tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55854574764231900192024-03-05T10:02:50.494-08:00Lloyd's Lingolaurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-80721957291382033112014-04-04T06:58:00.001-07:002014-04-04T06:58:15.270-07:00Beyond the Screen and beyond: apps for film fansLast month, NBCUniversal launched <i>Beyond the Screen</i>, the new movie trivia app for any film fan that likes to dabble in a bit of "second-screening".<br />
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The <i>Beyond the Screen</i> app is a bit like your DVD special features menu, with your usual trivia and stats info, except it syncs with the microphone to provide these features as the movie plays. Think soundtrack details and Spotify links as a particular song plays, etc.<br />
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Currently the app is only applicable with the Cornetto Trilogy, with an enormous amount of trivia and interesting references to play with, but there is a great amount of potential to be had if/when this expands to future films. Plenty more info <a href="http://www.mobile-ent.biz/entertainment/movies/nbcuniversal-second-screen-app-to-drive-engagement-and-increase-movie-revenue/043121">here</a>.<br />
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As a dab-hand at second-screening (it's rare for me to NOT have the IMDB trivia page open at any given time during a film), I cannot wait to get stuck into this app. Here are a few other go-to (but perhaps unconventional) websites that I rely on during film-viewing.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.doesthedogdie.com/">Does the dog die?</a></b><br />
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There are few things I dislike more than being caught unawares by the death of a beloved pet, or loyal animal sidekick. The shock can even put me off any future viewings of the film, regardless of how excellent the rest of the film could be.<br />
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Doesthedogdie.com means that, whilst I can't avoid the inevitable, I can be more prepared to deal with these scenes in the future, perhaps planning a quick toilet break during it...which leads me onto the next website.<br />
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<b><a href="http://runpee.com/">RunPee</a></b><br />
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We've all been in that situation of squirming in our seats waiting for an opportune moment to rush to the toilets, but without wanting to miss anything good. This app is a giant database of 700+ films (movies are constantly added), catalogued into the "story-lull" moments. The app also lets you know whether to stick around after the credits or not. <i>RunPee</i> sort of flouts the "turn your mobiles off" rule, but when it's this handy, who cares?<br />
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<b><a href="http://letterboxd.com/">Letterboxd</a></b><br />
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Like an online film diary, <i>Letterboxd</i> is a social network for film fans to share reviews or to simply list films watched. If you've ever used <i>Goodreads</i>, this is the movie equivalent.<br />
<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-30003771870295913502014-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:002014-01-18T08:42:29.808-08:00Future Film Friday: 2014 July-September<b>Jupiter Ascending</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: July 25th</i></b><br />
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Channing Tatum - that chick-flick actor that only got cast because of his looks without an ounce of talent... is what people tended to say a few years ago. And then he did 21 Jump Street and Magic Mike and made fun of himself in various cameos and he was <i>cool</i> and <i>pretty funny</i>. Good turnaround Tatum. His next challenge is the intriguing sci-fi <i>Jupiter Ascending, </i>also starring Mila Kunis, an unlucky janitor who just turns out to be potential ruler of the universe and therefore becomes the target for assassination by the current Queen of the Universe. With reported special effects that have never been used before and a cast that I would never have thought to put together (Sean Bean! Eddie Redmayne! Douglas Booth! Terry Gilliam!) and, consequently, I cannot wait to see the results.<br />
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<b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b><br />
<i><b>Release date: August 1st</b></i><br />
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So, with a cast made up of a tree and a raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper, GotG looks weird. Set in the 31st century, a group of superhero aliens are responsible for the protection of the galaxy. The film has been rumoured for a number of years and was finally announced during SDCC 2012 with the main team consisting of Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket Raccoon (B-Coop). Early footage was released the following year in San Diego, and looks to be Marvel's quirkiest adaptation yet. However, being much less well-known than their Avengers relations, it's difficult to tell at this stage how popular the film will be and it will be interesting to see how big the marketing push is for it.<br />
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<b>The Inbetweeners 2</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: August 6th</i></b><br />
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Despite the success and hilarity of the tv show, I was still surprised by just how much I enjoyed The Inbetweeners Movie. With their next adventure beginning in Oz, we can expect much of the same rude and crude behaviour involving waterparks and wildlife. Filming began Down Under last month, with production moving to UK for 2014.<br />
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The first movie took £45 million and became the most successful British comedy in cinema history, so producers will surely be pulling out all the stops to emulate that success.<br />
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<b>The Boxtrolls</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: September 12th </i></b><br />
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From the people behind Coraline and ParaNorman, <i>The Boxtrolls</i> is based on Alan Snow's novel <i>Here Be Monsters!</i><br />
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After becoming orphaned, Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) is raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors called Boxtrolls, who become targeted by evil exterminator Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) and it is Eggs job to save them.<br />
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The trailer is just gorgeous, and there's something magical about stop-motion animation, almost as though stepping back in time, and this looks to be no exception.<br />
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<b>Posh</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: September 19th</i></b><br />
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What happens when you combine Sam Claflin, Max Irons and Douglas Booth? Well, a dream scenario for most girls, but also an adaptation of Laura Wade's play - Posh. Centering round two Oxford students who join the elite Riot Club, where member's reputations can be made or destroyed over the course of an evening. Not much is known yet about the film, although if the play is anything to go by, except excessive drinking and sexual activity.<br />
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<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-75652335657728229902014-01-10T02:30:00.000-08:002014-01-10T02:30:02.945-08:00Future Film Friday: 2014 April-June<b>Divergent</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: April 4th</i></b><br />
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A lot of people have, unfairly, already written off <i>Divergent </i>as just a <i>Hunger Games</i> knock-off, due to the similar audience and dystopian themes. Controversially, having read both, I prefer Veronica Roth's creation to the Suzanne Collins franchise so I am really looking forward to seeing how Neil Burger, along with Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, has approached the story, particularly some of the more iconic scenes, such as the 'fear landscapes'. Also I'm looking forward to seeing Kate Winslet as a big meanie.<br />
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<b>The F Word</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: May 2nd</i></b><br />
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What I love most about Daniel Radcliffe is his refusal to be typecast (well...apart from that big role he had a couple years back...). From The Woman in Black to A Young Doctor's Notebook, his choices are intriguingly eclectic, and now he has turned his hand to an indie rom-com. <br />
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The basic premise of <i>The F Word</i> is Wallace's (Radcliffe) infatuation with Chantry (Zoe Kazan), only to discover she is already in a relationship, and is relegated to the "friend zone". It was very well-received at TIFF, and being the enthusiastic lad that he is, I think we all wish a little bit that Daniel was our F word.<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><b>Bad Neighbours</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: May 9th</i></b><br />
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I wrote a while ago about how Zac Efron needs to focus his attention to comedy, because that is where he really shines. <i>Bad Neighbours</i> isn't going to set the Oscars alight, nor is it even particularly original, but it's rude and crude and looks to produce a few LOLs. From the director behind <i>Forgetting Sarah Marshall</i>, Nicholas Stoller also wrote the screenplays for <i>The Muppets</i> and <i>Yes Man</i>, all successful and respected comedies in their own rights so I have high hopes for this one.<br />
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<b>Maleficent</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: May 30th</i></b><br />
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It takes a certain kind of bitch to curse a baby, and Maleficent really was bitch of the highest order. There is, of course, a story behind the evil and <i>Maleficent</i> tells her side of the story, plus the events that drove her to curse baby Aurora to death.<br />
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At this stage, I can't see myself having any kind of empathy for the evil fairy, but the cinematography, set design and costumes look absolutely stunning so I will enjoy being wooed by pretty pictures for 2 hours at the very least.<br />
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<b>The Fault in Our Stars</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: June 20th</i></b><br />
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The second Shailene Woodley offering in this post, which is impressive from someone who was virtually unknown a couple of years ago, with the exception of being George Clooney's daughter in <i>The Descendants </i>in 2011<i>.</i><br />
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<i>TFIOS </i>is the story of Hazel and Gus, two cancer sufferers who bond and embark on a relationship, despite their bleak future. The book, written by the tremendous John Green, is witty, heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measures and I challenge you to not fall in love with H and G.<br />
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There's been a furore surrounding the film's tagline (<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/the-fault-in-our-stars-poster">http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/the-fault-in-our-stars-poster</a>), suggesting it is offensive and makes light of cancer but I disagree. What gives this film heart is that the characters don't want to be martyred and I believe this matches that. And as JG himself said - "I like the tag line because it says, literally, the sick can also have love stories. Love and joy and romance are not just things reserved for the well."laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-5595515278714932322014-01-03T10:46:00.000-08:002014-01-03T12:33:13.725-08:00Future Film Friday: 2014 Jan-MarNow that the door has officially closed on 2013, and a year of great movies (Prisoners, Captain Phillips, Place Beyond the Pines and Frozen being my particular highlights), it's time to look ahead in anticipation of the new crop of stories to grace our big screens this coming year.<br />
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<b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: January 17th</i></b><br />
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Starring Donna from Neighbours (hasn't she done well??), this is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a Long Island stockbroker, documenting his swift transformation into a Wall Street criminal, who served 20 months imprisonment for fraud during the 1990s. <br />
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Comprising a stellar cast and with Scorsese behind the wheel, we already know we are in for one hell of a ride with this blockbuster. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the finest actors on the scene right now, and Matthew McConaughey has really come into his own since he ditched the romantic comedies and pursuing a heartthrob status, and has become one of Hollywood's biggest surprises.<br />
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<b>Labor Day</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: February 7th</i></b><br />
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Kate Winslet plays single mum Adele, who, along with her son Henry offers shelter to a desperate man. It soon transpires that he is an escaped convict and their options become increasingly limited as the police search the town. <br />
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The trailer screams tension, and from a director who's work is as varied as Reitman's, it will be really interesting to see how multifaceted this film is.<br />
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<b>Her</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: February 14th</i></b><br />
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Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams are almost unrecognizable in this story of a brilliantly-named writer (Theodore Twombly) who develops a bizarre relationship with his new operating system. The style seems quirky and fun, whilst also urging us to take a look at our own relationships and values in life.<br />
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<b>The Lego Movie</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: February 14th</i></b><br />
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I don't think there's a single person alive who doesn't harbour a love for Lego. With an all-star cast (seriously, more than any regular blockbuster I can think of), this film, based on the popular mini figures, seems genuinely hilarious and a whole load of fun.<br />
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<b>Noah</b><br />
<b><i>Release date: March 28th</i></b><br />
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And now for something biblical. Regardless of your religious persuasion, you can't argue that the old testament doesn't offer up some brilliant stories that can become great films. Noah is being hailed as one of this year's blockbusters and it's not hard to see why.<br />
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From the director of Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky's latest offering looks to be even more epic, with the cast headed up by Russell Crowe, Emma Watson and Jennifer Connelly.<br />
<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-47286660140510700102013-12-22T10:40:00.000-08:002013-12-28T10:40:55.945-08:00Lloydy's round-upQuite a lot of exciting news of future projects to round off the year.<br />
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<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/trailer-22-jump-street.html">First trailer for 22 Jump Street</a><br />
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<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/joseph-gordon-levitt-to-produce-sandman.html">The Sandman and Joseph Gordon Levitt</a><br />
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<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-boys-are-back-weinstein-brothers.html">The (Weinstein) Boys are Back in Town</a><br />
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<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/ant-mans-identity-revealed.html">Ant Man's identity revealed</a><br />
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<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-boy-who-lived-and-bit-more.html">The Boy Who Lived, and a bit more</a>laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-20114286920590422432013-12-20T21:00:00.000-08:002013-12-27T14:12:14.919-08:00The Boy Who Lived, and a bit more.People who know me know how much I champion any kind of spin-off that helps to keep the Harry Potter dream alive, and here is the latest: a play based on the early years of Harry Potter, co-produced (but not written) by J.K. Rowling herself.<br />
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When I first heard the news about a Harry Potter prequel play, I sincerely hoped that it would be based on The Marauders, but alas, not to be. However, I am curious as to how the previously untold story of Harry's childhood will play out, due to us muggles only being aware of it consisting of one place - a broom cupboard.laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-16234610820249067802013-12-20T13:58:00.000-08:002013-12-27T14:01:38.984-08:00Ant Man's identity revealedFollowing months of speculation, Marvel have confirmed that the wonderful Paul Rudd will be bringing Ant-Man to life in 2015. <br />
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<img height="200" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/f9/0a/93/f90a93de68a6c6590d25634b4d51f8f2.jpg" width="150" /><br />
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As both Marvel's and director Edgar Wright's choice, it will be interesting to see Rudd turn his hand to superhero, having proved he is adept at both comedy and occasional drama. Marvel have certainly made good choices in the past and I am personally thrilled about the prospect of Rudd joining the Marvel universe.laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-2611905509981850542013-12-18T04:00:00.000-08:002013-12-27T13:39:44.196-08:00The Boys are Back: Weinstein brothersFollowing on from the success of <i>The Butler, Philomena </i>and the highly-anticipated <i>August: Osage County</i>, The Weinstein Company are gearing up to rejuvenate some of their most successful projects.<br />
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Teaming up with Miramax, the brothers now have access to old, successful titles, with both a Shakespeare in Love 2 and a Rounders 2 in the pipeline. Furthermore, a Good Will Hunting television series is also in the works.<br />
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All may seem like bold choices, particularly the television series, but these franchises already have a built-in audience, making it easier for financing and promoting.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image source: <a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/love/images/741761/title/shakespeare-love-photo">http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/love/images/741761/title/shakespeare-love-photo</a></span></i><br />
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<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-14722162852950252852013-12-17T23:00:00.000-08:002013-12-27T07:58:14.864-08:00Joseph Gordon-Levitt to produce The Sandman?Joseph Gordon-Levitt has confirmed his involvement with the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman's <i>The Sandman</i>.<br />
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Gordon-Levitt will produce and potentially star in the films although further information regarding the film is very limited. However, fans are speculating that the film will focus on the first 8 (out of 75) issues of the comic.</div>
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<i>The Sandman </i>revolves around The Lord of Dreams (Morpheus or Dream) who has recently been released after being held captive for 75 years, and tries to rebuild his kingdom. It is a very popular series which has built up a very dedicated cult following since 1989 and whilst there have been numerous attempts to bring to the big screen, none have been successful. However, this one is a collaboration between Warner Bros. and screenwriter David S. Goyer, who has been behind Man of Steel and the Batman trilogy. That, with the added clout of JGL, makes for a formidable combination.</div>
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<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-2726145208857031932013-12-16T14:17:00.000-08:002013-12-16T14:17:00.114-08:00Trailer: 22 Jump Street<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/06rvPK8ydZo?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Filming only wrapped less than 24 hours ago, but the first red-band trailer for 22 Jump Street (the sequel to 2010's 21 Jump Street - which was a reboot in itself) has already spread across the internet and it is just as fun as the first.<br />
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I'm a big fan of Channing Tatum in non-chick flick roles and teamed with Jonah Hill means it looks like it's going to be laughs-a-plenty.laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-38221051374517203222013-12-13T08:02:00.000-08:002013-12-14T08:07:22.113-08:00Future Film Friday: Jupiter Ascending<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZoCyL_Pqzu8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></i></span></span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;">Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under a night sky, with signs predicting that she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning toilets and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along – her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos. </i><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;">This seems like something out of the ordinary for both Kunis and Tatum which is the main reason I am excited to see this upcoming sci-fi blockbuster.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;">In astrology, when Jupiter conjunct ascendent, it brings extravagance and wealth, and certainly no expense has been spared on production for Jupiter Ascending. There seems to be a lot going on, from the space-y special effects, to Channing Tatum's interesting new look and it'll be interesting to see how well the plot stands up against the impressive backdrop.</span></span>laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-17269764828510657502013-12-06T14:31:00.000-08:002013-12-08T14:34:32.110-08:00Future Film Friday: The Inbetweeners 2<img height="220" src="http://i1.cdnds.net/12/31/618x428/uktv_inbetweeners_1.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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Following the success of 2011's <i>The</i> <i>Inbetweeners Movie</i>, the show's creators, Damon Beesly and Iain Morris, confirmed this week that an sequel is on its way, set in Australia.<br />
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They've not given much away about what this newest offering will entail, but have promised kangaroos and koalas and I'm willing to wager that it may be centering around a gap year.<br />
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I have high hopes for this, sequels to a movie that was already based on a TV series can be dangerous ground but a lot of the comedy's success rests not only on the brilliant script but from the foursome's ability to bring the character's to life so hilariously, and I'm looking forward to plenty of down-under jokes.laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-20265224345779221782013-11-22T14:25:00.000-08:002013-11-26T14:26:10.869-08:00Future Film Friday: TolkienFollowing the success of last year's <i>Hitchcock</i>, Fox Searchlight have announced that they are working on a JRR Tolkien biopic which will capture his time during both university and as a soldier during WW1, as well as his well-publicized friendship with CS Lewis.<br />
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Whilst it may be surprising that no such film has already been produced, it is worth noting that the Tolkien estate are notoriously protective over usage of Tolkien's outputs, so I'll wait with bated breath to see if this comes to fruition.<br />
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I have my own personal family reasons to hope that this film gets the greenlight; my great-grandad was in his year at school and my great-aunt was matron of the hospital where he was treated for trench-foot so I'm looking forward to pointing out "nurse #4" and pretending she is an ancestor. All jokes aside, Tolkien is probably the most innovative and imaginative authors of all time, so it will be fascinating to see the man behind Middle-earth.<br />
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Talking of Middle-earth, Google has made sure none of us forget the imminent release of <i>The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Source: </i></b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2511261/Google-Middle-earth-Interactive-3D-map-J-R-R-Tolkiens-imagined-kingdom-launches-run-Hobbit-film-release.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2511261/Google-Middle-earth-Interactive-3D-map-J-R-R-Tolkiens-imagined-kingdom-launches-run-Hobbit-film-release.html</a></span></div>
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Some of <i>The Hobbit</i>'s well-known locations are now open for virtual tours, thanks to the new interactive map from Google.</div>
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Incorporating, audio passages, character biographies and Elvish muzak, users can explore Trollshaws, Dol Guldur and beautiful Rivendell.</div>
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laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-84885799056491113712013-11-18T14:14:00.000-08:002013-11-18T14:14:29.361-08:00Lloydy's round-up: Batkid, Pudsey and an odd sequelI have to begin this post with the most heartwarming story I've ever heard.<br />
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For one day only, San Francisco transformed into Gotham City, especially for Miles Scott (Batkid), a five year old leukemia sufferer, and the city's residents were all in on the secret (courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation).</div>
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The day began with an ABC news report calling for Batkid's help and his day progressed with saving a damsel-in-distress and apprehending the Riddler. To reward him for all of his help, Batkid was rewarded with the key to the city. </div>
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This is an absolutely wonderful story, and something that I'm sure was brilliant fun to be part of. Bravo San Francisco.</div>
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<b>Very Important Pudsey</b></div>
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The second charity-meets-entertainment story of the week revolves around our favourite charity mascot, Pudsey (bear not dog). </div>
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Stars from stage, screen and music came together to design a very unique range of Pudsey's to raise money for this year's Children in Need. Those participating included Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Terry Wogan, Dame Helen Mirren and Joanna Lumley's (see below).</div>
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<img height="200" src="http://ris.fashion.telegraph.co.uk/RichImageService.svc/imagecontent/1/TMG10427040/m/jonnalumley-pudsey_2723910a.jpg" width="161" /><br />
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<b>And now something bizarre...</b><br />
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A sequel to <i style="font-weight: bold;">It's a Wonderful Life</i> is in the works. Yup.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">It's a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story</i> (hmm...) will follow Bailey's unpleasant grandson, with angel Zuzu showing him how much better the world would have been without him.<br />
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I don't even know what to say.</div>
laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-64524183435358973102013-11-10T08:44:00.000-08:002013-11-10T08:44:58.959-08:00Lloydy's round-up: Thor, Classics and Odd PromotionsLast night I saw <i>Thor: The Dark World</i>. Despite the mixed reviews that it has received, I really enjoyed it, especially the many humourous interludes, courtesy of Loki, Darcy and Erik. The science chat mostly went over my head but I got the gist of what was going on. It did feel a little Lord of The Rings-esque at times but on the whole, a well-told story.<br />
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Other things happening in the movie world this week...<br />
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<b>Star Wars casting</b><br />
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The first auditions for Disney Star Wars: Episode VII were held in Bristol this weekend, but I'll leave it up to these two to tell you more...<br />
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<b>Blasts from the past</b><br />
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<i>Ghostbusters 3</i> could well be on the cards, with reports suggesting that both Jonah Hill and Emma Stone have been offered roles. We shall have to wait and see if any more news surfaces...<br />
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Similarly, <i>Jurassic World</i> (due for a 2015 release) has a rumoured casting list of Jason Schwartzman, Bryce Dallas Howard (<i>The Twilight Saga, The Help</i>), Nick Robinson (<i>The Kings of Summer</i>) and Ty Simpkins (<i>Insidious</i>).<br />
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<b>Jungle Book updates</b><br />
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<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/oo-be-do-i-wanna-be-like-all-of-you.html">Back in July, I spoke about Disney's planned live-action remake of <i>The Jungle Book</i></a>, and it looks like the wheels are well and truly in motion, with Jon Favreau in negotiations to direct. I'd be really interested to see what the genius behind Elf could do with another family classic.<br />
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<b>Odd Hunger Games tie-ins</b><br />
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One news story that I saw circulating all over the internet this week, was the proposed <i>Hunger Games</i> theme park. Now, I understand why this would appeal. Both <i>The Wizarding World of Harry Potter </i>and the <i>Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter</i> were roaring successes, and as a franchise with a similar fan base, I can appreciate why this would be a concept. However, the main difference is that Hogwarts, and all associated with it, is a world that as you read (or watch) you desperately want to be part of. You certainly do not want to be involved in any of the various civilizations within Panem, or the arenas for that matter. I can imagine the rides themselves would be suitably exhilarating but I'd love to be a fly on the wall during the development process.<br />
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http://www.youtube.com/v/MHk8ykeA0d8?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=Sq_Od0B68MYpp3aS2UMbsg&showinfo=1&autoplay=1<br />
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The second <i>Hunger Games</i> related news that has caused quite a frenzy amongst fans is the Subway US promotion alongside <i>Catching Fire</i>. Admittedly, it is an odd choice, a film revolving around starving citizens, sponsored by sandwiches. I think Subway have really missed a trick here. The <i>Catching Fire</i> sandwiches on offer are the 'Sriracha Chicken Melt', the 'Sriracha Steak Melt', Buffalo Chicken and the Turkey Jalapeno Melt. However, hardcore fans will know that a particular meal is referenced quite prominently throughout the novels (although admittedly they don't linger on it in the movies), which consists of lamb stew and plums. To me, this sounds like a potentially delicious sandwich! Come on Subway!<br />
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<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-45801995832893457582013-11-08T09:28:00.000-08:002013-11-09T09:32:03.124-08:00Future Film Friday: Get your tissues ready...<b>If I Stay</b><br />
<i><b>Director: </b>R.J. Cutler</i><br />
<i><b>Writers: </b>Shauna Cross & Gayle Forman (author)</i><br />
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<b>If I Stay</b> is the story of 17 year old Mia, a gifted cellist, who has to choose between life and death after a horrific car accident that kills the rest of her family.<br />
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Production for this began last week, with some spot-on casting, including Chloe Grace Moretz as the lead role. Moretz has even been learning the cello in preparation.<br />
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I discovered the book by Gayle Forman only this week and I devoured it in one day. It's tremendously sad, but balanced perfectly with characters that are so awesome that you'd wish you were part of their world. I haven't felt that emotionally involved in a story in years, so I'm interested to see if the film will have the same effect or if it is Forman's writing that I was solely gripped by.<br />
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<b>The Fault in Our Stars</b><br />
<i><b>Director: </b>Josh Boone</i><br />
<i><b>Writers: </b>Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber & John Green (author).</i><br />
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Along a similar vein (but also completely different) is <b>The Fault in Our Stars</b>, a love story between Hazel and Gus, two teenagers who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group. As with IIS, the characters are incredibly likeable and share an acerbic wit that will make you laugh out loud, a couple of paragraphs after crying hysterically. The screenwriting team behind 500 Days of Summer adapted the screenplay which I am thrilled about and the film is slated for release 6 June 2014. Author John Green has been very active during the whole filming process, providing regular updates for his fans via social media as to the progression of the movie.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Source: </b></span><a href="http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com</span></a><br />
<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-6987333083029061182013-11-07T08:24:00.000-08:002013-11-10T09:03:13.833-08:00Review: Captain Phillips<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TzU3UJuV80w?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Director: </b>Paul Greengrass</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Writers: </b>Billy Ray & Richard Phillips, Stephan Talty</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Main Cast: </b>Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Certificate: </b>12a (UK)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Source: IMDB)</span></i><br />
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Richard Phillips (Hanks) makes the trip to Oman to captain a cargo ship to Kenya. However, whilst voyaging through hazardous Somali waters, the MV Maersk Alabama becomes the first American ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Phillips risks his own life and is taken as hostage by the pirates.<br />
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What I respect the most about this film is its refusal to demonize the Somalians, yes they are the bad guys, but we understand the reasons behind what they do. We sympathize with Bilal, the youngest, he doesn't want to be there, but has ended up there out of desperation, and you find yourself simultaneously hoping both he and Phillips survive. Then there's Muse, played by Barkhad Abdi, a native-Somalian with no previous experience in acting. He captures both the desperation and intelligence of the person who is perhaps just in the wrong place at the wrong time.<br />
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As this is based on a true story, it is surprising how tense this film is, despite knowing how it'll end. Greengrass previously directed <i>United 93, </i>and so had already proven how adept he is at taking a well-known situation, but still keeping the audience gripped to the very end. Hanks is also responsible for this, there is something very comforting about knowing you will be spending the next 90+ minutes in his company, and is such a decent man that we are immediately concerned for him. Indeed, the last scene, whilst having probably the least amount of action of the whole film, is definitely the most raw and powerful, and is Hank's acting at its peak - you could have heard a pin drop. <br />
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Cannot recommend this film enough.</div>
laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-36406364614659443432013-11-06T07:23:00.000-08:002013-11-10T07:28:36.523-08:00Review: Prisoners <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bpXfcTF6iVk" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Director</b>: Denis Villeneuve</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Writer</b>: Aaron Guzikowski</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Main Cast</b>: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terence Howard, Paul Dano</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Certificate</b>: 15 (UK)</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(source: IMDB)</span></i><br />
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Prisoners is a tense thriller that sees the families of Keller Dover (Jackman) and Franklin Birch (Howard) have their lives turned upside down when their daughters are kidnapped during a Thanksgiving party. All fingers point towards Alex Jones (Dano), whose RV was parked outside during the time of the abduction, and it is up to Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) to get a confession out of him.<br />
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Except, he can't... and Dover takes matters into his own hands, resulting in some horrifying consequences.<br />
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The plot twists and turns throughout the movie, with the camera always lurking ominously around the corner, with the anticipation that danger is always round the corner, and someone is always watching.<br />
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The questions that the film makes the audience asks itself veers on a slightly political edge - what lengths would you go to, if you thought you could rescue a loved one? As a result, some of the scenes make for very uncomfortable viewing - not because of any particular gratuitous violence, but because of what is implied and the discomfort of the situation makes us question our own morality and the choices we would make. We are also constantly aware of the "race against time", to find the girls and to save the girls, and this nervous apprehension only adds to the menacing tone of the film. <br />
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Both Jackman and Gyllenhaal give brilliant, believable and distressing performances, but attention must also be given to both Dano, whose silence portrays a thousand words, and also Howard, whose anguish is completely heartbreaking.<br />
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You will be on the edge of your seats with your hands clamped over your mouth until the very end, and beyond and, if anything else, this film will perpetuate the notion to never buy a house with a basement...<br />
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laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-91436064136158966932013-10-25T03:00:00.000-07:002013-11-10T05:40:21.469-08:00Future Film Friday: The Bone SeasonI've been itching to write about The Bone Season for ages, and after the news this week that it has been acquired by 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment, now feels like a better time than ever to indulge my excitement.<br />
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TBS is set in Scion London, a futuristic citadel, where 19-year-old Paige is working as a dreamwalker, amongst the criminal underworld. After losing control of her power, she is kidnapped and taken to Oxford (now known as Sheol I) and held captive by the mysterious Arcturus Warden, part of the Rephaim (all these words will make sense if you go read the book - I urge you to!), who is an intriguing character all of his own, and she learns how to hone her rare talent and use it to her advantage. My synopsis doesn't do the story half the justice that it deserves but it is a truly fascinating journey into a new world, and I can't remember being this excited by a fantasy novel since the Harry Potter series, which many critics have indeed been drawing comparisons to. Other than the fact that it will be a 7-part series, that's really where the similarities end, and it's an injustice to both to say they are similar. The Bone Season is a stand-out story all of its own. <br />
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Just to give a little further background to this, the author, Samantha Shannon, is ridiculously young at 21 (I know, she makes me feel like a failure too), and the film rights were snapped up almost immediately by Andy Serkis's The Imaginarium.<br />
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There is so much that I am looking forward to about this film, but cannot list without giving away too many big plot points, however even just to see how they interpret the mythical land of Sheol I, and the casting choices for the various characters is keeping me going - I am mostly intrigued to see who they pick for Warden, who, despite finding him wildly attractive, I cannot for the life of me conjure up what I imagine him to look like. I have a worried feeling that they'll pick someone like Cumberbatch for it, and (IMO) he wouldn't be right at all, but ultimately the decision lies with Shannon, and it is her vision that I am so excited to see come to life.<br />
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NB. I recommend following the author herself for any further info - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/say_shannon">http://www.twitter.com/say_shannon</a>laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-50585818345839723072013-10-20T14:04:00.000-07:002013-10-22T14:09:50.378-07:00Lloydy's round-up: Awkward Grimm Merchant in Avatar LandNotable things this week...<br />
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<b>Hello Ladies</b><br />
I went to see Stephen Merchant's first stand-up show a couple of years ago and I can honestly say it was the most fun I've ever had at a comedy gig (and I always enjoy stand-up). I spent the evening caught up in that kind of laughter when you know you look like a wailing hyena but you're laughing too much to care. The first episode of the sitcom of the same name premiered this week (AFTER the US, grumble grumble) and and I was both excited and intrigued to watch it - intrigued because I just wasn't sure how it would translate into a script, but so far so good!<br />
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<b>A Tale Dark & Grimm</b><br />
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Henry Selick is the master of films that both creep you out whilst making you feel warm and safe all in one. The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach were both staples of my childhood (although I've never gotten over that evil rhino cloud). He is currently working on two wonderful sounding films - A Tale Dark & Grimm - Hansel and Gretel stumbling into other Grimm fairy-tales and The Shadow King - a stop motion film that tells the story of Hap, an orphan with unusually long fingers who learns to utilize them to make shadows that eventually go into battle with shadow monsters. Sounds like the most magical film I will ever see, quite frankly.<br />
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<b>That Awkward Moment</b><br />
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After the success of Hairspray and 17 Again, I had high hopes for the career of Zac Efron. They may have still been light-hearted, fun films but he proved he was an actor worth his salt, and not just a pretty teen idol with nothing behind the eyes.<br />
He's certainly picked varied and sometimes controversial roles since then, but none have really lit the Oscars alight, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it just means that therefore many of them haven't even made any waves this side of the Atlantic.<br />
His newest choice interests me however, because it's so simple. The Awkward Moment seems very laddy. In fact, it looks to me to be the male equivalent of He's Just Not That Into You. All that taken into consideration, I think this is a good step for Efron. He does comedy very well and whilst probably a bit predictable, it looks fun and I definitely want to watch it (nothing to do with the nudity, what... I didn't even know there was nudity!)<br />
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<b>Avatar Land - Animal Kingdom</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/avatar/news/12oct2013-photos---disney-release-new-avatar-land-details-with-impressive-new-concept-art.htm">http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/avatar/news/12oct2013-photos---disney-release-new-avatar-land-details-with-impressive-new-concept-art.htm</a><br />
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It looks beautiful!laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-68545063689234709722013-10-13T12:23:00.000-07:002013-10-13T12:23:11.082-07:00Lloydy's round-up Couple of things that have caught my attention this week...<br />
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<b>New American Hustle trailer</b></div>
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The teaser trailer did the rounds a while back and now the full official trailer for the much-anticipated American Hustle has arrived. A reunion for the Silver Linings Playbook dream team of David O. Russell, Bradley Cooper, J-Law and De Niro, along with the addition of Christian Bale and Amy Adams, makes for what could likely be a worthy Oscar-contender. And even if all else fails, it's still the most impressive array of hairstyles that I've seen for a while.<br />
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<b>Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge</b><br />
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Syfy announced earlier in the week that they have given the go-ahead to a new Muppet reality show - surely no greater type of show -which will oversee competitors vying for a job in Jim Henson's Creature Shop, participating in challenges ranging from creating "everything from hand puppets to large-scale theatrical creatures". This sounds AWESOME, I love Syfy and I LOVE The Muppets (Beaker ftw). I honestly cannot wait for this to start, WHY HASN'T IT ALREADY STARTED??<br />
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<b>The <i>Mean Girls </i>Musical Update</b><br />
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According to Tina Fey's husband (he is scoring the musical) there are currently five songs in development, including an "October 3rd" song and a "Fetch" song, but they are struggling with how to portray the Christmas scene (Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock... it is an iconic scene<b> </b>after all). Otherwise it sounds like it's coming along nicely, which I am very pleased about.<br />
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Earlier in the week I saw Prisoners, so expect a review in the next couple of days. I'm also really looking forward to Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity and the LFF opener Captain Phillips opening over the next couple of weeks. Watch this space!<br />
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laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-72320533232342181082013-10-11T09:04:00.000-07:002013-10-13T10:50:11.646-07:00Future Film Friday: Battle of the BiopicsIt's been a while since I've watched a good biopic, and it's a genre that is so hard to get right. However there's a few in the pipeline that I can't help getting excited for...<br />
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<b>The Musician One</b><br />
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I've been a huge fan Elton John since I was very young, having grown up listening to my parent's albums and falling in love with his songs such as Sacrifice and I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, the latter has stayed a firm favourite my whole life. Therefore, this is the one I am MOST excited about, indeed I'm probably more excited about this than any other biopic in history.<br />
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'Rocketman' is still in the very early stages of pre-production but the film will follow Elton's life, from Reginald Dwight's childhood, through to the icon that we know today. Tom Hardy is currently touted for the lead , and whilst I am sure that the role is more than safe in his hands, I can't help but have my own favourite...<br />
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<b>The Author One</b><br />
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Much of Theodor Geisel's work are already familiar to cinema-goers, but much less is known about the life of Dr Seuss. The author, poet and cartoonist had a rich story of his own, interweaving with his work as a political cartoonist during WWII. Johnny Depp is producing the film and will likely take the lead in this. No release date is known as of yet, but it will be truly fascinating to see the man behind all those stories that we know and love. <br />
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<b>The Athlete One</b><br />
I'll be honest, with Bradley Cooper in the lead role, I would be excited about this film regardless of the content. However, this is one film that I know I am not alone in eagerly anticipating. <br />
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The whole world was stunned when Lance Armstrong was charged with doping offences and stripped of his many titles. Armstrong had been an inspiration to so many, battling testicular cancer and coming out the other side a hero. Red Blooded American is certainly going to be one emotional movie.<br />
<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-63765493885042945562013-09-13T14:40:00.001-07:002013-09-13T14:40:22.559-07:00Future Film Friday: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemJuly 21st 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hardback novel went on sale worldwide. Almost exactly 4 years later, the final film was released, and a whole generation went into mourning. For 10 years we followed the boy wizard's every move, devouring each of the seven novels and booking advance tickets for the release date of each of the eight films. I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when I was eight years old, eighteen when the final book came out, and I was a loyal devotee through till the end. As much as I still adore reading and finding new, unknown stories to tell everyone about, I don't think anything (or anyone) will ever capture my imagination quite as much as those seven books, because I grew up with them and with him, and I won't ever experience that again. I both eagerly anticipated and dreaded both the final book and then again the film, because whilst I was dying to know what happened, I couldn't bear it all ending and having to face the realities of being all grown up. So I was thrilled yesterday when I heard the news yesterday.<br />
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Anyone who may have missed it, J.K. Rowling has confirmed that she will be penning the screenplay for a new Harry Potter spin-off - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Fans will already be familiar with this as the title of one of Harry's Hogwarts textbooks, but the film will focus on the book's author Newt Scamander and Rowling has noted that the film is neither a prequel or a sequel and will be set in New York, seventy years before Harry's story begins. <br />
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I truly think this is best choice she could have made regarding carrying on the wizarding world tastefully. As much as I would have loved a series based on the tales of the Marauders, there are now so many fanfics whizzing around the internet that whatever she scripted would have either been cliché and expected or would have disappointed a lot of budding authors who had their hearts set on how they thought it should have been. This way, she is continuing the magic, but with a character that has remained largely untouched by fans... that said, I am secretly hoping there is maybe a cheeky cameo from a known character, or even just a nod to the future story.<br />
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Here's a reminder of some classic HP screen moments: <a href="http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/at-the-movies/a515150/harry-potter-series-top-10-moments-dementors-millennium-bridge-more.html">http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/at-the-movies/a515150/harry-potter-series-top-10-moments-dementors-millennium-bridge-more.html</a> <i>[source: Digital Spy]</i>laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-4295466912761518882013-09-10T14:40:00.000-07:002013-09-10T14:45:00.780-07:00Let the countdown begin!I wrote a while ago about the promotion for the first Hunger Games film (<a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ya-genre-marketing-and-fan-engagement.html">http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ya-genre-marketing-and-fan-engagement.html</a>) but it seems Lionsgate has really kicked it up a notch for the second installment - Catching Fire - released towards the tail-end of 2013.<br />
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The official soundtrack song has been doing the rounds across various radio stations and the internet alike. It's called Atlas and it's the first cinematic offering from Coldplay, and generally their first anything in quite a while.<br />
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I like it! I like the way it slowly builds up, and then explodes, very much echoing the [SPOILER ALERT] plot.<br />
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Second juicy bit of enticement - Lionsgate, costume designer Trish Summerville and Net-A-Porter are all getting together to release 'Capital Couture' - a Hunger Games inspired fashion line.<br />
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Franchise fans will know how much importance is placed upon fashion in the books, so I think this is a really smart move and I cannot wait to see the range - however I must keep in mind that nothing I buy will make me look anything like Jennifer Lawrence.<br />
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More information can be found here - <a href="http://capitolcouture.pn/">http://capitolcouture.pn/</a><br />
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Moving on at a slight tangent, but still sticking to the kick-ass-girls-in-dystopian-films theme, I want to talk a bit about Divergent.<br />
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I reread the book recently just to remind myself of the story, ahead of the film's release next year (the first time I read it, I read Delirium by Lauren Oliver straight after and then devised some kind of hybrid plot for both and got myself very confused). I'm glad I've read it again though because it's reminded me just how brilliant it is and now I cannot WAIT for the release!<br />
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There's a lot of scenes that I'm looking forward to, I won't say which ones for fear of ruining any surprises but there's a lot of pressure on the writers to keep all the good stuff in. I'd forgotten just how dark it was, more so than Hunger Games in my opinion (which is a big claim against a film about kids murdering each other) and a lot of really interesting locations (I'm thinking most about the chasm in Dauntless headquarters). I absolutely love the way Veronica Roth writes, she really knows how to write for her market, which is probably because she is so young (she was younger than I am now when she wrote the first book which means I have totally failed at life!)<br />
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I have mixed feelings on some of the casting, some characters are exactly as I imagined - Zoe Kravitz as Christina and Ashley Judd as Mummy Prior - YES, and I think Kate Winslet will be great as Jeanine. I'm reserving my judgement on Theo James as Four - he's certainly hot and tough enough, but looks a little old for his 18 year old character? I'm sure he will prove me wrong, which I sincerely hope as I don't want anything to alter how awesome this film has the potential to be!<br />
<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585457476423190019.post-91922811435128488282013-08-16T14:45:00.000-07:002013-08-16T14:45:35.901-07:00Future Film Friday: D23 specialCurrently, one of my main ambitions is to one day take a geek pilgrimage to Comic-Con in San Diego, trek around California for the folllowing few weeks before ending up at D23 Expo, the official Disney fan club's biennial event in Anaheim. Unfortunately, owing to the fact that I am yet to come into any large amounts of money and also the 5 thousand-odd miles distance, I am yet to make it to either event. However, that hasn't stopped me from devouring any snippet of information that I could find whilst scouring the internet for news.
Here are the upcoming projects that I am most excited about...<br />
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<b><i>Saving Mr. Banks</i></b><br />
I've already gushed about this film here: <a href="http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/contrary-to-my-first-thought-this-is.html">http://lelloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/contrary-to-my-first-thought-this-is.html</a><br />
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<b><i>Into the Woods</i></b><br />
I've been excited about this since I got wind of the casting, let alone when I read the synopsis. Stephen Sondheim's musical is a story of a baker and his wife's quest to start a family, their plot intertwining with well-known fairytale characters such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella among others. The film has been in the pipeline for a long, long time, and with the rumoured cast including Meryl Streep, James Corden, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, Christine Baranski and Chris Pine, then I am certain that this will be more than worth the wait.<br />
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<b><i>Big Hero 6</i></b><br />
The first Marvel production from Disney, <i>Big Hero 6</i> is the story of superheroes in the fictional city of San Fransokyo (San Francisco+Tokyo - awesome). No casting information has been released, nor plot apart from "a group of six superheroes are recruited by the government to protect the nation... which I think we could have gauged from the title anyway...<br />
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<b><i>Maleficent</i></b><br />
I've never really gotten engaged with any of the recent live-actions, mostly out of laziness and the thought that "well, Alice in Wonderland I already know the story to," but this one has piqued my interest. Starring the Jolie, <i>Maleficent's</i> plot had been kept under wraps for ages but we've finally learnt that it is about the notorious villain's life pre-Aurora. Can't wait!<br />
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<b><i>Zootopia</i></b><br />
Thinking about it, Disney has largely neglected stories using anthropomorphized animals, with Robin Hood, and Winnie the Pooh, to an extent, being the only films that I can think of where the animals strut and swagger like humans. <i>Zootopia </i>is the next to be added to that list. Whilst the film centres around a quick-witted fox on the run from the law, <i>Zootopia</i> is a whole different world entirely. Separated into different regions depending on the different animals. There's Sahara Square (desert), Tundratown (arctic landscape) and Little Rodentia (you can guess). Sounds really interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing the final result.<br />
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<b><u>Pixar</u></b><br />
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<b><i>The Good Dinosaur</i></b><br />
Imagine a world where dinosaurs hadn't died out, and instead became the dominant species. <i>The Good Dinosaur</i> follows Arlo as he befriends a human boy and together they embark on an adventure. The film will feature the voices of Lucas Neff, Bill Hader, Judy Greer, Neil Patrick Harris, John Lithgow and Frances McDormand. Phew!<br />
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<b><i>Inside Out</i></b><br />
If I had to order the films in this (slightly long) list by my excitement levels then this one would definitely be in the top 3, not least because one of the voices include Amy Poehler. <i>Inside Out</i> will be an emotional film... starring the emotions Anger, Disgust, Fear, Joy and Sadness to be precise. All five live inside Riley's head, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, the other three try to retain the balance. Gaaahhh it sounds so fun!!<br />
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I was disappointed that there was no news of the Dia de los Muertos film but I guess it's too early to say anything.<br />
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<b>And finally...</b><br />
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When I was 10 years old, I gave a storming presentation to my classmates on the subject of... bears. It had pictures, it had video clips and it has a performance of Teddy Bear's Picnic on my flute. It went down a treat, HOWEVER, I can't help but wish that I could have just shown this...<br />
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<br />laurzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08171315317968895558noreply@blogger.com0