Posted on June 6, 2012 at 3:18 pm
An 8-bit video-game character attempts to shed his bad-guy image by escaping into a popular first-person shooter, but inadvertently wreaks havoc in the video-game universe by freeing a digital villain. Here’s the first look at Disney’s big end-of-year release, featuring John C. Reilly and Sara Silverman, Wreck-It Ralph.
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:34 am
Thelma Adams writes thoughtfully on Yahoo! Movies about what “Snow White and the Huntsman” says about Hollywood — and audience — obsession with beauty:
Why is it so important to know who’s the fairest of them all, a question the magic mirror never answers. For Queen Ravenna, played with Joan Crawford relish by Oscar winner Charlize Theron, the answer is an exposé of Hollywood’s obsession with feminine beauty and aging, and chasing after the next unwrinkled new young thing (whether that’s Kristen Stewart or Elizabeth Olsen or Rooney Mara).
Statuesque blonde Theron, 36, tears into the beauty theme, a variation on past roles. She won her Oscar for playing a repulsive serial killer in “Monster”; last year, she courted another as the morally ugly husband stalker in “Young Adult.” In “Snow White and the Huntsman,” we see Queen Ravenna in her full glory on her wedding day as she glances back over her shoulder and a cascade of golden waves at the young girl who will grow up to be her archrival. The queen has closed the deal with the king, Snow White’s widowed father, in 24 hours on looks alone. Beauty is her power. It’s also her obsession — and her weakness. The parallel is clear: As an A-list star, Theron’s superlative beauty is her commodity, but she’s always looking over her shoulder at the next girl, and the next.
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:00 am
Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway star in the movie version of the international blockbuster musical based on Victor Hugo’s story about Jean Valjean, a prisoner who steals a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving children, is sent to prison for 19 years, and then, when he comes out, is relentlessly pursued by a policeman for a crime he did not commit.
Hugo explained the themes of the book in a preface:
So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth, and complicates a destiny that is divine, with human fatality; so long as the three problems of the age—the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night—are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a yet more extended point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless.
The movie will be out at the end of the year. Until then, you can watch the Les Miserables: The 25th Anniversary Concert
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 3:55 pm
The producers of Space Command have launched a worldwide talent search for lead actors in their groundbreaking grassroots film series.
Sci-fi luminaries Marc Zicree (Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Babylon 5) and Doug Drexler (Star Trek: Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Battlestar Galactica) are teaming up with author Michael Reaves (Star Wars) and director Neil Johnson (Humanity’s End) to create a new way of funding and distributing Science Fiction epics. SPACE COMMAND will be a series of new and original feature films. Among their supporters are author Neil Gaiman and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s” Amber Benson. It is a groundbreaking new grassroots project that uses the internet to inspire fans to take ownership of the sci-fi genre in almost every way. In just two weeks the project has raised $135,000.
Inspired by classic science fiction TV & Film of the 1950s, this dream team is set to bring to life “Bold Adventures in the Far Reaches of Space.” From now through July, 2012, these highly skilled and experienced filmmakers are going straight to the fans for funding to support the project. Fans who contribute to SPACE COMMAND’s Kickstarter campaign are eligible to receive exclusive rewards in exchange for individual pledges ranging from $5 to $10,000. Contributions of $5000 or greater include rewards of Associate Producer Credit and even an Appearance in the Film.
“Sides” will be posted – actual scenes from “Space Command” that anyone, anywhere, can shoot and put up on a protected YouTube channel to be considered to play lead roles.
The roles for potential contest winners are COMMANDER MATT KEMMER (25-35 years old, any race or ethnicity is welcome.), the main hero and commander of the Paladin, and CADET J.N. BRADBURY, the youngest member of his crew (18-22 years old. Male or female is fine. Must be smart, funny, brave, interesting). Actors must be willing to travel to Los Angeles to be available to play the part and be legal adults.
Anyone can try out for these roles and Kickstarter backers will get to vote for who wins these parts.
Links will be announced on the Space Command Kickstarter page and Space Command website to where those who want to audition can go to download the scenes and where they can post their videos. Kickstarter backers will have access to watch all these scenes and vote.
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 11:01 am
This week, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 60th anniversary on the throne.
Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her performance in The Queen
And Colin Firth won an Oscar for his performance as her father, King George V, in The King’s Speech
There are some glimpses of the real-life wedding processional of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the Fred Astaire musical Royal Wedding
And for the real thing, there’s The Queen 60 Glorious Years Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Edition
