Jean Valjean Versus Wolverine

Jean Valjean Versus Wolverine
HitFix

Les Misérables is bound to take the box office by storm, but it’s a musical. Are musicals allowed to do that? Under the right circumstances, such as in Tom Hooper’s film, they stand the chance to. I’m really looking forward to Hugh Jackman’s performance as Jean Valjean. Hugh describes the working relationship with Tom Hooper and more in this interview.

“He’s so bold. He just takes so many risks,“ Jackman says. ”You don’t win the Oscar and take on a movie musical. Movie musicals are the riskiest things in the world. Are you kidding me? So, singing live. Making it fully sung through.…

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey — Review

3.5 of 5 stars
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

“Good Morning!”

“What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”

It has finally happened, a little out of order perhaps, but it has happened none-the-less, and it was good. What is possibly J.R.R. Tolkien’s most notable, or known work, certainly his first notable work, has come to the big screen. And it was not a small undertaking either. The same, much lauded production values, acting talent, story telling, sense of style and scope, and epic feel have…

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Weekend Rant: Selecting the Right Hobbit

Weekend Rant: Selecting the Right Hobbit

You want to hear a story? Sure you do.

How do you want to see it?

I wanted to see The Hobbit in my preferred theater with friends and a few family members, and my six year old son. We did so last night, it was easy. This theaters is not showing The Hobbit in HFR. There are two options, The Hobbit 2D, The Hobbit 3D. We elected for the 2D experience, it was cheaper and easier to manage for our young son, not to mention my wife and I both prefer 2D.

But… this tale is just beginning.

HFR, IMAX and 3D, Oh My

I also wanted to have something to say about The Hobbit the way it’s director,…

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Playing for Keeps — Review

1.5 of 5 stars
Playing for Keeps

Witless, unfocused, and arguably misogynistic as well as misandristic, Playing for Keeps is a dispiriting, lowest-common-denominator Hollywood rom-com.

It’s a wonder why decent actors get paired with fatuous productions, such as this one. If you care to know more about how poorly the film sells itself, then partake in the rest of my review.

“Dear Hollywood, Please make better movies. Thanks.” -Ron Kraus

I saw Ron’s comment on YouTube for the official release of Playing for Keeps’ trailer. And I want to parrot Ron. Hollywood, what were you thinking? Get it together.

Playing for…

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Rise of the Guardians — Review

2 of 5 stars
Rise of the Guardians

Rise of the Guardians is a 2012 American 3D computer animated fantasy adventure film based on William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood book series. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was released on November 21, 2012 and received mixed to positive critical reception.

Set about 200 years after the book series, the film tells a story about the Guardians who enlist Jack Frost to stop Pitch, the Bogeyman, from engulfing the world in fear and darkness. This film features the voices of Chris Pine (Jack Frost), Alec Baldwin (North [aka Santa Claus]),

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Life of Pi — Review

3 of 5 stars
Life of Pi

A film adaptation of a supposedly “unfilmable” novel, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi achieves the supposed impossible — it’s an astonishing technical work that’s also emotionally inciting.

Life of Pi is a 2012 American adventure drama film based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name. Directed by Ang Lee, the film is based on an adapted screenplay by David Magee, and stars Irrfan Khan, Gérard Depardieu, Tabu, Suraj Sharma, and Adil Hussain. Visual effects are by Rhythm & Hues Studios.

Critics and the public are loving Pi, and this comes at no surprise. The characterization of the zoo…

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Lincoln (2012) — Review

4 of 5 stars
Lincoln (2012)

Did you know that from the time of the Founding Fathers until the time of President Lincoln, the date Thanksgiving was observed varied from state to state? The final Thursday in November had become the customary date in most of the states by the beginning of the nineteenth century, but Thanksgiving was first celebrated on the same date by all states in 1863 by a presidential proclamation of Lincoln.

Influenced by the campaigning of author Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote letters to politicians for around 40 years trying to make it an official holiday, Lincoln proclaimed the date to be the…

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‘Lincoln’ is Quite the Glorification of Abe

‘Lincoln’ is Quite the Glorification of Abe
Slate Magazine

Spielberg’s War Horse of last year’s end was met with much critical acclaim. If that historical epic wasn’t enough, then Spielberg’s Lincoln looks to satisfy your every urge with a political, historical, and patriotic masterpiece. Is it a history lesson? Is it propaganda? Or is it a work of art?

Here’s a sneak peek from Dana Stevens’ review:

Blessedly, we soon move into the main storyline, which focuses very tightly on the last few months of Lincoln’s life, as he struggled both to end the Civil War and to pass the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. The script by Angels in America

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‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ First 9 Minutes Debut

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ First 9 Minutes Debut
Entertainment Weekly

Boldly going where only Christopher Nolan has gone before, the first nine minutes of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness will debut on roughly 500 IMAX screens starting Dec. 14, Paramount Pictures announced Wednesday. The 3-D footage will play in front of IMAX exhibitions of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Well what do you know about that…

For those of you not planning to see The Hobbit in IMAX, never fear, Trek Movie later reported that there would be a theatrical trailer attached to non-IMAX versions of The Hobbit.

 

‘Skyfall’ Opening Title Sequence

‘Skyfall’ Opening Title Sequence

I’m not exactly jumping up and down with excitement about the newest Bond film the way the rest of the world seems to be. Still, it was a decent film, and had some truly great scenes and moments in it.

One of the great things about this film is its opening title sequence. I was not a big fan of the opening title sequences of the previous two Daniel Craig Bond films, but this third film had a pretty awesome one. And for your viewing pleasure, it is embedded below.

Call me a geek, or a nut, or whatever, but details like this really set the tone for a film. A well done opening title…

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