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SXSW: Kick-Ass Early Reviews

Krystal Clark — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:26:06 +0000

It’s here. The 2010 SXSW Film Festival has finally begun and it’s opened with a bang. Last night marked the world premiere of Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass, the R-rated comic book movie that went from being the little engine that could to the talk of the town. The film centers on a group of unlikely heroes led by an awkward teenager who dresses up, fights crime, and takes down the bad guys. They can’t fly, they can’t see through walls, and they’re not invisible, but one thing is for sure…they can kick your ass.

Check out some early reactions to the very first screening of the film…

The Premise:

The premise of this movie, and comic on which it’s based, is a frighteningly simple one: what if someone really tried to be a superhero? What would the consequences be? The answer, over a frenetic running time of approximately two hours, is that it’s a horribly dangerous path that will probably get you killed in relatively short order. If that seems a somewhat thin platform, then let me assure you Kick-Ass takes that and every other comic book convention and plants them firmly wrong-side up. And I don’t mean in a moronic Meet The Spartans type way. The referential humor and genre twisting in this are clever and mature, and, for the most part, not remotely infantile. [Den of Geek]

The Performances:

Johnson, true to his character, lets himself be upstaged by his costars — especially Moretz, who with Kick-Ass has gone from voicing Winnie the Pooh cartoons to slicing up drug dealers with a samurai bloodlust Quentin Tarantino would appreciate. Though the movie initially wants to stay rooted in the real world, it stops trying when her “Hit Girl” is onscreen — the tween character is straight out of The Matrix, and it’s only Moretz’s likeably ludicrous tough-girl act that holds things together. (As her dad, Nic Cage bolsters his portfolio of quirky performances and might make viewers wish he had been allowed to play Superman for Tim Burton way back when.) [THR]
Also surprisingly good in Kick-Ass is Mark Strong. I say surprisingly because although I know he has his fans I have yet to see him anything where he has impressed me; I was particularly underwhelmed by his performance in Sherlock Holmes. In Kick-Ass Strong plays Chris’ father and crime boss Frank and he is pretty funny in the role and plays the exaggerated cartoon crime boss bad guy with great panache.[Hey U Guys]

The Action:

The action sequences are brutal yet balletic, and wonderfully underpinned with the oddest assortment of soundtrack choices I’ve ever heard. I can only salute a man who’s prepared to put wholesale slaughter to the theme from The Banana Splits. Vaughn is up for that, and also adds in many other wonderful signature moments. [Den of Geek]

The Direction:

Matthew Vaughn is an assured director; takes his time, gets things right. Despite the OTT brawling, he disciplines himself in terms of dialogue, shots, sound and production design in a way that guvnor Quentin Tarantino, for all his filmmaking genius, simply does not. Kick-Ass is loud and ludicrous, but not in your face. [Clothes on Film]

Overall:

Even having seen only the Comic-Con footage from last summer and largely skipped the interstitial clips and promotional materials, I hoped I hadn’t seen everything it had to offer, but was disappointed to discover there was little more to explore in the finished film. Once the novelty wears off of watching a 12-year-old girl impale adversaries while calling them “*ssholes” or worse, there’s nothing deeper or more meaningful within Vaughn’s vision to sustain subsequent viewings. The closest analogy I can think of with Kick-Ass is that it’s a visceral (as opposed to logical) companion piece to a film like Memento or The Usual Suspects, where the style and energy is spectacular and striking the first go ’round, but it’s not only the concept, the “hook,” but the execution, and finally, the cumulative effect that prompts you to return to the material again and mine what deeper intricacies may exist. [Cinematical]
Kick-Ass is going to put a giant boot in the face of that mentality. It is a pitch-perfect send-up of everything that is characteristic of superhero films. It is versed enough to cite convention, but clever enough to find the humor in the genre’s absurdity. And the biggest advantage Kick-Ass has in the parody department is that it is unrelentingly entertaining. It seems that in the last few years, terrible parodies have made undeserved fortunes at the box office while better-crafted entries have gone largely unseen. Kick-Ass, on the other hand, has all the necessary components to clean up at the box office and be well deserving of its success. [Hollywood.com]

Did you attend the SXSW screening of Kick-Ass? What were your thoughts on the film? Are you surprised by some of the reactions?

Robert Zemeckis’ ImageMovers Studio Closes

Krystal Clark — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:36:31 +0000

Director Robert Zemeckis‘ digital studio ImageMovers will be closing the doors to its Northern California facility. According to THR, The Disney-based studio run by Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey will shut down its Marin County based location causing hundred’s of employees to lose their jobs.

ImageMovers announced today that after the director wraps production on the film Mars Needs Moms, the company will be shut down in its entirety by January 2011. Even though this sounds like the end of an era for the director and his business partners he still has several motion capture projects on the horizon including the remake of The Yellow Submarine. With that in mind, Disney is hoping to ink another long term deal with the trio that will include the Beatles-inspired project.

When ImageMovers was at its peak it employed 450 people and currently occupies two converted aircraft hangars on 120,000 square feet on a former Air Force base. Disney released an official statement regarding their decision to part with the studio citing the unstable economy as the main reason behind the closure.

“Bob and the entire IMD team successfully built a state-of-the-art studio and produced an amazing film, ‘A Christmas Carol,’ at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing,” Disney Studios president Alan Bergman said in a statement. “But, given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences, and IMD no longer fits into our business model.”

ImageMovers signed a deal with Disney back in 2007 and the partnership only managed to produce A Christmas Carol, which grossed 137 million domestically. In their eyes, the film was an expensive investment that didn’t yield the desired result.

Are you surprised that Zemeckis’ studio is closing? Do you think his brand of filmmaking in too costly?

National Film Board Of Canada and YouTube Release The “Socalled” Movie at SXSW

Mali Elfman — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:29:28 +0000

Check out The “Socalled” Movie where a real artist who follows his dream is able to take the internet and YouTube and become a massive success (apparently that really does work! Keep trying all your indie film-makers with crappy cameras and good ideas!). Thanks to the National Film Board of Canada and YouTube the feature-length documentary film titled The “Socalled” Movie will be premiered at the SXSW Film Festival on March 16.

The film is about Canadian musician, Socalled, whose debut music video garnered over 2M views on YouTube, is the subjects of the film and will also be performing at the festival on the 16th.

Official Synopsis:

Meet Socalled. He’s unstoppable. A pianist, singer, arranger, rapper, producer and composer (and also a magician, filmmaker, and visual artist), he’s blasting through the boundaries that separate music from different cultures, eras, and generations.
Socalled is a musical alchemist, always looking for the next old thing to make new again. The “socalled” Movie shows him introducing funk trombone legend Fred Wesley (of James Brown fame) to klezmer music, while wowing Wesley with his knowledge of funk. When Dolgin comes across LP’s from the 1950’s by lounge pianist Irving Fields, he looks up 94-year-old Fields and inspires him to pen a new hit song.
Shot in Socalled’s Montreal neighbourhood where Hasidic Jews and hipsters crowd the sidewalks, and in New York, France and the Ukraine, The “Socalled” Movie is a cinematic multi-faceted depiction of inspiration, collaboration and transformation.
Socalled defies category and refuses limitations. The “Socalled” Movie examines his energy from all angles and transmits the urgent creative spark to everyone watching: now’s your chance – go out there and make something!

Trailer:

See the film at SXSW – The films Closing/ Music Opening Party 3.16.10, Co-Hosted by YouTube and VH1 will take place at Maggie Mae’s at 9pm followed by a live performanceby 10pm.

Maggie Mae’s
323 E. 6th Street
Austin, TX

What do you think about Socalled making it to SXSW because of YouTube?

Summer Glau Joins NBC Superhero Drama The Cape

Krystal Clark — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:54:36 +0000

If you’re a sci-fi fanboy (or girl) the name Summer Glau should ring a bell. The actress has appeared in several cult television series including Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” and “Dollhouse,” plus the recently canceled “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” According to THR, Glau has landed another gig that will have her fighting bad guys called “The Cape,” which is a newly ordered pilot for NBC.

Glau has landed the leading role in “The Cape,” which is a superhero themed drama about “a cute and intrepid investigative blogger who fearlessly goes after corrupt cops and costumed bad guys.” She’ll star opposite David Lyons who’ll appear as “a former cop who’s set up as a criminal and becomes a masked hero, the Cape, to clear his name.” If Lyons’ name sounds familiar it’s probably from his run during the final seasons of “ER” as Dr. Simon Brenner.

Summer Glau is one of my favorite kick ass actresses and I’m happy to hear that she’s landed a new gig, but I do NOT trust NBC with shows that have superhero premises. “Heroes” had one season of greatness and went to the sh*tter never to reclaim its former glory and “The Bionic Woman” remake was a mediocre mess. Hopefully the script for this show is a lot more promising than the premise. I’d love to see Summer back in action again, but don’t put her in something only to treat it like the red-headed step-child.

What do you think about the premise of The Cape? Do you think the show has a fighting chance? Will you watch?

ShoWest Begins: Jaden Smith Honored and Film Schedule

Mali Elfman — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:47:11 +0000

It was just announced that the young star of The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith, son of Jada Pinkett and Will Smith has been named by ShoWest The Breakthrough Male Star of the Year. He’ll be presented with the award next Wednesday and the attendees at ShoWest will be the first to screen the film on the same day. Woohoo!

“Jaden Smith is an exceptional young actor who has delivered a true breakout performance with his portrayal of Dre Parker in ‘The Karate Kid,’ ” Robert Sunshine, managing director of the event said.

As for the other films they’ll be screening at ShoWest, here’s a little preview of some of what we’ll be covering…

Screening Schedule:

Monday, March 15

6:00 pm & 9:00 pm
ShoWest Showcase: An Evening of Independent Film”

Get Low — Sony Pictures Classics (already saw at Sundance -Read Review)
The Joneses– Roadside Attractions
The Kids Are All Right– Focus Features
Twelve– Hannover House (also reviewed from Sundance)
Racing Dreams– Zipline Entertainment

Tuesday, March 16

Walt Disney Studios invites you to a screening of Disney. Pixar’s TOY STORY 3
Summit Entertainment’s LETTERS TO JULIET

Wednesday, March 17

Lionsgate’s KICK-ASS
Sony Pictures Releasing’s KARATE KID

Thursday, March 18

CBS Film’s THE BACK-UP PLAN
Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ PRINCE OF PERSIA:THE SANDS OF TIME – Sadly I will most likely have to leave before this film, but we’ll still have reviews for you!

Check back in next Monday for more news from ShoWest!

Source for Jaden Smith: THR

Kristen Stewart Wants to Host Saturday Night Live

Krystal Clark — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:04:58 +0000

Over the past two years Kristen Stewart has experienced a sudden surge in her career thanks to her coveted role as Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga. She recently premiered her latest film The Runaways, and admitted after starring in so many serious projects she’d love to lighten up a bit. The actress wants to try her hand at comedy by hosting an episode of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Stewart’s Twilight co-star Taylor Lautner hosted the show last December, so would her making an appearance be that much of a long shot? I don’t think any of us doubt that she can handle her business in front of a camera, but when it comes to live performances she does give off that “jittery” vibe. The actress is known for her tics and twitches on film so how would she handle performing several sketches in front of an audience?

“They haven’t asked me to do it,” she said, adding “I would love to say yes for sure, but that is really really scary. I am so critical of myself and then also of people who are on the show. It’s like, ‘Nope, you’re not funny – next!’ “

At least she acknowledges that she does sometimes give off an uneasy vibe. Unfortunately for her, her SNL dreams will have to sit on the back-burner because Betty White will be part of a major ladies night this May and Stewart wasn’t invited. But there’s no need to fear, she’s still young and has plenty of time to tackle the gig in the future.

Would you like to see Kristen Stewart on SNL? Do you think she could handle the show?

Source: Ace Showbiz

Greenberg Soundtrack and iPod Shuffle Giveaway!

Kara — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:24:14 +0000

Hello readers! We are back with another fun giveaway. If you are a fan of LCD Soundsystem, you may want to check this out. We are giving away an iPod Shuffle and the soundtrack for Noah Baumbach’s new movie, Greenberg. The soundtrack was done by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy with 11 Murphy solo pieces and 1 new LCD Soundsystem song. The soundtrack also includes songs by Nite Jewel, Albert Hammond, Galaxie 500, the Sonics, and Duran Duran.

The movie is about Greenberg (Ben Stiller) who is at a crossroads in his life. He doesn’t have a job and has no real intention of finding one. He begins house-sitting for his younger brother, and reconnecting with old friends. However, he finds himself spending time instead with his brother’s personal assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer and herself something of a lost soul. The film stars Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans, Greta Gerwig, and Jeniffer Jason Leigh.

Check out how to play…

Either become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter
Leave a comment telling us about your favorite movie that Noah Baumbach has worked on (in any way) and why.
You must leave an e-mail address we can contact you at…we promise not to spam you.

Please leave your comments by midnight on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. The winner will be announced on Thursday, March 25.

Good luck to all of you!

Greenberg will be in a limited release on March 26, 2010. The soundtrack will be released on March 22.

For more information about the new film, Greenberg, check out the website here.

Remember that in order to play:

You must have a shipping address in the United States
You must leave an e-mail address that we can reach you at (we promise not to spam you)
If you win, you will have one week to respond to an e-mail that we will send to you. If you do not respond within one week your prize will be given to another contestant.

Trailer:

New Kick-Ass Hit Girl SXSW Poster

Krystal Clark — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:28:32 +0000

Another vintage poster has been released for Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass. The first one featured the title character as played by Aaron Johnson, and the latest features Chloe Moretz as the small but deadly, Hit Girl. This poster has to be my favorite because just like the previous one, it takes a note from the war time posters of the 1940’s, and this one’s meant to inspire the ladies.

All three of the posters released including Kick-Ass, Red Mist, and Hit Girl will only be available during a signing after the SXSW panel for the film that will feature stars Johnson, Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse along with comic creators Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. The first poster in this series was an homage to Uncle Sam, and now this one is a throwback to the famous Rosie the Riveter image that was so prominent during WWII.

The caption on Hit Girl’s poster says, “We Can Kick-Ass!” at the top, which is is a take on the original “We Can Do It” slogan. At the bottom there’s also a statement that says it’s from the “Women’s Ass-Kicking Committee.” You’ve got to love the play on words they’ve developed for this film’s marketing campaign. It’s come a long way from being the R-rated comic flick nobody wanted to the media juggernaut it is today!

What do you think of the latest vintage poster for Kick-Ass?

Source: MTV

24 And Jack Bauer Moving to NBC?

Krystal Clark — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:51:31 +0000

Fans of the Fox series “24” need to prepare themselves for an emotional roller-coaster this season, and I’m not talking about the show’s current storyline. There’s been a whole will they or won’t they debate going on with Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, and the show’s producers regarding the decision to renew the series for a 9th season. According to EW, if the network opts out of bringing Jack back, NBC will be more than happy to pick up the pieces.

Multiple sources have revealed to Ausiello that the peacock network is ready and willing to take “24″ off Fox’s hands if they don’t renew the series. They’re saying that 20th Century Fox approached NBC about taking over and according to an insider “There’s definitely some interest.” At the moment reps from both studios refuse to comment, which means we’re free to speculate on what we think will happen.

If the show does pop up on a new network it will prolong the plans for a “24″ movie, because producers claim that it would be nearly impossible to have a film and the show coexist simultaneously. Also, the likelihood that NBC would pick up a program with such a hefty price tag is illogical. The network has been in the rating’s dump lately and they’ve been on a cost-cutting tirade for the past few years. Kiefer Sutherland and Jack Bauer don’t come cheap.

Hopefully, this is wishful thinking because NBC’s dramas are mediocre (their comedies are great) and it just doesn’t seem like a good fit. I’d take CBS or even ABC before those guys.

Do you think NBC should pick up 24 or should Fox try to make it work for another season? Would you watch if the show jumped networks?

Hugo Chavez Gives Sean Penn a Shout Out During Rally

Mali Elfman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:07:33 +0000

Do an introduction at the Academy Awards and give Sandra Bullock a kiss on the cheek on Sunday, have Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez thank in the midst of a rally on Wednesday. All a part of a typical week for politically active, Oscar winning actor Sean Penn who has recently been standing up against U.S. media critics for their portrayal of Chavez saying that he’s a socialist, not a dictator.

Chavez has not taken Penn’s public support lightly, on Wednesday during a televised rally in Caracas, Chavez thanked Penn for his support:

Chavez: I was reading the declarations from our friend Sean Penn, the famous American actor,” he said. “Penn defended what he considers to be the truth.

The message comes after much support from Penn in front of the cameras trying to get Chavez’s message across to the American people. Last week on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” Penn said that journalists who refer to Chavez as a dictator should be jailed…

Penn: There should be a bar for which one goes to prison for these kinds of biases.

Penn then added that Chavez has won elections fair and square and is wrongfully labeled by the media in the U.S. in order to keep his views from the American people. Penn has supported the president’s leftist political policies for a long time and has visited him several times to talk about them.

Penn: We are hypnotised by the media. Who do you know here who’s gone through 14 of the most transparent elections on the globe, and has been elected democratically, as Hugo Chávez?

What do you think about Penn’s views? Do you think he’s right?

Katherine Heigl Is Done With Grey’s Anatomy

Krystal Clark — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:57:01 +0000

Could Katherine Heigl be hanging up her scrubs for good at Seattle Grace? New reports have surfaced stating that the actress will finally leave “Grey’s Anatomy” after being a regular for six seasons. It’s no secret that she’s had a bumpy ride with the show and its creator Shonda Rhimes over the past few years and her character Izzie hasn’t exactly been an active part of the landscape lately, so it looks like her exit is imminent.

Heigl’s stay at Grey’s has been littered with conflict and sources are confirming exclusively to EW’s Michael Ausiello that Rhimes has given the actress what she’s wanted all along, her walking papers. It’s now in the hands of ABC Studios and Heigl’s reps to decide the next stage of her exit from the show. It shouldn’t be that hard to write her out because she’s been gone the majority of the current season on maternity leave. What’s a few more episodes?

The actress was scheduled to return to work on March 1st to finish up the final five episodes of the season, but guess what? March 1st came and went, and she never approached the sound stage. It sounds like it’s a done deal. Izzie is out and the Grey’s crew will just have to move on. From what I’ve been hearing her character isn’t the most beloved to begin with and her exit shouldn’t heavily hinder the show. Winning an Emmy in 2007, gaining film recognition for Knocked Up, and headlining a string of mediocre romantic comedies has warranted her a release (sarcasm), don’t you think?

Will you miss Heigl on Grey’s Anatomy? Do you think she should remain with the show?

VOTD: New Version of Famous Russian Singer’s Song

Mali Elfman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:38:17 +0000

There are very few things in this world that are truly amazing, this my friends is just one of those things. We’ve all seen his original video (which you can watch below) of Mr. 70’s Russian Singer dude “singing” his heart out with his creepy “stay away from elemenaty school playgrounds” smile and his “I’ve been bald since I was 17 years old” wig, but now we have yet another version to feast our ears upon. Check them both out…

The original perfection…

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the new version…

Doesn’t he just make life that much better?

ScreenCrave.com - Passionate about movies

SXSW: Kick-Ass Early Reviews

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