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Tom Hanks Has ‘A Hologram for the King’

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Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions released the first trailer to A Hologram for the King, starring Tom Hanks.

A failed American businessman looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his idea to a wealthy monarch.

The film is directed by Tom Tykwer from the novel by Dave Eggers. A Hologram for the King also stars Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Tom Skerritt and Ben Whishaw.

You can see Hank’s newest film in theaters on April 22.

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Why ‘Flash’ Can’t Get Caitlin Snow Right

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Flash has gotten some important things right. It’s managed to build up a shared universe, with its fellow CW programs and now with the upcoming Supergirl crossover. It’s done a good job at balancing out the concept of a multiverse, as a lot of this season has focused on the relationship of two different Earths. And the CGI for characters like Gorilla Grodd/Killer Shark has been surprisingly high quality. So it seems surprising that one of the show’s weakest links comes from one of its leads. But for whatever reason, Caitlin Snow has just been a terrible character mostly throughout the show’s run.

The main problem is the lack of development of Caitlin. Lots of the other characters have gotten interesting development, but Caitlin has really only two main attributes – she’s a scientist with a dead boyfriend (husband, since Flash Season 2). That’s only two things, and considering how much they’ve built up their other cast members, it’s downright embarrassing. Cisco, her closest counterpart, has much more going for him – he’s the comic relief, weapon-builder, Joe West sidekick who’s now developed future sight powers. Wells was not-Wells-Reverse-Flash in Season 1, until he was killed off. Instead of letting Caitlin fill the void of scientist extraordinaire, they brought in Earth-2 Wells, complete with a bad attitude, a daughter, and ties to Professor Zoom.

Flash Caitlin Ronnie
Caitlin and Ronnie were married for a shorter time than Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries

And it’s not as if Flash didn’t have an opportunity to fix this. When Barry, Cisco & Wells crossed over into Earth-2, it was revealed that this universe’s Caitlin Snow was more than just a sidekick – she was Killer Frost, a deadly new super villain. Ronnie was her evil partner Deathstorm, and together, they killed Barry’s Earth-2 father-in-law. It seemed like a perfect, new Caitlin that wasn’t just the female Cisco with a dead boyfriend!

Only, within the first of two episodes that had Killer Frost, they revealed that Cisco was also a super villain. And Zoom came in to kill Ronnie. So, again, Caitlin is the female Cisco with the dead boyfriend.

Flash Killer Frost
A female Mr. Freeze. Complete with the dead spouse.

Let’s also not forget that dumb relationship with Jay Garrick. That’s right, I said dumb. It only took a couple of episodes following Earth-1 Ronnie’s death for Caitlin to pair off with Earth-2 Flash. Now the character of Jay was pretty dumb, as he turned out to be a speed addict – not the actual drug, but a speed drug of some sort – don’t worry about it, it was dumb. At the very least, their relationship gave Caitlin a chance to use her brain and get his speed back. But then, with the reveal of Professor Zoom’s identity – which was ALSO dumb, by the way – Jay gets killed by Zoom, right in front of Caitlin. That means that, between three relationships and TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT UNIVERSES, there’s not a single scenario where Caitlin isn’t defined by the men around her, alive or dead.[easy-tweet tweet=”Why @CW_TheFlash can’t get Caitlin right” user=”@JonBarrTweets”]

So what’s the solution to this? How can Caitlin shine on her own? She could pull a Patty Spivot and move away for Science Academy. Iris West isn’t a great character either – she mostly stands in the background, waiting for when Barry needs to be told he’s dumb when it comes to something or other. And unless Wells, Cisco, & Wells’ now-present daughter get killed, she’ll never be Scientist Uno on Team Flash.

Flash Caitlin Cisco
Why not kill one of the two?

But is killing someone on the Flash roster the appropriate cure for this problem? Caitlin’s surrounded by enough death already, so it doesn’t seem like that’s the needed solution. Flash already killed Wells once, and the inclusion of his daughter makes it seem even less likely that they’d kill him again. And while Cisco’s powers are usually only shoehorned in for episodic plots, he’s still the main scientist and comic relief, so his life seems pretty secure.

So what about killing Caitlin? It seems like a shame, that a character would be wasted only to be murdered. However, it’s hard to say what else they could do to make her interesting. They’ve given her superpowers, and made her a sinister figure, only to put her back in her place, and say dumb lines like “I guess I really am as cold as you thought.” Ew. There’s only one time where we got extra insight into her life – at a coffee date with Jay, she revealed that she also has a dead father. Meaning another man in her life, dead. They’ve tried and failed to make her interesting, but based off their actions, the show runners of Flash don’t seem to care for Caitlin enough to make her worthwhile. If Caitlin is going to serve any purpose on the show, and justifiably be present, they need to make up their minds. Either Caitlin is going to have a purpose, or she needs to join her boyfriends in a glorious afterlife orgy.

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Marvel Had To Show Spider-Man in the New ‘Civil War’ Trailer

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Marvel posted a 17 second video yesterday, teasing the “World Trailer Premier” for Captain America: Civil War. Fans took to social media immediately to speculate whether or not they would finally get a glimpse of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, with the vast majority of them hoping that he would be kept under wraps until the movie actually came out.

The trailer dropped today, and the closing shot indeed revealed the teenage webslinger in all his glory, snatching Cap’s shield right out of his hands:

Civil War Spider-Man

Spider-Man Civil War

It’s understandable that fans were hesitant about seeing the character this early. Trailers can be dangerous; they run the risk of revealing too much and taking the suspense out of big moments. The Dawn of Justice trailer certainly caught its share of flack for showing both Wonder Woman and Doomsday, both of whom would have made for awesome reveals in a theater. The Force Awakens, on the other hand, was praised for its trailer, which got people excited for the flick without giving away any plot details. It’s a fine line between too little and too much, and Spider-Man fell right on that line for  Civil War.

But Marvel had to show the infamous web-head in this trailer, despite their fans’ protests. It was the necessary business decision.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’re the kind of person who keeps his or her finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry. You read all about the latest rumors, and are the first to know when your favorite character has been cast. The second that Sony and Marvel struck a deal to bring Spider-Man into the MCU, you knew about it. You’re so deeply ingrained in the world of pop culture, that you may not even realize that most people had no clue that Peter Parker is going to be in Civil War.

These are the same people that needed a trailer during Monday Night Football to tell them that there was a new Star Wars movie coming out. They’re the vast majority of moviegoers, and they need a little extra help in deciding whether or not to go see a film in theaters. They may have seen the first Civil War trailer and thought, “Meh.” But now that might change. Now they may be thinking, “Oh, Spider-Man is in this movie? That might be worth checking out after all.”

Keep in mind that these people probably still don’t know that Spider-Man is in the flick. They weren’t refreshing their Twitter feeds all morning waiting for it to drop like you and I were. So if you know one of these people, send them the link immediately. Otherwise, they’ll have to wait until it airs during next week’s episode of The Bachelor (presumably).

Disney made the proper business decision, and it will prove fruitful at the box office come May. And, luckily for fans, they handled the situation perfectly. They gave just a small taste of Spider-Man, and they spoiled nothing. Fans arguably could not have asked for a better reveal.

Now we only need to hope that they don’t show much more footage in TV spots.

Watch the full trailer below:

Captain America: Civil War opens May 6, 2016.

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Spider-Man Swings Into New ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Trailer

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Marvel Studios released a new Captain America: Civil War trailer Thursday morning featuring your first look at Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Without further ado, here we go:

Captain America: Civil War is directed by Anthony & Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Captain America: Civil War picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.

The film stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, and Martin Freeman.

Captain America: Civil War is set for release on May 6.

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Is Daisy Ridley Headed for a ‘Tomb Raider’ Reboot?

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Daisy Ridley is being courted for a Tomb Raider reboot, according to the report at Deadline.

Fresh off her role as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ridley is a ht commodity in Hollywood. Of course, she is busy filming Episode VIII currently, but MGM and Warner Bros. are still hoping she agrees to reboot Lara Croft, which Angelina Jolie previously helmed in the early 2000s.

Here’s what Deadline had to say about the property in Hollywood, which experienced a rebirth a few years back:

The latest adaptation, which has been in development for a number of years, received a jolt of adrenaline when the video game series was rebooted by game developer Square Enix with 2013’s Tomb Raider, which depicted Croft’s first adventure as an archaeology student and follow-up Rise of the Tomb Raider. That younger take on the character’s origin and path to derring-do are believed to have given the film’s producers some creative guidance.

There is no confirmation at this point that she has taken the role, but there have been preliminary meetings. Let’s hope this happens, because there isn’t anyone out there better fitting to refashion Lara Croft and Tomb Raider than Daisy Ridley.

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REVIEW: A look back at 2001 thriller, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’

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What a film. If you love heists, gambling, and master plans, this is the film for you. Ocean’s Eleven tells the story of Danny Ocean and his band of criminal friends as they seek to hit Terry Benedict’s famous casino establishment, the Bellagio.

This movie is gripping from start-to-finish as Danny takes you through the entire plan, from finding and meeting up with the gang to the blueprint for the robbery and then finally, the actual robbery. It truly is both an informative and entertaining watch.

Ultimately, the content and acting throughout the film is excellent – and it would be foolish to expect anything less with so many brilliant actors and actresses involved in the movie. George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts are just three of the big names involved in this remake of Ocean’s 11 and it’s fair to say the second edition attracted a lot more attention than the original. Though the first movie was released back in 1960 and featured the legendary Frank Sinatra it was both less realistic and exciting, largely due to lacking special effects and other movie techniques.

In terms of adrenaline and action most is experienced through the thrilling excitement of the heist itself. In terms of on-screen gambling, there’s a fair bit but it’s far from excessive. Familiar games as Australian pokies, both French and American roulette, and a multitude of slot machines can be seen throughout the movie. In fact, Ocean’s Eleven was also selected by Lugget Nugget in their top 10 gambling-themed movies.Though in terms of gambling experiences, you’d be better served going online rather than getting the gaming action through Ocean’s Eleven.

If you’ve seen Ocean’s Thirteen, you’ll know there’s a lot more gambling involved in that film. Danny and the crew meet up to wipe out casino owner Willy Bank, played by Al Pacino, after he double-crosses Danny’s old friend Reuben Tishkoff.

However, Ocean’s Eleven is the original in the three-part trilogy and by all means, it’s the best movie. The storyline is the greatest; the plot is the most thrilling and the actual acting is top drawer. In fact, Ocean’s Eleven is widely regarded as one of the best films of all-time and sits in the IMDB’s list of the top 100 movies in history.

If you want a film focused purely on gambling, Ocean’s Eleven isn’t for you. While it has a few scenes, this is more about the storyline behind the heist and why Danny and the crew stick together for one another. For a gambling-focused movie, it might be a good idea to check out another movie which was released a few years prior, in 1998.

Matt Damon features in Rounders, gambling films seems magnetically attracted to the actor, and compared to Ocean’s Eleven it is a lot more focused on the gambling side of things. While Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) predominantly exerts poker excellence in the hope of helping his friend, the scenes is unsurprisingly similar to Ocean’s Eleven with everything from slot machines, to various card and table games. However, in terms of plot and thrilling scenes Clooney & co have got the better of them.

If nothing else, Ocean’s Eleven is a scintillating film that takes you on a journey of comradeship and criminality. The likes of Clooney and Pitt only help to increase the drama and excitement throughout the planning of the heist and you truly feel as though you’re involved in one of the biggest robberies of all-time. It’s DEFINITELY worth a watch!

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Hollywood Rule-Breaker: A24 Films’ Winning Formula

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Walt Disney Pictures. Universal Studios. Warner Bros. Entertainment. A24 Films?

The name may not sound familiar if you’re not an indie film geek. A24 Films is a distribution and production company founded in 2012, making it a baby compared to veterans like MGM, Paramount, and the ones named above. But in only four short years, A24 has established itself as a force to be reckoned with. Films they distributed were nominated for a total of seven Oscars this year, winning three (Amy won for Documentary Feature; Ex Machina won for Visual Effects and was also nominated for Original Screenplay; Brie Larson won Best Lead Actress for Room, which was also nominated for Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay).

How has such a young company found such quick success? Simply put, by taking calculated risks.

Juggernauts like Disney tend to play it safe. Their films aren’t always great on screen, but they usually appear to be good on paper. Major studios have the resources to drive audiences to the theater; they use star power, or a massive marketing budget. Even if the film flops critically, the box office returns show the producers that they played their cards right (usually). No harm, no foul, and they move on to the next project.

Transformers Age of Extinction
18% on Rotten Tomatoes, 2014 Worst Picture Razzie nominee, over $1 Billion Worldwide Gross.
Jack and Jill
3% on Rotten Tomatoes, won 2012 Worst Picture Razzie, almost $150 Million Worldwide Gross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fifty Shades of Grey
25% on Rotten Tomatoes, tied for 2015 Worst Picture Razzie, over $571 Million Worldwide Gross.

A24, on the other hand, relies on story. Granted, they have distributed films starring well known actors, but the stories are still what drive people to watch, and what keeps them talking about the experience days later.

They don’t always succeed in a conventional way. Tusk, Kevin Smith’s horror/comedy, is 40% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, and fell shy of even a $2 million gross. Yet it’s still a perfect example of the company’s modus operandi. They didn’t rely on fluff and advertising; they trusted Kevin Smith’s ability as a storyteller. It didn’t strike a cord with a mainstream audience, but it has since earned cult status, and helped gain A24 Films credibility as indie filmmakers.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCQJnOn0ru0[/embedyt]

The festival circuit is full of strange projects like Tusk, and that’s where A24 is striking gold. They see value in quirky projects that offer something new and different. Their success recalls that of Miramax, whose early history followed a similar pattern, and who also took a chance on Smith’s storytelling prowess when they purchased and distributed Clerks in 1994.

A24’s latest win is The Witch, having purchased the rights at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival (along with The End of the Tour and Mississippi Grind, both critical successes as well). Robert Eggers’ New England horror story was a huge risk. It opts for an old English dialect over a common tongue, and utilizes tension instead of the gore typical to modern day horrors. It’s a slow burn, for sure. The film could have been a tough sell to American audiences, yet it has made a name for itself as one of the best genre flicks in recent memory. It holds a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and came in fourth at the box office over its opening weekend. The company’s gamble paid off once more.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXmlf3Sefg[/embedyt]

So, what does A24 Films’ success say about the movie industry? It shows that viewers are seeing the same value in these films as the company is. It shows that people have grown bored of the same old tiresome plot formulas and want to branch out. They want to watch stories that are different and a little bit strange.

Should big studios be worrying? Probably not. Rom-Coms and Michael Bay movies will still rake in the dough appealing to the masses. But A24 Films is proving that there’s still a market for smaller movies with original stories. Hollywood isn’t dead just yet, it’s just waking up from a long sleep.

What’s your favorite film distributed by A24? See a full list here and sound off in the comments!

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Go Behind The Scenes With ‘Captain America: Civil War’

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Entertainment Tonight released a behind the scenes look at Captain America: Civil War.

Captain America: Civil War is directed by Anthony & Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Captain America: Civil War picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.

The film stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, and Martin Freeman.

Captain America: Civil War is set for release on May 6.

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John Travolta Goes 90’s Steven Seagal In ‘I Am Wrath’ Trailer

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Saban Films and Lionsgate released the first trailer for I Am Wrath, the action thriller directed by Chuck Russell and starring John Travolta, Christopher Meloni, Sam Trammell, Amanda Schull, Asante Jones, Luis Da Silva Jr., Paul Sloan, Patrick St. Esprit and Rebecca De Mornay (Comingsoon.net)

I Am Wrath gets a digital release on April 15 and then hits the theaters on May 13.

With Travolta at 62, this is a film that should have come out 20 years ago. What Hollywood star today will lead the next generation of action heroes?

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CBS’s ‘Supergirl’ CW’s ‘The Flash’ Teaser

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CBS and the CW released an official poster for The Flash Supergirl crossover in Supergirl‘s March 28 episode (Digital Spy).

The first race between the Flash and Superman was in the pages of Superman #199 from 1967. You can see the television series understands its history.

“‘Worlds Finest’ – Kara gains a new ally when the lightning-fast superhero The Flash (Grant Gustin) suddenly appears from an alternate universe and helps Kara battle Siobhan, aka Silver Banshee, and Livewire, in exchange for her help in finding a way to return him home.”

Supergirl Flash crossover

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