The MovieBuff

The Science Behind Superheroes

2012-10-30T10:47:00.003+08:00

The 10 scariest makeup effects in horror history

2012-10-29T09:30:00.002+08:00

Horror films are all about their ability to frighten us from the safety of our warm, locked homes. But without the makeup departments on set, none of these things would be possible. Here’s a quick run-down of 10 great horror makeup moments. But beware, there are some shocking spoilers. (Click on the title to see the screenshot.)

10 – High Tension (2003)
2003’s High Tension brought plenty of choice horror moments, but few were finer than the moment Mère’s throat is slit wide open, sending blood shooting in every which way direction.

9 – Hellraiser
The now classic 1987 horror flick was home to plenty of very choice moments of practical effects, but nothing chills me more than Uncle Franks summoning of fish hooks to rip the skin from his face. A truly killer scene.

8 – Maniac (1980)
Tom Savini took the special makeup credit on this one, as well as the credit for the victim in one of the films most famous scenes, in which the unfortunate boyfriend of a soon to be victim of Zito is blasted directly in the face, blowing it in almost every direction.

7 – Day of the Dead (1985)
Another Tom Savini credit, another awesome moment as the cowardly Rhodes is incapacitated by Zombie turned Smart-Zombie Bub, only to be ripped apart by a room full of flesh hungry zombies in this George Romero classic.

6 – Scanners (1981)
What kind of makeup moment list would be complete without a nod towards David Cronenberg’s very excellent 1981 flick Scanners? A poor one, that’s what. Even still, Chris Walas’ and Tom Shwartz work on the exploding head scene is the thing of legend.

5 – Alien (1979)
A film so great, it’s not only one of the best horror films, but also sci-fi and action films as well. The chest-bursting scene is now so famous it’s hard to imagine the flick without it, but Pat Hay’s work here is superb. Famously, the actors (other than Hurt) were unaware as to what was about to happen, so the terrified screams audible in the film are genuine.

4 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a great film, but even more impressive is Dorothy Pearl’s makeup work on Leatherface, it’s incredibly unsettling.

3 - Dead Alive (1992)
Peter Jackson before he became widely known for The Lord of the Rings movies was something a horror nut, with gruesome comedies like Bad Taste and yes, the incredible Dead Alive. Our pick is the infamous lawnmower scene, a bloody, gory free for all of the best sort. Great work, Marjory Hamlin

2 - The Elephant Man (1980)
Whilst it might not strictly be a horror movie, John Hurt’s makeup in The Elephant man is just incredible to pass up mentioning, for simply being incredibly grotesque and yet completely believable. Bravo.

1 - An American Werewolf in London (1981)
31 years ago, special effects weren’t what they were now. Indeed, we look back on most effects from the time and laugh at just how hokey they are in comparison to modern films. Not so with An American Werewolf in London’s transformation scene, which is still horrifying to behold even to this day. A true horror moment classic, and a deserved #1.

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Ninja Turtles Erupt From The Sewers On To London's Southbank

2012-10-03T15:16:00.003+08:00

To launch the all-new series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, artists have created the incredible illusion of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo climbing out of the sewer on to the pavement of London's Southbank. Fans of the franchise posed with the artwork, helping Leonardo escape on to the iconic London backdrop. The fantastic 3D effect is created through to the power of ‘anamorphic art’ – 2D images that look 3D when painted on a surface.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will have their UK premiere in a one hour special television event on Monday 1st October at 5pm only on Nickelodeon. The all-star cast includes Jason Biggs (American Pie) as Leonardo, Rob Paulsen (Planet Sheen) as Donatello, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) as Raphael and Greg Cipes (Teen Titans) as Michelangelo.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2012-08-31T09:46:00.002+08:00

With the Lord of the Rings being the sixth-highest grossing franchise ever, expectations are high ahead of the 14th December release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Peter Jackson made a household name for himself directing, producing and co-writing the Lord of the Rings series and now he has returned to the story releasing the prequel, The Hobbit later this year. Martin Freeman has also made a return to the big screen playing Bilbo Baggins, after the success of the TV series, Sherlock. The Hobbit will be his first film appearance since offering his voice in last year’s animation, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists.

Joining Freeman in the stellar cast of the first instalment is Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Andy Serkis, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen and many others. Also making an appearance in the film is Freeman’s Sherlock co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch who is not playing one character, but two – The Necromancer (Sauron) and Smaug the dragon.

In a recent interview Cumberbatch fuelled further hype concerning the film’s release, telling MTV that ‘it’s going to be an amazing film’. “I was very lucky [to work] with Pete. As far as the experience, what an extraordinary one it was because at the time I was in my work; I was in isolation with him and this incredible tag team. And at the very cool place with that technology doing mo-cap for two characters, Smaug the dragon and another character, which will remain nameless, and it was an awful lot of fun.

“It’s a sort of wonderful ongoing process. I spent a lot of time recording voice as well as doing movements. So, it was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game. It’s going to be an amazing film; it’s going to be a real treat. I watched ‘The Lord of the Rings’ again before I started working, and the way those films grow in depth of craft on every level are extraordinary. Their mark is for that.”

Peter Jackson has decided to split the JRR Tolkien masterpiece into three parts with the last instalment set to be released in 2014. The first chapter of the trilogy entitled An Unexpected Journey will see the curious and lovable Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins venture to the Lonely Mountain, leaving Bag End behind for the first time. Armed with thirteen Dwarves Baggins sets out to reclaim treasure that was stolen by Smaug the dragon. Combating trolls, engaging with Elves and fighting alongside Gandalf is all part of his adventure, but it isn’t until he discovers a mysterious gold ring when the story beings to unfold.

The Hobbit is expected to be just a successful if not more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy as Peter Jackson has once again won over many critics with his re-imagined Middle Earth. Going by the trailer and the hype that it has created audiences should be pleased with Jackson’s portrayal of this classic story.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been written by AFD one of the UK’s busiest fancy dress retailers who offer customers with a large range of costumes.

A Tribute to Tony Scott

2012-08-21T09:01:00.001+08:00

As we mourn the passing of Tony Scott, I thought you might like to enjoy Tony being directed by his older brother Ridley in Boy And Bicycle, one of Ridley Scott’s first films.

Tony Scott (left) with brother Ridley

In this atmospheric film Tony stars as a schoolboy playing truant for the day in Hartlepool.

His bike trip takes him from the beach, to a funfair and to a deserted shack, as we listen to his random thoughts (everything from fish shops to women’s hairy legs).

Boy and Bicycle is truly a family affair, as Scott’s father drove the car used for the many tracking shots, while both of his parents make cameo appearances.

Made on an old 16mm spring-wound Bolex camera in 1962, the BFI provided Scott with post-production funding, and the film was finished with a score by John Barry.

You can watch Boy And Bicycle on The Space here.

New study: Boost your movie experience with FOOD

2012-07-19T09:46:00.000+08:00

Movie fans might think that eye-popping 3D screens and crystal clear surround sound are all that are needed for a movie night in. However, while sight and sound are important, stimulating other senses makes watching a film even better. Findings out today from blinkbox, the UK’s leading online movie service, reveal that even what is on the end of your fork can influence your mood, enhancing the movie experience.

Shockingly, findings reveal that action fans should swap their popcorn for sun-dried tomatoes and that couples should eat a curry during a cosy night in with a touching romance. Further findings show that chilli can keep movie watchers focused during an intense drama, and coleslaw can give even more laughs during an off-the-wall comedy.

To promote its new ‘Movie & a Meal’ offer with supermarket Tesco, blinkbox has partnered with a top neuroscientist, Dr. Jack Lewis, to discover which foods will help film fans get the most from the on-screen action.

Jack Lewis (Ph.D.), looked for clues as to the foods that influence our moods. Using this knowledge, Dr. Jack Lewis identified the active chemical ingredients found in everyday foods that affect our brains and emotions, and that then deliver the best movie experience depending on what the viewer is watching. His findings gave blinkbox the perfect, if unusual, combinations for the ultimate movie night in:

Romance – Curl up with a spicy curry to top up your libido-stoking testosterone levels
Action – Sun-dried tomatoes coated in cocoa powder will raise noradrenaline which is instrumental to sensations of excitement
Comedy – Fresh fish stuffed with beetroot and coleslaw to supplement the nitric oxide system and improve dopamine availability in the pleasure pathways of your brain
Drama – Chopped lemon, lime and mint sandwich drizzled with chilli sauce on whole wheat bread to trigger the RAS (reticular activating system) to remain alert and focused.
Horror – Chicken marinated in freshly brewed coffee will take you out of your comfort zone and raise levels of anxiety

“Everyone knows that certain drugs can change the way you feel, but the chemicals we take into our bodies through our diet can also have an effect on our mood,” says Dr. Jack Lewis “Choosing to eat certain foods, whilst leaving others out, regulates the availability of ‘raw materials’ that the brain’s chemical messengers are created from. This means that you can tailor your meals to create the perfect mood for a movie night in, no matter what the genre.”

The Findings in Full

Romance

A spicy curry might not seem like the most romantic meal, but it turns out that the main ingredients such as cream, coriander and soya beans can help boost testosterone, an important sexual arousal hormone for both men and women.

Dr. Jack Lewis says:
“In order to get that “lovin’ feeling”, testosterone production requires a reasonable amount of fat in the diet together with zinc and magnesium. These form vital components of the enzymes that convert cholesterol into testosterone. Testosterone acts inside cells throughout the body and brain, strengthening muscles and stimulating brain areas involved in sexual arousal. So by dining on a meal rich in “good” cholesterol, zinc and magnesium, testosterone production can be maximised.”

Action

Adrenaline junkies that want to up the ante during an action film should put down the popcorn and pick up some sundried tomatoes. The study identified that the dried tomatoes, as well as ingredients such as cocoa powder and dried basil, contain trace levels of copper which is required to convert dopamine into noradrenaline. Additionally, l-phenylalanine is the raw material from which excitement-generating noradrenaline is made from and is found in foods such as fish, beef and aspartame (found in most sugar free beverages).

Dr. Jack Lewis says:
“Noradrenaline is vitally involved in the famous “fight-or-flight response. For instance, it’s noradrenaline that sets your heart racing when a sudden, unexpected twist occurs in the plot line of a movie such as a car chase, accident or fight.”

Comedy

To get the most laughs while watching a comedy, the research reveals that you need to focus on foods that boost dopamine and nitric oxide release to enhance happiness.

Dr. Jack Lewis says:
“Laughter causes a gas called nitric oxide (NO) to be released in the blood vessels of your body and brain which makes your body tingle so you feel the amusement more intensely. Nitrous oxide – more commonly known as laughing gas – is a closely related chemical. So to keep the laughs coming fast and thick, make sure you’re eating foods rich in nitrates such as beetroot, coleslaw and celery.”

“Additionally, dopamine is a major neurotransmitter used in brain networks responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness. To increase the availability of dopamine in the pleasure pathways of the brain you should be eating foods rich in l-phenylalanine like fish, beef, chicken, pork or even soy meat substitute.”

Drama

When getting ready to delve into a gripping drama, it’s important to be able to focus. Ingredients such as whole wheat bread and strong smelling foods like chilli, citrus fruits and mint can all help keep you engaged through all of the plot twists and emotional ups and downs.

Dr. Jack Lewis says:
“Eating a meal consisting of slow-release carbohydrates, such as whole grains and vegetables, will provide the brain with the consistent and gradual release of energy that is necessary for holding your attention for a long period of time.”

Additionally, the reticular activating system (RAS) is a part of the brainstem that responds to powerful stimuli and influences the overall level of activity across the brain. Consuming very pungent flavours will trigger the RAS to increase your focus.”

Horror

If you’re a horror fiend, the study has uncovered that you should be focusing on high protein meals like chicken and salmon, while avoiding carbs which we all find so comforting and decrease your scare - ability!

Dr. Jack Lewis says:
“To get your brain out of its “comfort zone” stay away from carb heavy meals that boost feelings of security. Instead, go for a meal that’s high in protein only, which has been observed to increase feelings of anxiety – perfect for getting in the mood for your favourite horror flick! Keeping carbs low all day ensures that the mood-stabilising chemical serotonin is low by the evening to maximise the horror.”

Great Summer Action Movies throughout History

2012-04-30T07:53:00.000+08:00

Besides baseball, there's no better summer entertainment than the action movie. Walking away from explosions, cheesy one-liners, femme fatales, and spies with an apparent history as an X Games competitor – These are just some of the reasons why we love the summer action movie. So, throughout history, which action movies are best? The following is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but it should be able to get the conversation started.

“Independence Day” – "All right, you alien assholes! In the words of my generation: Up yours!" So said Russell, the burnout conspiracist crop duster who went through life ridiculed because no one believed he was abducted by aliens in the past. As a fighter pilot in a summer action movie about to do something really cool, he, of course, has to take off the oxygen mask before flying his plane into the alien mother ship's "big laser weapon."
“Back to the Future” – "1.21 Jiggawatts!" No, Doctor, plutonium is not available in every corner drugstore in 1985, so you and Marty would have still had to resort to the lightning bolt that was going to strike the clock tower at 10:04 next Saturday night. Flux capacitor for the win. Go to GuidetoOnlineSchools.com so you can learn the necessary science should you be trapped in the past.
“Jaws” – "You're gonna need a bigger boat." And you will need to stay away from any body of water larger than 16 ounces after watching this summer classic. Now, the shark looks fake, the injuries look fake, but when you are 8 years old, living in South Florida, and watching this on TV one summer Thursday afternoon, it’s bad news for future swimming endeavors.
“Jurassic Park” – "Clever girl." This is the most successful movie that features grunts, screams and roars more than coherent language, but still, if you think cool summer action movies, this is one of the best there ever was. Dinosaurs and Jeff Goldblum still carrying the torch for super-smart, Jewish underachievers saving the day with a sort of awkward and soft-spoken, er, charm (see “Independence Day” above as well).
“Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” "Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrggh!" Well, the more memorable quote is when Darth Vader tells Luke that he is Luke's father, but that doesn’t occur until the sequel, “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.” However, Chewbacca the Wookiee's wail is way cooler, and everyone has tested out their Wookiee skills in private. In 1977, this movie was light years ahead of its time, and should always be included in any list of best movies, let alone best summer action movies.
“Die Hard” "Now I have a machine gun. Ho-Ho-Ho." Thankfully, Bruce Willis was put on the map by this Christmas classic (although it was in theaters July 1988). It is my second favorite Christmas movie (“Jingle All the Way” is clearly the best Christmas movie of all time), has amazing one-liners and also has explosions that are walked away from. This makes it a great summer action movie. Plus, the protagonist is a hard-hitting cop and there's no goofy forensic science montages, that real forensic scientists find so unrealistic.

Sources

IMDb (2012)
Discovery (2012)

The Top 200 Greatest Movie Performances Of All Time

2012-03-19T21:18:00.000+08:00

Total Film recently unveiled its definitive list of The 200 Greatest Movie Performances Of All Time, crowning Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest the greatest ever.

Jack Nicholson’s charismatic performance – which portrayed every inch of the rebel hero – still captivates audiences today and beat off stiff competition from the likes of Robert De Niro’s inspirational impersonation of Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (2nd place), and Al Pacino’s iconic role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Part II (4th place).

Total Film Deputy Editor, Jamie Graham says "Few actors are as magnetic as Jack Nicholson, and R.P. McMurphy is his definitive performance. Perfectly capturing the anti-hero, anti-establishment spirit of the time, he combines danger, charisma, courage, anguish and humour, while the wild-haired, wild-eyed lunacy that would consume some of his later performances is here deployed sparingly and strategically. This is Nicholson the man and Nicholson the beginning of the myth."

Emily Watson also breaks into top 5 with her spellbinding performance as Bess in Breaking The Waves. Although not an obvious classic, the completely unknown actress was a revelation in this intensely demanding role causing some critics to wonder whether Watson was really acting or perhaps just wasn’t quite right in the head.

The top 10 Greatest Movie Performances Of All Time are:

Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest)
Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Al Pacino (The Godfather, Part II)
Emily Watson (Breaking The Waves)
Marlon Brandon (On The Waterfront)
Denzel Washington (Malcolm X)
Jane Fonda (Klute)
Paul Newman (The Hustler)
Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List)

The full list is available here.

The "Planet Of The Apes" Chronology

2011-08-10T21:50:00.007+08:00

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" opened last weekend in North America and went straight to the top spot earning $54mil at the box office.

For those too young to remember, this is actually a prequesl to the 1968 movie "Planet of the Apes", which was subsequently followed by a few more sequels.

Ape (2011)

Ape (1968)

*** Spoilers ahead ***

Planet of the Apes (1968)
A group of astronauts crash into a planet in the distant future. The group, led by Taylor, discovers that in this planet apes are the superior beings, and humans are the lowest of living things. Taylor manages to escape his captors and eventually finds himself in an area known as the Forbidden Zone, where he made a shocking discovery...the planet was actually Earth the whole time, and that the Forbidden Zone was once New York City.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
A second space crew is sent on a reconnaissance mission to track down Taylor. Astronaut Brent crash lands on the Planet of the Apes, just like Taylor did in the original film. Underneath the Forbidden Zone, Brent discovers a group of telepaths who worship a nuclear bomb. As the apes close in to conquer the zone, Taylor detonates the bomb and Earth blows up.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Before Earth was blown up in the second movie, the apes Cornelius, Zira and Dr. Milo manage to escape via Taylor's spaceship. They travel back in time and arrive on Earth in the year 1973. After a series of interrogations, Zira and Cornelius accidentally reveal the eventual demise of the human race. The President orders Zira and Cornelius to be sterilized and Caesar, their baby, to be killed. Before dying in a shoot-out, the two ape parents switch babies with another ape, ensuring the baby's survival. The baby is named Milo, but is later to be called Caesar in the next movie.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
It is the year 1983. Dogs and cats have been wiped out by a plague and now apes are household pets that are treated like slaves. After the death of his foster father, Caesar loses all faith in mankind and begins secretly gathering other apes to rally against human oppression.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
After conquering the oppressive humans in the previous installment, Caesar must now keep the peace among the humans and apes. Gorilla General Aldo views things differently, and tries to cause an ape civil war. In the meantime, other human survivors learn of the ape city, and decide they want to take back civilization for themselves, thus setting the stage of warring ape factions and humans.

Planet of the Apes (2001)
A poor remake of the original movie directed by Tim Burton.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
This is supposed to be an origins story that offers an explanation of how the apes developed their superior intelligence in the first place. The film's star is the chimp Caesar, whose advanced brainpower is the result of the testing of Alzheimer's drugs. Once Caesar grasps the gravity of his intellect — and the human cruelty that has alienated him — he revolts, but not before taking a few chimps with him.

The interesting thing about this movie is how it made some subtle references leading to the original movie. For example:

The TV reports on the news about the launching of the spaceship Icarus "lead by George Taylor", referencing the space mission in the original movie.
The newspaper headlines which states that the spaceship got lost in space.
When Caesar first shouted “No!” in the movie, it ties back ito "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" when it was explained that the ascent and revolt by the apes began when one ape first uttered the word “No” to protest the human treatment of his kind.
A logical explanation about how the virus got started and spread...and this eventually cause the destruction of mankind.
At the end of the movie, the pilot which carries the pilot boarded a flight to New York....which was where the original movie started.

*** Updates ***

If the opening weekend is any indication, a sequel to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is inevitable. Director Rupert Wyatt shared some of the ideas he has about continuing the story:

"There’s so much we could do… The ideas I’ve had are all sorts of things, ranging from Full Metal Jacket with apes… you could start this story again eight years from where we left off, the next generation of apes, those that have come from our protagonists, perhaps going in to a conflict with humans and showing real fear, in the same way as going into war for young soldiers in this day and age, telling their story. Or how apes are taking over cities, and being moved into human environments and having to interact with them and deal with things that are part of our culture and understand and evolve through them. Spies that are in the employ of the apes, working against humans and humans maybe existing underground, because that’s a way they can avoid the virus, coming up above ground wearing gas masks, and maybe that’s what dehumanises them.”

Introducing the dwarves of The Hobbit

2011-07-25T09:28:00.001+08:00

From left to right. Jed Brophy as Nori, Dean O’Gorman as Fili, Mark Hadlow as Dori, James Nesbitt as Bofur, Peter Hambleton as Gloin, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, Ken Stott as Balin, John Callen as Oin, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, William Kircher as Bifur, Adam Brown as Ori and Aidan Turner as Kili.

The Hobbit will be split into two movies. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arrives on December 14, 2012, with The Hobbit: There and Back Again the following year.

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan Exclusive

2011-07-20T13:21:00.000+08:00

Movie Fanatic recently spoke to Wayne Wang the director of "Snow Flower and The Secret Fan". If you remember, Wayne Wang is also the director of "The Joy Luck Club", another movie about Chinese women. In addition, they also spoke to the movie's star, Li Bingbing, as well as the author of the original book.

To view Movie Fanatic's insight about the movie, and the exclusive interviews, click the links below:

Exclusive Interview With Wayne Wang
Star Li Bingbing on What She Learned About Her Own Culture
Author Lisa See on Watching Her Novel Come To Life

Harry Potter London Premiere

2011-07-15T21:56:00.004+08:00

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson hit the red carpet at the world premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" on July 7 at Trafalgar Square in London, England.

Thousands of people at the premiere

Daniel Radcliffe @ Harry Potter

Emma Watson @ Hermione Granger

Rupert Grint @ Ron Weasley

JK Rowling, centre 2nd from left, joins Radcliffe, Watson and Grint

L to R: Grint, Watson and Radcliffe

Winnie The Pooh - Updating A Classic

2011-07-13T09:28:00.000+08:00

Movie Fanatic recently attended the press junket for Winnie the Pooh. While there, we spoke to the movie's directors, Don Hall and Stephen Anderson about the making the updated film, but staying true to the audiences expectations. They talk about the film and how they really brought the Pooh characters back to life with the same themes, but a completely different and new story line!

Below is the link to Movie Fanatic's Exclusive:

http://www.moviefanatic.com/2011/07/exclusive-winnie-the-pooh-directors-talk-updating-a-classic/

Harry Potter abridged

2011-07-11T12:19:00.001+08:00

As we all eagerly wait to watch the conclusion of Harry Potter, here's a quick recap of the first seven films to get you up to speed:

1. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
Just before his 11th birthday, a lonely orphan named Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard. Swept away from his miserable existence with cruel relatives, he is admitted into Hogwarts School of Witching and Wizardry.

There, he learns that he is special even among wizards, the only person to have ever survived an attack by Voldemort. Harry might have been a baby at the time, but Voldemort was defeated and Harry was left with nothing but a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

At school he makes two good friends, Ron and Hermione, a couple of enemies and learns that Voldemort is not as dead as was previously thought.

2. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Forced to spend his summer holidays with his muggle relatives, Harry gets a real shock when he gets a surprise visitor - Dobby the house-elf, who warns Harry against returning to Hogwarts. Harry decides to ignore Dobby's warning. At Hogwarts, strange and terrible things are indeed happening: Harry is suddenly hearing mysterious voices from inside the walls, muggle-born students are being attacked, and a message scrawled on the wall in blood puts everyone on their guard.

To solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry has to battle giant spiders, a violent tree and a gargantuan snake. Fortunately, our young bespectacled wizard has help in the form of ghosts, an enchanted car, a hat, a phoenix, and, of course, Ron and Hermione.

3. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
Hogwarts is under lockdown because a dangerous prisoner, Sirius Black, has escaped from the Azkaban prison and wants to kill Harry to avenge the Dark Lord. To worsen the conditions for Harry, vile shape-shifters called Dementors are appointed to guard the school gates and inexplicably happen to have the most horrible effect on him.

Harry, Hermione and Ron cross paths with a man who can turn into a large dog, a man who can turn into a rat and a man who turns into a werewolf. Hermione’s special secret to taking twice as many classes as is humanely possible becomes the solution to saving the day after it is too late.

4. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
It is Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts and there is to be an interschool competition. Hogwarts is hosting 'The Triwizard Tournament', a magical tournament between three well-known schools of magic - Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The contestants have to be above the age of 17, and are chosen by a magical object called the Goblet of Fire. On the night of selection, however, the Goblet spews out four names instead of the usual three, with Harry unwittingly being selected as the Fourth Champion.

It looks like Harry might win, until in the final challenge he comes face-to-face with Voldemort again, stronger than when Harry last beat him. Their confrontation results in the first death of a Hogwarts student.

5. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
The fight between good and evil is no longer between Harry and Voldemort. Though most witches and wizards are in denial about what is happening, Voldemort’s old followers know he is back and are eager to win back his favour. Dumbledore and the other wizards, known as the Order of the Phoenix, is also preparing to fight on the side of good.

Harry also meets his first love interest Cho Chang.

6. Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
Love is in the air as Harry and Hermione find they are each in love with a Weasley. Harry’s affection for Ron’s sister, Ginnie, is reciprocated, but Ron is as unaware of Hermione’s feelings for him as of his own for her. Dumbledore goes from being a kindly but removed presence in Harry’s life to an equal, asking the boy for help on his crusade to stop Voldemort.

They share a quest, their first and last, and the film ends with Dumbledore’s shocking assassination. Destroyed, Harry is determined not to return to Hogwarts the next year, but to continue the search for and destroy the bits of Voldemort’s soul the dark wizard has hidden throughout the world.

7. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Following Dumbledore's death, Voldemort completes his ascension to power and gains control of the Ministry of Magic. A reverse witch hunt is in full fledge to weed out members of the magical world who are not pure blood witches and wizards.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. A Horcrux is a very powerful object in which Voldermort has hidden a fragment of his or her soul for the purpose of attaining immortality.

The trio repeatedly encounter a strange symbol, that an eccentric wizard named Xenophilius Lovegood tells them represents the mythical Deathly Hallows. The Hallows are three sacred objects: the Resurrection Stone, with the power to summon the dead to the living world; the Elder Wand, an unbeatable wand; and an infallible Invisibility Cloak.

According to legend, he who possesses these three artefacts would become the Master of Death. Dumbledore told Harry that this means that the uniter of the Deathly Hallows would be invincible.

New Epic Alien Invasion Series from Steven Spielberg

2011-06-15T08:59:00.001+08:00

FALLING SKIES is the much-anticipated new drama series from DreamWorks Television, TNT Productions and executive producer Steven Spielberg, starring Noah Wyle. The series will premiere on June 19 in the United States on TNT Channel.

"The launch of FALLING SKIES promises to be a global television event," said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. "We're excited that people around the world will be able to experience this great new series."

FALLING SKIES opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few remaining survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force, whose nature and purpose remains a mystery.

This looks like a good series. Hopefully the series doesn't get cancelled after one season leaving an open ending.

Top 10 Travel Destinations for the Ultimate Movie Buff

2011-06-02T19:51:00.000+08:00

Have you ever seen a movie and wondered "Wouldn't it be great to visit that place?"

Well, one of my readers have written this post listing some far-flung movie locations that you might want to visit in your next vacation.

Click here to read the post.

Anybody else wants to add to the list?

The Unleashed

2011-05-25T10:01:00.001+08:00

"The Unleashed" is the latest horror movie from Dark House Films. The trailer looks quite promising. Dark House Films is a Toronto-based film production company. Not sure if they have produced any other movies, but as a horror moviebuff, I definitely want to see more from them.

Synopsis
Madison Kennard, a troubled woman dealing with her dark past, must venture home after an 8 year absence following her mother's death. Almost instantly after her return, Madison must cope with the haunting memories of a childhood best forgotten. Lindsay, a childhood friend of Madison's with an adventurous past, hears of Madison's arrival and has every intention of reconnecting a friendship once had. Bizarre and unexplainable events occur within the house after old friends come together and dabble with the infamous Ouija board. With the help of Andrew Porter, a renowned writer and expert on paranormal phenomena whom she met by chance, Madison soon discovers that there is more to the board than she realized and must uncover truths of her family's past to contain what had been unleashed.

The movie will be premiering at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto on June 25th 2011.

Kutcher replaces Sheen

2011-05-19T23:05:00.000+08:00

Take my word....Ashton Kutcher can never replace Charlie Sheen!

Kutcher has been confirmed to replace Sheen in the sitcom "Two and a Half Men" starting next season.

Ashton Kutcher with his co-stars Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones

While Charlie made a base salary of $1.25 million an episode, Ashton will be making between $800,000 and $900,000.

Anyway good luck to the show.....I think Kutcher sucks....and I'm not the only one who thinks so....check out this post.

Teen Wolf is back!

2011-05-18T09:32:00.001+08:00

Does anyone remember Michael J Fox's 1985 classic comedy "Teen Wolf"? The movie has now been remade into a TV series in the vein of other teen series like "The Vampire Diaries" and "True Blood"

Synopsis


Tyler Posey as Teen Wolf

Teen Wolf comes alive as a sexy thriller set against the drama of high school life with a forbidden, romantic love story at its core. Teen Wolf stars Tyler Posey (Maid in Manhattan, Brothers and Sisters), as the newly bitten werewolf, Scott McCall; Dylan O’Brien as his best friend Stiles, Crystal Reed as the mysterious new girl in town, Allison Argent; and Tyler Hoechlin (Road to Perdition, 7th Heaven) as the older and possibly quite dangerous werewolf, Derek Hale.

Always an outsider and often unnoticed, Scott McCall yearns to be recognized in some small way that takes him out of his typical state of high school anonymity.

When his best friend, Stiles (Dylan O’Brien), convinces him to go into the woods one night to join a police search for a dead body, Scott encounters a creature in the darkness. Narrowly escaping an attack with a vicious bite in his side, the next day brings strange surprises for Scott at school and his life will never be the same.

Acquiring superhuman, wolf-like reflexes, hearing and sight, he can now hear things he shouldn’t be able to hear, see with startling accuracy and move with incredible reflexes. Usually a bench warmer, Scott, with his newfound powers, becomes a first team player for the school lacrosse team.


The cast of Teen Wolf

While he sparks the interest of the most popular girl in school, Lydia Martin (Holland Roden, Lost), Scott falls instead for the mysterious new girl Allison Argent (Crystal Reed, Skyline). As the story unfolds, Scott has to suppress his wolfish instincts and urges, contend with other werewolves, as well as fight a family of hunters out to wipe out his kind, the leader of which is the father of his girlfriend.

Teen Wolf is directed by Russell Mulcahy (Razorback, Highlander, Resident Evil: Extinction) and is executive produced by Jeff Davis, creator of Criminal Minds.

TEEN WOLF will be shown FIRST and EXCLUSIVELY on AXN Beyond HD (Channel 720) Monday, July 18, 2011 @9:00pm. Simulcast with AXN (Channel 701)

The Magic of Musicals

2011-05-18T09:20:00.000+08:00

Are you a fan of Broadway and West-End musicals? Ever wished that you could have a compilation of all your favorite songs in one show? Well, your wish has come true.

Sunway Lagoon is proud to present "Magical Musicals", a tribute to musicals from the last 25 years. You will be mesmerised for with songs and dances from Moulin Rouge!, Mamma Mia!, Dreamgirls, Fame, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Footloose, We Will Rock You, West Side Story, Hairspray and even the latest television musical phenomenon, Glee.

The show will run from June 10 to July 17 with daily show time (except Tuesday) at 7pm and additional show at 9.30pm during the weekend. Ticket prices start from RM100 to RM300. Ticket prices exclude RM3 processing fee.

My favorite box-sets on DVD

2011-03-28T07:58:00.000+08:00

Today I would like to share with you my Top Ten favourite DVD box-sets.

1) Star Wars: The Complete Saga
No fanboy's collection is complete without this box-set. My favorite sci-fi action adventure movie series of all time is not available as in one collectible set.....six movies of the Star Wars saga (Episodes I-VI) together for the first time. There are a number of bonus features as well, most importantly never-been-released deleted scenes from the Original Trilogy for the die-hard fans like me.

2) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Extended Edition)
The greatest trilogy in film history is now available in one set together with over two hours of never-before-seen footage.

3) Alien Quadilogy
The original Alien, made in 1979 by Ridley Scott, was a brilliant hybrid of horror and science fiction, built upon a solid foundation of character development and a realistically imagined future. Now all four movies are available in one package.

4) Rome (Seasons 1-2)
One of HBO's best series is Rome, a violent, brutal portrayal of a turbulent era that saw the death of a republic and the birth of an empire. Unfortunately the series only lasted 2 season. Now both seasons are available on DVD.

5) Back To The Future (The Complete Trilogy)
Robert Zemeckis's classic comedy which launched Michael J Fox's movie career. It's been a long time since I watched the movies and it bring back a lot of memories. It looks a bit outdated though but still funny after all these year.

6) Lost (Complete Collection Seasons 1-6)
Finally I can watch the complete series without trying to remember what happened in the last season. One of the most unique series ever to grace out TV screens, Lost still holds plenty of mysteries and surprises the second time around.

7) Seinfeld (Complete Seasons 1-9)
No show captured the eccentricities of New York like the Larry David-created sitcom Seinfeld. Self-obsessed comedian Jerry Seinfeld is joined in the cast by his neurotic ex-girlfriend, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus); his chronically lazy pal, George (Jason Alexander); and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards).

8) The Exorcist (The Complete Anthology)
Although the sequels did not create as much headlines as the first movie, this is still a very creepy series in my books. Watch it with the lights on! This collection includes The Exorcist, The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Exorcist III, Exorcist: The Beginning and Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist.

9) Roots (30th Anniversary Edition)
Finally the 1977 TV mini-series is on DVD. Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel about his African ancestors, Roots followed several generations in the lives of a slave family. The saga began with Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The family's saga is depicted up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte's grandson gained emancipation.

10) The Twilight Zone (The Complete Definitive Collection)
For the first time ever, find all 156 complete episodes of Rod Serling's groundbreaking series in one DVD box set, packed in 28 discs. Travel to another dimension of sight and sound again and again through these stellar remastered high-definition film transfers.

Jennifer Aniston Sex Tape

2011-03-24T10:31:00.000+08:00

RIP: Elizabeth Taylor

2011-03-24T10:28:00.000+08:00

Elizabeth Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011)

We will miss you!

Bono's glasses

2011-03-18T09:50:00.000+08:00

"Killing Bono" is a new Indie comedy about two brothers who attempt to become global rock stars but can only look on as their old school friends U2 become the biggest band in the world.

This nifty poster for the movie celebrates Bono’s glasses through the years.

Happy St Patrick's Day!!

New Warner Bros Theme Park in London

2011-03-09T10:51:00.000+08:00

Warner Bros. has just unveiled their plans for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter! Go behind-the-scenes of all eight Harry Potter films to see authentic sets, costumes, animatronics, props and effects used within the productions! Experience what went into bringing this beloved film series to life. Tickets go on sale later this year!

Visit the official website here: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk