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John Woo Returns with ‘Day of the Beast’

Damon Houx — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:04:34 +0000

For a while there, John Woo was the hottest action director in the world. He made his name with Hong Kong films like The Killer and Hard Boiled, and then came stateside and made at least one great film: Face/Off. Unfortunately he followed it with Mission: Impossible II, the Tom Cruise-led fiasco that was a huge hit but turned his signature style into near-parody. In fact, doves flying away from an explosion is still a joke (see: 21 Jump Street). But now John Woo is back with Day of the Beast.

Woo directed in America after MI2, but films like Windtalkers and Paycheck were considered lesser and so he returned to Hong Kong to make the epic Red Cliff. It was a huge hit overseas, but was modestly released stateside – partly because of its unwieldy two part structure that ran nearly five hours. There was a cut-down version released in America, but it didn’t draw much attention. The style of Hong Kong action was so co-opted stateside (wire-fu in Charlie’s Angels) that mainstream American audiences no longer seemed to care.

Woo’s latest film is being filmed in the English language, but financed by the Japanese company Nikkatsu. It’s a remake of the Seijun Suzuki film Youth of the Beast, and for those who’d like to sample the original before Woo’s version, it’s in the Criterion Collection. Here’s the press release for the film:

May 16, 2012 –– John Woo and Terence Chang’s Lion Rock Productions and Nikkatsu Corporation will co-produce DAY OF THE BEAST, a remake of Seijun Suzuki’s 1963 classic Youth of the Beast centering on the dealings of Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. Woo (Mission: Impossible II, Face/Off) will direct and produce the script by Rob Frisbee along with Terence Chang, and Nikkatsu’s Naoki Sato. Lori Tilkin, Aki Sugihara and Yoko Asakura are executive producing. The English language production was announced as Nikkatsu, Japan’s oldest major movie studio, celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year.

John Woo said, “This remake is my salute to the great films and filmmakers produced by Nikkatsu’s 100 years in cinema history. It is exciting for me as well as an honor.”

Nikkatsu president Naoki Sato said, “Among Nikkatsu’s 6,000+ film library, this is one of our most revered titles. We have a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Woo and are excited he is directing this film for the international market. We think this is a great way to start off the next 100 years of filmmaking history!”

Lion Rock’s Terence Chang said, “Seijun Suzuki’s Youth of the Beast is one of my favorite films, and I have been obsessed with remaking it for over 10 years! I have to thank Nikkatsu for this partnership and for making this dream come true!”

DAY OF THE BEAST follows a western outsider with a grim past as he becomes embroiled in a global turf war between a vicious new breed of Yakuza and old school Cold War Russian mobsters. It’s an action-packed saga of loyalty, revenge and redemption which erupts in the heart of Tokyo.

Obviously, no cast has been announced yet, but we’re happy to see Woo return, and with Japanese financing it’s not going to be forced to be PG-13 to make it more Western friendly. We can’t wait.

What’s your favorite John Woo film?

Trailer Park: 10 Clichés of The Thriller Movie Trailer

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:11 +0000

We watch a lot of movie trailers here at ScreenCrave, and, as we inch closer to summer with its ever-increasing torrent of new films, we’re seeing more and more previews with each passing day. As we do so, we can’t help but notice some similarities, repetitions, and clichés among them. Here at Trailer Park, we’ll be offering a rundown of those clichés, where they come from, and which trailers share them. This week, we’ll be breaking down: The Thriller Movie Trailer.

Thriller movie trailers are very similar. They start off slow, move into full-on montage mode with explosions, gun fights, sex scenes, car chases, and end with a bang (literally, they end with a gun shot). It can sometimes feel like what we’re watching is something we’ve watched before. We’ve gathered a list of clichés often seen in thriller movie trailers. Check it out.

10. The Facts

Used In: Taken, Man on Fire, Harry Brown

Thrillers love to feed us facts. Consider the Taken trailer below. It gives about six random facts about sex trafficking in Europe, and yet the story is about saving just one of those girls. The problem with facts is that they don’t always go along with the tone of the movie. They’re misleading and take up too much space.

As Seen In: Taken

9. The Black Bag

Used In: Inside Man, Safe House, Argo, Harry Brown, Law Abiding Citizen

We get it. If the movie is about holding a person or people hostage, then a black back over the head is essential. But I’ve noticed that it’s always used in the same manner. A hostage or prisoner walks in with police men on both sides. Then the bag comes off, in slow motion – which leads me to my next point…

As Seen In: Safe House

8. Slow Motion

Used in: From Paris With Love, Gangster Squad, Safe House, Rambo, Gone Baby Gone, Hitman, Shooter, The Departed, Fight Club, Man on Fire, Unbreakable, Collateral, Salt

For a genre that’s known for its speed and quick pace, the trailer always seems to move awfully slow. Explosions, fights, people walking – everything is in slow motion all the time.

As Seen In: Salt

7. The Final Gunshot

Used in: Smokin’ Aces, Hitman, Taken, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Gangster Squad, Drive, Shooter

Thriller trailers like to end with a bang, usually a gun shot. The Gangster Squad trailer ends powerfully, with a low angle shot of Ryan Gosling and his gun. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this a thousand other times.

As Seen In: Gangster Squad

6. It’s Sexy Time

Used in: Once Upon A Time In Mexico, The Departed, Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, Abduction, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Gangster Squad, The Losers, The A Team, Disturbia, Hitman, Casino Royale, Max Payne

It never fails. In every single montage (usually filled with loads of violence), there’s one snippet from a sex scene. It just seems so random that there be only one bit that focuses on “love” while everything else is about violence.

As Seen In: The Departed

5. Explosions, Explosions, Explosions

Used In: Man On Fire, Deja Vu, Michael Clayton, Hitman, Death Proof, Valkyrie, Rambo, Law Abiding Citizen, Harry Brown, Gangster Squad, Fight Club

Thrillers seem to be defined by numerous Michael Bay-type explosions. The problem is that they serve no real purpose. Every second that’s spent blowing something up, is a second away from the story. And then we wonder why thrillers don’t get nominated for Oscars.

As Heard In: Law Abiding Citizen

4. Black And White

Used In: Man on Fire, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Casino Royale, Argo, Abduction

What’s the point of switching to black and white? This isn’t The Artist. Man on Fire is a very entertaining movie, but the trailer is absolutely horrible. There are so many freeze frames and black and white shots that the story is barely understandable.

As Seen In: Man on Fire

3. Rap Music

Used In: Gangster Squad, Safe House, Lakeview Terrace, Smokin’ Aces, Limitless, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Thrillers try to sell themselves as “badass”. That’s why they’re packed with blasts, guns, cars and half-naked women. Rap music is also in the mix. It sells a certain “attitude” that other music just doesn’t. Then again, when you throw a bunch of images over a rap song, the trailer feels lazy and clichéd.

As Seen In: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

2. Multiple Freeze Frames

Used In: Man on Fire, The Losers, The Next Three Days, Argo, Abduction, Death Proof, Hitman, Shooter, Gangster Squad

Freeze frames are very common. They’re used in all types of movie trailers, especially thriller ones. And they do add some drama to the trailer. The problem is when there’s multiple snapshots that it makes the trailer feel more like a slideshow.

As Seen In: Argo

1. Broken Windows

Used In: Edge of Darkness, Gangster Squad, Argo, Harry Brown, Taken, Abduction, Shooter, Body of Lies, Fargo, Max Payne

There might not be car chases. There might not be a rap song by Jay-Z. There might not even be explosions. But by God, there will be shattered windows. Always, always and always.

As Seen In: Abduction

What are some of the clichés you see? What do you think of this list? Does it cover everything?

Fox Debuts Trailer For ‘The Following,’ Kevin Williamson’s Serial Killer Drama

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:58:14 +0000

Fox is giving Kevin Williamson a chance to shine with The Following, as the network revealed the first look of the serial killer series at this week’s upfront presentation. Kevin Bacon stars as a former FBI agent who gets back in the game to hunt down an escaped convict who bases his murders on works by Edgar Allen Poe. Weird, very weird stuff–and now you can check out the trailer below.

Williamson’s writing credits include The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries, Dawson’s Creek and the Scream movies. The Following seems like a different type of monster though, since it has little to do with teen angst.

Here’s an official plot summary for the The Following:

THE FBI estimates there are currently over 300 active serial killers in the United States. What would happen if these killers had a way of communicating and connecting with each other? What if they were able to work together and form alliances across the country? What if one brilliant psychotic serial killer was able to bring them all together and activate a following? Welcome to “The Following”, the terrifying new thriller from creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Dawson’s Creek,” the ‘Scream’ franchise). When notorious serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy, “Rome”) escapes from death row and embarks on a new killing spree, the FBI calls former agent Ryan Hardy (Emmy-nominated actor Kevin Bacon, ‘X-Men: First Class’) to consult on the case. Having since withdrawn from the public eye, Hardy was responsible for Carroll’s capture nine years ago, after Carroll murdered 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature.

The series also stars James Purefoy as Joe Carroll, Jeananne Goossen as Agent Jennifer Mason, Natalie Zea as Claire Matthews, Kyle Catlett as Joey Matthews, Shawn Ashmore as Agent Weston, Valorie Curry as Denise, Adan Canto as Billy Thomas and Nico Tortorella as Will Wilson.

The idea of hunting down an artsy serial killer is intriguing. And there’s also Mr. Bacon, an actor who tends to chose pretty good projects. At the same time, the premise is questionable–will they be able to keep the hunt going and keep things interesting? Only time will tell. For now, check out the trailer below:

The Following will debut in 2013.

What do you think? Will you watch The Following?

‘Dumb & Dumber 2′ and the Comedic Rebirth of Jim Carrey

Joseph Doherty — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:03:52 +0000

Since exploding onto the big-screen in 1994 with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb & Dumber, Jim Carrey has been in a fierce battle against his own image. Much like the late Peter Sellers, Carrey is a brilliant comic actor who seems almost slightly ashamed of his craft. As a result, he has attempted to branch out into more dramatic, artsy fare in recent years, with middling results. Because of this, the announcement that Carrey had signed on for Dumb & Dumber 2 (only his second sequel) came as a pleasant surprise. Will the film mark the beginning of a comedic rebirth for Carrey?

While there are no sure bets as to where Dumb & Dumber 2 will lead Jim Carrey, you can easily think up some possible scenarios based on his past career choices. On one hand, the film could be just a gem, a film that helps remind audiences why they fell in love with Carrey and his brand of outrageous, physical comedy. It could also be a desperate money grab by filmmakers and Carrey, hoping to use one of their big hits as a chance to milk a nostalgic audience. This is Carrey’s chance to reengage with the audience in a way he didn’t with Yes Man, which could re-open doors.

If it works, Carrey could use the success of Dumb & Dumber 2 as leverage to seek out projects which will satisfy him artistically. This is something he has done numerous times, like going from Liar Liar to The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Yes Man to I Love You Phillip Morris.

Though this tactic has built a diverse resume, it has hurt Carrey’s bankability and led him to develop something of an identity crisis on screen. And when Carrey went for Oscars (Man in the Moon, The Majestic) neither audiences or the academy responded. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with actors wanting to expand their range, they must also retain some of their unique character traits. To his credit, Jim Carrey has managed to skate that fine line in films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. However, for everyone of those there is The Number 23.

Perhaps the best result from Dumb & Dumber 2 would be if it ignited a comedic fire within Carrey, which we haven’t seen in years. In his prime, Jim Carrey was a once-in-a-generation talent capable of crafting outrageous, manic characters which were as grotesque and crude as they were endearing. Unlike some of today’s comedic actors, who can be simply insufferable without decent material (i.e. Will Ferrell), Carrey could generate huge laughs simply through his wonderfully expressive face and body language. Carrey has always had some difficulty embracing that identity, hence his ventures into more dramatic fare.

Perhaps with Dumb & Dumber 2, Jim Carrey will rediscover that passion for comedy which led to his meteoric rise some two decades ago. It may also help him come to terms with who he is both as a performer and a personality. At least, that’s what we hope happens.

Do you think Dumb & Dumber 2 will mark the beginning of a comedic rebirth for Jim Carrey?

Cougar Town: Season 3 Episode 12: Square One—TV Review

Jordan Thompson — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:28:56 +0000

Cohabitation created drama on last night’s episode of Cougar Town. “Square One” featured the return of Nicole Sullivan as Jules and Grayson’s therapist. Courteney Cox took a second spin in the director’s chair, while her character wrestled with reliving the past. Can two divorced people really learn from their mistakes?

Check out our full review below…

The Players:

Director: Courtney Cox
Writer: Peter Saji
Cast: Courtney Cox, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins, Ian Gomez, Brian Van Holt, Nicole Sullivan

Episode Title: “Square One”

After Grayson’s house is ravaged by a hurricane, he and Jules are forced to speed up the cohabitation process. Unfortunately, the move has them second-guessing their relationship. Will it be any different than their past failures? Meanwhile, Laurie and Ellie squabble over who’s sexier. Naturally, they enlist Travis to choose the victor—whether he wants to or not. Elsewhere, Bobby and Jules enter a white shirt contest. As in, who can wear it the longest without creating a stain.

The Good:

Cougarton Abbey: Combining everyone’s favorite period soap, Downton Abbey, with this creative sitcom is something that will never come to fruition. But thankfully, we’ll always have the clever title card from last night’s show. We can dream friends. We can dream.
Hoes High-Five: Little to no explanation is necessary to paint this picture. Two women, let’s call them Ellie and Laurie, high-five over their lengthy lists of sexual partners. Sounds in poor taste but the moment was priceless.
Suffocation: The next time someone complains about living a life without spontaneity, just cover their mouth and nose for a few seconds like Bobby did for Andy. Fair warning, it may not go over as well, but somebody somewhere will be laughing.
Undisputed Trampion of the World: Laurie’s character wears her loose reputation like a badge of honor. For some reason jokes about her wayward standards never stop being funny.
Circling the House: When you work on an under-appreciated sitcom like Cougar Town, you’re working with limited space and even fewer backdrops. Having various characters circle the house was an excellent way to keep the scenes moving, while utilizing space that typically goes untouched. Pretty clever, plus Jules’ stalk around the abode was a great illustration of the bi-polar extremes she can go through in a short period of time. Great stuff all around.

The So-So:

Crows in the Oven: Having Bobby be the voice of reason in an irrational, although serious, relationship quarrel was a good move. You’d think with all the focus on his moment of clarity someone might be able to address the fact that he’s basically homeless. Grayson had to shack up with Jules because of hurricane damage, but Bobby’s boat was so wrecked he’s living in Grayson’s hovel of a house. It’s in no way out of character for Bobby to squat in another man’s nest. But it’s a little unbelievable that no one addressed the issue. Jules loves to stick her nose in stuff like that.

The Quotable:

“When it comes to sexy I am like a heart attack in a thong.”
“I’m like the Dexter of sex. I love you and then I’ll kill you.”
“Really sharing a house is like being trapped in a submarine forever. At some point someone’s going to freak, open the hatch, and kill everyone.”
“I’ve seen her drop her son but I have never seen her drop wine.”

Overall:

All season the writers have been throwing relationship-ending problems Grayson and Jules’ way. But instead of crumbling, their connection has been strengthened. And for some reason, their continued happiness doesn’t feel corny or fake. Oh, and every other character was completely engaging and hilarious. This episode was a winner.

Rating: 9/10

Cougar Town airs Tuesday nights at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

What did you think of the episode?

Glee: Season 3 Episodes 20/21: Props/Nationals – TV Review

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:59 +0000

Last night Fox aired not one, but two all-new episodes of Glee. The first hour was both fun and poignant. The New Directions prepped for Nationals, while Tina Chang experienced a body-swap with Rachel Berry. Then it was off to Chicago, where the kids performed in front of “America’s Sweetheart” Lindsay Lohan. Emotions ran high all through the second episode. The whole series has been leading up to this very moment. Did their hard work pay off? Did the New Directions take home the grand trophy?

Find out in our review of “Props”/”Nationals”…

The Players:

Director: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Cast: Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Matthew Morrison, Ashley Fink, Chord Overstreet, Harry Shum, Jr., Cheyenne, Darren Criss, Jayma Mays, Jane Lynch, and Mike O’Malley

Episode Title: “Props”/”Nationals”

“Props” – Tina suffers a head injury after falling into a fountain. This incident leaves her seeing her fellow singers and other people at McKinley High in a new way.

“Nationals” – The glee club travels to Chicago, Illinois, to compete in Nationals against the best show choirs in the country, including Vocal Adrenaline. Lindsay Lohan and Perez Hilton guest star as celebrity judges.

The Good:

Halloween Flashback: Kurt and Blaine dressed up as Snooki and The Situation from Jersey Shore for Halloween. Their impersonations and costumes were spot on. It was a brief flashback, but we just had to be mention it.
The Fight: Glee had its first full-on schoolyard fight… ever! The act itself wasn’t that important, but what it led to was. The moment when Puck and Coach Beiste comfort each other is genuinely touching. He let his guard down and showed his true feelings about being left behind. He breaks down, and Beiste is there to support him. They have a strange yet beautiful connection.
Tina and Rachel: Tina and Rachel spend some time together. In the process, we discover a few things about them. Rachel’s trying to stay optimistic about her future, and Tina craves a solo and standing ovation. Tina’s outrage over Rachel getting all the attention is understandable. It’s true, “other people matter,” but her boyfriend Mike also has a point. Tina is a junior and she’ll get her chance to shine next year. Also, Rachel’s bribe was hilarious. She offered Tina $50 to let the whole thing go until after Nationals. Why haven’t these two spent more time together?
Judging Room: Lindsay Lohan was absolutely brilliant, and so was Perez Hilton. Their little shtick was very funny. Especially when the famed blogger continued to post “exclusives” about Lohan, who was sitting right next to him. This was definitely the best judging panel Glee has ever had.
“Tongue Tied” Montage: The victory montage was an awesome payoff. It really captured the feeling of triumph. Winning Nationals was something the New Directions set out to do since day one, and they finally did it. The kids returned to a school that welcomed them with open arms. They cheered them on, and threw confetti instead of slushies.
Jesse St. James: He’s always a pleasure. His wit and quick banter are a joy.

The So-So:

Freaky Friday: The Freaky Friday body-swap moment wasn’t as fun as we thought it would be. But Mr. Schue definitely takes the prize for his imitation of Sue Sylvester. He had the signature tracksuit, megaphone and made racist comments about one of the Glee kids. Typical Sue. Everyone else was just dressed differently. Glee could’ve gone all out with this, but they chose to keep it simple and boring.
Intercourse Pamphlet: During the beautiful and glorious montage, there’s a moment when Emma leaves a pamphlet on Will’s desk saying she’s ready to lose her virginity. Then it shows them finally having sex. Sure, we’re happy for them, but it felt very awkward. The montage was suppose to be about The New Directions’ victory. Thankfully it didn’t ruin it.

The Music:

“I Won’t Give Up,” Jason Mraz – Rachel sings in-front of an empty auditorium.
“Because You Love Me,” Celine Dion – Tina performs as Rachel and gets her first standing ovation.
“Mean,” Taylor Swift – Puck and Coach Beiste sing a duet.
“Flashdance… What A Feeling,” Cara – Rachel and Tina end the night with a duet.
“The Edge of Glory,” Lady Gaga – The Troubletones return and perform the first number at Nationals.
“It’s All Coming Back To Me Now,” Various – Rachel’s solo at Nationals is chilling.
“Paradise By The Dashboard Light,” Meat Loaf – The New Directions sing together for their final number at Nationals.
“Starships,” Nicki Minaj –Vocal Adrenaline shows off its unique factor and some awesome choreography.
“Pinball Wizard,” The Who –Vocal adrenaline continues to do a great job, this time adding some pinball machines.
“Tongue Tied,” Grouplove – This song plays over a montage of victory.
“We Are The Champions,” Queen – The New Directions perform for Mr. Schue, who wins teacher of the year.

Overall:

Two-hours of Glee might seem like a lot, but both episodes were good and left us wanting more. There were a few moments that stuck out more than others, but the montage was definitely the best part of the night. It was the big payoff and it worked.

Rating: 7.5/10

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8 PM on FOX.

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episodes?

Edgar Wright Hopes to Shoot ‘Ant-Man’ And ‘The World’s End’ This Year

Bronwen Winter Phoenix — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:55:23 +0000

With all the recent (and not so recent) hints and speculation about his proposed superhero film Ant-Man, it seems Edgar Wright has finally put us straight on the matter – sort of – by announcing that he hopes to start shooting the film this year. The project has long been in development from the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Shaun of the Dead director, and now things finally seem to be moving in the right direction.

Along with his collaborator, Attack the Block director Joe Cornish, Wright turned in a draft of the script last summer, and just a few weeks ago he also teased his Twitter followers with what appeared to be a minimalist Ant-Man poster… though he was very vague on details at the time.

And who is the mysterious Ant-Man? Well, for those of you who don’t know, he’s a superhero who has the ability to change his size, with an ant-controlling helmet. A variety of characters have assumed the title of Ant-Man over the years, most of which have been connected with The Avengers.

However, what with concrete plans with Simon Pegg to start production on The World’s End this summer, will Wright be able to fit Ant-Man into his busy schedule? Although some would say it’s doubtful, the director has confirmed that there is a possibility of shooting Ant-Man this year, but was making no promises:

“So as not to jinx things, I am going to remain spectacularly vague on this. Let’s just say I hope to shoot some Ant-Man and World’s End this year.”

So, we’ve heard it from the horse’s mouth – leaving us all to ponder whether Marvel Studios will be able to get this film into gear, with a hopeful Wright in-tow – maybe he knows something we don’t? It seems a little bit of patience is a virtue for Marvel fans, and be sure to check back here to keep up-to-date with the latest developments.

Are you excited about an Ant-Man movie?

Source: CinemaBlend

Battleship: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:50 +0000

There she blows! This weekend, Universal will dock Peter Berg‘s Battleship at a theater near you. The film is a live-action adaptation of the popular Hasbro strategy game. It stars Taylor Kitsch as a reluctant hero, who gets caught in the middle of an alien invasion. He’s supported by a cast of familiar faces including True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgard, and Oscar-nominee Liam Neeson.

Check out our review below…

The Players:

Director: Peter Berg
Writers: Erich and Jon Hoeber
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Tadanobu Asano, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Jesse Plemons, Gregory D. Gadson, Peter MacNicol and Liam Neeson
Director of Photography: Tobias A. Schliessler
Music: Steve Jablonsky

The Plot:

Battleship centers on Alex Hopper (Kitsch), a Naval lieutenant known for his immaturity and lack of discipline. While participating in a training exercise, an alien force lands at sea and sets up shop off the coast of Oahu. After suffering several tragedies at the hands of these creatures, Hopper’s forced to become the new leader of a broken crew.

The Good:

Nods to the game: Director Peter Berg did the impossible. He managed to integrate elements of the Battleship board game into the film’s narrative. You actually see a version of the playing grid, and hear commands like “R-5! E-7!” There’s even a nod to the game’s famous tagline. They just couldn’t resist.
Honors the military: Everything about Battleship shows great respect and love for the Armed Forces. It honors veterans of the past, while praising soldiers actively on duty. The cast is littered with real-life military personnel, who come out of retirement for some much-deserved screen-time.
Taylor Kitsch: Kitsch is a decent actor, who needs material that plays to his strengths. To date, his best work remains on the defunct series, Friday Night Lights. Therefore, we’re not surprised he was chosen to play Alex Hopper. The character’s nothing more than Tim Riggins with a haircut. Either way, the similarities worked in his favor and produced a solid performance.

The So-So:

Admiral Shane: We love Liam Neeson, but his character brought nothing to the table. He’s written as a one-note military dad, whose main job is to scold Hopper. He doesn’t have much to do, and that falls on the shoulders of the writers and director. They had a great actor, but did absolutely nothing with him.

The Bad:

Alien threat: How big does an alien threat need to be? For the majority of the film, we’re watching a large, mysterious mass outsmart and out-maneuver the heroes at every turn. And that’s just their ship! The creatures themselves are a whole other story. They destroy major cities, but seem more concerned with technology than people. Any casualties are merely accidental or brought on by provocation. Their motivation is unclear, and identities are never explored.
The government: When it comes to the invasion, the White House really takes a backseat. It’s understandable that the writers want the focus on Hopper and his heroics, but where’s the government’s presence? There are a few scenes with the Secretary of Defense (played by the underrated Peter MacNicol), but he had no grasp of the situation or how to handle it.

Overall:

Battleship is everything you expect it to be. It’s loud, it’s colorful and filled with Michael Bay-grade explosions. The story isn’t well defined, but there are some good character interactions, and humorous moments. It’s mindless fun and definitely a popcorn movie for the masses.

The Rating: 6/10

Battleship opens in theaters nationwide May 18

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Will you be seeing Battleship this weekend?

Yet Another ‘Prometheus’ Viral Ad Features Noomi Rapace Begging For Help Concerning Humanity’s Past

Travis Woods — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:23:31 +0000

While Prometheus is still one of our most anticipated films of the summer, Ridley Scott’s “it is but it isn’t” prequel to his 1979 classic, Alien, has been laying it on a little thick with the marketing lately. One of the primary appeals of Prometheus thus far has been its sense of creepy mystery; unfortunately, a great deal of the increasing number of ads have been spoiler-heavy, dissipating that sense of mystery. The newest viral ad, however, manages to be fascinating, creepy, and highly ambiguous. Check it out below.

The newest viral clip (called Quiet Eye, part of an ad campaign between Fox and Verizon) is cut from the same cloth as the disturbing android infomercial we viewed last month. In it, Noomi Rapace’s Dr. Elizabeth Shaw sends a quietly desperate message to Guy Pearce’s Peter Weyland, imploring him to help fund her research into humanity’s origins. It ties into what we know of the film—Weyland’s company funds an expedition to the same distant planet featured in the original Alien, upon which some version of all hell breaks loose.

It’s a nicely ambiguous clip, which manages to display the firm strength and resolve of Rapace’s character, while at the same time adding some nuance to what we know of the plot, but without spoiling the film for us. Nice job, Fox.

Prometheus will premiere on June 8.

What do you think of the clip?

Source: /Film

‘The Hunger Games’ Actress Isabelle Fuhrman To Lead Just-Announced Cast Of ‘Suspiria’ Remake

Travis Woods — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:02:42 +0000

The cast for David Gordon Green’s (Pineapple Express, Your Highness) unnecessary remake of the classic ‘70s horror film Suspiria has just been announced, and it’s a pretty intriguing criss-crossing of varied talent. The cast will be lead by 15-year-old The Hunger Games actress Isabelle Fuhrman; in the original film, her character was in her 20s. The rest of the cast is filled out with stellar actors from such films as The Piano Teacher, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Man of Steel.

The cast will be rounded out by Michael Nyqvist (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Isabelle Huppert (Amour, The Piano Teacher), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs, The Woman in Black), and Antje Traue (Man of Steel).

David Gordon Green will direct and co-write the film with Chris Gebert. Filming is set to begin this September, with the story concerning a young American woman (Fuhrman) travelling to Europe to attend a school, and discovering—after a series of grisly murders—that an evil organization is secretly pulling the strings behind the school (in the original classic, it’s a coven of witches).

Fuhrman is no stranger to horror, having starred (and earned good reviews) in the so-so horror flick Orphan; surrounded as she is by a solid cast and a director who can be great when the material engages him, maybe this Suspiria remake won’t be so bad, after all.

What do you think of the Suspiria news?

Source: Coming Soon

‘Anchorman 2′ Gets A New Poster And A New Title

Travis Woods — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:58:58 +0000

Ever since the March announcement that Anchorman 2 was finally happening, fans have been waiting for any kind of preview of the long-awaited sequel. This week, we get two—teasers for the film have been attached to prints of The Dictator, and today, we have a teaser poster heralding the film, it’s new official title, and a loose release date. Check it out after the jump.

First off, the film is now no longer just Anchorman 2—you can call it Anchorman: The Legend Continues now. Further, while the film had been rumored for a 2014 release, the poster is pretty boldly proclaiming a 2013 release date.

As for the barest sketch of a plot, all we know is what we reported in April, when we noted that Anchorman and Anchorman: The Legend Continues writer-director Adam McKay noted the film would be set “when all the news started changing with the 24-hours news cycle in ’78 or ’79, All of a sudden, local news stations diversified and had Latino anchors and African-American anchors, and any time you’re talking about diversity and the Action News team, that’s always fun to deal with.”

Also, it is known that Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner would be returning to reprise their roles, with no indication, however, if Christina Applegate would be returning for another round of madness.

Keep checking back for updates, including the Anchorman: The Legend Continues teaser trailer as soon as it’s available.

What do you think of the poster?

Source: Coming Soon

VOTD: ‘Battleship’ Director Peter Berg Tells Israeli Reporter To Join The Army, Angrily Curses Iran

Laura Aguirre — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:18:25 +0000

Battleship director Peter Berg has no problem expressing his feelings about war. In a recent interview for the movie, Berg went on a rant about the political situation in the Middle East and grilled a 25-year-old Israeli reporter for his lack of military service. It was awkward. Check out the video below.

Before questioning the young reporter’s history of military service, Berg took some time to talk about his concerns over Israel’s future. He went on an f-bomb tirade, and only stopped to mention the film once. He also took a brief moment to call Rihanna a “great actress.”

Somehow Berg turned the tables on the reporter, Danino Holt, and started asking the questions. He was shocked to find out that Holt hadn’t served in the Israeli army yet since it’s a requirement for the country’s citizens. Holt tried to avoid the question, but not before Berg called him a “draft dodger” and “motherf***er”. Check out the video below:

According to Gawker, Holt’s reason for not joining the military is because he was exempted due to health problems, but that probably wouldn’t have made a difference to Berg, who seemed pretty passionate about the issue. Let’s just hope that this interview doesn’t come back to haunt him or the release of Battleship. If the movie doesn’t make big bucks in the Middle East, we’ll know why.

What do you think of Berg’s outburst?

ScreenCrave.com

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