‘Star Wars Episode VII’ Will Be Shot on Film

‘Star Wars Episode VII’ Will Be Shot on Film
Peter Sciretta - /Film

Cinematographer Dan Mindel ASC, BSC will be reteaming with JJ Abrams to shoot Star Wars Episode VII. That comes as no surprise as Mindel worked with Abrams on the Star Trek films and Mission: Impossible III. The big news is that Mindel says that Episode 7 will be shot on Kodak film stock 5219 film, NOT digital cameras like the last couple prequel movies. The Phantom Menace was the last Star Wars film to be shot with film cameras (although some trivia fanatics will note, the movie did include a digitally photographed shot).

This is really, really, extremely good news. Shooting on film…

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‘The Book Thief’ Trailer Starring Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson

‘The Book Thief’ Trailer Starring Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson

Hey, this looks downright good! It’s from Downton Abbey director Brian Percival (Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore?). I don’t know much about Downton Abbey but I hear it’s good.

This is also from the studio behind Life of Pi which many liked, and which Eric Rauch and Michael Minkoff talked about on Movieology and seemed to like.

During WWII, a young girl is living with her foster parents outside Munich, and they must hide a Jewish refugee in their home. The film arrives in theaters on November 15th. And another goody, it’s scored by none other than John Williams.

Sacrilege! Joss Doesn’t Like End of ‘Empire Strikes Back’

Sacrilege! Joss Doesn’t Like End of ‘Empire Strikes Back’
James Hibberd - Entertainment Weekly

Make no mistake: It’s not that Joss Whedon doesn’t like The Empire Strikes Back. When recently asked a question about doing a sequel to one of his own works, he cited the fan-favorite entry in the Star Wars saga along with The Godfather Part II as sequels that got it right. But The Avengers writer-director does have an issue withEmpire‘s ending – or its lack of one, to be exact.

Empire committed the cardinal sin of not actually ending,” Whedon noted during his 10-page deep-dive interview with Entertainment Weekly in this week’s issue. “Which at the time I was appalled by and I still think…

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Ben Affleck to Play Batman in ‘Man of Steel’ Sequel

Ben Affleck to Play Batman in ‘Man of Steel’ Sequel
Lucy O’Brien - IGN.com

Ben Affleck is set to star as Batman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel sequel, Warner Bros. has announced.

As reported by The Wrap, Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production at Warner Bros. made the following statement earlier today:

“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”

“Ben provides an interesting…

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What To See: Weekend of August 22, 2013

What To See: Weekend of August 22, 2013

EDIT: Mike Fissel, friend of the site and who has been on The MovieByte Podcast with me more than once had something to say in the comments below that I thought was worth bringing up to the top.

So, The World’s End, the BEST thing you can see this weekend (probably this month). This movie is the final installment in “The Blood and Ice Cream” trilogy from Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. The trilogy included Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz - both incredibly clever and brilliant comedies. It’s already been out for nearly a month overseas and now we’re finally getting our shot.

For anyone looking…

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‘Getaway’ Trailer 2 Featuring Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, and Jon Voight

‘Getaway’ Trailer 2 Featuring Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, and Jon Voight

I don’t know, could be interesting, but first I’ll have to get over the fact that Selena Gomez is in it. She’s seems like nothing more than a teen idol up until this point and I admit that I’ve never actually seen her in anything. So maybe she’s good and I just don’t know it.

We’ll see because I’m willing to give this film a chance, even if it does look like it has elements of inspiration from ‘Taken’. The film hits theaters on August 30th.

Hayley Atwell Joins Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella

Hayley Atwell Joins Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella
Kevin Jagernauth - The Playlist

Hayley Atwell—probably best known to nerds as Peggy from “Captain America: The First Avenger” and the upcoming “Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter”—has tweeted today, “Shooting Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella in Pinewood this week.” No word yet on her role, but she joins an already impressive cast for Disney‘s live action reboot, that includes Lily James in the lead, Cate Blanchett as the Evil Stepmother, and “Game Of Thrones” star Richard Madden as the prince, along with Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera as the stepsisters. Maybe Atwell is rounding out that trio? We’ll find out soon enough. The…

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Joss Whedon on Ultron And Differing From Comics

Joss Whedon on Ultron And Differing From Comics
James Hibberd - Entertainment Weekly

Created by a scientist in the Marvel comics, Ultron is a self-aware robot who develops a lust for power. He has a laundry list of abilities — super-human strength, speed, stamina, durability, flight, mind control, a coma ray and a genius intellect. For Avengers: Age of Ultron, Whedon reveals to Entertainment Weekly in this week’s cover story that he’s stripping back some of Ultron’s abilities and will find a way to humanize — to some degree — the angry bot.

“I knew right away what I wanted to do with him,” Whedon says. “He’s always trying to destroy the Avengers, goddamn it, he’s got a bee…

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Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch Instead of Saoirse Ronan

Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch Instead of Saoirse Ronan
Brendon Connelly - Bleeding Cool

According to my sources, Saoirse Ronan has passed on the role of Wanda Maximoff, The Scarlet Witch, in The Avengers: Age of Ultrondespite being, at some point or another, Joss Whedon‘s top pick for the role.

Unfazed, however, Whedon and Marvel then moved their attentions on to Elizabeth Olsen.

I always feel awkward reporting on these “second choice” moments, but then I remember how Harrison Ford probably hasn’t ever woken up in a cold sweat from a Tom Selleck nightmare and I feel a bit better about it.

Olsen is a great choice, I think, because she’s a pretty good choice for anything. The…

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J.J. Abrams Admits Lens Flares are “Ridiculous”

J.J. Abrams Admits Lens Flares are “Ridiculous”
Meredith Woerner - io9

If you’ve seen a single second of Abrams’Star Trek you know the film is stuffed with audience blinding lens flashes. J.J. Abrams admitted he got a bit carried away, but explained why they’re there.

At the Star Trek press conference this weekend, J.J. Abrams addressed the press and when it was io9’s turn, we asked him the one thing that had been plaguing us since the first shiny Trek clip was released:

I’m curious to hear more about why you decided to use so many lens flares, and exactly when you decided to use them?

[Smiles] I don’t know what you’re talking about. [Laughs] I’m kidding. I…

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