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DVD Review - To Walk with Lions (1999)

January 27, 2013, 11:55 pm
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To Walk with Lions, 1999.

Directed by Carl Schultz.
Starring John Michie, Richard Harris, Kerry Fox, Ian Bannen, Hugh Quarshie, Honor Blackman and Geraldine Chaplin.


SYNOPSIS:

An arrogant young man (Michie) travelling through Africa crosses paths with George Adamson (Harris), a world-famous lion tamer. Adamson employs Tony and teaches him about the lions and land.


Oscar-winning Born Free was a thoroughly charming film. The story of lovable lions raised by George and Joy Adamson was understandably enjoyed by millions. To Walk with Lions still retains some of the affability of the 1966 gem but is nothing outstanding by itself.

Had it not been for Richard Harris (this one of his last roles) I can’t imagine To Walk with Lions having much of a reputation. Fortunately for the film Harris gives a tremendous performance; he is fearless, fragile and formidable – becoming George Adamson in all his glory. Near the end of the film Harris erupts from within him and emotion outburst, quality enough to warrant more notice.

The lead actor, John Michie (probably best known for his part in Coronation Street) does not stand much of a chance making an impact next to the legendary actor, though he does makes a good go at it. He manages to carry a film that tediously revolves more around land laws and a lady than the celebrated lion tamer.

The action we want to see more of (the lions in the preserve and in the wild, interactions with the poachers, and Adamson at work) is not on show as much as you’d hope/expect. The few incidences that garner the most tension and excitement are very thrilling, however. Schultz as a director is capable of great drama but with a lacklustre script, Schultz and the actors are left with an uninspiring film.

It has some terrific cinematography and music at points though they get lost in the film’s overall mediocrity. To Walk with Lions works as a perfect Sunday afternoon film (solemn and calming tonally), and might be a must for lion and nature lovers, but isn’t one you should rush out to find.

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

Piers McCarthy - Follow me on Twitter.
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Giveaway - Win Grave Encounters 2 on DVD

January 28, 2013, 4:49 am
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The Vicious Brothers' horror sequel Grave Encounters 2 arrives on DVD here in the UK on Monday, February 4th and to celebrate the release we have three copies of the film to give away to our readers courtesy of the lovely folks at Metrodome Distribution.

Read on for a synopsis and details of how to enter the competition...

"While researching the events depicted in the original film and the subsequent disappearance of its lead ”actor” Sean Rogerson, Alex Wright received a bizarre video from a mysterious blogger named “DeathAwaits666.” Appearing to show Rogerson still alive but trapped inside the Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital from GRAVE ENCOUNTERS, Alex and his friends agree to meet the blogger at the infamous hospital in hopes of learning what really happened. To their horror, they quickly find themselves face-to-face with unspeakable evil. Realizing that they must be smarter and faster than Rogerson and his crew to avoid suffering the same fate, they use their knowledge of the original film to do whatever it takes to survive."

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 "ENCOUNTERS". The competition closes at midnight on Saturday, February 9th. UK entrants only please.

 
 By entering this competition you agree to our terms and conditions, which you can read here.
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DVD Review - Holy Motors (2012)

January 28, 2013, 4:58 am
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Holy Motors, 2012.

Written and Directed by Leos Carax.
Starring Denis Lavant, Edith Scob, Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue, Elise Lhomeau and Michel Piccoli.


SYNOPSIS:

A day in the life of Monsieur Oscar (Lavant), a man travelling in his limousine to a string of 'appointments' where, in each, he takes on a new identity and agenda.


One of the leading film critics, André Bazin, titled a series of essays “What is cinema?” (“Qu’est-ce que le cinema?); it was, and still is, a question of great debate and discussion. Often, when looking at the meaning of film the subject itself becomes introspective. From the glitzy, comic reflections of Singin’ in the Rain, to the topic of the viewer in Cinema Paradiso, or the surreal machinations of narrative and characterisation in Holy Motors– cinema continually draws attention to its own workings and effects.

Leos Carax’s Holy Motors is arguably one of the oddest films (not only in terms of its style, but in general) of late to instigate examination. Like most art-house films this is a film that will thrill some whilst alienate others. Its premise is never completely explained – nor seemingly concluded upon – leaving some fascinated long after watching it, or annoying others with its ambiguity.

Whilst it’s understandable to consider the latter, it is the former that is truer in Holy Motors' evaluation. The presence is simple to explain, more difficult to assess – a man’s odyssey through Paris serving “appointments” in different guises, for a reason relatively unknown. It is a joy and challenge to watch; it cries for a studious analysis that would add to your wonderment.

Denis Lavant in the lead role is astonishing. He is predominantly named Mr. Oscar yet is a man of many names and faces. As he puts on his make-up and costumes he totally transforms himself. You can never completely know the character(s) he plays but Lavant never makes them too mysterious or too distant either – in every one he adds a nuance to the performance to generate audiences’ engagement. His acting abilities are wonderfully on show here, with none of the supporting cast getting the slightest bit close to stealing the show.

The 8 and a half (possible reference to Fellini’s 8½?) appointments he goes to are excellently enigmatic. Some scenes are aesthetically great (the motion-capture dance is one of the best scenes of film 2012) and some are curiously captivating (the crazed hobo and doppelganger hit-man being two brilliant bits). Not all are that interesting and the much-required second viewing may have you smiling at the anticipation of your favourite segment or sighing at the prospect of another.

Holy Motors is a wholly weird film laced with cinephilia. It will appeal to the cine-literate crowd and perhaps misunderstood by the average filmgoer. In whatever case, it still deserves a watch just to expand your appreciation of imagination and storytelling. Carax never gives you a straight answer to what it’s all about though it doesn’t really matter; you will never forget at least a third of the film for its sheer insanity.

DVD Extras: Excellent hour-long interview with director Leos Carax. Deleted Scenes that should remain ignored as some ruin the allure of the final film. Basic trailer.

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

Piers McCarthy - Follow me on Twitter.
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Norah Jones to perform Ted song at the Academy Awards

January 28, 2013, 5:09 am
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Norah Jones will join Seth MacFarlane and Ted at the Oscars in February, after the producers of this years ceremony, Craig Zadan and Neil Meton, confirmed that Jones will perform “Everybody Needs a Best Friend”, the original song by MacFarlane and composer Walter Murphy from last year’s blockbuster comedy.

The song, with the music of Murphy and lyrics by Ted creator MacFarlane, is nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar, and will mark the first time the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter has performed at the prestigious event.

Said Jones on the announcement to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: "I had such a great time recording this song with Seth, and was thrilled to find out that it was nominated for an Oscar. Getting to perform it at such a prestigious event, which my friend is hosting, is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Producers Zadan and Meron were thrilled to have Jones perform, also saying: "We are happy to have Norah Jones perform Seth's and Walter Murphy's nominated song on our Oscar telecast. We are big admirers of Norah's singing and she will help celebrate the unique circumstance of having an Oscar host who is also nominated for Best Original Song."

The 85th Academy Awards will be presented Sunday, February 24th in Hollywood, with MacFarlane hosting for the first time. Ted is out on Blu-ray and DVD now.
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Bradley Cooper set to play Lance Armstrong?

January 28, 2013, 5:12 am
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Bradley Cooper’s star is certainly on the rise again. With Silver Linings Playbook set to compete for Best Picture on February 24th, as well a host of other awards, and both The Hangover Part III and the hugely anticipated The Place Beyond the Pines set for release this year, Cooper is set for another stellar year in Hollywood.

He could add to that stellar form, with reports coming out of Hollywood that Cooper is lobbying hard for the role of Lance Armstrong in the soon-to-be-made biopic. After Armstrong’s confessional on Oprah in the USA, reports have suggested that Paramount Pictures and J.J Abrams’ Bad Robot have acquired the rights to the upcoming book Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong, written by Juliet Macur.

Over the weekend Star Trek Into Darkness and new Star Wars: Episode VII director Abrams has told Entertainment Tonight that he and Cooper have been in contact about the possibility of Cooper playing the cyclist, if the movie comes to fruition. The pair worked together back in 2001 on the cult series Alias.

At the weekends Producers Guild Awards, Abrams was quoted as saying: "[Cooper] sent me an email and we've been talking."

Cooper, meanwhile, has already expressed his desire on BBC News, saying he "would be interested in [playing Armstrong]. I think he's fascinating. What a fascinating character."

What’s your view? Is Cooper the right person to play the disgraced sportsman?

Silver Linings Playbook is still on general release in the UK and USA; Star Trek Into Darkness in released May 17th.; Star Wars: Episode VIII is currently set for 2015.
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The X-Files get sent to IDW Publishing

January 28, 2013, 7:00 am
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A deal has been struck with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products which makes IDW Publishing the comic book outlet for The X-Files.  The creative partnership will result in classic issues being intermittently reprinted from 1995 to 2009 and a new series arriving in June 2013.

“The X-Files is a classic property that helped redefine fans’ expectations for the science-fiction and horror genres,” said IDW’s President/Chief Operating Officer Greg Goldstein. “The possibilities for new comic stories are virtually unlimited!”  In regards to reviving the adventures of Mulder and Scully, Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products remarked, “The fans of The X-Files have remained loyal to the series since its conclusion. What better way to continue the show’s legacy and give back to them than through new stories in a different medium.  IDW has worked with a number of our Fox properties and we know they’re going to do great things with these iconic characters.”

The last time a new comic book story based on the science fiction television series was published was 2009’s joint Wildstorm/IDW crossover - 30 Days of Night/The X-Files.  “Few shows have captured the zeitgeist and fans’ imaginations like The X-Files, and fewer shows still have left people hungry for more in the way this one did,” stated Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief. “Our new series will be picking up where the second film left off, which will hopefully be as exciting for fans to read as it is for us to develop.”


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DVD Review - False Trail (Jägarna 2) (2011)

January 28, 2013, 8:44 am
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False Trail (Jägarna 2), 2011.

Directed by Kjell Sundvall.
Starring Rolf Lassgård, Peter Stormare and Annika Nordin.


SYNOPSIS:

When a young girl goes missing, Erik Bäckström is called in to help with the investigation.


Although a sequel to the 1996 Jägarna, False Trail (known in Sweden as Jägarna 2) never feels like the second part of a movie series. Instead, it feels like an episode of a TV police procedural akin to Midsomer Murders or Inspector Morse where Eric Bäckström solves a new case week to week.

This isn't helped by the fact that False Trail falls for every police drama cliché from its main story all the way down to its supporting roles. Each step of the way feels telegraphed which doesn't help its near 2 hour running time feel any quicker and it just slips you further into feeling like you're watching an ITV drama. The story itself is fairly simple, there are no real twists in the tale and worst of all the killer's motives are never fully explained. We get a couple of throwaway lines here and there but it's never confirmed if that was his motivation. What I will say however is that the plot is very focused and never gets sidetracked which does help the pacing, but you will find yourself begging for an ad break just to see something different.

I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but it is my biggest complaint of the movie: it doesn't feel or look like a movie. It has that same feel and tone of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and never has a cinematic quality that you would associate with modern day film. It's not so much a bad thing or a deterrent to the movie, but it does make you feel like you're watching a TV show like the ones mentioned earlier rather than a film sequel.

But while it may look and feel like a TV show, the film's performances are pure cinema quality. Both Rolf Lassgård and Peter Stormare are magnificent in their roles with Stormare really putting in a career best as the slightly unhinged Torsten. Supporting roles from Annika Nordin, Kim Tjernström and Eero Milonoff are also fantastic which really does help battle the TV feel. Milonoff in particular is phenomenal and the maniacal Jari and just one simple stare from his cold eyes will send shivers down your spine. But the movie belongs to Lassgård and Stormare who bounce off each other's impeccable charisma with flair and panache.

With the exception of the superb performances, I have sounded like I'm quite down on False Trail - but I did actually like it. The story, albeit simple, is quite engaging and the dialogue and characters are incredibly well written. The film may not look cinematic but it does carry itself well and is a very enjoyable watch. To be honest, False Trail is worth watching just for the awe-inspiring performances but don't expect this to be your new favourite movie.

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

Luke Owen is a freelance copywriter working for Europe’s biggest golf holiday provider as their web content executive. You can follow him on Twitter @CGLuke_o
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Movie Review - Movie 43 (2013)

January 28, 2013, 9:34 am
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Movie 43, 2013

Directed by Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffen Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrik Forsberg, James Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Ratner and Jonthan van Tulleken.
Starring Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Anna Faris, Kieran Culkin, Richard Gere, Emma Stone, Kate Bosworth and many, many more.


SYNOPSIS:

A series of interconnected short films follows three kids as they search the depths of the Internet to find the most banned movie in the world.


Movie 43 is a film that had a lot of hype late last year with a few red band trailers showing off the movies impressive cast list and promising the crudest and rudest comedy ever made. Then, suddenly silence. Movie 43 wasn't press screened and the reports coming out when people finally saw it were not good. 1 star reviews flocked movie sites with some critics in America and the UK calling it "the worst movie ever made". Well, I've now seen it and... well... I wouldn't go as far to say it's the worst movie ever made.

Like all anthology-based movies, there will always be segments that are good and segments that don't work as well. In the case of Movie 43, there are a fair few half-decent segments and quite a lot of poor ones but there are no stand out, laugh out loud segments that you could call a "highlight". The opening segment (The Catch) with Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman does have quite a few laughs as does Super Hero Speed Dating which sees Robin's speed dating be sabotaged by Batman who is looking for the Penguin. For me the best of the whole bunch was Homeschooled which sees Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts home school their son, but give him the traditional high school feel (bullying, angry P.E teachers and 'that first kiss'). While the pay-off of the segment was a bit of a dud, the comedy as a whole really worked for me. Victory's Glory, which sees Terrance Howard convince a basketball team that they're going to win the big game on the basis that they're black and their opponents are white is funny to begin with but the shtick gets old, much like the Truth or Dare segment with Halle Berry and Stephen Merchant. As I said, there are no real stand-outs that work 100% which does hurt the film.

Not every segment works and some of them are just plain naff. The iBabe gag isn't the least bit funny and The Proposition which sees Anna Faris ask boyfriend Chris Pratt to "poop" on her is simply juvenile for the sake of being juvenile. It's also astounding to see them have a segment with Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Grace Moretz and produce no laughs. It's so weird because the set-up is fairly humorous (two teenage boys freak out about their female friend getting her first period), but the laughs don't come. There's also a really odd segment after the credits called Beezel with Elizabeth Banks trying to fight off Josh Duhamel's obsessive cartoon cat which feels like it should be funny but isn't. Similarly, Happy Birthday has a good set up (Sean William Scott and Johnny Knoxville capture a Gerard Butler leprechaun for gold) but the comedy just doesn't click. Maybe it's because the segments weren't given enough time or maybe they were just rushed in to fill runtime, but there is something missing.

However the worst of them all is the wrap around that accompanies the film which sees two idiot stoners try to play a prank on one of their little brothers who then tries to look for the mysterious "Movie 43" only to get involved with terrorists, Armageddon, internet porn, insect and messages from the future. It's such a bizarrely unfunny turn of events that didn't really work and the incredible lack of star power compared to the other segments is baffling. Even more bizarre however is that the US release has a different wrap around which sees people pitching movie ideas and features Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear, Will Sasso and Seth MacFarlane. I have no idea why this wrap around wasn't included in the UK release as it sounds a lot funnier and it has the star power that the film is trying to capitalise on.

At the end of the day, Movie 43 is not the worst film ever made, not even close. But it is a sort of modern marvel in the sense that it has so much star power, so much talent and so many creative ideas but can only produce a mediocre comedy movie that just about passes the six laugh test. Some of it works, but the majority of it is just 'alright' and even when the film is trying to be puerile for shock value it doesn't quite hit the mark. Frankly, Movie 43 should have been much better than it is.

And to those who think this is the worst movie ever made, you clearly have never sat through Keith Lemon: The Movie.

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

Luke Owen is a freelance copywriter working for Europe’s biggest golf holiday provider as their web content executive. You can follow him on Twitter @CGLuke_o
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New Man of Steel images featuring Superman, General Zod and Jor-El

January 28, 2013, 10:31 am
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Man of Steel is a mere 137 days away - not that we're counting - and marketing for the film will soon be ramping up to no doubt epic proportions. Today has given us a glimpse of said marketing, as Empire magazine's March issue is devoted to Man of Steel, with Henry Cavill gloriously gracing the cover.

Henry Cavill Superman Man of Steel

Also seen are the first official images of Zod (Michael Shannon) and Jor-El (Russell Crowe), with the former looking very much the hardened war machine that we expect from Zod, and hopefully we will get a much better glimpse at him in the next full theatrical trailer.

Michael Shannon General Zod Man of Steel

Russell Crowe Jor-El Man of Steel

As soon as I saw the image of Cavill I immediately thought of Jim Lee's defining works on Superman during Brian Azzarello's run from #204 to #215. Cavill does so very much look the part, and is definitely channeling Lee's Man of Steel. Perhaps this is a missed opportunity, as to have Cavill in that pose with his cape billowing would be iconic, with the comic seemingly having come to life.

Superman

The excitement grows for this film, and whilst I can wait for it (it's all about enjoying the ride after all) I cannot wait for the marketing to start as that is when the fun begins. It seems thankfully, that we are on the cusp of its commencement.

Empire magazine is out this week, and I shall definitely be picking it up. Meanwhile Man of Steel hits cinemas on June 14th.
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DVD Review - Lay the Favorite (2012)

January 28, 2013, 10:43 am
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Lay the Favorite, 2012.

Directed by Stephen Frears.
Starring Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rebecca Hall, Joshua Jackson, Vince Vaughn, Laura Prepon, John Carrol Lynch, Corbin Bersen and Frank Grillo.

Lay the Favorite DVD cover

SYNOPSIS:

An exuberant ex-private dancer Beth (Rebecca Hall) arrives in Las Vegas in search of her ultimate dream to become a cocktail waitress. Fate leads her to Dink (Bruce Willis), a charming, old-school gambler who seeing beyond the ditzy façade, takes a shine to Beth, recruiting her as his good luck charm.

Bruce Willis Rebecca Hall

Stephen Frears is a director and filmmaker known for work as varied as Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity and The Grifters and is seen to be someone with a propensity to take surprising changes of direction whenever possible. With Lay the Favorite, a lightly amusing, if grossly underwhelming, comedy drama - or dramedy, if you insist on it - Frears takes another unexpected (and many would say, wrong) turn.

Based on the memoirs of erotic dancer turned sports bookmaker and lucky charm Beth Raymer, the movie is a flawed and unashamedly cute look at the occasionally glamorous and often desperate world of American gambling.

Rebecca Hall (The Prestige, The Town) is likeable enough as the central figure in what would be judged as a too weird to be true tale if it wasn't based on actual events (however poetically embellished).

Following Beth's lightheaded salsa through life, from quitting her job as an 'exotic dancer' and leaving for Las Vegas to life as a cocktail waitress and then a Rainman-esque statistics genius, Lay the Favorite depends on a pretty convoluted narrative thread. At times it feels as though it is going to unravel at any moment, almost as if the memory of Raymer has been somewhat selective and chosen to miss out the parts that link scenes in any conventional or lucid fashion.

Much of it revolves around Beth's mixture of ditzy and fortuitous and the relationships she forms with three men; Bruce Willis' (Die Hard, The Expendables 2) largely besotted bookmaker Dink, Vince Vaughn's (Wedding Crashers, The Watch) creepy seemingly life-coached rival and later, Joshua Jackson's (The Skulls, Dawson's Creek) solid, reliable reporter Jeremy.

Catherine Zeta-Jones(Traffic, Chicago) displays a surprisingly intense comedic turn as Dink's controlling wife Tulip, the reason why he feels he has to fire Beth and put her on the trail to working for Vaughn's go-getting boss.

None of the quick fire routines of The Grifters make their way into this rushed and badly executed piece. Non sports fans are likely to find much of the detail, or what there is, of the betting world meandering and dull, whereas a lot of the relationship interaction is over played and over the top, almost sit-com style.

Despite sterling support a strong cast largely from Willis as Beth's (first) manic bookie boss and uncomfortable love interest and John Carroll Lynch's (Shutter Island, Zodiac) late appearance as a bumbling hit man, the movie feels undeveloped and distinctly patchy. It is cute enough and you certainly wouldn't want to see it out on the street sleeping rough, but you expect something far more accomplished from Frears and those involved. With all of Raymer's capacity for picking out a winner, you can't help feeling she could have made a better bet of a film adaptation. 

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

Robert W Monk is a freelance journalist and film writer.
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New Kick-Ass 2 images including the return of Hit-Girl!

January 28, 2013, 11:58 am
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Last week, we reported the first official image from Kick-Ass 2, the sequel to 2010’s hit film, based on the comics of Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. In the photo, we got our first glimpse of new addition Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes, leader of the newly-formed super-team “Justice Forever”, and his first meeting with our titular hero (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Now thanks to the newest issue of Empire, we have some more images from the film, including our first look at the returning Hit-Girl, played brilliantly by Chloe Grace Moretz, as well as some new images of the aforementioned superhero team and their lair:

Chloe Grace Moretz Hit-Girl Kick-Ass 2

Jim Carrey and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kick-Ass 2

Chloe Grace Moretz Hit-Girl Kick-Ass 2

In the hugely anticipated sequel, Kick-Ass’ heroics in the first movie have inspired a new set of vigilantes and heroes, led by Carrey’s Colonel Stars, and the titular hero joins them in their quest for justice. But their antics don’t go unnoticed by the returning Red-Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), reborn in the sequel as The Mother F$*%*r, and he sets out to annihilate the super group, with the Hit-Girl close on his tail.

Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, Morris Chestnut, Lindsey Fonseca, Lindy Booth, Clark Duke and Russian bodybuilder Olga Kurkulina star in the Jeff Wadlow-directed sequel, due for release June 28 in the USA, and July 19 in the UK.
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Comic Book Review - Avengers #3

January 28, 2013, 12:17 pm
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Anghus Houvouras reviews the third issue of Marvel NOW!'s Avengers...

Avengers #3 Marvel Now"The New Adam is born! And on Mars, the battle between the Avengers and the Garden comes to its dramatic conclusion!"

The third issue of the re-launched Avengers series is kind of a puzzler.  Writer Jonathan Hickman has wrapped up his interplanetary threat in record time.  In the span of three issues we've seen the earth attacked by world conquering aliens, Captain America recruiting a slew of new Avengers, and a massive dust up that wraps up the entire affair in an instant.

When we last left Earth's mightiest mortals they were facing the evolutionary alien Ex Nihlo who was tinkering with our planet like a middle school science kit lobbing genetic altering bombs from the safety of Mars.  The Avengers were beaten with relative ease and the only solution seems to be recruiting every single super powered hero on the face of the earth and handing them an avengers ID card.  Its hard to argue that logic as a fighting force of epic proportions emerges and unleashes a smack down on Ex Nihlo and his allies.

As far as superhero dust ups go, its a doozy.  The combined might of nearly two dozen Avengers pop off every panel.  Hickman manages to work in some nice character moments and the entire affair ends in a rather unconventional way.   Our planet conquering aliens are talked down by the omnipresent Captain Universe and left on Mars with a stern warning to steer clear of Earth.

There are so many unanswered questions after three issues.  The inclusion of Smasher, Hyperion, and Captain Universe is still unexplained.  They are welcome additions to the team, but I'm still curious to find out exactly how they found their way onto the Avengers roster.

Those mysteries are left to subsequent issues as the series transitions out of its first arc and hopefully into some more back-story involving the widening roster.

While the third issue doesn't quite match the pace and precision of the first two, it does a solid job of delivering a satisfying if unsubstantial conclusion to this arc.  There's lots of loose threads remaining to be tied, but I'm betting Hickman is going to deliver on the promise of a bigger and bolder Avengers.

Anghus Houvouras
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Beware the Batman, Teen Titans Go! and The Yoda Chronicles join Cartoon Network, Young Justice and Green Lantern cancelled

January 28, 2013, 12:44 pm
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Beware the Batman
Cartoon Network has announced its schedule for 2013-2014, which includes the premieres of several new shows including Beware the Batman and Teen Titans Go!, which are expected to join the network's DC Nation programming block, along with three LEGO Star Wars specials entitled The Yoda Chronicles. Here's the official information on the three new shows:

Teen Titans Go!: Featuring the return of Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg in all-new, comedic adventures, Teen Titans Go! will premiere in April 2013. Character-driven comedy is the order of the day as this new take on the superhero series focuses on the funny business that happens between saving the world and living together as teenagers without adult supervision. The series stars the principal voice cast from the original Teen Titans, and is produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

Beware the Batman: A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman incorporates Batman’s core characters with a rogue gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City’s criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a "Batman show." Featuring cutting-edge CGI visuals, Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming to Cartoon Network’s DC Nation block in Summer 2013.

The Yoda Chronicles: LEGO Star Wars returns in epic style with The Yoda Chronicles, a thrilling, funny and action-packed new LEGO Star Wars story told in three animated TV specials! Set in the "Prequel" Star Wars timeline, The Yoda Chronicles stars the one and only Yoda—the Jedi Master who has seen it all, done it all, and taught generations of Jedi Knights—in an all-new adventure. With the help of a fresh class of Padawans, Yoda leads the Jedi in a desperate fight to stop Darth Sidious and his minions from creating a new super-weapon that could crush the Republic and win the war for the forces of Evil.

Also announced are three new original animated comedy series - Steven Universe, Uncle Grandpa and Clarence - along with animated specials for Adventure Time and Regular Show, and a "redesigned and reimagined" CG-animated special of The Powerpuff Girls. Returning shows for the new season include Annoying Orange, MAD, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Looney Tunes Show, Ben 10 Omniverse, DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc., Johnny Test, Pokemon Black & White, Adventures in Unova, Beyblade Metal Fury, Almost Naked Animals and Scaredy Squirrel.

While comic book fans have the arrival of Beware the Batman and Teen Titans Go! to look forward to this year, Newsarama has confirmed that both Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series have been cancelled, and will finish their runs when their respective seasons come to an end. Meanwhile, Star Wars: The Clone Wars has also been removed from Cartoon Network's line-up and will head over to Disney following the studio's acquisition of Lucasfilm.
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Off to a flying start Marvel previews Captain Marvel #10

January 28, 2013, 2:32 pm
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Marvel has released a  special preview of Captain Marvel #10 which is written by Kelly Sue DeConnick (Avengers Assemble) and drawn by artist Filipe Andrade (Captain America).  The official synopsis reads:

When Captain Marvel finds herself with her feet firmly planted in the ground, she must dig deep in order to find a way to get back in the air! But what keeps the super hero from being super heroic and who wants her to stay that way?





Captain Marvel #10 goes on-sale February 20, 2013 and features a guest appearance by Captain America.
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Disney postpones the Star Wars 3D re-releases

January 28, 2013, 5:30 pm
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Star Wars 3D
Well, Star Wars really is under new ownership. Rather than milking every last penny from the series, Deadline has revealed that Disney and Lucasfilm have made the decision to delay the planned 3D re-releases for Episodes II through VI in order to focus on "rebooting the franchise" with Star Wars: Episode VII, which is of course now under the stewardship of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness director J.J. Abrams.

"Lucasfilm has decided to postpone this fall's scheduled release of Star Wars Episodes II and III in 3D," reads the official statement on StarWars.com. "Given the recent development that we are moving forward with a new Star Wars trilogy, we will now focus 100 percent of our efforts on Star Wars: Episode VII in order to ensure the best possible experience for our fans. We will post further information about our 3D release plans at a later date."

It was back in September 2010 when Lucasfilm announced that the Star Wars saga was to receive the 3D conversion treatment. However, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace opened in February 2012 to a modest $23m (which isn't surprising, seeing as it's the most derided of the series), while Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith were scheduled for release in September and October of this year. Still, assuming the3D conversions are already in the can, I'm willing to bet these get a run out at some point in the lead up to 2015...

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Paul Giamatti to play Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2?

January 28, 2013, 6:30 pm
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Paul Giamatti Rhino The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Well, I don't think anyone saw this one coming... According to The Hollywood Reporter, Andrew Garfield's wall-crawler could find himself up against another villain in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, with Paul Giamatti (Sideways) said to have entered negotations with Sony to appear as the Rhino in the forthcoming superhero sequel. The Russian supervillain is apparently a dream role for Giamatti, who has previously expressed his desire to portray the near-invulnerable bad guy in an interview with ShowbizSpy in 2011.

In addition to Giamatti, it's also been reported that British actress Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) is in talks with Sony about joining the cast of the Marc Webb-directed sequel for an unspecified role. Assuming the deals go through, the pair will join the returning Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field), along with Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained) as Electro, Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) as Harry Osborn and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) as Mary Jane Watson.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is gearing up to go into production ahead of a 2014 release.


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Girl Meets World casts Cory and Topanga's daughter

January 28, 2013, 11:30 pm
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Rowan Blanchard
Girl Meets World has found its star. Rowan Blanchard has been cast as Riley in the new Disney show Girl Meets World, a sequel to the hit ABC series Boy Meets World.

Executive producer Michael Jacobs had this to say to Entertainment Weekly about his new star: “As soon as Rowan walked into the room, I was reminded of why Ben Savage was loved as Cory Matthews. Rowan is real and accessible and I am hopeful this girl is about to meet a world that will love growing up with her as well."

Blanchard is best known for her role in Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D. She will be joining Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, who have already signed on to reprise their roles, for what looks to be a great television family. Girl Meets World is set to begin production in February.
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J.J Abrams could delay Star Wars: Episode VII, will produce Star Trek 3

January 29, 2013, 12:34 am
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It's been quite the ride for both fans of Star Wars and Star Trek these past few months. A few days ago, the Star Trek Into Darkness director was officially announced as the director for Star WarsL Episode VII which left his allegiances to the Star Trek franchise in jeopardy. However if sources close to The Hollywood Reporter are to be believed, J.J Abrams has not committed to the 2015 release date given by Disney last October.

The Hollywood Reporter claims that "Abrams has not committed to that release date, meaning the date could be changed if the development process requires it." This would not be the first time that Abrams has delayed a project to work on another; Star Trek Into Darkness was put back a whole year so he could get a cut of Super 8 he was happy with.

To further fuel this rumour Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore told LA News that "J.J. will continue to develop projects for us including a new Mission: Impossible and he is committed to produce another Star Trek." It's likely that he'll only act as a producer on both films, but if he was to jump on to Star Wars: Episode VII straight away, Paramount could be waiting a long time for their movies.

On top of all that, he's also reportedly working on a new TV show with Children of Men director Alfonso Cuaron called Believe which is about a girl with psychic powers.

Just how many hours are there in J.J Abrams' day?
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Justice League depends on Man of Steel success

January 29, 2013, 12:40 am
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Justice League
No pressure on Zack Snyder, but it seems that the success of the upcoming Man of Steel could have a major effect on Warner Bros. pushing forward with Justice League for the already crowded summer of 2015.

There has been a few changes in positions at the WB with Kevin Tsuijhara announced recently as the new CEO, passing over the more obvious choice of Jeff Robinov. However Variety are reporting that Robinov may be looking to move to another studio entirely (the most common rumour being the role of Universal's President if Ron Meyer leaves). This affects the cinematic DC Universe as he was the one who has been pushing for more cinema outings for the DC licenses.

Variety also looks at how Warner Bros. is holding back on moving forward with Justice League to see how well Man of Steel performs at the box office. Should the film meet the same fate as 2011s Green Lantern, it's possible that Justice League can join films like Superman Lives and George Miller's previous Justice League attempt as a 'what could have been'. It notes that other than Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight movies, Warner has not had much success with their other DC franchises and if Man of Steel under performs it's unlikely we'll see a 2015 Justice League release.

In the meantime, Will Beall (Gangster Squad) has been hired to write the script for Justice League, which has yet to announce a director.

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Blu-ray Review - Piranha (1978)

January 29, 2013, 2:39 am
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Piranha, 1978.

Directed by Joe Dante.
Starring Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies, Keenan Wynn, Kevin McCarthy, Barbara Steele and Dick Miller.


SYNOPSIS:

Two teenagers going for a dip inadvertently stumble upon a government secret weapon: deadly piranha fish, planned for use in Vietnam. Accidentally released, the piranha make their way to the site of a children's summer camp resort, and the watery carnage begins.


If Jaws is the father of the summer blockbuster, then Piranha is the father of the mockbuster. Directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins) and produced by B movie legend Roger Corman (Little Shop of Horrors), Piranha was designed to capitalise on the box office success of the classic 1975 shark thriller, and now it arrives on Blu-ray here in the UK, timed I presume to capitalise on the (slightly) increased recognition of the Piranha name following the recent 3D remake and its 3DD sequel.

Hiking around Lost River Lake, two teenagers stumble upon an abandoned secret military installation and decide to take a dip in a swimming pool, where they are promptly gobbled up by a swarm of genetically engineered mutant piranha designed as a weapon against the Viet Cong. Some time later, insurance investigator Maggie McKeown (Heather Menzies) enlists town drunk Paul Grogan (Bradford Dillman) to search for the missing teens and after tracking them to the base, Maggie inadvertently unleashes school into the river. Now it's up to Maggie, Paul and the military to prevent a feeding frenzy as the ravenous fish head downriver towards the local water park, but not before stopping off for a little bite to eat at the summer camp attended by Paul's daughter.

Piranha has been described by Steven Spielberg as "the best of the Jaws ripoffs" and while I haven't seen enough of them myself to confirm or deny this, it's certainly one of Corman's better efforts. Sure, there's some corny dialogue, hammy acting and occasionally laughable visual effects, but there's some genuine talent involved in the production - including Academy Award-nominated screenwriter John Sayles (Passion Fish, Lone Star), Academy Award-nominated editor Mark Goldblatt (Terminator 2: Judgement Day), and Oscar-winning creature designer Phil Tippett (Return of the Jedi, Jurassic Park) - and it shows, with Dante managing to wring every penny out of his $770,000 budget to deliver something greater than the sum of its parts.

While not a classic by any stretch of the imagination, Piranha is miles apart from the recent rubbish that Roger Corman has been churning out for Syfy lately (see - or rather don't see - Dinoshark, Sharktopus, Piranhaconda and so on) and if you're already a fan of the movie, it's worth picking up for the impressive Blu-ray transfer (well, as impressive as you're going to get for a 35-year-old B-movie). A word of warning though, if you're drawn to this because you're a fan of Piranha 3D and you're expecting to titillate yourself with a copious amount of nudity, you're going to find yourself sorely disappointed.

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

Gary Collinson is a writer and lecturer from the North East of England. He is the editor-in-chief of FlickeringMyth.com and the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.
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