Cinema Static

Viz Media Licensor for Berserk Anime Film Trilogy

2012-04-09T20:06:00.001-07:00

Via Press Release:

Arms and Armor Action Clash In Three Visceral Anime Films About A Young Medieval Mercenary

San Francisco, CA, April 9, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has acquired the North American theatrical, TV, home entertainment, digital and merchandising rights for the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC animated movie trilogy. The company made the licensing announcement during its panel held at Sakura Con 2012 this past weekend.

BERSERK: THE Golden Age Arc film trilogy was produced in Japan by Studio 4ºC and is based on the bestselling medieval dark fantasy manga (graphic novel) series created by Kentaro Miura. VIZ Media plans to release the first film of the trilogy, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING, in the Fall of 2012.

Combining a foreboding medieval European-insired setting with fantasy and exquisitely detailed swordsmanship, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING follows lone mercenary Guts as he travels the land where a hundred-year-old war is taking place. His ferocity and ability to take down enemies attracts the attention of Griffith, leader of the mercenary group "The Band of the Hawk," and Guts is recruited to the unit. Thanks to their continued victories on the battlefield, the bond between Guts and Griffith deepens, but despite all their success, Guts begins to question his reasons for fighting for Griffith's dream. Unknown to Guts, this unyielding dream is about to bestow a horrible fate on them both.

"Thrilling action and a tense plot are at the center of these gripping films that depict how the young mercenary protagonist, Guts, becomes a legendary swordsman," says Lyn Johnson, Senior Animation Marketing Manager. "We're very excited to add these films to the VIZ Media anime library. BERSERK combines a foreboding medieval European-inspired setting with fantasy and horror elements to make for an amazing adventure that no action fan will want to miss, and we look forward to announcing more information on the release of the first film in the Berserk: THE Golden Age Arc trilogy very soon!"

The BERSERK manga series, by Kentaro Miura, debuted in Japan in 1989 and quickly drew a devoted following, going on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide. The series, still ongoing in Japan, has been published in North America and the UK, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Latin America. The BERSERK manga has also inspired a popular anime television series and has spawned a variety of related video games, collectable figures and toys, and music soundtracks, as well as the current BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy.

For more information on the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy, please visit the official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BerserkFilm.

Casting for 'Out of the Furnace'

2012-04-05T17:16:00.001-07:00

per press release

Casting Heats Up On Relativity Media's Currently Titled

Out Of The Furnace

Red Granite Partners on International as Production Starts in Braddock, Pennsylvania

(Beverly Hills, Calif.) April 5, 2012 – Relativity Media has closed deals with Oscar®-winner Christian Bale (The Fighter), Oscar®-nominated Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford), Zoe Saldana (Avatar) and Oscar®-nominated Sam Shepard (Safe House) to star as the lead roles in the upcoming gripping and gritty drama currently titled Out of the Furnace, written and directed by the critically-acclaimed Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), it was announced today by Relativity's Co-President, Tucker Tooley. Bale will star as older brother Russell Baze in the film alongside Affleck who will play the role of younger brother Rodney Baze Jr. Saldana has also been cast as Bale's love interest Lena Warren and Shepard will play Red, Russell and Rodney Baze's uncle. Production is set to begin in Braddock, Pennsylvania later this month.

Relativity Media will release the film theatrically in the U.S. Red Granite, the Los Angeles based film production, finance and international sales company has acquired foreign rights outside of the U.S. and will handle international sales. Red Granite International President Danny Dimbort and Co-President Christian Mercuri will begin shopping the film to buyers in Cannes next month.

In making the announcement, Tooley said, "This is a meaty script with characters as strong as they are complex, and we needed powerhouse actors who complement the story. Christian, Casey, Zoe and Sam each approach everything they do with heart and conviction. We can't wait to see what each of them brings to this film," says Tooley.

The film is a drama about fate, circumstance, and redemption. Russell and his younger brother live in the economically depressed Rust Belt, and have always dreamed of escaping and finding better lives. But when a cruel twist of fate lands Russell in prison, his brother is lured into one of the most violent and ruthless crime rings in the Northeast - a mistake that will almost cost him everything. Once released, Russell must choose between his own freedom, or risk it all to seek justice for his brother.

Producing are Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) and Jennifer Killoran (The Ides of March) alongside Scott Free's Ridley Scott (The Grey), Tony Scott (Man on Fire) and Michael Costigan (American Gangster) as well as Relativity's CEO Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter).

Bale and Affleck were both represented by WME in the deals. Saldana and Shepard were both represented by ICM in the deals.

'Glee' Cast on 'Inside the Actors Studio' On Bravo

2012-04-05T15:43:00.001-07:00

On Monday, April 9^th, Bravo Media's "Inside the Actors Studio" (airing 8pm ET/PT) welcomes the cast members and creator of FOX's Emmy Award-winning hit television series "Glee." Currently in its 18th season, host James Lipton is joined by cast members Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith and co-creator Ryan Murphy. Lipton not only delves into the lives and careers of these talented individuals but also explores their well-known onscreen counterparts to experience the hysterical dynamic of the quirky high schoolers firsthand covering topics from Matthew Morrison's high school breakdance gang to Chris Colfer's prenatal acting start. Please see transcribed preview bites below:

Matthew Morrison on his high school breakdance gang

Matthew Morrison: [When I was ten] my parents sent me to Arizona. I had some family that lived out there, and they threw me and my cousin into this children's play to get us out of their hair for the summer.

James Lipton: Were there gangs? California had gangs. Did you ever join one?

Matthew Morrison: The mean streets of OC… a group of friends and I kind of started this gang. That was my first foray into dance [laughs]. We got together and we would breakdance. We would get together and we would show each other moves every week. [James makes MM breakdance on stage]

Chris Colfer on early acting

James Lipton: You've said you've wanted to be an actor since [you were] an embryo.

Chris Colfer: Embryo- yes. I used to pose for the sonograms.

Ryan Murphy on his love for his "bawdy" grandmother

Ryan Murphy: My mother worked, so I was pretty much raised by my grandmother. She was just this great, bawdy lady who would make me watch her put on her makeup and would explain why she was doing that, and she would encourage me to shoplift. She was just great; she was a character; she was my true love of my life as a child. I feel like everything I was interested in was really because of her.

Ryan Murphy on his social standing in high school

Ryan Murphy: I was an odd creature in high school because I was a target but also I was popular, and that's because on the sly, I was dating a lot of the football players.

Lea Michele on totaling her car on the way to her Glee audition

Lea Michele: I was listening to music and singing "On My Own" in the car and about to pull into the Fox lot and totaled my car at the time. I'm from New York and was driving in LA. I ran up the lot pulling glass out of my hair, and I had nicks on my body. I ran into the building - and exactly what Rachel Berry would have done - they were like, you don't need to audition today! And I said, there is no way that I'm not auditioning. They didn't even believe I got in a car wreck!

Chris Colfer on his Glee character, Kurt

James Lipton: You've described Kurt as a tough guy in designer clothes- can you define that further for our students?

Chris Colfer: What I love about Kurt the most is that he is himself, despite having his world constantly tell him he should not be who he is. And it takes a lot of strength to be who he is and wear those tight pants.

Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer on what they would like to hear God say at the pearly gates

Cory Monteith: Sorry I haven't been around- there's a good explanation.

Chris Colfer: Don't listen to them- you get to come in too.

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'Fringe' Return From Break Had No Takers

2012-03-24T12:34:00.001-07:00

Fringe returned from a 1-month hiatus last (Friday) night, but alas, returning from breaks can be a momentum breaker. Especially when your return is up against other TV venues like the NCAA basketball tournament. Bad, bad timing!

Last night's early demo numbers show Fringe hit an all-time low in the 18-49 demo with a 0.9 rating...

Though in total, a total of 2.88 million faithful Fringe fans did tune in.

THR: Fringe Ratings Report

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CinemaStatic on Twitter & Facebook ;
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Season Finale Dates for 'NCIS', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'Person of Interest' and Other CBS Shows

2012-03-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

The 2012 Fall TV season is winding down and CBS published their list of season finale dates for fan favorites like NCIS, Hawaii Five-0, Person of Interest and other TV series.

SUNDAY, APRIL 29:

THE GOOD WIFE

SUNDAY, MAY 6:

THE AMAZING RACE

MONDAY, MAY 7:

2 BROKE GIRLS

TUESDAY, MAY 8:

UNFORGETTABLE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9:

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

THURSDAY, MAY 10:

THE BIG BANG THEORY

FRIDAY, MAY 11:

UNDERCOVER BOSS
CSI: NY
BLUE BLOODS

SUNDAY, MAY 13 :

SURVIVOR: ONE WORLD
SURVIVOR: ONE WORLD LIVE REUNION SHOW

MONDAY, MAY 14

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
TWO AND A HALF MEN
MIKE & MOLLY
HAWAII FIVE-0

TUESDAY, MAY 15

NCIS
NCIS: LOS ANGELES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16:

CRIMINAL MINDS

THURSDAY, MAY 17:

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
PERSON OF INTEREST
THE MENTALIST

(via Brusimm: CBS Season Finales)

Friday Night TV: 'Fringe', 'Supernatural', 'Merlin' and More [3-23]]

2012-03-23T08:00:00.001-07:00

What's on the tube tonight?

The obvious is NCAA Basketball Tournament going on... But then you have other TV shows tonight with new episodes:

At 8 pm:

Kitchen Nightmares, (Wha? Am I doing the cooking?)
Nikita,
Shark Tank,
Who Do You Think You Are? (Anyone catch this show? What do you think of it?)
And of course,
WWE on the Syfy channel.

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9pm has

Fringe,
Supernatural

are all that catch my eye for that hour... two TVs, two eyes... I'm good!

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10pm:

In Plain Sight,
Merlin, on Syfy
and
Spartacus: Vengeance on Starz.

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At least that's what my TV listings are showing me for what's coming up...

--

CinemaStatic on Twitter & Facebook ;

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Which Batmobile Is Faster? Don't Care. Marisha Lost her Bet!

2012-03-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Seriously, Machima put together a head-to-head battle of the 1960's Batmobile versus the Batmobile from 1989. They're both rebuilt with modern engines, with HP around the 300 mark... but seriously, who cares!?

But what you might care about is what host Marisha Ray does when she loses a bet... yea... that was worth it because I sort of did watch the entire 10-minute video.

If you don't want to watch the whole vid, you can cut to the chase where the staged race starts around the 7:30ish mark, or the 8:45 mark where the boys call Marisha on the loss of her bet...

-Bruce

TV News Bits: Famke Janssen, Elijah Wood, Eli Roth & An 'Alcatraz' Hotel!

2012-03-22T09:22:00.001-07:00

Here are some programming and casting news for your day regarding the Syfy channel, Netflix and Eli Roth, and a new hotel you can find yourself imprisoned in, voluntarily!

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Over on the Syfy Channel, the May 5th Saturday Night Original Movie will be Treasure Island.

Cast of their newest original project includes Elijah Wood (Ben Gunn), Donald Sutherland (Flint) and Eddie Izzard (Long John Silver).

Keep your eyes peeled! And to be honest, this one may just stand out above the usual Saturday night fare, considering the cast alone!

[Syfy]

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Eli Roth is bringing some new original programming to Neflix next, in the form of a 13-part original horror series called Hemlock Grove.

The series will star Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgard and is based on the book authored by Brian McGreevy.

Now... this being original content on Netflix, I wonder how far they'll let Eli Roth go? Meaning, if you've ever seen any of his work, it's all dismemberment, boobs and foul language in every scene.

[Netflix]

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Like I said yesterday, Jenna-Louise Coleman is joining BBC America's Doctor Who as the doctor's new companion, with "plans" for Amy and Rory.

[new-doctor-who-companion]

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It was a two-day experiment, but apparently, selling out, seems to prove our love of lore and TV. There was a new hotel in London that gave guests the opportunity to get thrown in jail. And you got to pay for it... really!

You were referred to as an inmate, staff were guards that you had to call "sir," your room was a cell, you had bunks, a few square meals served on trays and prisoner rule books to boot.

It was a viral, or alternative media pitch in association with the UKTV channel, Watch, in conjunction with the British premiere of Alcatraz.

It sold out pretty fast and only lasted a few days. Gotta love viral! There's more at the source link if you're interested...

[Welcome-to-Alcatraz]

'Survivor One World': And Karma Takes One Away [3-21 recap]

2012-03-21T22:21:00.001-07:00

Survivor: One World starts out with the usual recap... reminding us that last week Monica was evicted from the island! And now...

Christina is getting the rudest treatment from Colton and Alicia. Apparently the world 'civil' is not in their vocabulary. Since it's a foregone conclusion that Christina IS going home they're being pretty rude to her. Hey, folks who know these people in their real lives, take note! (And Alicia is a special ed teacher??? Wow!)

First challenge was for ice cream... and Colton's team LOSES. Colton does not deserve any prize with the way he's still treating Christina because according to him, it's her fault they lost. (Not really, but rose colored glasses makes things look different.

"You can jump in the fire and be medivaced." Colton hates Christina more than anything else... like when he hated the other player earlier in the season.

Monana has some real a-holes on the team. I'm not sure why everyone let him get in the king roost and put up with him. Him and Alicia. Are they a piece of work or what? I'm shocked at how they treat people.

Back from commercial, Christina is cradling Colton's head. Seriously girl? And Colton is letting (using?) her. Then Colton went off into the jungle to be alone and curl up on the ground. Much like when elephants go off to die. He was in a huge amount of pain actually. Is this karma?

The medical team thinks it might be appendicitis and they're taking him out. And Colton, being Colton, kept the immunity idol for a souvenir. Screw the team and true to himself to the end.

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Tonight is a double up... both tribes are called to tribal council. Then the teams are told about Colton's acute appendicitis and then Jeff merged the teams.

And that's that... all the planning and plotting have gone out the window and possible new plots need to hatch!

New Movies This Friday Include 'The Hunger Games''

2012-03-21T12:49:00.002-07:00

This Friday, March 23rd, than just the one dystopian future film called The Hunger Games will be in town and in your local movie theater! Whatever you do, don't get your name picked!

There are other movies opening this week, but seriously, they picked a bad week to premiere! We have

• The Hunger Games

• The Raid: Redemption

• Brake

• The Trouble with Bliss

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If you want to see what else is opening this week, check out New Movies This Week on Brusimm! (It's an experiment... have patience with me!)

The New 'Doctor Who' Companion Has Been Cast

2012-03-21T10:39:00.001-07:00

TV News: Ah, a new Dr. Who companion has been chosen to replace the exiting Karen Gillan, and that will be Jenna-Louise Coleman! Her first shoot takes place in May, and it's been noted that she's beyond excited to be working with Matt Smith!

Apparently they found someone who can talk faster than Smith! That's going to be tough to keep up with!

Who wouldn't be? The guy looks like a hoot to hang around.

The show started filming in February...

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SPOILER????

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Steven Moffat has hinted that Dr. Who's present companions will be having an encounter with some Weeping Angels, and it would seem that someone looks away at the wrong time!!!

[BBC: Doctor Who New Companion News]

[ Google image search for Jenna-Louise Coleman ]

'The Biggest Loser' Hawaiian Weigh-In Recap from 3-20

2012-03-20T22:04:00.002-07:00

The Biggest Loser started out with the usual recap and then we see that they're being sent to Hawaii. It's a test to see if they can lose weight on vacation. Mark said all he needs is two tee-shirts and a speedo. Dah!!

No one in the group has ever been to Hawaii... like myself! Conda does not seem to be of the mind to lose weight while on vacation. Poor, poor souls.

Mark is focused on the end game. Dolvett showed up at the pool and snapped at the gang about not sweating and not working out.

Then they got to meet Soul Surfer girl, Bethany Hamilton. She lost her arm to a shark at 13-years-old, but a month later, was back out surfing.

She then took the gang out surfing... but there was more gravitational assisted splashdowns than anything else. LOL.

Dolvett is afraid of the water and what's in it... but he does fine on a surfboard.

Thirty minutes in, we finally get down to business... they get a quiz with a one pound advantage to the winner. After the quiz, Chris won the extra pound.

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Dolvett grabs the gang and has a quickie challenge, but it's just a quickie ad for Yoplait Smoothie... 130 calories and can be found in any grocer's freezer!!! (Oh gads, I just advertised for the show!)

Dolvett then chatted with Kim because she's a bit off because everyone she likes is gone/off The Biggest Loser ranch.

Everyone gets their ocean/beach workouts. Megan had issues getting into the water. (There are things in the water!!!)

Time for an immunity challenge. It involves a hill. There will be lots of running up and down the hill. Again, Buddy could not compete due to a stress fracture in his leg.

During the competition, the Conda/Jeremy/Mark association is very evident. In the end, those three were the last and they drew it out pretty long... but Conda won immunity. BUT... she keeps it only if she does not gain weight. Gaining weight nullifies the immunity. Plus Jeremy pretty much gave it to her. He's such a nice brother.

Weigh-in Numbers:

-Conda weighed in first: lost four pounds. (-4 1.81%)
-Chris (-3, plus 1 pound advantage, 2.26%)
-Mark [whose looking pretty good these days] (-4, 1.96%)
-Jeremy (-7, 2.56%) Conda has to care how he does, since she's riding his coat tails as he is constantly helping her.
-Megan (-3, 1.52%)
-Buddy (-6, 2.14%) Not bad for a guy wiht a leg bone fracture whose restricted from some of the workouts.
-Kimmy (-2, 1.23%)
-Kim, whom everyone is gunning for... (-5, 2.84%) She lost the most percentage pounds of the group.

This leaves Megan vs Kimmy, or mother vs daughter.

They went directly from scale to elimination and Kimmy pitches to send her home and leave Megan. Kim noted that Megan has more weight to lose, making her the threat.

But strategic sense went out the window and Kimmy was voted off the battleship. (They were on or near a battleship in Pearl Harbor.)

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'The Hunger Games' Getting Good Movie Reviews

2012-03-20T21:57:00.002-07:00

Generally speaking, The Hunger Games is pulling in good reviews... and the occasional frumpy review, treating the movie like it's a cheap Gone with the Wind.

I'm a regular Joe kind of guy. I base my reviews off of my gut and if I feel like I wasted by money or had a good time.

Generally speaking, many reviewers gave The Hunger Games, a movie based on a young adult book series, good reviews. Then there are those that call it "an earnest, plodding thumb-sucker – a sugar-coated pacifier to appease the screaming hordes."

Nothing against the professional critics out there. They see different things than fans do. But fans have read and loved the books. They have certain expectations that need to be fulfilled. That's the simpler approach to the movie.

So all in all, a few critics I trust have taken it all into account... and generally given The Hunger Games an A- and such.

So I think fans of The Hunger Games will be having a great time with the movie.
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Adam Levine from 'The Voice' Is Cast In What?

2012-03-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Believe it true believers! Or not. The lead man for Maroon 5 and one of the judges on The Voice, is in talks to join the cast of FX's American Horror Story.

Adam Levine is cinching up a role in season two of American Horror Story where he'll be part of a pair referred to as "The Lovers." Still thy hearts girls!

(You goin' wher' brutha?)

This will actually be Levine's first acting gig and boy, what a gig it could be. Nothing says inspiring the fans better than putting a well known and likeable face in the cast!

I actually like Adam's character as it comes across on The Voice...

Right now, the only cast known for the second season of the show include Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson.

E!: Adam Levine Casting News

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I'd love the company over there!

Olivia Wilde Returns To 'House'

2012-03-20T12:41:00.003-07:00

With the series winding down to it's series finale, one can only expect the unexpected from House on Fox... if that's even possible.

But one thing that seems to be forming up is the news that Olivia Wilde will be returning to her role of Thirteen for the series finale of House that is scheduled for May 21st, 2012.

It will be good to see Wilde in the role, that for me, gave her an intelligent charatcer base. I say that because I've been repeatedly disappointed with her recent movie roles... the movies that she left the House production for.

Now as far as eye candy goes, she's up there with rest of them. But after playing a medically minded gal, I've been looking for more of that from her. My bad!
This casting news was first reported by TV line.

Science Channel Subscribers: 'Alien Encounters' Premieres Tonight (3/20)

2012-03-20T12:17:00.005-07:00

TV News: If you have the Science Channel in your cable line up and you watch it, tonight is the world premiere of Alien Encounters, premiering at 10pm ET/PT tonight (Mar 20th)

The following week after Alien Encounters, is the premiere of NASA's Unexplained Files on Tuesday, Mar 27 at 10pm ET/PT.

Check out the press release descriptions below... and don't forget the tin-foil hats gang!

Episode Descriptions:

ALIEN ENCOUNTERS: The Arrival premieres on Tuesday, March 20 at 10 PM (ET/PT)
In two dramatic hours, ALIEN ENCOUNTERS lays out a plausible hypothetical scenario for a first contact event. What would really happen if we got a message from space? How will humans react when we learn that a message from a distant technology or a spacecraft is on its way to Earth? Will humans learn from aliens, or become colonial subjects? Some of the world’s leading astrophysicists, astrobiologists, and sci-fi writers help unravel the scientific, cultural and psychological impact of this world-changing global event. This show is made in cooperation with The SETI Institute which was founded in 1984 and had renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan as one of its Board of Trustee Members. Carl’s son Nick is now following in his father’s footsteps wondering, “How will we meet our galactic neighbors?”

NASA’S UNEXPLAINED FILES premieres Tuesday, March 27 at 10 PM (ET/PT)
Countless mysterious objects have been caught by NASA’s cameras. In this special, we’ll reveal NASA’s top ten unexplained encounters using original footage and groundbreaking interviews with astronauts and scientists. Can these phenomena be explained away through science and detective work? Or have NASA’s cameras potentially captured the first traces of extraterrestrial life?

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by BeS

Is 'Terra Nova's' Jason O'Mara in A Bad Casting Spot?

2012-03-20T09:45:00.001-07:00

I was just reading up on some TV news where Jason O'Mara is joining Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis on a new, unnamed CBS series based in 1960's Las Vegas, about a cowboy that's become the sheriff.

(Hey, wait a minute? Can that be Justified in a different state?)

But anyway, Quaid is set to star and O'Mara is set to play his younger brother.

BUT...

It seems that Jason O'Mara's future is not his to control yet?

Terra Nova was cancelled by Fox a few weeks back and the producers been trying to shop the series around to other networks to see if there's someone who will take the bait and pick the show up.

Now admittedly, when Fox drops a show and one of the catch-terms in the news is "too expensive," I'm thinking it might have been too expensive. I'm weird that way.

So the idea of another network picking up Terra Nova seems limited to networks with deep pockets or a renewal where the production of the series would be taken down a different road... a less expensive road.

You know... buckets of blood and hand puppet dinosaur heads!

Like this video test from the Stan Winston Studio test...

Stan Winston youtube Vid

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But it seems that Jason O'Mara is still tied to the dinosaur series and if it's picked up, he'll be bowing out of the new CBS series.

Personally... I think it would be great to have O'Mara in control of his own destiny and not be saddled with the potential future of a cancelled series.

And then again, is it only O'Mara, or are others tied up with Terra Nova also, if it gets picked up?

[tvguide: Jason O'Mara Joins CBS Cowboy Pilot]

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'The Walking Dead' Character Michonne Interesting Tidbit

2012-03-20T07:45:00.001-07:00

In the season finale of The Walking Dead...

Spoilers Ensue hearty readers....

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Near the end of the episode Andrea (Laurie Holden) is on the outs and looking doomed. She looked like she was going to be snack time for a walker, when suddenly, it found itself beheaded by a mystery hero enshrouded in hood and cloak. And with two zombies on chain leashes in obedient tow.

It was awesome to see Andrea get saved by a mystery character but see the two zombies "heeling" obediently just made a huge visual impact on the moment.

If you noticed at that moment in The Walking Dead season finale, we couldn't see the character's face. I'm not sure if it was in the after-show, The Talking Dead, or on another article.. but they had not cast Danai Gurira as Michonne when they filmed the scene, so that was as stand-in.

Thought you'd be interested in that tidbit.

Oh, don't forget... going into season 3 of The Walking Dead, Andrea doesn't know Shane is dead yet. We also meet the Governor.

'Jersey Shore' Renewed by MTV

2012-03-20T07:24:00.001-07:00

Well I guess now all is right the world... or something like that. MTV has renewed Jersey Shore... again.

It seems some of you love Jersey Shore enough to have them bring it back for another (sixth) season of reality torment and trashing. Oh the fun!

And everyone wonders if Snooky be returning with her bundle. It's already going to be screaming and red-faced... should fit right in!

Also of note,

Jersey Shore: The Reunion airs this Thursday, Mar 22 at 10pm ET.

Don't forget The Pauly D Project, premiering on Mar 29 at 10:30pm, ET/PT

(Why cover this? 'Cause someone asked me about the show...)

[TV By The Numbers]

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'Green Lantern' Movie TV Review

2012-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is a re-review of Green Lantern, after I've seen it on TV. Hence, this is now a TV review!

I had previously headed out to the theaters and after having paid money to watch Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds and the gorgeous Blake Lively, I wasn't so enthused about the movie. It seemed canned and I came away wanting so much more from this DC Nation character movie.

As much as I like Ryan Reynolds, he didn't quite fill the bill. I think I have too much of his snarky characters from the past in my head and it didn't fit my character expectations of Hal Jordan.

But that's me.

I was disappointed because I had some high hopes for Green Lantern but came away from the movie theater disgruntled I had spent money on the movie.

Bummer.

But the other night I caught the Green Lantern movie on one of my premium pay channels and I have to say, for a TV movie, this project seemed to fit perfectly. It was better than most fare that was on other channels on the tube at the time and didn't seem as painful this time around.

Was I numb or did I just watch it with no expectations and hence, wasn't disappointed?

I know fans of the franchise loved the movie... at least from what I can tell from around the web, and I don't mean any disrespect, but for TV, this was the perfect project that filled the time on the tube.

For me Green Lantern went from a silver screen disappointment to a small screen entertaining venue.

'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Blu-ray and Movie Review

2012-03-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an intense and detailed story on the investigation and uncovering of a mole within the ranks of the MI6 organization. To do this, ex-spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is pulled back into the fold to uncover this threat.

It's an intense, detail oriented movie with multiple levels of depth and Gary Oldman brings it like only he can, with a quiet fortitude that resonates within the story.

The movie also stars Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, John Hurt and many more.

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But this article has the word Blu-ray review first and I have to say that there are parts of the Blu-ray package that make this BD packaging stand out.

The obvious point is the visual power of picture clarity from BD. It's amazing. And because of the extra space on a BD, the extras on the disc are pretty cool.

There is the usual collective of deleted scenes, first looks, interviews and a feature commentary.

The First Look is one long run of information about the background on the characters, the story, the era and the subject matter. It fills in details from questions that might have arisen from watching this intense story of espionage.
The interviews are like video snippets of the cast answering a question that was posed to them from off-camera, just before they rolled the camera and the personalities answer the question.

John le Carre's interview is a wealth of information that adds a new dimension to many aspects of the movie and gives you a huge sense of a behind the scenes feel for the world of espionage and just adds a wonderfully interesting and large nugget of info. It's like the bow on a gift. It just caps it off.

Here's something I took away from one of the interview snippets:

Gary Oldman is old enough to remember the TV series base on the book the movie is based on. But it's not a remake... all three venues stand on their own.

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If you're looking for a movie that's less glitz and more quality story writing and settings, this is the movie for you.
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( Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on Amazon )

Check out the tech specs:

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray^TM : Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: FIRST LOOK
DELETED SCENES
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JOHN LE CARRÉ
BD-LIVE^TM: Access the BD-Live^™ Center through your Internet-connected player to watch the latest trailers and more!

pocket BLU^TMapp: The groundbreaking pocket BLU^™ app uses iPad^®,iPhone^®, iPod^® touch, Android^™, PC and Mac^® to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray^™ player. Plus iPad^® and Android^™tablet owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU^™ made especially to take advantage of the tablets’ larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray^™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before. pocket BLU^™ offers advanced features such as:

- Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray^™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live^™ functions with ease.
- Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
- Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray^™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
- Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU^™-enabled titles available and coming to
  Blu-ray^™ Hi-Def. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
- Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
uHEAR^™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your
Blu-ray^™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.

BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY^™ and DVD):

INTERVIEWS WITH ACTORS GARY OLDMAN, COLIN FIRTH, TOM HARDY; DIRECTOR TOMAS ALFREDSON; AND SCREENWRITER PETER STRAUGHAN
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR TOMAS ALFREDSON AND ACTOR GARY OLDMAN

The CW Releases First Look Image of 'Arrow'

2012-03-19T14:02:00.002-07:00

OK, I wasn't going to do it but heck here it is... the new Green Arrow look from the CW's upcoming pilot movie, titled Arrow. Not Green Arrow... just Arrow. (Unless they re-title it later)

Arrow is the DC character Green Arrow, aka, Oliver Queen and he'll be played by Stephen Amell (Private Practice, Hung << THAT'S A TITLE PEOPLE, A SHOW TITLE)

And right now I'm thinking he's lookin' a lot like Green Arrow from Smallville... but I suppose that can't be helped.

The synopsis that SuperHeroHype has says

After being marooned for five years on a remote island, former billionaire playboy Oliver Queen returns with a mysterious agenda and a lethal set of new skills that he uses in a war on crime.

Other cast includes the beautiful Katie Cassidy (Gossip Girl, Melrose Place), Jamey Sheridan (Homeland, Trauma) Paul Blackthorne (The River, The Gates), Willa Holland (Gossip Girl, The O.C.) and more...

Arrow will be directed by David Nutter (Entourage) and produced by Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern, Eli Stone) and Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern, FlashForward, Eli Stone, Law and Order).

Yes, that's the Green Lantern movie I reference in credits... But I'm reserving judgement right now.
[superherohype: first-image the-cws-arrow]
-Bruce

New DVD & Blu-ray Releases For Tue, Mar 20th [Dragon Tattoo, Muppets, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy]

2012-03-19T13:43:00.001-07:00

With just over 100 new DVD and Blu-ray releases coming out this week on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012, there's a few quality movies and shows amongst the fodder this time around!

Stars you can capture on disc include Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Amy Adams (voice), Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, & James Marsden (voice) and quite a few more. But first...

Top DVD Sales

Nielsen hasn't updated their top-10 DVD sellers list since last week, but Yahoo Finance is reporting Nielsen competitor's Rentrak numbers, and check out the top-10 sellers as of last week:

1: Immortals (2011)
2: Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season
3: Jack and Jill
4: Footloose (2011)
5: Puss in Boots (2011)
6: Barbie in A Mermaid 2
7: Hugo
8: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
9: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
Tooth Fairy 2

I guess you have spoken, and looking at what's in the top-10, I'd best get my Blu-ray review of Immortals out there! (Hint: It's a visually impressive movie with a fun action plot!)

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But for now, here's a quick list of what new DVD and Blu-ray releases are coming out on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Starring Christopher Plummer and Daniel Craig
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The Muppets Starring Amy Adams and Jason Segel
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Tinker, Tailor Soldier, Spy Starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch (Hint: Very detailed, story driven tale of an ex-spy drawn out to discover a traitor. It's not a spy-action thriller but it is a very well done story, with some incredible extras.)
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Hop Starring James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco and Russell Brand
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Scarecrow and Mrs. King: The Complete Third Season Starring Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner
-New DVD Titles on Amazon
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Below are a list of other titles, as sorted via pre-release numbers, via Amazon:

Lady and the Tramp
Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land: Search for Pillow
Carnage Starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, et al.
Fairy Tail: Part 4 Starring Todd Haberkorn, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Jamie Marchi, et al.
Iron Maiden: En Vivo!
Beacon Theatre - Live From New York
The Sitter Starring Jonah Hill and Sam Rockwell
The Adventures Of Tintin: Season Two Starring Colin O'Meara, David Fox and Wayne Robson
Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Season Two, Part Two Starring Diedrich Bader, John Di Maggio, James Arnold Taylor
B52's: With The Wild Crowd! Live In Athens, GA
Kojak: Season Three Starring Telly Savalas
Letter Never Sent (Criterion Collection) Starring Tatyana Samojlova
WWE: Elimination Chamber 2012
My Living Doll: The Official Collection Vol. 1 Starring Robert Cummings and Julie Newmar
A Lonely Place to Die Starring Melissa George, Ed Speleers and Eamonn Walker
Phil Collins: Live at Montreux 2004 - 1996
Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Seven Starring Stephanie Nadony, Don Brown
The War Room (Criterion Collection) Starring James Carville, George Stephanopoulos
The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Seven (3 Discs) Starring Molly Ringwald and Shailene Woodley
Creature Starring Mehcad Brooks, Serinda Swan, Aaron Hill and Sid Haig

-New DVD Titles on Amazon
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-yahoo: top dvd sales

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'The Walking Dead' Season Finale SMASHES Cable Ratings

2012-03-19T13:08:00.002-07:00

(Wait a minute? How many tuned in last night?)

Last night while writing up the season 2 finale of The Walking Dead, I believe I scribbled somewhere in there that it will probably bust out the TV ratings... again.

And boy, did it!

Over 9 million viewers tuned in to The Walking Dead's season finale, giving it a 5.8 HH rating.

It became the No. 1 drama series in the history of basic cable amongst adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. (Note that it's Adults & Men)

The press release says it delivered viewers. I'd like to suggest it sucked us in for some pretty decent, brain-smashing entertainment! But that's just me.

That's cool news, considering this is a fantasy/sci-fi genre type TV series and people are seeing past the obvious because of the great writing and well plotted action! In other words, AMC hit it out of the park yet again with another show.

For the detailed oriented, check out the press release that AMC sent out:

New York, NY – March 19, 2011 – Last night’s season two finale at 9pm EST of AMC’s original series, “The Walking Dead” was the highest rated episode in series history. It delivered a 5.8 HH rating delivering 9 million viewers. AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is the number one drama series in basic cable history for key demos including: Adults and Men 18-34, Adults and Men 18-49, and Adults and Men 25-54. The finale grew more than 50% in total viewers over season one.

Source: The Nielsen Company. Live+SD, M-Su 8p-11p. (1993 - 3/18/12), Program Type: Original, Series- Drama, Telecast level among A/M 18-34, 18-49& 25-54 AA(000). TWD Su 9pm vs. weekly broadcast ranked on A/M18-34 & 18-49 AA (000) – excludes weeks 2/20-2/26/12 and 2/27-3/4/12 among A18-49 AA (000).

Key Nielsen Highlights for the season two finale of “The Walking Dead”:

9pm airing – 5.8 HH rating with 9 million viewers: +41%/+51% vs. Season 1 Finale

9pm airing – 6 million Adults 18-49: +50% vs Season 1 Finale

9pm airing – 5.3 million Adults 25-54: +50% vs Season 1 Finale

9 pm, 11:30 pm - cumed to 10.5 million viewers

Key Highlights for “The Walking Dead” – season two series:

o         Season average – 4.6 HH RTG and 6.9 million viewers: 31% and 32% vs. season one

o         Adults 18-49 – 4.6 million: +32% vs. season one

o         Adults 25-54 – 4 million +32% vs. season one

"Congratulations to everyone associated with AMC's ‘The Walking Dead’ and thank you to the fans for creating, literally, record-setting television,” said Charlie Collier, AMC’s president.

“The Walking Dead” secured a 2010 Golden Globe nomination for best television series and won the 2011 Emmy award for outstanding prosthetic make-up. The series tells the story of the months and years that follow the zombie apocalypse. It tracks a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safety and security. The story explores the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies, the toll it takes on the survivors, and how sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to survival than the zombies themselves. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death, some growing willing to do anything to survive.

“The Walking Dead” received rave reviews from countless critics, both domestic and international, who heralded the series as “thrilling” (The Hollywood Reporter), “…with Dead’s riveting cast of characters, the personal dynamics are almost as potent as the gory thrills” (US Weekly), “The Walking Dead is a feast. Dig in.” (The Guardian- UK), “It doesn’t even take three minutes to realize that this series is setting standards” (Der Tagesspiegel-Germany).

About AMC

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series - Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC's original stories include “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Killing” and “Hell on Wheels.” AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with its slate of unscripted original series, as well as curated movie franchises like AMC’s Can’t Get Enough and AMC’s Crazy About. Available in more than 97 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters Here^SM.

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= -Bruce

'Snow White and the Huntsman' Has Thor In It!

2012-03-19T12:26:00.001-07:00

I've seen so many different fairy tale movie titles coming out that I am really not that enthused about the news... but then you see movie trailers for Snow White and the Huntsman like the one below and you start to doubt the doubt!

Admittedly, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) has nothing for me because anything I've ever seen her in she's been rather sedate. But she's actually moving and interacting in this trailer! Too cool!

Snow White and the Huntsman also stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers) and Charlize Theron (Upcoming Prometheus).

Check out the trailer... what do you think? Fun, interesting or just lots of action packed ... action?

[Snow White and the Huntsman Feature Trailer]