Intellectual: The Thing That I am Not

Intellectual: The Thing That I am Not

Lucy over-promised with it’s trailers, and under-delivered in the theater. That’s the sad truth of it if you want Joe and TJ’s opinion. The ideas were good, but they were only half fleshed out and the film was a bit of a mess, really and that’s really a bummer. Also this week, TJ and Joe spend some time reflecting on the sad news of Robin Williams tragic death. He made many great films over the years that are worth remembering. And then a bit of other film news: everyone involved with ‘Galaxy Quest’ wants there to be a sequel, ‘Turtles’ beats ‘Guardians’ at the box office, and the ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ extended directors cut will come to Blu-ray in 2015 sometime.

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Leaked ‘Star Wars VII’ Set Photos Inside the Millennium Falcon

Leaked ‘Star Wars VII’ Set Photos Inside the Millennium Falcon
B. Alan Orange — MovieWeb

More set photos have leaked from Star Wars: Episode VII, which is continuing to shoot in London at Shepperton’s Pinewood Studios under the direction of J.J. Abrams. This time, we’re taken inside the iconic Millennium Falcon, which looks no different than it first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Get your first look from inside the Cockpit, where Han Solo and Chewbacca will pilot this legendary spacecraft that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. We also get to see what is either the hallway inside the ship itself, or the hallway of another spacecraft.

These are…

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‘Mortdecai’ Trailer — Johnny Depp as a Suave and Sophisticated Idiot

‘Mortdecai’ Trailer — Johnny Depp as a Suave and Sophisticated Idiot

We all know that the insane idiot is a role Johnny Depp is well suited for. But what about the suave and sophisticated idiot. Well if this trailer is any indication, he’s again, the right fit for the role. I will caution that though the role seems to suite him well, you may not quite want to take your kiddos to see this one as you would, say, a Pirates of the Caribbean film (though, truthfully, I don’t let my kids see those just yet). This one looks to be a bit darker and more on the crass side of the humor spectrum. It almost seems a bit like a cross between Johnny English slapstick almost…

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‘Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt’ Trailer

‘Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt’ Trailer

I don’t think I’m even going to bother to see this even if I (mostly) agree with the general political perspective of the films. That’s because these films are missing something big that it takes to make movies work: heart. It’s too politically motivated and that never makes for a great film. I have the same problem with films that have a major liberal agenda. So my point is that I don’t like films that take a poltical theme and make it their main riff. While the second film was somewhat better in the acting and general production value department, neither were very good. I have no hope that…

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Paramount Sets 2016 Date on ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Sequel

Paramount Sets 2016 Date on ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Sequel
Kevin Jagernauth — The Playlist

‘TMNT’ proved that a familiar property will motivate ticketbuyers, earning a whopping $65 million in its opening weekend. Of course, a sequel will follow…

THR reports that Paramount has re-upped screenwriters Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec to pen “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2” (or whatever it will be called). This is no  “wait-and-see-how-the-script-turns-out” scenario, as the studio has also stamped a June 3 2016 release date for the movie.

I think I’m going to be sick…

Robin Williams Has Passed Away at Age 63

Robin Williams Has Passed Away at Age 63
Russ Fischer — /Film

Robin Williams was found dead today, report authorities in his home town. The report of Williams’ death comes from the Marin County Sheriff department. The department released a statement saying that authorities found Robin McLaurin Williams unconscious and not breathing inside his home in Tiburon, CA, and that he was pronounced dead this afternoon. The report says that suicide is suspected, but a true cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

Williams was equally known for his manic comic energy and his ability to portray heavy dramatic roles. He was an uncanny chameleon, mimic, and clown,…

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Everyone Involved With ‘Galaxy Quest’ Wants a Sequel

Everyone Involved With ‘Galaxy Quest’ Wants a Sequel
Germain Lussier — Film

1999 was an amazing year of movies. One of the best ever. Being John Malkovich, The Matrix, Fight Club, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, American Beauty, the list goes on and on. A film that also belongs on that list, but is rarely mentioned in the same space, is Galaxy Quest. The smart, hilarious send-up of geek culture with a sci-fi twist was a modest hit, grossing $91 million worldwide, but continues to be popular because it struck a cultural chord and was so ahead of its time.

The idea of a Galaxy Quest sequel has been batted around for years. In a recent oral history of the film done by MTV,…

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‘Turtles’ tops ‘Guardians’ with $65 million

‘Turtles’ tops ‘Guardians’ with $65 million
Lindsey Bahr — Entertainment Weekly

Turtle Power does exist after all. The heroes in a half shell surpassed industry and analyst expectations by more than $20 million, raking in an estimated $65 million in its first weekend in theaters. With an additional $28.7 million from 19 international territories, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which cost $125 million to produce, has earned $93.7 million globally. No wonder Paramount has already announced plans for a summer 2016 sequel.

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Guardians of the Galaxy took second place with $41.5 million, falling an expected 56 percent from its blockbuster debut.

There is no justice in…

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Kristen Stewart as Guantanamo Bay guard in ‘Camp X-Ray’ trailer

Kristen Stewart as Guantanamo Bay guard in ‘Camp X-Ray’ trailer

I hesitated to post this for multiple reasons. MovieByte is obviously not your run of the mill, “post every movie news item that comes along” sort of place. It’s very carefully curated with things that I like and am interested in. Which is why I have decided to post this trailer. I’m interested in it and I want to see it.

I already here you dissenting because the film has Kristen Stewart in it. I hear (read in a whiny, sing song mocking voice), “she’s a terrible actor”, or “she’s so laconic”, or “she’s a disgrace”, and “she cheated on Robert Pattinson​ with that no-good director and I’m…

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‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Pushes Disney over the $1B Mark This Year

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Pushes Disney over the $1B Mark This Year
Jackson McHenry — Entertainment Weekly

Following last weekend’s record-breaking debut of Guardians of the Galaxy, Disney hit the $1 billion mark for domestic box-office returns this week.

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Aside from the $219.3 million global total of Guardians to date, Disney’s earnings have come primarily from Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($713.6 million), Maleficent ($727.9 million), and Frozen (which earned at total of $1.27 billion worldwide, much of that this year).

Gangbuster of a year for Disney.