn-fueled diversion.

"If we can stop him, we shall prevent the collapse of Western civilization. No pressure."

Dogged detective Sherlock Holmes finally meets his match in Professor James Moriarty, this time in the light of day, face to face, intellect to intellect, even fist to fist. Moriarty, growing tired of the perpetual cat and mousing, steps out of the shadows and devotes himself to taking Holmes out of the equation. Rather than come at his adversary head on, though, the murderous professor targets Sherlock's companion Dr. Watson (Jude Law, Hugo, Contagion) and his fiancé, Mary Morstan. Of course, Moriarty has his eyes set on a bigger, grander prize and it falls to Holmes and Watson to figure out the madman's endgame. With the help of a feisty gypsy named Simza,Sherlock's brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry, Alice in Wonderland, V for Vendetta), landlady Mrs. Hudson and bumbling do-gooder Inspector Lestrade, Holmes and Watson race to uncover Moriarty's devious plot and stop him from bringing Europe, and the world, to its knees.

The particulars of the mystery at the heart of A Game of Shadows is completely secondary to the razzle dazzle visuals and punch-drunk action of Ritchie's whirlwind detective yarn. Style trumps substance for a whiz-bang hour and a half, redeemed only by an invigorating, smartly paced third act that delivers a more intriguing adaptation of Doyle's storiesand a more satisfying battle of the wits; one that doesn't involve dispatching dozens of henchmen, being caught in a shootout on a train, or fleeing from an entire battalion of heavily armed troops. It's in that third act too that Downey Jr. and Law are finally, finally given a chance to sink their teeth in. No pithy barbs for pithy barbs' sake, no curly wigs or cheesy stage beards, no inconceivably advanced martial arts zaniness; just well crafted, character-driven chess gamemanship that's more Holmes-n-Watson than anything that comes before it. Come to think of it, the only constant in the film is Harris. The perfectly nefarious antithesis of the great detective, Harris' Moriarty is a villain's villain, staying one step ahead of Sherlock till the very end, besting Holmes again and again and again. Harris convinces, not just as a twisted professor with a staggering intellect, but as a megalomaniac hellbent on manipulating major world powers to his whim. His scenes come as a reprieve from all the visual rambunctiousness, and he seems the only actor at peace with cooing his lines rather than spitting them out with increasing intensity. Moriarty's intensity lies in his cold, deliberate certainty, and his hubris and frightening insightfulness hangs in the air like a thick London fog.

Kieran and Michele Mulroney's script can be as baffling and overwhelming as Sherlock's problem-solving montages, and often just as difficult to follow. The gypsies are extraneous; a dull means to an unnecessary end that wastes Rapace and mucks up the works. Reilly, Hudson or even Rachel McAdams (unceremoniously dismissed from Ritchie's two-movie adaptation in the opening minutes of the sequel) would have been a far more interesting female tag-along, and made the stakes that much higher for Holmes and Watson. In fact, most of the characters in A Game of Shadows are squandered. Inspector Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson are MIA for most of the film, Mycroft is relegated to exposition, nudist sight gags and comic relief, and Reilly's Mary Morstan is fantastic... for the whopping ten minutes she's on screen. Worse, the story they inhabit sometimes amounts to a disjointed, discombobulated mess. Still, it all comes down to expectation. If you're expecting a blazing blockbuster crammed with 'splosive action, slapdash comedy and slow-mo jaw punches, the Sherlock Holmes sequel won't disappoint. If you're hoping for something as sharply penned or cunning as Steven Moffat's Sherlock series, you'll shake your head, cross your arms and demand Ritchie's head on a platter. And if you have great affection for Doyle's original stories, brace yourself for a beating. A Game of Shadows is fun and frivolous, with a terrific third act that saves it from its own self-important smugness, but don't think too hard. Thinking won't get you anywhere.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Blu-ray, Video Quality

A Game of Shadows hits the ground running with a fit and faithful 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that, stylistic quirks aside, rarely falters. As was the case with the first Sherlock Holmes, Oscar-winning cinematographer Philippe Rousselot's photography has been subjected to dramatic color-grading but remains perfectly suited to Ritchie's at-times almost monochromatic, late 19th century newsprint palette. Sepia hues dominate the image, with washed out earthtones, antiqued whites, dusty yellows, overcast blues and grays, and deep, coal-stained blacks. Detail is impressive throughout, even though the film's slow motion shots, captured with high speed Phantom cameras, tend to be naturally soft. Grain is intact, edges are clean and well-defined, textures are crisp and nicely resolved on the whole, and delineation is, all things considered, reasonably revealing. Better still, artifacting, banding, aliasing and other oddities are held at bay, and the few shortcomings you'll encounter trace back to the source, not inadequacies with Warner's encode. Fans of Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films won't be left wanting.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Blu-ray, Audio Quality

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track takes its shot and hits its target dead center, delivering an exacting, punch-for-punch, sternum-thumping lossless experience that doesn't let up or relent. The LFE channel is bold, bombastic and discriminating, throwing its full weight behind every meaty thunk, explosive thoom and heavy boom Ritchie unleashes, all while imbuing weighty elements with convincing heft and presence. The rear speakers ignite the already immersive soundfield as well with convincing, ever-careening directional effects, devious cross-channel pans, and remarkable dynamics. A Game of Shadows isn't just loud and unruly, though -- despite being both from time to time -- it's playful and mischievous too, embracing every broad stroke of composer Hans Zimmer's dueling themes: the light, impish blend of Celtic and Romanian music for Holmes and the orchestral, Schubert-inspired pieces for Moriarty. All the while, dialogue is clear, distinct and intelligible, without a lost line or buried voice to complain about. A Game of Shadows may be the lesser of Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films, but the sequel's DTS-HD Master Audio mix foils the first film's dreams of sonic domination.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

• Maximum Movie Mode (HD, 129 minutes): Robert Downey Jr. hosts Warner's latest Maximum Movie Mode Picture-in-Picture track. More an actor's video commentary than a full overview of the production, it's chatty, erratic, snarky... everything you'd expect from a Downey Jr. one-man-show. Those hoping for a more in-depth look at the film will be disappointed; fans of Ritchie's leading man will be thoroughly entertained. (Pressing the right arrow key skips from one MMM bit to the next, which helps skip past the gaps that frequent the track.)
• A Game of Shadows Movie App: Expand your movie experience with behind-the-scenes video, script-to-screen comparisons, maps, character bios and other goodies by downloading the free Game of Shadows movie app to your mobile device or tablet and syncing it with the film. If you're a special feature junkie, the Movie App is the only way to get all of the content you'd expect to find on a new Blu-ray release. It would be more ideal if everything was also available on the disc itself, but since movie apps seem to be the latest BD fad, expect to see more and more app-exclusive content in the future.
• Focus Points (HD, 35 minutes): The Maximum Movie Mode's "Focus Point" featurettes are available from the main menu as well. Segments include "Holmesavision on Steroids," "Moriarty's Master Plan Unleashed," "Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: A Perfect Chemistry," "Meet Mycroft Holmes," "Sherlock Holmes: Under the Gypsy Spell," "Guy Ritchie's Well-Oiled Machine," and "Holmes Without Borders."

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows isn't a bad film or a failed sequel. It just takes a few too many steps in the wrong direction; an action-oriented path that, if followed any further, will only lead Holmes and Watson to ruin. There's still plenty of fun to be had in Ritchie's entertaining romp, but fans of Doyle's original stories or Steven Moffat's excellent BBC series would be wise to lower their expectations. Fortunately, Warner's Blu-ray release is more rewarding thanks to a strong video presentation, a pound-for-pound DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a decent collection of extras. Chances are you've already deduced how you'll react to A Game of Shadows. Buy or rent accordingly.by blu-ray.com

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Review

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter  owes a great deal of thanks to the geniuses who invented wire work, the Wachowski brothers for Bullet Time, Bram Stoker, and Seth Grahame-Smith for coming up with a great initial idea, but it owes audiences an apology for never being better than the sum of its parts.

Just to be clear:I was just hoping for it to be as imaginative as its title. Grahame-Smith hits the same Lincoln plot points you learned in grade school, like Abe growing up in Indiana, hating slavery, and being a stealthy axeman. Mary Todd even goes so far as to comment on how honest he is.Of course artistic license must be taken, like his mother being killed by a vampire. But how do I know, I haven't seen the coroner's report.

When Abe learns more about the vamps from Henry Sturgess he takes to hiding in plain sight as a lowly clerk in a general store, so he can chop the local ghoulies into little tiny pieces without anyone noticing. He slays the bad guys in the manner one would expect, with entrepreneurs and African-American friends by his side. Soon he stops slaying vampires and becomes the most powerful man in America, but the vampires still want to inaugurate him as the Dead-ident of the United States.

Director Timur Bekmambetov's films,are always good for intense CG that seems too ambitious and cutting-edge to be pulled off properly. And although visually noteworthy, I always have trouble with their stories. They have plenty of super cool spinning bullet shots but are about assassins that like to weave fabric. They just miss the mark. Lincoln is by far the most coherent, but it relies solely on the gimmick that it's funny to have an ex-President using a silver-coated axe to fight mythical creatures. There's nothing else there. Combined with chase scenes on top of horses  and tons of slowed-down flips and spins, it just feels like a more-interesting-than-usual effects reel for a digital effects company.
I think the most fun thing to come out of this film is the game my Movies.com co-critic Dave White and our friend Casual Gary were inspired to play afterwards. In order to figure out what the sequel to this film will be, take any figure from history.by grae drake

Alfred Hitchcock: Masterpiece Collection Blu-ray

While the exact technical specifications are still unknown for the individual discs, Universal's press release notes that the fifteen pictures have been "digitally restored from high-quality film elements." The set also includes over fifteen hours of bonus supplements, such as:

Saboteur -

• Saboteur: A Closer Look behind-the-scenes featurette
• Storyboards for the "Statue of Liberty" setpiece
• Alfred Hitchcock's sketches
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

Shadow of a Doubt -

• Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock's Favorite Film behind-the-scenes featurette
• Production drawings by art director Robert Boyle
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

Rope -

• Rope Unleashed behind-the-scenes featurette
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

Rear Window -

• Commentary with Hitchcock's Rear Window: The Well-Made Film author John Fawell
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • Masters of Cinema
  • Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary
  • A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes
  • Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of The Master
  • Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock
• Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailers
• Re-release trailer narrated by James Stewart
• Blu-ray exclusive BD Live and Pocket Blu functionalities

The Trouble with Harry -

• The Trouble with Harry Isn't Over behind-the-scenes featurette
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailers

The Man Who Knew Too Much -

• The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much behind-the-scenes featurette
• Production photographs
• Trailers

Vertigo -

• Two audio commentaries:
  • Associate producer Herbert Coleman, restoration team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz, and other Vertigo participants
  • Filmmaker William Friedkin
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock's Masterpiece
  • Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators
• The Vertigo Archives feature
• Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts
• Foreign censorship Ending
• 100 Years of Universal featurette: The Lew Wasserman Era
• Theatrical trailer
• Restoration theatrical trailer
• Blu-ray exclusive BD Live and Pocket Blu functionalities

North by Northwest -

• Commentary by screenwriter Ernest Lehman
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest
  • North by Northwest: One for the Ages
  • The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style
  • Cary Grant: A Class Apart
• Music-only audio track
• Stills gallery
• Theatrical trailers and TV spot

Psycho -

• Commentary with Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho author Stephen Rebello
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • The Making of Psycho
  • Psycho Sound
  • In The Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy
• Breakdowns of the "Shower Scene" setpiece:
  • With and without music
  • Storyboards by Saul Bass
• The Psycho Archives feature
• Vintage newsreel: The Release of Psycho
• Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts
• Posters and Psycho ads
• Lobby cards
• Behind-the-scenes photographs
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer
• Re-release trailers

The Birds -

• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • Blu-ray exclusive The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
  • All About The Birds
• Vintage Universal International newsreels:
  • The Birds Is Coming
  • Suspense Story: National Press Club Hears Hitchcock
• Tippi Hedren's screen test
• Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts
• Deleted scene
• Original ending
• Storyboards
• Production photographs
• 100 Years of Universal featurettes:
  • Restoring the Classics
  • The Lot
• Theatrical trailer
• Blu-ray exclusive BD Live and Pocket Blu functionalities

Marnie -

• The Trouble with Marnie behind-the-scenes featurette
• The Marnie Archives feature
• Theatrical trailer

Torn Curtain -

• Torn Curtain Rising behind-the-scenes featurette
• Selected scenes scored by Bernard Herrmann
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

Topaz -

• Alternate endings
• Topaz: An Appreciation with film historian and critic Leonard Maltin
• Storyboards for "The Mendozas" setpiece
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

Frenzy -

• The Story of Frenzy behind-the-scenes featurette
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

Family Plot -

• Plotting Family Plot behind-the-scenes featurette
• Storyboards for the chase scene
• Production photographs
• Theatrical trailer

In addition, the collection comes with a fifty-page book featuring storyboards, costume sketches, correspondence, and rare photographs.by josh katz

To Rome With Love June 22, 2012

Synopsis

Four tales unfold in the Eternal City: While vacationing in Rome, architect John (Alec Baldwin) encounters a young man whose romantic woes remind him of a painful incident from his own youth; retired opera director Jerry (Woody Allen) discovers a mortician with an amazing voice, and he seizes the opportunity to rejuvenate his own flagging career; a young couple (Alessandro Tiberi) ] (Alessandra Mastronardi) ]have separate romantic interludes; a spotlight shines on an ordinary man.

The Invisible War June 22.2012

Runtime: 1 hr. 37 min.

 Kirby Dick investigates the troubling epidemic of rape in the military while speaking with the courageous victims who have refused to be intimidated into silence. In 2009 alone, 16,150 service members were sexually assaulted. Meanwhile, it's estimated that female soldiers in the U.S. military are more likely to be raped by a male soldier than shot by an enemy combatant. Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by these victimized soldiers, however, only 2% of rape accusations in the military end in prosecution. In some cases, male soldiers have even been awarded medals for bravery and professionalism while being investigated for rape. In addition to hearing from the women who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, we also learn how systematic corruption allows the vast majority of their attackers to walk free and what's being done to ensure that no crime goes unpunished. ~ jason buchanan, Rovi

E.T Blu-Ray Exclusive Spaceship Limited Edition

Universal is releasing an Exclusive to Amazon Limited Spaceship Edition of the 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Disc of Steven Spielberg's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) in Germany. The Collectible set is available to pre-order from Amazon.de for its 25th of October release

Bonus material included on the disc:

• Steven Spielberg & ET: A brand new interview with Steven Spielberg, in which he talks about his work with the children and talks about his current and comprehensive view of ET.
• The ET Journal: Behind the Scenes material of the Oscar winner John Toll (cinematographer). This piece gives the audience the unique feeling of being on location and experience with stress, as it was offset to shoot the aliens.
• Deleted Scenes
• A Look Back: Making-Of, including interviews with Cast and Crew
• The ET Reunion: The reunion: Cast and crew meet and express their thoughts on film.
• The Evolution and Creation of ET: From idea to script, about the casting to the shooting.
• The Music of ET: A Discussion with John Williams: interviews and footage of the long-standing relationship between John Williams and Steven Spielberg.
• The 20th Anniversary Premiere: The composer John Williams on the occasion of the premiere of the new release of the film ET ET live music played at the Shrine Auditorium. This section allows us to look behind the scenes of this performance.
• Original Trailer

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World June 22, 2012

Steve Carell and Keira Knightley star in this apocalyptic comedy following two neighbors who set out for one last road trip after learning that a massive asteroid will wipe out all life on Earth in just three weeks. As the odometer turns and society collapses all around them, the connection that Dodge (Carell) and Penny (Knightley) form takes them on a wild adventure befitting of the end days, and reveals how the most important people can enter our lives at the most unexpected times. Rob Corddry, Patton Oswalt, and Melanie Lynskey co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Magic Mike June 29, 2012

FULL SYNOPSIS

Channing Tatum stars in this drama following an upstart male stripper (Alex Pettyfer) who is mentored by a veteran dancer, played by Tatum. Steven Soderbergh directed from a script by Reid Carolin, whose screenplay was inspired by Tatum's work as a stripper before he made it in Hollywood. Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Cody Horn, and Olivia Munn co-star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Rock Of Ages June 15,2012

A small-town girl and a big-city boy find their fates intersecting on the Sunset Strip, riding a wave of romance through the height of the "hair metal" scene as the off-Broadway musical rocks its way to the big screen courtesy of choreographer-turned-director Adam Shankman (A Walk to Remember, Hairspray). Arriving in Hollywood with stars in her eyes, Sherrie (Julianne Hough) meets Drew (Diego Boneta), and together they plunge headlong into the local rock scene. Meanwhile, as Sherrie struggles to stay afloat in a churning sea of rock 'n' roll excess, she gets swept off her feet by audacious rock star Stacee Jaxx. Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, and Bryan Cranston co-star in a movie featuring music by Journey, Def Leppard, Poison, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Foreigner, Joan Jett, and REO Speedwagon. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

That's My Boy June 15,2012

A single father finds his lackluster parenting skills coming back to haunt him in this Adam Sandler comedy directed by Sean Anders. As a teenage father, Donny (Sandler) struggled to raise his son Todd (Andy Samberg) until Todd was old enough to strike out on his own. Subsequently estranged from his father for years, Todd is about to marry the love of his life when Donny turns up determined to form the father-son bond they never had. Now the harder Donny tries to connect with his long-lost son, the more furious Todd's future bride grows with the unwelcomed intruder and his obnoxious antics. Leighton Meester and James Caan co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Act of Valor Blu-ray

 The rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S., a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the valiant men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that could kill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitment to country, team and their families back home.

For more about Act of Valor and the Act of Valor Blu-ray release

Starring: Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano
Directors: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh

Act of Valor Blu-ray Review

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4: Act of Valor

Reviewed by Casey Broadwater, June 6, 2012

Certain movies inevitably reveal the divide not just between critics and audiences, whose tastes aren't always aligned, but also between liberal and conservative viewers. Act of Valor is one of them. Despite being almost uniformly trashed in professional reviews, the film was a big box office draw—it looks to be a huge seller on home video too—and a quick scan of audience opinions on the usual aggregate sites reveals a near-equal split between those who appreciate Act of Valor for its non-stop action and pro-military stance, and those who write it off as a jingoistic recruitment ad stretched to feature length. Though it's a gross generalization to say that all heartland-of-America Republicans will love the movie while all coastal- elite Democrats collectively roll their eyes, there does seem to be some kind of indirect correlation at play.

But let's set dichotomous worldviews aside. My problem with Act of Valor isn't political. While I have my personal convictions, I appreciate stories that show all sides of war, from patriotic, noble sacrifice-type films to fiercely anti-war polemics and—better yet—those that lie somewhere in between. The fact is, war is complicated—psychologically, ideologically, ethically—and the best movies about the subject portray it that way. Act of Valor doesn't, unfortunately, preferring to oversimplify on every level. And although it strings together one kickass action sequence after another, the film has trouble making us care about its characters, undeveloped ciphers who might as well be starring in a video game.





The anonymity is no accident. The film's key roles are filled by active-duty Navy SEALs who are essentially playing themselves and who—for security reasons, presumably—aren't allowed to be identified in the credits, except by their first names. They're practically indistinguishable in the story as well. The only standouts are best buds Lieutenant Rorke, whose wife is expecting, and Chief Dave, a dad of five. They occasionally banter about fatherhood and the "warriors' blood" of their progeny, and they provide the film's ongoing, wannabe Thin Red Line-style voiceover narration, philosophizing over-earnestly with cliche lines like "you live your life by a code," and "if you're not willing to give up everything, you've already lost." (The script tends to vacillate between this kind of bumper sticker-ready sloganeering and extremely precise technical jargon.) The other men in their company are briefly introduced during a beachside sendoff—Weimy, the sniper; Ray, from east-L.A. gangland; Sonny, EOD Operator; Ajay, former Muay Thai fighter; bearded Senior Chief Miller, and 20-year-veteran Mikey, "as quiet as the breeze"—but this is about as far as we get to know them.

The film's story isn't quite ripped from the headlines, but it's certainly plausible and supposedly "based on real acts of valor," if we're to believe the opening credits. In Costa Rica, a CIA agent is kidnapped after getting too close to Mikhail "Christo" Troykovich (Alex Veadov), a drug smuggler who's somehow in cahoots with Chechen terrorist Abu Shabal (Jason Cottle), the mastermind behind a recent bombing in the Philippines that killed a U.S. diplomat. Shabal's next deadly venture is ante-upping; he plans to arm sixteen would-be martyrs with untraceable suicide vests—loaded with explosive gel-filled ceramic ball bearings—sneak them under the Mexico-California border through cartel tunnels, and dispatch them to high-tourist-density targets across the country. (As a Washingtonian, I appreciated that Seattle's Pike Place Market made the list.) The SEALs' globe-trotting mission, then, is three-fold: 1.) Rescue the CIA operative, 2.) take down Christo and Shabal, and 3.) put bullets through the heads of anyone who gets in the way, apparently, as many a cartel goon gets his brain-matter splattered across a corrugated iron wall. And, yes, the rather generic plot does resemble a compressed version of a mid-series season of 24. I half-expected Jack Bauer to show up and waterboard someone.

Here's a relevant passage from Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage: "He had had the belief that real war was a series of death struggles with small time in between for sleep and meals; but since his regiment had come to the field the army had done little but sit still and try to keep warm." I mention it because Act of Valor is the exact opposite; here, military life is a non-stop thrill ride of kicking ass and thwarting terrorism, with small time in between to debrief and attend the funerals of fallen comrades. This movie is all action, and much of it is impressively shot and edited, giving a heightened sense of what it must be like to be a SEAL on a covert mission, stealthily approaching enemy encampments and then taking out the baddies in series of deadly calculated maneuvers. Not only does Act of Valor feature honest-to-goodness SEALs doing what they do best, but many of the scenes were shot with live ammo for authenticity, a real Hollywood rarity. The thing is, the guns a'blazing action sequences are all the film has going for it. The attempts to tug our heartstrings are ham-handed, and the performances...well, let's just say the non-actors are obviously giving it their best.

Act of Valor got its start as a project when co-directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh—the extreme sports documentarians behind Step Into Liquid—produced a promo video for the U.S. Navy. After writing a script about the SEALs, they realized their film could only be made using real-life soldiers, and the Navy gladly accepted their proposal. Make no mistake, the movie is intended as a recruitment tool. In a recent Huffington Post article, Rear Adm. Denny Moynihan explained, "For the Navy and the SEAL community, it was 'Hey, you need 500 more SEALs' and that launched a series of initiatives to try to attract more people. This film was one of those initiatives." Calling Act of Valor a nearly two-hour commercial isn't off the mark at all. The film baits its target demographic of 18-30 year-old men with a visual language familiar to most of them—the conventions of first-person shooters. Many of the firefights feature down-the-barrel P.O.V. shots that attempt to put the audience in the boots of the on-screen characters. Viewing the movie is a bit like watching someone else play a video game—it's fun for a while, but eventually you'll want to play for yourself. And the U.S. Navy is certainly hoping you will.

Act of Valor Blu-ray, Video Quality

If you needed additional proof that small digital SLRs can be potent filmmaking tools, look no further. Act of Valor was shot exclusively with Canon 5D Mark II cameras—which can be bought off the shelf for a little over two grand—and in general, the film's 1080p/AVC-encoded Blu-ray presentation looks fantastic. There are a few scenes where the combination of shallow depth of field and imprecise focusing create a noticeably soft image, but otherwise the picture is quite sharp. The details of the SEALS' weaponry and uniforms, the textures of their camouflaged faces, the surfaces of bullet-riddled walls and vehiclesóall are finely rendered. The color grading is great too; jungle foliage is a dense green, earthy neutrals are rich, skin tones are balanced, and most scenes feature a warm yellowish cast that adds some heat to the image. And while you'll spot some blown-out highlights and occasionally crushed blacks, the contrast curve is usually spot-on. Source noise and compression noise are minimal—even in darker sequences—but you will see some slight aliasing on fine parallel lines, along with a few fleeting instances of color banding and some mild rolling shutter issues. Nothing distracting, though. What impresses most here is how a prosumer-grade digital camera can produce a picture that's nearly indistinguishable from one made by more expensive rigs like the Red One or Arri Alexa. Talk about democratization.

Act of Valor Blu-ray, Audio Quality

Even better is the lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, a hard-hitting mix that effectively puts you right in the middle of the action. And since the film is basically all action, you're getting an almost non-stop sonic onslaught. Of course, you can expect loud gunshots galore—spraying in every direction, practically punching holes through the sound field—and massive explosions that ripple outward, sending debris flying through the space around your head. But you'll also hear near-constant ambience, from wind during a skydiving infiltration and crickets humming at dusk, to the clamor and chaos of the many firefights. Nathan Furst's score generally complements the action—rather than overpowering it—and like the effects, the music has all of the range and oomph and clarity that it needs. Throughout the insanity, dialogue—with few exceptions—remains clear and easily understood. Conversations in languages other than English feature forced subtitles in a goofy military-esque typeface, and the disc also includes optional English SDH and Spanish subs for that might need or want them. No complaints here whatsoever—a first-rate rock 'em, sock 'em audio track. byblu-ray.com

Les Miserables December 14 2012

FULL SYNOPSIS

The King's Speech's Tom Hooper directs this adaptation of Cameron Mackintosh's successful musical version of Victor Hugo's classic novel. The drama surrounds a the obsessive quest of Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe) as he spends years in an effort to capture escaped convict Jean Valjean. Hugh Jackman stars in the Universal Pictures production. Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, and Sacha Baron Cohen co-star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

HANGOVER 3 MAY 24 2013

It's somewhat shocking that Todd Phillips' dudes-gone-wild laugh-fest that is the "Hangover" franchise has yet to hit Tijuana, but if reports from both the Las Vegas Sun and the Toronto Sun are to be believed, that will change in the film's third (and final) entry. The newspapers both report that the third "Hangover" will be primarily set in Tijuana, while other portions of it taking place in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The franchise stars are all expected to return, including Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis, with yet another cameo from Mike Tyson. As The Film Stage notes, rumors have long held that the supposed final entry in the franchise would center on the Wolf Pack springing Alan (Galifianakis) from a mental hospital. Mexico sure sounds like a good place to hide after that sort of stunt.

The film will hit theaters on May 24, 2013.

Bel Ami

FULL SYNOPSIS

Guy de Maupassant's classic tale of passion in late-18th century Paris gets adapted for the big screen in this scintillating erotic drama starring Twilight's Robert Pattinson as a destitute young soldier who plots to gain power by seducing the mistresses of the city's most influential men. Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Colm Meaney co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Release Date: Jun 08, 2012

Rated: Brief Language, Some Strong Sexuality and Nudity

Runtime: 1 hr. 42 min.

Genres: Drama

Director:Nick Ormerod, Declan Donnellan

Cast:Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci, Colm Meaney.

Sir Ridley Scott Explains 'Prometheus'

Sir Ridley Scott appears to be feeling reflective. After directing a string of impressively original features that include American Gangster, Kingdom of Heaven, the underrated Matchstick Men and Black Hawk Down, Scott is revisiting his earliest classics. He’s prepping a sequel to his seminal sci-fi thriller Blade Runner, according to reports. And this weekend, Scott unleashes a meditative companion piece to his pioneering horror masterpiece, Alien.

Don’t excuse nostalgia for Scott resting on his laurels. Prometheus asks some very big questions about life, existence, the afterlife, and the alien influences on our home planet. It also boasts breathtaking performances by Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace. But it’s with those philosophical and religious mysteries that I chose to start with Scott for our exclusive one-on-one interview.

 

Movies.com: Thank you, first, for giving us a film that we need to contemplate and discuss and argue about for days without ever really coming close to answering all that it asks. It feels like it has been too long before we’ve been treated to a meal such as this.

Ridley Scott: Thank Christ! I think that’s great.

Movies.com: The film asks very big questions about where we come from as a species, and where we go when we die. It’s not possible to deliver concrete answers, but I’m hoping you can tell me how, in the planning stages of the script and story, you came to decide which open-ended, philosophical questions you would at the very least attempt to answer definitively.

RS: Well, from the very beginning, I was working from a premise that lent itself to a sequel. I really don’t want to meet God in the first one. I want to leave it open to [Noomi Rapace’s character, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw] saying, “I don’t want to go back to where I came from. I want to go where they came from.”

Movies.com: So that was always going to be the natural ending for this film?

RS: Totally. And because they’re such aggressive f**kers … and who wouldn’t describe them that way, considering their brilliance in making dreadful devices and weapons that would make our chemical warfare look ridiculous? So I always had it in there that the God-like creature that you will see actually is not so nice, and is certainly not God. As she says, “This is not what I thought it was going to be, and I think we should get the Hell out of here or there won’t be any place to go back to.”

That’s not necessarily planted in the ground at the tail end of the third act, but I knew that’s kind of where we should go, because if we’ve opened up this door -- which I hope we have because I certainly would like to do another one – I’d love to explore where the hell [Dr. Shaw] goes next and what does she do when she gets there, because if it is paradise, paradise can not be what you think it is. Paradise has a connotation of being extremely sinister and ominous.

Movies.com: We’re not going to get a slow build in this second film, then. These guys are volatile from the start?

RS: In a funny kind of way, if you look at the Engineers, they’re tall and elegant … they are dark angels. If you look at [John Milton’s] Paradise Lost, the guys who have the best time in the story are the dark angels, not God. He goes to all the best nightclubs, he’s better looking, and he gets all of the birds. [Laughs]

Movies.com: So Milton was one of your influences for the Engineers?

RS: That sounds incredibly pretentiously intellectual. But in a funny sort of way, yes. I started off with a title called Paradise. Either rightly or wrongly, we thought that was telling the audience too much. But then with Prometheus – which I thought was bloody well intellectual – that wasn’t my idea. It was Fox’s notion, It came from Tom Rothman, who’s a smart fellow. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea. This is about someone who dares and is horribly punished. And besides, do you know something? A little bit of an education at the cinema isn’t such a bad thing.

Movies.com: Do you worry that you’ve lost the element of surprise that worked to your advantage with the original Alien? By now, we’ve seen numerous movies in the Alien universe, and like it or not, audiences are coming in with an expectation that deflates tension and suspense. Did you feel the need to pull the audience in to the story in a different fashion this time?

RS: I was hoping I had with the fact that you have a sequence at the beginning of the film that is fundamentally creation. It’s a donation, in the sense that the weight and the construction of the DNA of those aliens is way beyond what we can possibly imagine …

Movies.com: That is our planet, right?

RS: No, it doesn’t have to be. That could be anywhere. That could be a planet anywhere. All he’s doing is acting as a gardener in space. And the plant life, in fact, is the disintegration of himself.

If you parallel that idea with other sacrificial elements in history – which are clearly illustrated with the Mayans and the Incas – he would live for one year as a prince, and at the end of that year, he would be taken and donated to the gods in hopes of improving what might happen next year, be it with crops or weather, etcetera.

I always think about how often we attribute what has happened to either our invention or memory. A lot of ideas evolve from past histories, but when you look so far back, you wonder, Really? Is there really a connection there?”

Then when I jump back, and you put yourself in a situation of a cave painting, you see that someone 32,000 years ago is showing me a little man sitting in the darkness, using a candle light that is fat from a creature he killed and ate. And in the darkness are two or three other family members whose body heat is warming the cave. But he has discovered that from a piece of this black, burnt stick, he has discovered that he can draw pictures on the wall.

In essence, you have the first level of emotion and a demonstration of entertainment, right? Because he’s drawing brilliantly on the God damn wall. Now, you put yourself into that context, it’s 100-times bigger than Edison. And people don’t go back to the basics and ask, “Holy shit, what gave him that knowledge, that jolt to not scribble on the wall but draw on it brilliantly?”

If you go back and look, a completely underrated film is Quest for Fire. That was one of the most genius, simplistic but incredibly sophisticated notion of what it was. The evolution of that was just fantastic. And that got me sitting back on my ass thinking, “Damn! What a fundamentally massive idea.”

Movies.com: You throw religion and spirituality into the equation for Prometheus, though, and it almost acts as a hand grenade. We had heard it was scripted that the Engineers were targeting our planet for destruction because we had crucified one of their representatives, and that Jesus Christ might have been an alien. Was that ever considered?

RS: We definitely did, and then we thought it was a little too on the nose. But if you look at it as an “our children are misbehaving down there” scenario, there are moments where it looks like we’ve gone out of control, running around with armor and skirts, which of course would be the Roman Empire. And they were given a long run. A thousand years before their disintegration actually started to happen. And you can say, “Lets’ send down one more of our emissaries to see if he can stop it. Guess what? They crucified him.byseanoconnell

Amazon Movie Coupons

Amazon is currently offering a lot of coupons for several very popular upcoming titles. Titles include:

Finding Nemo (2D + 3D) $8 off
The Avengers (2D + 3D) $5 off
The Tigger Movie $8 off
Pocahontas / Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World Blu-ray $8 off
The Rescuers / The Rescuers Down Under $8 off
The Aristocats $8 off
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure $8 off

The coupons seem to be valid between June 1, 2012 and June 7, 2012.

The Avengers Pre-Order

Available today on Amazon for Pre-order, the Marvel mega-blockbuster hit The Avengers (2012, Joss Whedon) makes its debut in Blu-ray Disc in several editions.

Released by Walt Disney Studios, the unprecedented trend-setting Marvel Universe franchise film will be available in a 2-disc Blu-ray Edition for $27.99, a 4-disc 3D Blu-ray Edition for $34.99, and according to the Amazon listing, along with five previous Marvel SuperHero movies like The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man (I and II), Thor and Captain America, on a 10-disc Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled gigantic box set for $153.30

The 2D version (Blu-ray + DVD) is also available for pre-order in a DVD package, and for a limited time, Amazon is offering the 4-disc 3D version with a $5.00 off coupon when you pre-order.

The Avengers Amazon pre-orders have also been made available in Canada, with possible additional bilingual cover versions. The 3D versions $5 off coupon applies here as well.

Exact technical specifications and details of the supplements haven't been revealed yet and will be posted when available, but earlier reports have suggested a possible

BRAVE June 22, 2012

 

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor . Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh and cantankerous Lord Dingwall. Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources -- including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers -- to undo a beastly curse before it's too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.

Battlefield America Out Now

The next generation of dancers competes in the ultimate showdown in this stylish tale of an underdog dance troupe with everything to prove. Sean Lewis is an ambitious young businessman from Long Beach, CA. Upon encountering the Bad Boys, a young team of dancers with big ambition but little talent, Sean recognizes their potential and recruits a professional dance teacher to whip them into shape. Later, as all the Bad Boys' hard practice begins to pay off in the run up to a major competition, Sean strikes up a romance with Sarah, the pretty manager of the community center that's the heart of the local dance scene. jason buchanan, rovi

Premium Rush Coming Soon

Dodging speeding cars, crazed cabbies, open doors, and eight million cranky pedestrians is all in a day's work for Wilee, the best of New York's agile and aggressive bicycle messengers. It takes a special breed to ride the fixie -- super lightweight, single-gear bikes with no brakes and riders who are equal part skilled cyclists and suicidal nutcases who risk becoming a smear on the pavement every time they head into traffic.

But a guy who's used to putting his life on the line is about to get more than even he is used to when a routine delivery turns into a life or death chase through the streets of Manhattan. When Wilee picks up his last envelope of the day on a premium rush run, he discovers this package is different. This time, someone is actually trying to kill him.

STARRING:Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Jamie Chung, Dania Ramirez