‘Maleficent’ Trailer Set to ‘Once Upon a Dream’

‘Maleficent’ Trailer Set to ‘Once Upon a Dream’

If the tone of the upcoming Maleficent film has been hard to pin down before now, I think this trailer will help you on that front a little bit. This trailer is set to the classic tune from Disney’s original Sleeping Beauty, but there’s a twist. This version of the song by Lana Del Rey is haunting and hollow and turns sinister. In addition, Angelina Jolie effects the most sinisterly creepy smile you’ve ever seen in the first few seconds of the trailer.

I’m starting to get much more interested in this film now. The film opens in theaters on May 30, 2014 staring Angelina Jolie as Maleficent,…

Read The Rest

The End of Film

The End of Film

TJ may be a day late getting this episode out, but he’s going to give you the news of the week anyway. Starting off the week we learned that ‘Batman vs. Superman’ has been pushed from 2015 to May 6, 2016. Given how crowded 2015 is, this doesn’t really seem like that bad of a thing. Jamie Alexander will appear on ‘Agents of SHIELD” in her role at Sif which seems exciting. The upcoming James Bond films will build on what happened in ‘Skyfall’ and this also seems like a good thing since ‘Skyfall’ is obviously the best of the three newer ‘Bond’ films. JJ Abrams says the ‘Star Wars VII’ script is done and they will be shooting the film on actual film stock. Federal agents removed a man from the theater and treated him like a criminal because he was wearing Google Glass. This is an extreme miscarriage of justice and an overstepping of bounds. Not to mention that this situation highlights again just how out of control our copyright system is. The focus of this weeks’ reviews and ‘The MovieByte Podcast’ was ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ — a passable film, but kind of disappointing. And it turns out that younger audience are paying no attention to this film. In the category of “sigh”, ‘Atlas Shrugged 3’ is moving forward, but just as with part 2, with an all new cast. How inspiring… And of course, find out what to see at the box office this weekend.

Listen Now

Mike Fissel Posts His Top 13 of 2013

Mike Fissel Posts His Top 13 of 2013
Mike Fissel — Reel World Theology

So, is it possible to run a movie review/conversation website and get away with not having a “Top X” list for a year? Well, I don’t think so! Actually, I think it’s one of the more fun things to do in this non-business. Taking a look back at the year in movies gives you an idea, not only what stuck with me or flopped (IMHO), but what themes and ideas culture really couldn’t get enough of. With that said, here is a list of my 13 favorite films of 2013. I had originally thought it was a poor year for films, but the year end really redeemed things!

Mike shows up on The MovieByte Podcast from…

Read The Rest

‘Atlas Shrugged 3’ Is An Actual Thing That Is Happening

‘Atlas Shrugged 3’ Is An Actual Thing That Is Happening
Ken Guidry — The Playlist

Well, “Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?” is still an actual thing that is happening and the producers are continuing a trend that they started with the second film: bringing in an entirely new cast. For the final installment of the trilogy, John Galt will be played by Kristoffer Polaha (“Devil’s Knot”), Laura Regan (“Unbreakable,” “Mad Men”) will play Dagny Taggart, and the rest of the main cast includes Rob Morrow, Eric Allan Kramer, and Joaquim de Almeida. Production on the film has just begun and producers are hoping to release the film this upcoming September, right in time for the…

Read The Rest

Deathlok Confirmed for ‘SHIELD’ and Other Cool Stuff

Deathlok Confirmed for ‘SHIELD’ and Other Cool Stuff
Craig Byrne — SHIELD Site

- We already knew Jaimie Alexander would be showing up as Sif in the 15th episode of the show. But what was also revealed today is that the character Lorelai from the Walt Simonson run of Thor will be appearing in her episode. She will be played by Elena Satine, who played Mera on Smallville.

- Confirmed in two clips – first by name, and then we actually saw him in action – is that “Mike Peterson,” the character played by J. August Richards, is indeed now the Marvel Comics character Deathlok. A cyborg, Deathlok first appeared in Marvel Comics 40 years ago, and had a popular series in the…

Read The Rest

What To See At An Anemic Box Office

What To See At An Anemic Box Office

Your choices for new movies this weekend are not looking great. In fact right now, the box office is feeling sort of empty in the new and exciting category. But that’s normal for this time of year. And don’t worry, there are still a few things hanging around for you to see. Plus, if any of you get around to seeing Gimme Shelter then please let me know if it’s worth it.

I, Frankenstein — PG-13

I really don’t know exactly what to say about this film. I kind of like the concept, but I am having a hard time taking this thing seriously. I’m actually expecting this to be pretty bad. Maybe I’ll…

Read The Rest

I Am Stoic

I Am Stoic

A man walks into a theater with prescription lenses in his ‘Google Glass’ glasses and is “escorted out” for pirating. You can’t make this stuff up folks. This is crazy making right here. Long live the police state. In happier news, Carrie Fisher expects to start filming ‘Star Wars’ in March or April. It’s a rumor so take it with a grain of salt, but that seems about right for releasing sometime in 2015. TJ and Chad really just want to know if she’ll be sporting the Cinnamon Bun hairstyle again! It’s a sad day in film distribution as Paramount is now the first company to officially end film print distribution and go all digital. And of course, Chad and TJ have something to say about the Oscar nominees this year. Our primary review this week is of ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’.

Listen Now

Carrie Fisher Expects to Start Filming ‘Star Wars VII’ In March or April

Carrie Fisher Expects to Start Filming ‘Star Wars VII’ In March or April
Sean O’Connell — CinemaBlend.com

While speaking with TV Guide about the upcoming Big Bang spot, she revealed that she, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford are expecting to start working on J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII in March or April. Wha wha wha?! Not only that, she elaborated on the look she hopes to sport in the sequel:

“I’d like to wear my old [cinnamon buns] hairstyle again — but with white hair. I think that would be funny.”

Now, this is the closest thing we’ve seen to an actual confirmation to Fisher, Hamill and Ford appearing in Abrams’ Star Wars movie, even though the tea leaves have suggested the…

Read The Rest

2 New Clips from RoboCop

2 New Clips from RoboCop

RoboCop is about to hit theaters so the last little bits of promo material are dropping on us now. You can check out the previous three trailers and my thoughts here, here, and here.

This film definitely has some interesting things going on and I’m excited to see if it’s any good. This time of year is not a great one for cinema but I’ll wait and see before I pass premature judgement. I think the themes promised in the trailers are worth checking out. It looks like there’s definitely an aspect of the war between man and machine going on and how the film presents this and answers these…

Read The Rest

Lone Survivor — Review

4.5 of 5 stars
Lone Survivor

On the night of June 25th, 2005, a four-man Navy SEAL team - consisting of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew “Axe” Axelson, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz, and Corpsman 1st Class Marcus Luttrell - is lowered via fast-rope into the Hindu Kush Mountains near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Their mission: track and eliminate notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.

Less than twenty four hours later, only one of those SEALs is left alive.

What went wrong? Goatherds. Local goatherds, who stumble across the team in the mountain brush. After confirming that the men…

Read The Review