Science Fiction Fix

‘The Hunger Games’ Review: Jennifer Lawrence Commands a Lightweight Dystopian Vision

2012-03-26T06:03:00.001-07:00

Published on /Film | shared via feedly

There’s a great semi-futuristic story of brutal combat, in which a battered nation is captivated as two-person teams battle one another to the death in an ironic but potent allegory of public entertainment and government control gone wrong. A reserved but driven hero manipulates public perception to gain an edge in the games, and could ultimately become something more significant than a survivor.

I’m not thinking of The Hunger Games; I’m thinking of Paul Bartel’s Death Race 2000, released in 1975 and made under producer Roger Corman. Death Race 2000 does a lot of things right, as Corman’s shoestring affairs go. It has the silly, exploitative and satirical angles covered with material to spare. What it doesn’t have, however, is a truly compelling main character. The Hunger Games has that one thing Bartel didn’t: a killer lead performance, in this case from Jennifer Lawrence as the young family provider turned warrior Katniss Everdeen. That’s just about all it’s got.

As satire and allegory, The Hunger Games is a whiff and a miss. But as a portrait of Katniss, it has the benefit of featuring Lawrence in nearly every scene, and the young actress doesn’t squander the movie’s opportunity. I suspect that in twenty years Winter’s Bone will be the movie in which we turn back to see Lawrence play an impressive provider, but The Hunger Games makes a good introduction to the fierce Lawrence, if nothing else.

Director Gary Ross and screenwriter Billy Ray worked with author Suzanne Collins to script a film based on the first novel in her trilogy of stories set in Panem, a sort of future United States in which states have been replaced by twelve Districts. As punishment for a past rebellion — we don’t know how far in the past, but it has been a good while — once a year each District is obligated to submit two young citizens to The Hunger Games, a contest in which the twenty-four kids fight to the death, leaving a single winner.

What does that winner get, besides their life? The film isn’t very specific. I haven’t read Collins’ novel, but seeing that the districts are portrayed as quite poor while their Capitol is wealthy to the point of shameless fashion and decadence, it seems likely that food or economic favor is a reward. Food and welfare is a definite concern of Katniss who, along with her District 12 acquaintance Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) ends up representing her home in the Games. Katniss has family in mind, too, as she volunteers for the games to keep her younger sister from going, and likely dying. She leaves behind a possible love interest, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), who plays a minor role, at best.

Collins, Ray and Ross work hard in an attempt to build a world, and Panem is built on a bedrock of very loaded narrative allusions: the American Civil War; the dustbowl documentary work of Walker and Evans; the overdone fashions and empathetically-drained tendencies of reality TV. The wealthy populace of the Capitol embodies major concepts from both Orwell and Huxley. Yet none of those allusions become a framework for deeper concern about what plagues Panem, and how it might reflect anything about us. The Hunger Games isn’t about anything but Katniss and her will to survive.

And so tip your hat to Gary Ross his associates for casting Jennifer Lawrence, who is able to carry much of the film simply on that drive. As she goes from District to Capitol to the fields of the Games, where hidden controllers can dial up threats on a whim, Lawrence is centered, but urgent. When Ross and the script leave pretty big gaps with respect to her potential love affair with Peeta, and what that means for the Games, Lawrence is able to give us all we need to know.

I wasn’t as taken with Josh Hutcherson’s performance; I suspect Peeta is a weaker character on screen than he was on the page. While Hutcherson is always fine, he’s marginalized a bit by the film. He isn’t helped by the fact that the most propulsive first half of the Games gives him less to do; he’s much more prominent in the second half of the combat, when the action starts to drag.

Lenny Kravitz works well as the stylist who helps Katniss earn a legion of fans, while Stanley Tucci mugs relentlessly as the Capitol’s chief TV personality. (More than a few shades there of the Real Don Steele from Death Race 2000.) Elizabeth Banks is fine as Effie Trinket, another Capitol citizen working with the District 12 kids. But I don’t think she’s ever actually named in the film, and she’s one of many characters that are realized more as fan service than as legitimate entities.

Lawrence is almost good enough to convince me that the ruling class of Panem is powerful and vindictive and willing to punish those who don’t conform to the Games. She seems afraid, at least. But when you get down to it, the aggressiveness of the State seems like a giant put-on. Sure, we see a minor rebellion being squashed in one District, but I saw more horrifying police action in videos from Occupy Wall Street protest marches. Twenty-three kids are killed every year in the Games? That’s a terrible loss, but as a tool to control an entire country, it feels like something is missing. The citizens of Panem are cowed, but the film does a poor job communicating why, much less how. As a dystopian vision The Hunger Games makes fierce faces, but it doesn’t have any fangs.

That toothlessness left me caring only about Katniss, but thanks in part to the very evident franchise-building construction, the conclusion of The Hunger Games feels like a fait accompli almost from the first act. The film’s final confrontation is a total anti-climax, and I realized I don’t care about what happens next. With two more films to go in this series The Hunger Games aims neither for a triumphant victory or a dour cliffhanger. Instead it shoots down the middle, and the conclusion hits with all the power of a shrug. In theory, we might eventually be able to look back on a full film trilogy and see a compelling allegory of the survival of both individuals and society despite a heavy-handed State. But as a standalone film, The Hunger Games is a protracted single-act play with a hell of a lead performance.

/Film score: 5.5 out of 10

Aziz Ansari: Turning Fans Into Customers, One Tweet at a Time

2012-03-26T05:56:00.001-07:00

Published on Mashable! | shared via feedly

There’s no rest for the online entrepreneurs of comedy these days. Standups like Louis C.K. and Aziz Ansari are among the first to break out of the traditional distribution methods for comedy specials.

Louis C.K. knocked it out of the park with his DRM-free $5 special, earning $1 million in less than two weeks. Although Ansari is not yet releasing sales numbers for his own $5 download — a one-hour comedy special titled Dangerously Delicious which hit the web on Wednesday — the Parks and Recreation star says he’s very happy with the response so far.

“People are really excited that I’m releasing the special this way as opposed to going to DVD,” says Ansari.

On Twitter, Ansari says he’s seen nearly no negative feedback in terms of copying Louis C.K. Rather, many of them have expressed the wish for more comedians to follow this direct business model. What differentiates Ansari from C.K.’s route is that he did no press before the release.

“I just decided whenever we announce it, it’s going to be available right away,” explains Ansari, who will soon be promoting the special on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and Conan.

We received a promo video to share, featuring a clip from Ansari’s new special. (Note: The language might be NSFW, so keep your headphones on if you’re in the office.)

The point of this experiment-turned-trend is that people are willing to pay a reasonable amount for DRM-free content, delivered directly to them by a performer they love.

It’s also proven how powerful social media marketing can be when done outside the realm of a network brand.

“You have content flowing through there that’s both funny and innovative, but I think you also have some people who are realizing that a directly addressable fanbase is an extremely valuable thing to have going forward,” says Erik Flannigan, EVP of digital media at Viacom. “Growing that base ends up probably helping those people out and raising their profile beyond what their current television work life might be.”

Twitter has played a huge role in Ansari’s nontraditional social marketing campaign. The approach is straightforward as the comedy special itself — he’s talking directly to his fans through informal media outlets like Reddit, and getting up in front of them to drum up goodwill and awareness. He’s even gone so far as to take his fans out to lunch.

You in NYC? Did you buy Dangerously Delicious? Free from 1 to 230 today? Email AzizDDThanks@gmail.com. First 10 ppl get a dope lunch on me.

— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) March 22, 2012

I was one of nine other fans to join Ansari Thursday in New York for burgers and fries at Shake Shack. Of course, to do so, we had to prove purchase of the special via screenshot or forward our receipt.

“I can’t believe none of you turned out to be crazy, this could have ended really bad,” the comedian joked with us.

The lunch was a test-run of something Ansari hopes to do in several cities while on his Buried Alive comedy tour — the content of which is completely separate from his newly-released special.

Although many standup comedians utilize Twitter as a testing ground, Ansari says he doesn’t take it too seriously. However, it is proving to be a valuable tool for Dangerously Delicious. More fans are contacting Ansari directly on Twitter, and even though he’s responded to the same questions dozens of times by now, he says it’s not hard for him to help his fans this way when he can.

“Since people are buying it directly through me, I feel more personally invested in it. It’s a different kind of product than if it’d air on TV,” says Ansari. “They’re buying it from me — I can help out if someone asks a question.”

Although social media has made nontraditional marketing easier for comedians, and people clearly agree with the non-DRM business model, Ansari says he’s still not sure if this is the future of standup comedy special production.

“Who knows what the landscape will be in two years?” says Ansari. “I mean, two years ago if people asked, ‘Oh, what are you going to do with your next special?’ I doubt I would have said I’m going to put it on a website and sell it for five dollars.”

Image via AzizAnsari.com

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Bioshock film adaptation loses director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

2012-03-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

Published on Joystiq | shared via feedly

It's been a couple years since we've caught wind of any movement on the Bioshock movie adaptation announced back in 2008. Last we heard, pre-production on the film had been halted while discussions were held regarding the project's necessary budget and potential rating upon release.

Those talks are still ongoing, but once-attached director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has apparently run out of patience. "To be honest, by now, I'm completely out of that, and developing other stuff," Fresnadillo said in a statement to The Playlist. "Right now it's on hold. The studio and the video game company, they have to reach some kind of agreement about the budget and the rating."

Here, Hollywood, allow us to resolve four years' worth of negotiations in four seconds: Make Bioshock's budget "all of the money" and let it have an R rating. Problem solved.

Bioshock film adaptation loses director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'd Live in This Incredibly Detailed Hogwarts Castle Model

2012-03-06T06:57:00.001-08:00

Published on Gizmodo | shared via feedly

The films might be complete, but Warner Brothers will continue to milk the Harry Potter franchise for all it's worth. Starting March 31st a new studio tour will give fans a behind-the-scenes peek at the movies, including this stunning model of Hogwarts. More »

Tragically Hip guitarist Paul Langlois calls Kingston street honour 'surreal' - Winnipeg Free Press

2012-03-05T21:15:00.001-08:00

Music

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Tragically Hip guitarist Paul Langlois calls Kingston street honour 'surreal'

By: Nick Patch, The Canadian Press

Posted: 03/5/2012 2:35 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 03/5/2012 6:36 PM

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Members of The Tragically Hip (left to right) Gord Sinclair, Paul Langlois, Gord Downie, Johnny Fay and Rob Baker are shown in a recent handout photo. Langlois says he's honoured that his hometown of Kingston, Ont., has decided to dedicate a street to the veteran group. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Clemens Rikken

TORONTO - Tragically Hip guitarist Paul Langlois says he's honoured that his hometown of Kingston, Ont., has decided to dedicate a street to the veteran group — even if there's "some awkwardness" that comes along with it.

Kingston's city council voted last month to rename a portion of downtown Barrack St. as "Tragically Hip Way." Langlois navigates the street as part of his regular routine, so the whole situation is a little strange for him.

"I use that street quite often actually, it's sort of a thoroughfare where I go pick up my kids. So you know, it's certainly an honour and humbling," Langlois said in a telephone interview Monday morning, noting that the Hip's namesake street also marked the location of the city's sparkling new arena, the K-Rock Centre.

via winnipegfreepress.com

New Photos From ‘Star Trek 2’ Set Show Cumberbatch As A Villain

2012-02-25T06:41:00.001-08:00

via sciencefiction.com

Watch: New UK Trailer for Norwegian Crime Thriller 'Headhunters'

2012-02-18T04:24:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

"Deliriously Entertaining!" A new UK trailer has arrived, originally via AICN on Yahoo now on YouTube, for a Norwegian crime thriller called Headhunters, based on Jo Nesbo's novel, about a corporate headhunter who moonlights as an art thief and gets into some serious shit while on one job. The film stars a mostly Scandinavian cast: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund, Julie R. Ølgaard and Aksel Hennie, who almost looks like a young Christopher Walken. This is a great trailer and builds on the story and intensity, ending on an excellent final note. I really want to see this, I always love a good heist. Check it out below!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Awesome Second Trailer for Marc Webb's 'The Amazing Spider-Man'

2012-02-07T09:26:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

"If you want the truth Peter, come and get it!" It's a big day for Spidey today, as Sony has also unveiled the second official trailer via YouTube for Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man, and it's much more exciting, epic and totally awesome than even I was expecting (I watched it earlier today in 3D). Do not miss this! Andrew Garfield stars as Peter Parker, along with Emma Stone, Martin Sheen, Sally Field and Rhys Ifans as the villain The Lizard, who we finally get a good glimpse of in this trailer. This is starting to look better and better the more we see, I'm very excited for what Webb has made, it looks, frankly, amazing.

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Must Watch: Official US Trailer for Belgium's Oscar Nom 'Bullhead'

2012-02-05T05:08:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

"A career-defining, powerfully physical lead performance." That's Variety's quote from this trailer, and it looks like it's quite accurate. Drafthouse Films recently unveiled the official US trailer on Apple for Michael R. Roskam's Bullhead, starring Mattias Schoenaerts, the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominee from Belgium. I missed this film at numerous festivals last year and it's one of those I'm now kicking myself over, as it looks tremendous. It may also be just how incredible this trailer is, the editing and tension and intensity of the characters, it's got to be hard to watch this and not say you're intrigued. Must check it out!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer in New Image from 'Dark Shadows' | FirstShowing.net

2012-02-04T06:14:00.001-08:00

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LATEST NEWS

Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer in New Image from 'Dark Shadows'

by Ethan Anderton
January 12, 2012
Source: Bloody Disgusting

Just earlier today some new images from The Dark Knight Rises came from a huge preview issue of Entertainment Weekly, and now one more image has surfaced online, this one from Tim Burton's peculiar big screen adaptation of the 1960's gothic daytime serial Dark Shadows with vampires, ghosts, ghouls, zombies, werewolves, parallel universes and time-paradoxes. Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer are featured, and in a way, this gives us a different look at the film rather than the staged first look with the entire cast from last year. I still don't know what to expect from this film though. See the new photo below!

Here's the new image from Tim Burton's Dark Shadows from EW (via Bloody Disgusting):

Based on the 1960's gothic daytime serial with vampires, ghosts, ghouls, zombies, werewolves, parallel universes and time-paradoxes, Tim Burton is directing this adaptation of Dark Shadows written by author turned screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). The film marks yet another collaboration between Burton and actor Johnny Depp, playing vampire Barnabas Collins, and the filmmaker's wife Helena Bonham Carter. The rest of the cast includes Chloe Moretz (Let Me In), Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), Eva Green (Casino Royale), Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust) and more. Warner Bros. is bringing Dark Shadows to theaters everywhere on May 11th, 2012. Looking good?

via firstshowing.net

Watch: Full Trailer for Aussie Thriller 'The Hunter' with Willem Dafoe

2012-01-31T05:57:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

Last summer we got a teaser trailer for the Australian thriller The Hunter, directed by Daniel Nettheim and starring Willem Dafoe as Martin David, a mercenary sent from Europe by a biotech company to the Tasmanian wilderness on a dramatic hunt for the last Tasmanian Tiger. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and now we have a new full-length trailer for the film that looks like another great man vs. nature thriller to go along with The Grey hitting theaters today as well. Plus, this one has Sam Neill seemingly playing the kindred spirit of Jurassic Park's Dr. Grant. Watch the trailer below!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Watch: New Domestic Trailer for Sci-Fi 'Lockout' Starring Guy Pearce

2012-01-27T07:01:00.003-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

Towards the end of December we caught another trailer for the sci-fi film Escape from M.S. One, but here in the United States the film will be known as Lockout. And now we have another trailer for domestic audiences that brings the action again. The film stars Guy Pearce as a felon hired to go to a Maximum Security space station prison to rescue a girl, Maggie Grace. Guy Pearce hasn't really made the best choices in films lately, but I always look forward to his next project and this looks cool as hell. This could be a return to form for the actor and hopefully a surprisingly good sci-fi flick for 2012. Watch the trailer below!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Full Trailer for Adventure Sequel 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island'

2012-01-27T07:01:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

"The island is real." Back before 3D started making its way to respectable films and all the rage hit the big screen, there was the gimmick theme park ride of Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D with Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson. While the former isn't back for the sequel, the latter star (soon to be seen in The Hunger Games as well), is back with Dwayne Johnson coming along for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Frankly I don't know why they don't just lose the colon and have the number work as a word, but I digress. It's not my cup of tea, but we have a new trailer with plenty of adventure. Watch!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Ernest Borgnine turns 95 Tuesday; TCM honors actor with birthday marathon

2012-01-24T09:38:00.001-08:00

Published on Examiner National Edition TV Channel Articles | shared via feedly

On Tuesday, January 24, TCM will honor iconic actor, Ernest Borgnine by airing a daylong marathon of his films in celebration of his 95th birthday. To be perfectly honest, I always thought of Borgnine as a gruff , rough and...

Roberto Orci Shares Some New Details On The ‘Star Trek’ Sequel

2012-01-23T05:32:00.001-08:00

Published on ScienceFiction.com | shared via feedly

It was just almost 2 short weeks ago that the untitled ‘Star Trek’ sequel officially went into production. The movie is such a big part of Paramount’s 2013 movie season that they even sent out an official press release just to announce that! While most of the particulars are being kept under strict confidence, writer/producer [...]

Read original article at: Roberto Orci Shares Some New Details On The ‘Star Trek’ Sequel

Science Fiction

Does Sigourney Weaver Deserve Story Credit For ‘Prometheus’?

2012-01-22T09:32:00.001-08:00

Published on ScienceFiction.com | shared via feedly

In an interview with ‘The Independent,’ Sigourney Weaver discusses a variety of topics, including her upcoming projects, the impact of her work as Ripley, and her vision of the future of films. Weaver is doing ‘Avatar 2’ with Cameron, and she might be in ‘Ghostbusters 3’ if the project ever gets off the ground. Although [...]

Read original article at: Does Sigourney Weaver Deserve Story Credit For ‘Prometheus’?

Science Fiction

First Look At Vin Diesel In ‘Riddick’ And Nolan Funk Joins The Cast

2012-01-21T04:59:00.001-08:00

Published on ScienceFiction.com | shared via feedly

Vin Diesel More good news for ‘Riddick’ fans! Production is continuing to move forward quickly as we get a glimpse of Vin Diesel in costume on set from a photo he released through his Facebook account. Nolan Funk In other news, Variety has reported that Nolan Funk will be joining the cast of the upcoming film. If [...]

Read original article at: First Look At Vin Diesel In ‘Riddick’ And Nolan Funk Joins The Cast

Science Fiction

Joel Edgerton, Cormac McCarthy Sell Scripts

2012-01-18T20:49:00.001-08:00

Published on Dark Horizons - General Feed | shared via feedly

Aussie actor Joel Edgerton ("Warrior," "The Thing") has sold the dramedy spec script "One Night Stand" to New Regency says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story is described as an honest look at a man and a woman in the aftermath of a one night stand. Edgerton is not attached to star but will executive produce. Regency will start meeting with directors in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, "No Country For Old Men" and "The Road" author Cormac McCarthy has sold his first spec screenplay "The Counselor" to producers Nick Wechsler, Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz reports Deadline.

The story follows a respected lawyer who thinks he can dip a toe into the drug business without getting pulled in, a decision he tries his best to survive. The group are now looking for a filmmaker as they talk to financiers.

Must Watch: Kick Ass Official 'I Am Bruce Lee' Documentary Trailer

2012-01-18T10:35:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

"Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water." There can never be enough Bruce Lee, in movies especially. And now someone has made an entire documentary about his legacy and his spirit. It's titled simply, I Am Bruce Lee, directed by Pete McCormack, and features a whole hell of a lot of celebrities, including Mickey Rourke, Ed O'Neill, Manny Pacquiao, Black Eyed Peas' Taboo, Haywire's Gina Carano and yes, even Kobe Bryant himself pops up in here. This looks like a kick ass doc for a martial arts legend, just exploring who he was and why he was such a legend, but we already know the reasons anyway. Check it out!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

This Week in Film: A Dangerous Method, Pariah, The Iron Lady, La Boheme, Print Generation, Jack Chambers shorts, and what's new on DVD and Blu-Ray

2012-01-15T05:52:00.001-08:00

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This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, as well as key DVD / Blu-Ray releases, festivals, and other cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

IN THEATRES

A Dangerous Method (Varsity, Scotiabank)

For those who were unable to snag a ticket to the Canada's Top 10 screening of Cronenberg's latest, it will be of some comfort to learn that it will be opening the very next day in general release. How well the film will sit with audiences, or even the Canadian master's fanbase, is another story. Taking a backseat are his signature motifs of body horror and camp aesthetics; this is a heady film driven by dialogue and subtle character developments, and it seems to be intentionally (fittingly) repressing itself. Those primarily drawn to the sexual wing of Cronenberg's oeuvre will have much to chew on, even if that is all there is to chew on, and in the most cerebral manner imaginable. It's a film to see several times, and I'm leaning toward the possibility that, in the end, it's worth that extra effort.

Pariah (AMC Yonge & Dundas)

An urban companion piece to Céline Sciamma's Tomboy, which opened last month at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, this Brooklyn-set coming-of-ager from director Dee Rees is, for my money, the more poetic and affecting film. Like Sciamma's film, it's a straightforward telling of a girl trying to balance her non-hetero desires with living a 'normal' life in the eyes of her parents. Adepero Oduye is brilliant as Alike, giving the film its sturdy emotional center. It was a hit in Sundance last year, and has the ability to be a sleeper hit in the cinemas, too.

The Iron Lady (Varsity, AMC Yonge & Dundas)

A biopic on Margaret Thatcher. It looks like this year's The Queen, only a little more unnecessary. I'm sure Meryl Streep will be riveting, give a great impersonation, etc., but this has the veneer of a by-numbers Oscar grab for an actress who really doesn't need to do that any more. Either way, it appears to be working; last I heard she was the Best Actress favourite. Wake the world up when she goes for something like Adaptation again.

Also Opening This Week:

Contraband (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)
Joyful Noise (Carlton, Scotiabank)
Nanban (AMC Yonge & Dundas)
Red Light Revolution (Carlton)
The Swell Season (The Royal)

IN REP CINEMA

For recommendations on what to catch at Toronto's rep cinema's this week, check out This Week in Rep Cinema.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Silent Sundays: La Bohème - Sunday, January 15 at 4PM
One of Toronto's best recurring series - albeit all too infrequent these days - is Revue Cinema's Silent Sundays, and this week they offer up another rarely-screened gem. King Vidor, whose awesome name I still cannot believe is real, translates Giacomo Puccini's opera to the screen for the first time. Starring two of the silent era's biggest stars (John Gilbert and LIllian Gish), this was a bona fide hit back in 1926, and yet it isn't even available anywhere on DVD. Really any silent film is a must-see, but this one should be especially high up on any cinephiles essential lists. Will feature live piano accompaniment by the acclaimed William O'Meara.

Early Monthly Segments: Print Generation - Monday, January 16 at 6PM
This month's edition to the popular avant-garde series is a special release party for the PUBLIC issue #44, which is dedicated to discussions and talks with took place during the 2010 Experimental Media Congress held in Toronto. If the release of the journal weren't enough, there'll also be a screening of J.J. Murphy's sublime 1974 film Print Generation. The 50-minute film traces the degradation and regeneration of home movie images, set against a sonic backdrop of ocean waves that inverts the deterioration process seen in the images. The event begins at 6PM at the Gladstone Art Bar, but the screening will start at 6:30 sharp, so don't be late. $5 suggested donations are accepted at the doors.

Short Films by Jack Chambers - Wednesday, January 18 at 7PM
If you were intrigued by Early Monthly Segments' screening of The Hart of London last month, here's an opportunity to see the rest of his filmic output (Note - if you missed the aforementioned screening, it will also be screening at the AGO the following week). Chambers' concerns with nature and its parallel life cycles are on full display in all four of these short-to-medium-length films. This screening will be attended by legendary filmmaker, professor, and writer R. Bruce Elder, who will introduce and discuss the films throughout the evening. This screening, which takes place at the AGO's Jackman Hall, is free to the public; entrance is granted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

DVD

Abduction (BLU-RAY)
Belle de Jour (BLU-RAY)
Caterpillar (DVD)
Dead Poets Society (BLU-RAY)
Dirty Girl (BLU-RAY)
50/50 (BLU-RAY)
The Ides of March (BLU-RAY)
Mysteries of Lisbon (BLU-RAY)
The Sweet Hereafter (BLU-RAY)
Three Popular Films by Jean-Pierre Gorin (DVD)
Traffic (BLU-RAY)

Still from Pariah

Superhero Bits: The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Dark Knight Rises, Thor 2, Super Bowl

2012-01-12T06:08:00.001-08:00

Published on /Film | shared via feedly

How good does Robert Downey Jr. think Iron Man 3 could possibly be? Which superhero movies might have Super Bowl commercials and which might not? What’s the meaning of the Lazarus Pit in The Dark Knight Rises? Will Jaimie Alexander appear in Thor 2 or The Avengers? Who might perform the theme song for The Avengers and is there a warm way to dress your baby up as Batman or Robin? Read about all this and more in today’s Superhero Bits.

Theater standees for The Avengers are beginning to appear. LAgraphico designed them, Comic Book News posted ‘em.

Robert Downey Jr. spoke to Collider and hyped up Iron Man 3 even more:

I think that we have an opportunity with the third Iron Man to make the best of the three, and maybe one of the better superhero movies that’s ever been made. But I think we have to remember what made the first one good. It was very character-driven. It was very odd. It was kind of outrageous. And so I think we have to have the courage to trust that the audience is really kind of cool, and smart.

Brothers Brick (via Gizmodo) posted this homemade Lego TV that doubles as an awesome Superman memento. Head to those links to see it in video form.

Michael Fassbender spoke to Coming Soon about his X-Men First Class 2 expectations:

I have no choice. They contracted me for two options. I gotta get down with it. We’re at the ground level, but yeah I think there’s going to be another one.

Buzzfeed found these super cute Batman and Robin costumes for your baby that you can get right here (via Fashionably Geek).

The Sports Hero broke down The Dark Knight Rises trailer in detail and while you’ve likely read that before, his theory on how the “Lazarus Pit” plays into the movie is new and intriguing.

Continue Reading Superhero Bits >>

Due to the amount of graphics and images included in Superhero Bits, we have to split this post over TWO pages. Click the link above to continue to the second page of Superhero Bits.

"Hansel" Delayed Again Until January

2012-01-11T06:37:00.001-08:00

Published on Dark Horizons - General Feed | shared via feedly

Paramount and MGM have pushed back the release of the Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton action fantasy tale "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" by almost a year from its original date says The Hollywood Reporter.

'Hansel' was originally slated for March 2nd this year. The other week came reports that it had been pushed back to a late Summer/early Fall date. Now however an official date has been set by the studio - January 11th 2013.

The reasons for the delay primarily seems to be due to Renner's exposure in "The Avengers" and "The Bourne Legacy" to help push up his profile.

The report also claims the 3D materials are only now coming in so the studio needs time to prep and market them. (Update: One of the artists on the film claims "the 3D materials are practically done and have been worked diligently on and "coming in" since last summer")

Finally the studio has had enough success for the fiscal quarter with "Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol" and "The Devil Inside", another hit isn't needed in the period. Plus the $34.5 million opening of 'Devil' showed that January can be a great time to launch films.

The studio has also pushed back the long-delayed Eddie Murphy comedy "A Thousand Words" yet again, this time by only a month though - it'll now open April 20th.

Robert Downey On "Iron Man 3"

2012-01-11T06:36:00.001-08:00

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Robert Downey Jr. turned up at the Brazilian premiere of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" this week and told Omelete of his high hopes for the upcoming third "Iron Man" film.

“I think that we have an opportunity with the third Iron Man to make the best of the three, and maybe one of the better superhero movies that’s ever been made. But I think we have to remember what made the first one good. It was very character-driven. It was very odd. It was kind of outrageous. And so I think we have to have the courage to trust that the audience is really kind of cool, and smart” he says.

He was also asked about reports that he's been linked to play Gepetto in a take on "Pinocchio" that Tim Burton is developing for Disney. Downey replied “I want to talk to him about it, yeah! C’mon, it’s Tim Burton.”

Official US Trailer for 'The Front Line' - South Korea's Oscar Entry

2012-01-11T06:23:00.003-08:00

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"This is a story about three million soldiers who fought in the war, not remembering the reason anymore, and died wishing for the end of it." Well Go USA Entertainment has debuted the official US trailer via Apple for Hun Jang's South Korean war action film The Front Line, about the Korean War and the many soldiers who fought in it. This looks quite spectacular and riveting, I'm impressed. A fairly easy comparison to make, but it seems like another South Korean Saving Private Ryan, this time telling the story of their own tragic and deadly civil war. The production in this looks quite stunning, I definitely want to catch it. Watch below!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

Watch: Trailer for Tobe Hooper's 'Politically Subversive' Horror 'Djinn'

2012-01-11T06:23:00.001-08:00

Published on FirstShowing.net Movie Trailers | shared via feedly

I'm not looking to kick up any political dust here, but this is quite an intriguing trailer. Horror master Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist) shot a film in the United Arab Emirates last year called Djinn, about a couple who return from a trip to the US to discover that their apartment is haunted by a malevolent being. There were recent reports that distributor Imagenation Abu Dhabi was going to shelf the film for being "politically subversive", but new reports say it's still on track to be released this year. Italian site MovieSushi (via STYD) found the first long promo trailer, and it's honestly rather boring. Take a look!

Watch Now on FirstShowing.net

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&quot;Hansel&quot; Delayed Again Until January

Robert Downey On &quot;Iron Man 3&quot;

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