Sicario 2: Soldado is one of the more unlikely sequels to come out of Hollywood in recent years. Denis Villeneuve’s original 2015 film, from Taylor Sheridan’s screenplay, is this reporter’s favorite movie of that year. This sequel focuses almost exclusively on Benicio Del Toro’s mercenary character, Alejandro, who apparently (in a very sequel-ish move) has the restraints taken off.
Once you hear that familiar groan of the score here, fans of the original film will be all in:
Aside from Benicio Del Toro reprising his role, you have Josh Brolin back as his “boss,” Matt Graver. Joining them this time is Catherine Keener – excellent – and Matthew Modine, who is ripe for a late-career resurgence.
Taylor Sheridan is back with the screenplay, but Villeneuve is not directing. That task has been handed to Stefano Sollima, an unknown in the States who recently created the crime show Gomorrah. Also, Roger Deakins isn’t back as cinematographer, but Dariusz Wolski appears to be mimicking the master as well as he can.
As for this trailer, well, it looks way more over the top than the original. Hopefully it doesn’t suffer traditional sequelitis issues, i.e. excess.
Sicario 2: Soldado opens June 29, 2018. We will see how things shape up.
“It’s been 84 years…” Well, actually, it’s been exactly 20 years, as James Cameron’s epic Titanic hit theaters on this day in 1997. This is one of those movies that is so timeless and is still so fresh in people’s minds that it’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed.
The story follows the star-crossed love affair of Jack Dawson, a homeless artist who wins his ticket aboard the vessel in a lucky hand of poker, and Rose DeWitt Bukater, who is betrothed to Pittsburgh steel fortune heir Caledon Hockley. Their fictional romance is set before the backdrop of the Titanic and its doomed maiden journey. Cameron uses a love story as the basis to tell the story of Titanic because he felt that was best way to convey the emotional impact of the disaster on a micro level.
Though Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack and Kate Winslet’s Rose are made up characters, Cameron paid special attention to details of the voyage by including some of the famous passengers. Notable travelers included Kathy Bates as The Unsinkable Molly Brown, the woman who encouraged the crewman of her lifeboat to turn around to gather more passengers. Victor Garber portrays Thomas Andrews, the shipbuilder in charge of the RMS Titanic. J. Bruce Ismay, chairman and managing director of White Star Line, played by Jonathan Hyde, later testified before the Senate regarding the ship’s sinking.
Recreation of the most legendary ocean disaster was as historically accurate as possible. Cameron and his team not only built a full-size exterior replica, they created interior spaces that perfectly match photographs of the original ship. The costuming, hairstyles, and makeup were ornate and flawlessly depicted the “gilded age” of the early 1900’s.
The special effects used in this movie were groundbreaking and technologically superior to any film of its time. Cameron made us feel like we were going down with that ship, too.
James Horner’s score ties this film together flawlessly. The music is solemn, tranquilizing, uplifting, and ominous, all which add to the emotions of the story. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” won the Academy Award for Best Song. It also spent 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.
Titanic is tied for the most Oscars wins at 11 with Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. It also garnered numerous nominations and wins at the Golden Globes, People’s Choice, Screen Actors Guild, MTV Movie Awards, and Kids’ Choice Awards. This year, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Titanic was the first film where I truly became interested in the art of film-making. I watched documentaries on the films creation, and I became enthralled by the behind the scenes goings-on. It was then I realized just how much goes into to creating an epic masterpiece of film.
Titanic is an enduring story of love, greed, class roles, gender roles, heroism, and tragedy. There’s something for everyone in this film, making it a true modern day classic.
How many times have you seen Titanic? What film made you love the art of cinema?
Every con has its pros – and there you have it, the tagline from ‘Ocean’s 8’ as the trailer dropped today on the internet.
Watch the trailer below.
“A criminal mastermind and seven other female thieves try to pull off the heist of the century at New York’s annual Met Gala.”
Sandra Bullock leads the cast as the sister of Dany Ocean, played by George Clooney in the original trilogy. Joining Bullock is Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Elle Fanning, and Sarah Paulson. Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) directs a screenplay from Olivia Milch.
‘Ocean’s 8’ hits theaters June 8 next year, right in the heart of summer movie season.
Happy Birthday Toys! The sweet little film from the 90s finally celebrates its silver anniversary and it’s time to give it the respect it deserves. It is a fun movie, full of great visuals, and heartwarming moments and doesn’t deserve the negative reputation it has garnished.
A Forgotten Wonderland
The best way to sell someone on the movie Toys if they haven’t had a chance watched it is by comparing the film to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The viewer sees a bit of the real world here and there, but once you are inside the factory of Zevo Toys, you are transported to a land straight out of a dream. The sets are full of color and highly designed in a way which makes a person wish they could apply for a job at the company.
The most recognizable attraction of this film is Robin Williams as he plays manchild who seems right at home in the world the film portrays. This is not to downplay the importance of performances by LL Cool J, Michael Gambon, or Joan Cusack in any ways. The entire cast helps to present characters who seem right at home in the world which opens up in Toys.
There is also the underlying aspect of how the film can be applied to modern times. The film’s antagonist wishes to make military toys and by the end of the film produces an army of attack drones. Given how prevalent drones became in modern culture, it’s impossible not to miss this type of foreshadowing.
Bad Rap
It really is important to give the film the appreciation it deserves. The movie resulted in director Barry Levinson receiving a Razzie Nomination (They also gave nominations to The Bodyguard and Newsies so not exactly the best year in there book). It also currently holds an unnecessary 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not a film which offends the audience and talks down to them. Instead it tries to reward them for having imaginations and enjoying a bit of whimsy.
Conclusion
If not just to honor the late great Robin Williams, this film is a fantastic little ride through some engrossing sets and costume designs. Watch if for yourself and if you enjoy it head over to Rotten Tomatoes and help to raise the user score for the film. It’s pretty low as well.
The jolly fat man that breaks into homes all over the world each year, delivering toys on Christmas eve, has a history all his own. We all know him best as the bearded toy maker in his red suit with companion reindeers, but his actual history dates back to the third century where he was better-known as St. Nicholas. He was a monk in Patara, found in modern-day Turkey. His legend has stretched and expanded over the years, but his overall mission remained the same. He would travel and visit with the poor and sick, as well as save those caught in slavery, all while delivering toys to children as well.
It is fun to celebrate the holidays and to embrace Santa Claus, but putting a murderous spin on the character can be fun too. It’s not all about Krampus. Who says a Christmas film has to be all about ‘Children nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads’? So, for the horror enthusiast whose fanhood is year-round, what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a little merry-time mayhem. Check out these killer Santa movies and let us know what you think because, ‘tis the season’!
About: A toy factory worker who, upon learning as a child that Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a ‘Yuletide’ killing spree.
About: A group of sorority girls, during Christmas break, are stalked by a deranged stranger dressed as Santa Claus [this title also had a reboot in 2006 (trailer)].
About: Santa Claus is actually a demon who lost a bet with an angel, so he becomes the giver of toys and happiness. However, when the bet is off, he returns to his evil ways.
About: A deranged masked ‘Santa-Slayer’ comes to town for some yuletide terror. He leaves behind a bloody trail of mutilated bodies as he hunts his way to the front steps of the town’s most-feared and notorious home.
About: In the depths of the Korvatunturi Mountains lies the closest ever-guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up! This Christmas, everyone will believe in Santa Claus.
Venom is in the midst of production, and Just Jared has got some great looks at what appears to be a brutal fight scene starring Tom Hardy. Check out some of the snapshots below, and head over to the outlet for the full set of photos.
“Tom Hardy is bloody and bruised while filming a fight scene for his upcoming movie Venom on Friday night (December 15) in Atlanta, Ga.
The 40-year-old actor was joined by Scott Haze, who is playing a secret role in the film. There are rumors that he will play the villain Carnage, but nothing has been confirmed.”
Venom releases on October 5, 2018. It’s directed by Ruben Fleischer and stars, along with Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Woody Harrelson, Riz Ahmed, and a slew of other actors. Click here for the full cast list.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi had an incredible opening weekend, bringing in $220 Million domestically. This statistic makes it the second highest-grossing opening weekend of all time, trailing only Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The picture, directed by Rian Johnson, opened in 4,232 theaters on Friday, December 15 and scored $104.8 Million in its first day. Thursday night preview showings brought in $45 Million, Saturday totalled $64 Million, and the film is projected to have grossed $51.3 Million on Sunday.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi has already made $230 Million at the internation box office, bringing its worlwide total to $450 Million.
Though The Last Jedi snagged an amazing 93 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score doesn’t exactly fit the narrative. Journalists and pundits universally enjoyed the movie, however, audiences did not; according to the website, only 56 percent of audience members rated the movie positively. This is a huge drop off from The Force Awakens, which boasted an 88 percent audience score.
Did you enjoy the latest installment in the Star Wars saga? Chime in down below, in our comments section.
Peter Jackson knows no other way than to go big, and tell grand fantasy epics that usually span several films. Enter Mortal Engines, his latest sci-fi adventure.
This trailer for Mortal Engines is fascinating visually, especially for someone (like me) unfamiliar with the source novel from Philip Reeve. It’s the first in a four-book steampunk series, which definitely mean we will get more of these down the road as long as this first one is a success.
Check out the trailer:
Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future.
Looks cool. We’ll see I suppose.
Hugo Weaving is the big name here, with an expansive cast of actors and actresses who might become household names in good time.
The Ocean’s 8 PR machine is starting to ramp up. Last week we got our first look at the poster for the movie, and today we have a brief, frenetic teaser clip to whet our appetite before the trailer drops tomorrow.
You get about a thousand images in this fifteen-second clip, and there’s nothing really substantial, other than the realization that this all-female Ocean’s soft reboot/remake/sequel thing has captured the proper tone. Oh, and there seems to be a shot of Sandra Bullock’s Debbie Ocean visiting the grave of Danny Ocean. Color me skeptical that he is dead.
Check it out:
The synopsis is short, sweet, and to the point: “A criminal mastermind and seven other female thieves try to pull off the heist of the century at New York’s annual Met Gala.” You don’t need much more than that.
Sandra Bullock leads the cast as the sister of Dany Ocean, played by George Clooney in the original trilogy. That feels like a perfect fit. Joining Sandy B is Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Elle Fanning, and Sarah Paulson. That is quite the collection of talent.
Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) directs a screenplay from Olivia Milch. Ross is a pretty big shrug of a director but the cast should carry the movie anyway.
Ocean’s 8 will hit theaters June 8 next year, right in the heart of summer movie season.
As the end of the year fast approaches it’s time to take a step back and review some of the worst releases of 2017. This list easily could have been the top twenty worst releases but who wants to remember that much pain.
The Space Between Us was delayed three times and with good reason. Asa Butterfield is god awful in this space baby “drama” which isn’t even decent enough to be found at your local Redbox. What’s crazy is that in a year where Gary Oldman will likely be nominated for an Academy Award, he gives quite a forgettable performance.
If anyone reading this is interested in a movie that will leave you feeling bored and empty, have I got a movie for you. Hallie Meyers-Shyer attempts to craft a compelling storyline but accomplishes the opposite. Reese Witherspoon career can only go up after being part of this release.
While it’s a no-brainer to adopt the Fifty Shades Of Gray series into a film but shouldn’t they have cast better actors to play the leads? Niall Leonard attempts to shift the focus from deviant sexual act to more of a romantic tale and fails mightly. No one goes to see this type of film to see romance!
7. The Mummy
Universal attempted to launch it’s “Dark Universe” but put too much of the spotlight on Tom Cruise. Because they were preoccupied with keeping the spotlight on Cruise, the storyline suffered resulting in a floundering box-office. Now the “Dark Universe” is a distant memory.
Underdeveloped characters and a narrative that makes no sense are just some of the reason for this putrid release making it into the upper reaches of my list.
Does anyone remember when the new Power Rangers movie was going to be the start of a cinematic franchise? This attempt at recapturing that feeling of nostalgia fell way short. While the original series was campy and fun, the movie just attempted to appeal to all demographics. A dull experience that people should block from their memory.
If someone were to take the film Groundhog Day and take way the best of the film, this would be the result. Zoey Deutch is horrible in this trope ridden slog that is better suited for on-demand than theaters. How does a movie like this even get released?
If we gave an award for the most significant disappointment of 2017, then this would win in a landslide. The trailers gave the impression of this intense thriller, and the premise was compelling. Micheal Fassbender is a fantastic actor as well. The result was a coma-inducing lesson as to why no one should judge a film based on its trailer.
How Micheal Bay was able to convince Anthony Hopkins to be part of this travesty is still a mystery to this day. If anyone were to ask me what the plot of this film is, I’d probably tell them to blow stuff up. This film was a headache-inducing experience.
January usually is home to some of the worst releases imaginable but Bye Bye Man maybe the worst of them all. A terrible premise combined with an equally horrific narrative results in a film that will leave audience doing precisely what he’s doing in this picture.
What do you think the worst film of 2017 was? Comment below and thanks for checking out the article.
