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Sundance London 2014 Review – Frank (2014)

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Frank, 2014

Directed by Lenny Abrahamson.
Starring Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

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SYNOPSIS:

A young musician joins an eccentric band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank.

Frank Michael Fassbender Domhnaal Gleeson

Lenny Abrahamson released a terrific film called What Richard Did last year. Leaving the theatre left you slightly winded, as was the movie’s moral punch. It was a nice moral punch, though. One you could affectionately rub the bruises of a few days later and contemplate the integrity of man.

Frank is Abrahamson’s latest work, a sort-of-adaptation of Jon Ronson’s writing about his time in alternative 80s comedian Frank Sidebottom’s band. The film captures the spirit of Ronson’s experiences rather than directly translating them to screen. Consequently, the film is set in the modern day, with YouTube, Twitter and South by Southwest pervading the narrative.

This frees the story from its ‘real-life’ constraints to instead focuses upon what it’s like to become obsessed by a manically creative force. This force takes the form of Frank (Michael Fassbender), a giant papier mâché head-wearing eccentric and musical genius, with Jon (a very endearing Domhnall Gleeson) as the obsessed.

He never takes it off. The head, that is. Not even in the shower. All his food comes through a straw. His balance is slightly off, and he’s forever bumping into door frames through a lack of peripheral vision. Initially, it’s unnerving; a grown man standing there with a simultaneously wide-eyed innocence and blow-up sex doll expression on his face. Jon brings the awkwardness up, so Frank starts stating his facial expression out loud to ease their interactions. “Delighted smile!”

After a while you become accustomed to it, and like any blank slate, you find yourself filling in the gaps. Fassbender is incredible in this movie, you’ll think to yourself, falsely remembering a subtle curl of the lips or narrowing of the eyes. But Frank’s face never changed, you imagined it – just like how your imagination fills in the visuals for radio. It’s a neat microcosm of the central mechanism of cinema itself: projection.

Maybe Frank (both the film and the character) loses its way a tad in the South By Southwest segment near the end. There’s so much energy trapped within the cabin walls where they spend the majority of the movie beforehand, struggling over many, many months to record their first album, that the scenes set in the vast plains of the American West feel dissipated. But Abrahamson expertly guides the narrative back, with the concluding scenes being the film’s finest; a deeply moving, slow unraveling of the man behind the mask.

Frank is a different, lighter film to What Richard Did. A sense of deep melancholy is persistent in both, but in Frank there always remains a sense of hope. Perhaps it’s those wide, boyish blue eyes of his. The ones that seem to smile when he grows excited about a new sound, even though they never moved.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Oliver Davis is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors. You can follow him on Twitter (@OliDavis).

The post Sundance London 2014 Review – Frank (2014) appeared first on Flickering Myth.


Another look at Godzilla in latest still

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With less than three weeks to go before it stomps into cinemas, Warner Bros. and Legendary have given us a fresh new look at the King of the Monsters with a new still from the upcoming Godzilla reboot; check it out here courtesy of Godzilla-Movies

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We’ve also got another new shot of Godzilla from the cover of the latest issue of Fangoria, which you can see here.

An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Godzilla is set for release on May 15th, with Gareth Edwards (Monsters) directing a cast that includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Ken Watanabe (Inception), David Strathairn (The Bourne Legacy), Juliette Binoche (The English Patient) and Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine). Watch the latest trailer here.

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Video Game Review – Child of Light

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Andy Naylor reviews Child of Light…

child of lightDon’t be confused by Child of Light, it’s not an indie game, despite all appearances suggesting otherwise. It’s a 2D platformer from French mega-studio, Ubisoft. They’ve identified the current popular trend in the market and leapt in – with great success in all honesty.

The entire atmosphere of the game feels like a modern dark fairy tale, the levels are oppressive, the music creepy and the graphics quite peculiar. Put it all together and it works very well and draws the player into the universe. The graphics in particular are very quirky and remind me of some kind of twisted dark cartoon which just enhances the bleakness of the world our heroine finds herself in.

The standout difference between this offering and that of smaller developers has to be the battle system that has been implemented. It’s a turn based battle system, very much in the mold of Final Fantasy in its heyday. The more characters you acquire, the more tactical the battles become. It’s a strange twist on the standard platformer but it works beautifully.  While most competing games are very linear, there is an openness to this game in between story driven levels. My advice would be to search everywhere thoroughly before moving on; it will help you during the battles.

In a bleak month for game releases, Child of Light is easily the stand out game from April. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable game that will appeal to gamers of all ages.

Check out the trailer.

Andy Naylor – Follow me on Twitter.

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Giveaway – Win Wrinkles on DVD

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Voiced by Hollywood royalty Martin Sheen, this moving animation demands to be seen, and is a talking point for all ages. Based on the award winning graphic novel by Paco Roca, Wrinkles is a heartwarming story of friendship that will bring tears of sadness and joy in equal measure. A beautifully crafted piece of cinema that takes an honest and touching view of a subject that resonates throughout today’s society.

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Wrinkles is out to own on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 28th April and courtesy of Anchor Bay UK, we have a copy on DVD to give away. Read on for a synopsis and details of how to enter…

Based on the award-winning comic by Paco Roca, Wrinkles portrays the poignant and charming friendship between Emilio and Miguel, two elderly gentlemen shut away in a care home. Recent arrival Emilio who is in the early stages of Alzheimer is helped by new roommate Miguel to avoid doctors discovering his ongoing deterioration. In order to avoid ending up on the feared top lost causes floor, Miguel employs all kinds of elaborate and comical stunts throughout their tedious day-to-day routine. This struggle helps shape a genuine and strong relationship between the two of them, because although for some their lives are coming to an end, for Emilio and Miguel it is just beginning. This astonishing story of humanity, friendship and the fragility of old age will make you laugh and cry in equal measures.

Pre-order Wrinkles via Amazon.

To be in with a chance of winning, firstly make sure you like us on Facebook (or follow us on Twitter)…


…Then complete your details below, using the subject heading “WRINKLES”. The competition closes at midnight on Saturday, May 10th
. UK entrants only please.

By entering this competition you agree to our terms and conditions, which you can read here.

The post Giveaway – Win Wrinkles on DVD appeared first on Flickering Myth.

Game of Thrones promo images for season 4 episode 4 ‘Oathkeeper’

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We’ve already brought you a promo for tonight’s fourth episode of Game of Thrones season 4, entitled ‘Oathkeeper’ [see here], and now we have a batch of stills featuring Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney), Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Hodor (Kristian Nairn)…

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Dany (Emilia Clarke) balances justice and mercy. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) tasks Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) with his honor. Jon (Kit Harington) secures volunteers while Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright), Jojen (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Meera (Ellie Kendrick) and Hodor (Kristian Nairn) stumble on shelter.

Game of Thrones airs on HBO on Sunday evenings in the States and on Sky Atlantic on Monday evenings in the UK.

The post Game of Thrones promo images for season 4 episode 4 ‘Oathkeeper’ appeared first on Flickering Myth.

Four clips from 24: Live Another Day

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live-another-dayFOX is counting down the days until the return of Jack Bauer by releasing a short clip from the event series 24: Live Another Day each day until its premiere on May 5th. Check out the first four clips after the official series synopsis…

Four years after the events in the series finale, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is now an exile and is being hunted by a CIA agent. Nevertheless, he is willing to risk his life and freedom to avert yet another global disaster. He attempts to thwart an unthinkable terrorist attack in London that could change the world forever.

Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is now working underground, and William Devane reprises his role as James Heller who is now President of the United States. Benjamin Bratt stars as CIA head Steve Harries, Yvonne Strahovski plays CIA agent Kate Morgan, Giles Matthey is CIA computer tech Jordan Reed, and Gbenga Akinnagbe is cast as a strong and arrogant field operative named Erik Ritter. The cast also includes Michelle Fairley, Stephen Fry, Michael Wincott, Tate Donovan, Branko Tomovic, Emily Barrington, Duncan Pow and Kim Raver.

Be sure to keep an eye on the FOX YouTube channel for the rest of the #24in12 clips from 24: Live Another Day.

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Sundance London 2014 Review – Dinosaur 13 (2014)

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Dinosaur 13, 2014
Directed by Todd Douglas Miller

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SYNOPSIS:

The true tale of one of the greatest discoveries in history.

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Before 1990, only 12 Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils had been found which were, at best, 40% complete. However a dig site in South Dakota discovered a T-Rex that was around 80% in tact – the biggest paleontological discovery of all time. Dinosaur 13 tells the story of that dig and the subsequent law suits that were filed over who really owns fossil nicknamed Sue.

Where Dinosaur 13 succeeds as a documentary is not only in telling a compelling story, but in the raw emotion on show. The group of paleontologists the documentary follows are so passionate about the subject and their story is so interesting that you can’t help but get swept up in it. Peter Larson is a captivating character and the rest of his team are all incredibly likeable. Even if you know how the court cases went down, the direction and structure of Dinosaur 13 is captivating to say the least. You will find yourself rooting for the “good guys” while pantomime booing the “bad guys”. There is an argument to be made that Dinosaur 13 is a touch one-sided, but it’s not one-sided to the degree of last year’s Blackfish or anything put out by Michael Moore.

In a stroke of luck for director Todd Douglas Miller, the team who discovered Sue filmed a lot of their find. Not only that, but they also filmed footage of the preparation they did post-dig, the FBI raids and even portions of the trials. Because of this, Dinosaur 13 features a lot of genuine material which are used to provide a visual to the stories being told in the talking head interviews. Miller does add in some rather unnecessary “reconstruction” footage which does bridge the gaps where they don’t have video footage from the time, but it does feel pointless.

Also showing at Sundance London 2014 this year is Alex Gibney’s Finding Fela (read our ★★★ review here), a documentary that is really made for fans of Fela Kuti’s music and is unlikely to bring in new fans to his work. Even if you’re not interested in the ideas of dinosaurs, there is enough human emotion and drama in Dinosaur 13 that will have you gripped from start to end. Todd Douglas Miller has taken a great story and created a fascinating documentary from it.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ ★ ★  / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Luke Owen is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.

The post Sundance London 2014 Review – Dinosaur 13 (2014) appeared first on Flickering Myth.

Scarlet Witch featured in X-Men: Days of Future Past TV spot, plus Wolverine featurette

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quicksilver-scarlet-witchThanks to CBM, we’ve got a new TV spot for the upcoming superhero sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past, which sees Logan (Hugh Jackman) introducing himself to a young Scarlet Witch. And that’s not all, as a new featurette has also arrived online, focussing of course on the character of Wolverine…

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from “X-Men: First Class,” in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

X-Men: Days of Future Past sees X-Men veterans Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Lucas Till (Havok), Halle Berry (Storm), Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) and Daniel Cudmore (Colossus) joined in the cast by franchise newcomers Evan Peters (American Horror Story) as Quicksilver, Booboo Stewart (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) as Warpath, Omar Sy (The Intouchables) as Bishop, Fan Binbing (Iron Man 3) as Blink, Adan Canto (The Following) as Sunspot, Evan Jonigkeit (The Following) as Toad, Josh Helman (Mad Max: Fury Road) as William Stryker, and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as Bolivar Trask.

X-Men: Days of Future Past opens in the UK on May 22nd and North America on May 23rd.

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Sundance London 2014 Review – The Case Against 8 (2014)

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The Case Against 8, 2014
Directed by Ben Cotner and Ryan White

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SYNOPSIS:
A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Human emotion can be a powerful thing. The fight against oppression can be even more powerful. It’s amazing to think that in 2014, campaigns are still being run for equal rights for the gay community. Filmed over 5 years, The Case Against 8 tells the story of the court cases over the rights for gay couples to be legally married in the state of California. And just like human emotion, The Case Against 8 is incredibly powerful.

The documentary follows the case being built by the American Foundation of Equal Rights and one of the key parts of getting it right so they would win was in picking the two couples who would represent the plaintiffs.  This also helps the movie as Kristin Perry, Sandra Stier, Paul Katami and Jeffrey Zarrillo are captivating, sweet and loveable people. Hearing their stories will tug at your heart-strings and you can really feel just how much they love each other. The way they talk about their significant others is utterly beautiful while never being sanctimonious and anyone with a beating heart will struggle to not shed a tear. Directors Ben Cotner and Ryan White know that this is an emotional tale, but they never abuse the stories to make you cry. Nothing is forced in The Case Against 8, it’s all real.

However, the two couples are not the only sweet duo in The Case Against 8. In a beautiful way, the two lawyers behind the plaintiffs feel like an old married couple themselves. Ted Olson and David Boies started off as rivals on the case for Bush vs Gore during the controversies surrounding the Florida recount but joined forces to fight against Proposition 8. In a very cute moment, the pair talk about the food presented with Olson wanting pizza and Boise telling him they only have tacos. Whether it was intentional of Cotner and White, the Olson/Boies dynamic is one of the loveliest elements of what is already a very sweet story.

The Case Against 8 is not a cinema watch, nor is it a documentary you should seek out to buy. However, when it’s on TV or on Netflix, this is a must-watch. Get your tissues at the ready as you will have tears of joy streaming down your face during several points throughout the movie. The Case Against 8 is pure human emotion, genuine and real. If you are not weeping and smiling by the end of this movie, you’re either totally dead inside – or a massive homophobe. The Case Against 8 is one of the most beautiful true-life stories ever told.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ ★  / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Luke Owen is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.

The post Sundance London 2014 Review – The Case Against 8 (2014) appeared first on Flickering Myth.

Sundance London 2014 Review – Blue Ruin (2013)

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Blue Ruin, 2013
Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier
Starring Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves, Kevin Kolack, Eve Plumb

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SYNOPSIS:
A mysterious outsider’s quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.

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Much like Out of the Furnace, Blue Ruin is a purposefully slow and beautifully crafted revenge thriller which takes its time with its plot, drip feeds you information as and when you need it and keeps you on the edge of your seat until its dramatic conclusion. Gripping, powerful and captivating are just a few words to describe this gem.

Macon Blair plays Dwight, a homeless and heavily bearded fellow who lives out of his rusted Pontiac, steals food from dumpsters and uses other people’s homes to bathe himself while they’re out. However, his life is about to take a dramatic turn when it’s revealed to him that the man who murdered his parents is being released from prison. Taking the law into his own hands, Dwight goes after this man, putting his own life in danger – and the lives of those he loves.

It’s hard to detail the plot of Blue Ruin without giving anything away. Despite writing down certain plot points in the above paragraph, the majority of this information is given to you in bits and pieces as the movie progresses. Jeremy Saulnier’s story is incredibly vague as he trusts his audience to fill in the gaps that aren’t detailed in the script. This isn’t lazy writing, this a belief that an audience can work things out for themselves without having it spelled out. And we can.

Blair is superb as the introverted Dwight and his quite performance makes for a very interesting character. The supporting cast all do well in their roles, but this is really Blair’s movie. There isn’t a scene that he isn’t in and he holds the movie’s weight on his shoulders without any trouble whatsoever. He has very little dialogue, but he gives every line of it with genuine conviction. His motives become clear, you root for him and you believe his actions. This is a brilliant performance from Macon Blair and one that should make other directors take note of his work.

Blue Ruin would make the perfect companion piece with Scott Cooper’s Out of the Furnace as the two share similar values and styles. It’s a gripping story that will leave you guessing until the very end and it’s gorgeous to look at. Macon Blair is great and Saulnier’s direction is sublime. The movie’s slow pace might not be to everyone’s cup of tea and there is a case to be made that it’s almost sluggish, but if you can settle yourself in for the ride you will get a lot out of it. Blue Ruin is a fantastic movie and should be seen by as many people as possible.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ ★ ★  / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

Luke Owen is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.

The post Sundance London 2014 Review – Blue Ruin (2013) appeared first on Flickering Myth.

The Flickering Myth Podcast #27 – Sundance London 2014: Blue Ruin, The Voices, Frank, Hits, They Came Together, Obvious Child, Dinosaur 13

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The Flickering Myth Podcast returns…

fmpodcast2Back again for another year, Sundance London 2014 has put on some of the best movies from the official Sundance film festival. Flickering Myth co-editors Luke Owen and Oli Davis sit down outside a (rather rainy) O2 Arena to discuss the films they saw at this year’s festival including:

Blue Ruin (Read out ★★★★ review here)
The Case Against 8 (Read our ★★★ review here)
Dinosaur 13 (Read our ★★★★ review here)
Frank (Read our ★★★★ review here)
The Voices (Read our ★★★★ review here)
Hits (Read our ★★★ review here)
They Came Together (Read our ★★★★ review here)
Obvious Child (Read our ★★★★ review here)
Finding Fela (Read our ★★★ review here)
EDC 2013: Under the Electric Sky (Read our ★ review here)
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (Read our ★★ review here)

The episode is now live so if you refresh your iTunes or RSS feed it should automatically update. However, you can also listen to Episode #27 directly in the player below…

You can get in touch with the podcast by emailing luke@flickeringmyth.com.

The post The Flickering Myth Podcast #27 – Sundance London 2014: Blue Ruin, The Voices, Frank, Hits, They Came Together, Obvious Child, Dinosaur 13 appeared first on Flickering Myth.

Digitising My DVD Library

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Commenting on the Critics with Simon Columb…

KLP-Cinema-OneWe talk about VOD and streaming services, against the illegal piracy audiences turn to when watching Game of Thrones, but we are forgetting about the obvious. Home Theatre Review writes:

“The Kaleidescape Cinema One, (or the K-scape we call it here at HomeTheaterReview) the high-end storage locker for your Blu-rays (and more) has just been recognized for its excellent product design and is the winner of a Red Dot Award. The server can import and store hundreds of movies and allow you to watch them instantly sans previews and promos and even menus.”

Read the full article here: http://hometheaterreview.com/kaleidescape-honored-with-award/

This is the product we have been waiting for – and technology will only improve. Since 1999, we have collected DVDs and Blu-rays, and yet we talk about streaming services. If all my DVDs and Blu-rays were in one digital box it’d be the best service in the world – and all the space dominating the right side of my living room would be empty too. All the Disney animated ‘Classics’, The Wire and The Pacific are all available to me, on my shelf. We digitise CDs the day they are bought, while DVDs still remain, like a library, on the shelf. But not for long…

To copy DVDs and Blu-rays, you have to dodge a few laws. Copyright laws are encrypted on most discs, meaning you need a program to scratch that off before copying them onto your hard drive – and its tougher with Blu-ray but it’s more than possible. You also need the digital space to store the films and the time to upload them all – two hours for DVDs, maybe the whole night for a single Blu-ray. And that may not include special features either.

This may be too much hassle for some. In time, this routine will get faster to do and we’ll have more space to store using improved technology – and the “K-scape” is a testament to how fast things are moving. And those in the know are already doing this anyway. Catalogues of DVDs and Blu-ray’s stored on digital libraries use IMDB-integrated programs that organise the films by alphabetised titles, directors and actors. Some choose to only copy the film itself – others the entire DVD disc, special features and all.

kaleidescape_movie_server_system_3Distributors know what’s coming. Those who shell out thousands of pounds for a storage device to hold their (already purchased) DVDs are obviously not against paying for product. But they are also not clueless to the relentless costs studios try and bleed out of honest customers. Paying “extra” for a digital download to watch an already-purchased DVD on a portable device? Find the rule-breaking product and, using your paid-for DVD, you can make your own digital copy. This technology will also take a hit on streaming services – those who own hundreds of DVDs never know each and every title. Scrolling through a catalogue online, and with one click, watching what you want will make the whole process easier. Maybe I’ll watch a forgotten film I already own tonight rather than the Netflix and Amazon Instant choice I’m “recommended”.

This is inevitable. Distributors should have learnt from the music industry – and they had extra time to organise themselves in the process. But I have a feeling it’ll take longer and those savvy enough will already be jumping on the digital storage bandwagon sooner rather than later as studios and distributors argue amongst themselves. Of course, they all want a bigger piece of the pie, and can’t decide – who will be the “iTunes” of home-film storage in the future?

Simon Columb – Follow him on Twitter @screeninsight

The post Digitising My DVD Library appeared first on Flickering Myth.

New images from Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Jupiter Ascending, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Expendables 3

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As part of a summer movie preview, USA Today has given us a batch of new images from some of this year’s biggest blockbusters in Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Jupiter Ascending, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Expendables 3.

Here’s Godzilla from next month’s hotly-anticipated reboot…

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Godzilla is set for release on May 15th, with Gareth Edwards (Monsters) directing a cast that includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Ken Watanabe (Inception), David Strathairn (The Bourne Legacy), Juliette Binoche (The English Patient) and Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine). Watch the latest trailer here.

Next up are a couple of shots from X-Men: Days of Future Past featuring James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart as Past and Future Professor X…

James McAvoy in X-Men: Days of Future Past

James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart in X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past is directed by Bryan Singer and sees X-Men veterans Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Lucas Till (Havok), Halle Berry (Storm), Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) and Daniel Cudmore (Colossus) joined in the cast by franchise newcomers Evan Peters (American Horror Story) as Quicksilver, Booboo Stewart (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) as Warpath, Omar Sy (The Intouchables) as Bishop, Fan Binbing (Iron Man 3) as Blink, Adan Canto (The Following) as Sunspot, Evan Jonigkeit (The Following) as Toad, Josh Helman (Mad Max: Fury Road) as William Stryker, and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as Bolivar Trask. The film opens in the UK on May 22nd and North America on May 23rd. Watch the latest trailer here.

And Optimus Prime from Transformers: Age of Extinction

Optimus Prime in Transformers: Age of Extinction

Transformers: Age of Extinction opens on June 27th, with Michael Bay directing Mark Wahlberg (Ted), Jack Reynor (What Richard Did), Stanley Tucci (Captain America: The First Avenger), Nicola Peltz (Bates Motel), Bingbing Li (Resident Evil: Retribution), Sophia Myles (Underworld), Victoria Summer (Saving Mr. Banks), Titus Welliver (Lost) and T.J. Miller (She’s Out of My League). Watch the trailer here.

Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) as the villain Balem Abrasax in Andy and Lana Wachowski’s Jupiter Ascending

Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending

Jupiter Ascending is released on July 25th, with a cast that also includes Mila Kunis (Ted), Channing Tatum (22 Jump Street), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), Douglas Booth (Noah), Tuppence Middleton (Trance), Doona Bae (Cloud Atlas) and James D’Arcy (Hitchcock). Watch the trailer here.

Karen Gillan as the villainess Nebula in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Karen Gillan as Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy opens August 1st, with James Gunn (Super) directing Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax the Destroyer, Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) as Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious 6) as Groot, Benicio Del Toro (Sin City) as The Collector, Lee Pace (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) as Ronan the Accuser, Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) as Nebula, Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) as Korath, John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) as Rhomman Dey and Glenn Close (Damages) as Nova Prime Rael. Watch the trailer here.

And finally, Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in The Expendables 3

Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables 3

The Expendables 3 opens on August 15th, with Patrick Hughes (Red Hill) directing a cast that sees returning Expendables Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Jet Li and franchise newcomers Harrison Ford (Star Wars), Wesley Snipes (Blade), Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Kellan Lutz (The Legend of Hercules), Kelsey Grammer (X-Men: The Last Stand), Glen Powell (The Dark Knight Rises), Ronda Rousey (Fast & Furious 7) and Victor Ortiz. Watch the trailer here.

The post New images from Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Jupiter Ascending, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Expendables 3 appeared first on Flickering Myth.

Preview of Dream Police #1

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This week sees the beginning of another new series from Image Comics with the arrival of Dream Police #1 from J. Michael Straczynski and Sid Kotian; check out a preview of the first issue here…

Dream Police Detectives Joe Thursday and Frank Stanford have been partners for as long as they can remember, patrolling the alternate universe of dreams, nightmares, and the great void beyond, an alternate but very real dimension of changelings, echoes, wisps, ethers, and nightwalkers, those who died in their sleep and wander the dreamscape forever. They’ve seen it all. But when Frank steps away and disappears…and the woman who returns says she’s Joe’s partner, that she’s always been Joe’s partner…he begins a journey into the unknown that will shake the dreaming down to its very foundations.

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Dream Police #1 is out Wednesday, priced $2.99.

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DVD Review – In Security (2013)

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In Security, 2013

Directed by Adam and Evan Beamer.
Starring Ethan Embry, Michael Gladis, Clea DuVall, Cary Elwes, Vinnie Jones, Ed Begley Jr., Adam Arkin and Ving Rhames.

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SYNOPSIS:

Owners of a failing home security business resort to robbing their way through the neighbourhood in hopes of attracting clients. Their scheme backfires as they accidentally rob the house of a powerful druglord.

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In Security is an odd film, one of two very different halves, due to a drastic shift in tone. What at first feels like a ridiculous goofball comedy, slowly turns into a crime film concerned with drugs and guns. You could call it a ‘dark comedy’, but it doesn’t play out that way, it seems somehow unaware of its own themes. The first half of the film is initially centred around buddy comedy, playing off best friends Kevin (Ethan Embry) and Bruce (Michael Gladis). Initially, we’re meant to have sympathy for the two as they fail to keep their home security business afloat, before they decide to rob houses in order to prove to their clients, that they need protection.

Sadly, most of the comedy falls flat. There’s the occasional grin, or chuckle, but In Security is never hilarious. In Security should be a film that is funny as a result of its own circumstances, but instead, most of the jokes are forced, written-in or a bit overdone. The concept is certainly fresh enough to warrant some laughs if done in the right fashion. However, while In Security isn’t a great comedy, it still proved entertaining in its latter half as a heist/crime film. There’s a noticeable shift in momentum as Kevin and Bruce find themselves in quite serious trouble, one that’s oddly compelling mainly due to its villain. Cary Elwes as the pleasingly psychotic Joshua really holds the film together in its final moments. He’s the perfect mix of insane, amusing and disturbing.

One thing that’s hard to understand about the film is its use of star cameos. The film features bit-roles from such credible actors as Vinnie Jones, Adam Arkin and Ving Rahmes, but only for one scene each or roughly 30 seconds of screentime. It’s only logical to assume these actors were in it for a pay check, as they seemed to have no purpose other than to give some kind of credibility to the film. It’s never wise to essentially lie to your audience or to leave them feeling cheated. This is also the case with the film’s ending, in which, we’re given a dramatic, serious climax, only to see it retconned 2 minutes after.

The film had some good ideas and a fresh concept, but ultimately it doesn’t work. The humour simply wasn’t funny, while the serious elements of the film came far too late. The unnecessary cameos left the film feeling tacky, as if it were some kind of cheap or easy endorsement, not an acting role. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend In Security. That being said, If you can make it past 40 minutes of boredom, it’s second half may vaguely entertain you.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

Sam Thorne

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Preview of Southern Bastards #1

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From the acclaimed team of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, the creative team behind Scalped and Wolverine: Japan’s Most Wanted, comes Southern Bastards – a southern fried crime series that’s described as the Dukes of Hazzard meets the Coen Brothers…on meth. Check out a preview of Southern Bastards #1 here…

Welcome to Craw County, Alabama, home of Boss BBQ, the state champion Runnin’ Rebs football team…and more bastards than you’ve ever seen. When you’re an angry old man like Earl Tubb, the only way to survive a place like this…is to carry a really big stick.

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Southern Bastards #1 is out Wednesday, priced $3.50.

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Marvel’s Netflix series to explore “the street level noir side of the Marvel Universe”

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daredevil-drew-goddardLast year, Marvel Studios announced that it was expanding its TV output beyond Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. by partnering up with Netflix for five miniseries, with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage building to a small screen team-up in The Defenders.During an interview with Kevin Smith on his podcast Fatman on Batman (via ComicBook), Marvel Entertainment’s Chief Creative Official Joe Quesada has spoken about the series and their place within the MCU, as well as offering a brief update on their current status.

“There will be some interconnectivity, much like the movies. They will exist within the Cinematic Universe again, so this is all the same world as S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers… Although these are superhero stories, this is different now. This is the street level…this is the street level noir side of the Marvel Universe. Something that you haven’t really, really seen in any of our Marvel movies. And probably more ground level, than I think you’ve seen. This is not like us doing Batman, Dark Knight or any of that stuff. This is very much Marvel doing street level superheroes.”

As for the progress of the series – which will kick off production this July with Daredevil from Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods), Quesada said: “he scripts are coming in. They are pretty fantastic. They’re really emotional. They’re very, very original. But at the same time, it is Daredevil. It is Matt Murdock. We will eventually, hopefully start casting really, really soon, but I’m very, very excited about it.”

And finally, Quesada also confirmed that the episodes are set to arrive all at once, rather than a serialised format: “You’re going to get all these episodes, and you can binge watch them however you want, and then binge watch them again.”

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Toby Jones and Bill Nighy to star in Dad’s Army film

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dads-armyAccording to The Sunday Times, Toby Jones (Berberian Sound Studio, Captain America: The First Avenger) and Bill Nighy (About Time, I, Frankenstein) have signed on to appear in a big screen version of the classic British sitcom Dad’s Army.

The report claims that Jones will play Captain Mainwaring and Nighy Sergeant Wilson, the two characters previously portrayed by Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier. Oliver Parker (Johnny English Reborn) is set to direct from a script by Hamish McColl (Johnny English Reborn, Mr. Bean’s Holiday).

Dad’s Army revolved around a group of Home Guard volunteers during the Second World War and premiered in 1968, running for 9 series, in addition to a 1971 feature film, a radio series and live stage show.

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Justice League movie confirmed to follow Batman vs. Superman

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The Justice League - Aquaman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, The Flash and Cyborg

The Justice League – Aquaman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, The Flash and Cyborg

The increasing marginalisation of Superman in what we thought was his own franchise? Or the most exciting thing to happen since The Avengers teamed up?

Regardless of how you feel, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and at least Cyborg will be coming together to form the Justice League on film.

Warner Bros. president of worldwide production Greg Silverman has announced that Justice League will continue from 2016′s Batman vs. Superman (current title) and will be  directed by the returning Zack Snyder.  Whilst initial reports stated a release date of 2018, internet ‘scoop’ site Latino Review believes it will shoot back to back with BvS and release in 2017.

“It will be a further expansion of this universe,” said Mr. Silverman. “Superman vs. Batman will lead into Justice League.”. Note the title Silverman uses for the next film. The internet at large have put Batman first, so have we just heard the film’s official title?

DC are clearly bent on matching Marvel, whose on-screen universe already contains 9 films (with more announced) and a TV show (again with more announced). The continuing success of Arrow, and the announced Flash and Gotham shows further cements this.

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy made big money whilst being critically lauded, yet DC’s other efforts have met with more mixed results. Green Lantern and Jonah Hex flopped, whilst last year’s Superman reboot Man of Steel performed well but received mix reviews. DC must be hoping that playing all their aces now, forgoing the world building that Marvel went through, will do the trick. They do start in a different position though, as whilst the general public didn’t know who Iron Man was before his first film, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know who Batman and Superman are.

Time will tell if this is a good move or a rush job, but either way it is exciting to be seeing another cinematic universe grow.

For more details on DC’s other films and the full report, head over to The Wall Street Journal.

Batman vs. Superman is set for release on May 6th 2016 with Zack Snyder directing a cast that includes returning Man of Steel stars Henry Cavill (Superman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Diane Lane (Martha Kent) and Laurence Fishburne (Perry White) alongside Ben Affleck (Argo) as Batman, Gal Gadot (Fast & Furious 6) as Wonder Woman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me) as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons (The Borgias) as Alfred Pennyworth and Holly Hunter (The Piano), Callan Mulvey (300: Rise of an Empire), and Tao Okamoto (The Wolverine) in as-yet-unrevealed roles.

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Movie Review – Blue Ruin (2013)

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Blue Ruin, 2013.
Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier.
Starring Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves, Kevin Kolack and Eve Plumb.

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SYNOPSIS:

A mysterious outsider’s quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.

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“He’s going to be released” says a police officer to Dwight, a long haired, long bearded vagrant whose only place he can call home is a rusty, beaten up light blue Pontiac. With these few words one man makes a decision which will see bloodshed and violence, with no one getting away clean.

For a revenge thriller, a genre which has been tried and tested for decades, Blue Ruin is quite brilliant and what resonates the most is the lead character, Dwight. As the film begins we watch as he flees from one house as the owners get back from vacation, only to find his next meal in a trash can and within the opening few minutes of Blue Ruin we understand this man’s day to day routine with barely a word spoken. He is a man with practically nothing except this crappy car, but he is also a man driven by a personal mission. He isn’t ex-SAS and he doesn’t have weapons or combat training, nor is he taking down a criminal empire or getting involved in some Death Wish style killing spree for the sake of a high body count to please a bloodthirsty audience. Moreover, there isn’t a crazy, nasty group of villains for us to hate on and get behind Dwight.

The revenge Dwight seeks is against the man who killed both of his parents and is now being released from jail some 20 years after. It’s a refreshing take to have a man revenge the death of parents as opposed to a wife or child as is so often the case, and the long stretch of time after the incident only adds to the pain and anger Dwight must have built up over this period, and is presumably part of the reason why he is now without a home, although this is never fully explored.

Blue Ruin takes its time and is never hurried into action, yet at 95 minutes it rarely wastes a scene, of which several stand out; an assassination attempt in a toilet, the eye-watering task of removing an arrow from a leg, a man held captive in the boot of a car; and the tense, drawn out climax all help make Blue Ruin a gripping experience. However, like Blood Simple, the film is not without its dark comedic moments which are welcome to break up the violence and gives the proceedings a more ‘naturalistic’ feel. In one scene a man is killed and the uttered line “that’s what bullets do” is both funny and frightening in its bluntness and honesty.

The film is frugal with dialogue and liberal with storytelling through images, always looking professional and making the most of the Virginia landscapes, never cheapened with flashy camera techniques. It reminds me of a mixture of the Coen brothers Blood Simple and No Country for Old Men for what can be done with a low budget and simple story, and its relentless pursuits where violence and death are the only concern. That’s prolific company to be associated with but writer and director Jeremy Saulnier has earned it here.

If there’s one area which stops the film from reaching true greatness it’s the final act. Although tense, well shot, and slowly building up to a final explosion of violence I couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by the lack of emotion or resolution on show from Dwight. He isn’t a violent man but has done violent things either to get his initial revenge or to fend for his life, but there didn’t seem to be redemptive, nor does the violence seem to change him throughout the film. I could argue that because he has nothing so this is all he has to live and die for, but the film just needed something a little deeper to bring this home.

Minor issues aside, Blue Ruin is a superb film, the likes of which it is a pleasure to watch and write about. It shows what can be done with a small budget, a simple idea, sparse dialogue, and confidence in the audience to stay with it without sacrificing style or substance.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★  / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

Rohan Morbey - follow me on Twitter.

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