Month: June 2011

Watch The Trailer For Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE!

Here’s a first look at the teaser trailer for DreamWorks Pictures’ WAR HORSE, a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. No one does a massive historical film like Oscar-winning director, Steven Spielberg.

Synopsis:

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

The film stars Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Toby Kebbell, is produced by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, executive produced by Frank Marshall, Revel Guest, with a Screenplay by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis.

Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo and the recent stage play by Nick Stafford, produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain and directed by Tom Morris and Marianne Elliot, WAR HORSE hits theatres on December 28, 2011!

“Like” WAR HORSE on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/WarHorseMovie

Website and Mobile site: warhorsemovie.com

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/warhorsemovie

Paladin Takes THE WHALE With Ryan Reynolds As Narrator & Exec. Producer

PALADIN HAS ‘WHALE’ OF A TIME
in documentary about friendly orca

 New York, June 28, 2011 – THE WHALE, a new documentary about a lonely young killer whale who causes upheaval in a small town and amazement around the world when he tries to make friends with humans, will be released theatrically by Paladin, it was announced by company president, Mark Urman.

THE WHALE (http://www.thewhalemovie.com/) was directed by noted journalist Michael Parfit and veteran producer-cinematographer Suzanne Chisholm, who encountered the young orca whale, nicknamed Luna, at the height of his celebrity and spent several years chronicling his adventures both in print and on film.

Ryan Reynolds, who hails from the very region in Western Canada where the story unfolds, narrates the film and served as executive producer, along with Scarlett Johansson and Eric Desatnik. THE WHALE will play its first commercial engagements in late summer and expand in the fall.

Set on the rugged western coast of Vancouver Island, THE WHALE describes what happens when Luna, a baby orca, gets separated from his family and unexpectedly starts making contact with people along a scenic fjord called Nootka Sound. Because orcas are highly social creatures who spend their lives traveling with their pods, Luna attempts to find a surrogate family among the area residents, much to their delight. But as word spreads about Luna, people become torn between their love for the lonely young whale and fears that human contact might harm him.

Luna’s saga is seen through the eyes of the colorful characters who live and work along the Sound and who fall in love with the whale — including a cook on an old freighter, a fisheries officer conflicted by what he thinks Luna needs and what he is told to do, a grandmother who is arrested for petting Luna, and a Native American elder whose tribe believes Luna is the reincarnation of a chief.

The film also describes how Parfit and Chisholm themselves, who first went to Nootka Sound on assignment for Smithsonian, grow so concerned about Luna’s fate that they get involved in trying to help him, crossing the traditional line between journalist and subject and becoming characters in the very story they are telling. Their efforts to find ways to safely give Luna the attention he seems so determined to get are a major part of the film’s climax.

“THE WHALE is a wondrous experience,” said Urman. “It speaks volumes about our complex and ever-changing relationship with nature.  Michael and Suzanne have told this story so effectively that, while it has all the power of truth, it also has all the emotion and beauty of a perfect fable.”

“We’re thrilled to be releasing THE WHALE with Paladin,” said producer Chisholm. “The team’s experience and success is extraordinary, and we could not have found a better place for this movie.” Parfit adds: “Working with people like Ryan Reynolds on the narration, and Mark Urman and his team on distribution has been a great example of how collaborative film is. The fact that all of them love Luna as much as we do is wonderful.”

Parfit, an award-winning writer, director, and cinematographer, has authored four books, scripted two Imax films and has written many major articles for National Geographic  and Smithsonian magazines. A heavily illustrated feature, written by Parfit, about the couple’s adventures with Luna and how they brought the story to the big screen, appears in Smithsonian’s double summer issue, currently on stands.

The article is also on the Smithsonian website, here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Luna-A-Whale-to-Watch.html#.

Please visit THE WHALE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thewhalemovie.

THE WHALE deal caps a particularly busy season for Paladin, following the highly successful release of Tom Shadyac’s “I Am,” which has grossed over $1.5 million, making it the highest grossing non-studio, non-3D documentary release of the year.  The company launches the award-winning “Love Etc.” on July 1st and recently announced the fall release of Tiffany Shlain’s Sundance favorite, “Connected.”  Also opening this summer for the company is Marcus Dean Fuller’s “One Fall,” and coming in autumn is Margaret Whitton’s romantic comedy, “A Bird of the Air.”

THE HUNGER GAMES Scores T Bone Burnett And Danny Elfman

Santa Monica, CA, June 28, 2011– LIONSGATE has announced an unprecedented film music collaboration between Academy Award® winner and two time nominee T Bone Burnett (CRAZY HEART, COLD MOUNTAIN) and four time Academy Award® nominated composer Danny Elfman (ALICE IN WONDERLAND, SPIDER-MAN) on the music for the highly anticipated film adaptation of THE HUNGER GAMES, based on the first in Suzanne Collins’s runaway bestselling book trilogy. The announcement was made by Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake.

Elfman and Burnett will be collaborating on the film score, with Burnett also serving as the film’s Executive Music Producer, producing songs for the film and soundtrack.

Said Lionsgate’s Head of Film Music Tracy McKnight of the musical dream team assembled on behalf of the film, “THE HUNGER GAMES is such a special property – it has worldwide mass appeal, but it’s also sophisticated, cerebral, soulful, and rebellious. We needed a composer who can translate these qualities musically, and we have not one but two incredible artists in an absolutely thrilling first time ever collaboration.”

Production president Alli Shearmur is overseeing the production for the studio, and the deals for both artists were negotiated by McKnight with Lenny Wohl, EVP Business Affairs Music & Publishing, on behalf of Lionsgate.

Elfman is represented by Richard Kraft and Laura Engel of Kraft-Engel Management, who negotiated the deal on his behalf.  Larry Jenkins manages Burnett and negotiated the deal with Jason Karlov of Barnes & Thornburg LLP on his behalf. Burnett is also represented by Brian Siberell at CAA.

About T Bone Burnett

T Bone Burnett’s 40 years of experience in music and entertainment have earned him an unparalleled reputation as a first-rate innovative artist, songwriter, producer, performer, concert producer, record company owner and artist advocate.

He is a 12-time Grammy® Award winner, earning numerous statues in 2009 — including Album of the Year and Record of the Year — for his production work on Raising Sand, the worldwide smash album from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. That same year, he was also awarded a Grammy® for Best Traditional Blues Album for his work on B.B. King’s One Kind Favor. He received two Grammys® in 2011 for his work on the music for the film Crazy Heart. He previously earned five Grammys® for his work on the 8-times Platinum release, O Brother Where Art Thou?, which also spawned two highly successful national concert tours. Further Grammys® followed for his work on the platinum soundtrack to the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk The Line, and the platinum Tony Bennett / k.d. lang duets album, A Wonderful World.

T Bone produced the critically acclaimed hit film Crazy Heart. He also composed the film’s score and co-wrote many of its original songs, including “The Weary Kind,” which earned T Bone and co-writer, Ryan Bingham, an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe® Award and a Grammy® Award (plus an additional Grammy® for Crazy Heart as Best Compilation Soundtrack album). T Bone’s work on that film also garnered him awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, as well as numerous other critics organizations throughout the U.S. 

He was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2004, along with Elvis Costello in the category of Best Original Song for “The Scarlet Tide” from the film, Cold Mountain. For his work on that film, Burnett also earned the BAFTAs Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music. 

Burnett’s work as an in-demand music producer spans three decades and has resulted in some of music’s biggest-selling and most critically-lauded releases. He is currently producing album projects for Lisa Marie Presley and Jeff Bridges, which will be released in the second half of 2011. Burnett is also collaborating with Mellencamp and author Stephen King on the music for the play Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. Other major productions include best-selling albums from Counting Crows, The Wallflowers, Los Lobos, Cassandra Wilson, Roy Orbison and Ralph Stanley.

T Bone’s first major foray into film was his 1999 collaboration with the Coen Brothers on The Big Lebowski, for which he served as “Musical Archivist.” He has since served as Executive Music Producer on numerous additional films, including Across The Universe, the aforementioned Walk The Line (for which he also composed the score) and The Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

About Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman has earned numerous honors, including a Grammy Award®, an Emmy Award®, three Golden Globe® nominations, and four Academy Award® nominations.  In 1998, he was honored with dual Oscar® nominations for Best Original Score for his work on Barry Sonnenfeld’s “Men in Black” and Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting.”  He received his third Oscar® nomination for the score for Tim Burton’s acclaimed fantasy “Big Fish.” Elfman earned his most recent Oscar® nomination for his score for the acclaimed biopic “Milk,” directed by Gus Van Sant and his most recent Golden Globe® nomination for his score to Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”  

In all, Elfman has composed more than 60 motion-picture scores of every genre, including “Spider-Man (1&2),” “Batman” and “Batman Returns” “Men In Black (1&2),” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Beetlejuice,” “To Die For,” “A Simple Plan,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Family Man,” “Wanted,” “Taking Woodstock,” “Dick Tracy,” “Darkman,” and “Chicago.”

For 17 years he wrote and performed with rock band Oingo Boingo, producing such hits as “Weird Science” and “Dead Man’s Party.” 

Elfman’s first full-length orchestral commission, Serenada Schizophrana premiered at Carnegie Hall. His first composition for ballet “Rabbit and Rogue” had its American Ballet Theatre (ABT) World Premiere at The Metropolitan Opera House at New York’s Lincoln Center in June 2008. The ballet was choreographed by Twyla Tharp and commissioned by ABT.

Elfman’s most recent film credits include the smash hit, “Alice In Wonderland,” and the upcoming “Reel Steel,” directed by Shawn Levy, Gus Van Sant’s “Restless”, “Frankenweenie”, and ”Dark Shadows.”

His Cirque du Soleil show, “Iris” opens as a permanent show at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater in 2011. 

About The Hunger Games

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games.  Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy.  If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Collins’ best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of novels which have developed a global following. 

The film will be released on March 23, 2012. 

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with the popular comedy “Blue Mountain State” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spin-off “Meet The Browns,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such hits as THE EXPENDABLES, THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, SAW 3D, THE LAST EXORCISM, KICK ASS and PRECIOUS. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL New Trailer, Synopsis And Images Are Here!

Director Brad Bird and Producer J.J. Abrams bring us the action packed, entertainment event of the holiday season with MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL.

Cruise + Renner = a whole lot of sizzle! And that splash of Simon Pegg is fantastic!!

Synopsis:

The new film in the series, which has grossed $2 billion dollars worldwide, will feature a new team: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton and Simon Pegg.

This is not just another mission.

The IMF is shut down when it’s implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization’s name. No help, no contact, off the grid.  You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL also features Josh Holloway, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Lea Seydoux, and Anil Kapoor. Look for it in theatres and IMAX December 2011.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.missionimpossible.com/
“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/missionimpossiblemovie
Follow the film on Twitter: @ghostprotocol

“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL”
Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions Present
A Bad Robot Production
A Brad Bird Film
Executive Producers  Sherryl Clark  Jeffrey Chernov
Produced by Tom Cruise   J.J. Abrams   Bryan Burk
Written by Josh Appelbaum & Andre Nemec
Directed by Brad Bird

YOU SAY TOW MATER… I SAY… TOW MATTER – The Contest

Hey! I kept it clean… Which is more than I can say for Mater! He’s been racing around the world in celebration of CARS 2, and that is bound to dirty up your windshield! So, while he gets some much needed R & R (Rest and Refueling… duh!) WAMG is going to take over the celebration by giving away CARS 2 PRIZE PACKS! Hooray!!!

(Insert Hi-Five’s Here)

WINNERS WILL RECEIVE: (PRIZES SUBJECT TO SUBSTITUTION)

Seriously… Hi-Five this screen or I am not telling you about these fabulous prizes! Go ahead… I’ll wait……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

…See! That wasn’t so bad!

 

– CARS 2 t-shirt in adult sizes of S, M, L, XL

– CARS 2 soundtrack

pass

– CARS 2 set of 3 bumper tickets

– CARS 2 temporary tattoo sheet (2 per winner)

Now that is one roaring prize pack!

(Yes, I am fully aware of the drastic new level of “cheesy” that I just reached!)

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT WITH A US MAILING ADDRESS. PRIZE WILL NOT BE SHIPPED OUTSIDE OF THE US.

2. FILL OUT YOUR FULL (REAL) NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW. (E-mail will not be visible)

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION – THE HUMAN RACE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO AUTOMOBILES. WHAT TYPE OF AUTOMOBILE WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

The contest winner will be picked on MONDAY, JULY 4. SUBMISSIONS MUST BE ENTERED BY SUNDAY, JULY3 at 11:59 p.m CST.

Synopsis:

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in CARS 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.

CARS 2 is in theaters now, and presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters.
Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here and follow it on Twitter here.

 

Watch TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Red Carpet LIVE! Plus 10 Reasons Why We LOVE The Film!

You can tune in right here for the TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON premiere LIVE from New York City, TODAY, at 5:30 p.m/EST to watch director Michael Bay and stars Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand and Ken Jeong walk the red carpet. The event will be streamed free at yhoo.it/transformerspremiere.

Michael Bay’s TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON will be shown exclusively at 3D and IMAX locations across the country beginning at 9PM local time Tonight, June 28th, allowing moviegoers nationwide to be among the first to see the latest installment in the hit franchise, and the first to be shot in 3D. The movie will open wide beginning at 12AM on June 29th.

On Monday evening, the crew of WAMG went to the screening of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON and found there was much to love about Michael Bay’s spectacular third chapter in the Autobots vs the Decepticons saga – plus a few things not in the movie. There are some scenes that’ll leave you literally slack-jawed and one cameo more than a little misty. So here goes.

1. Linkin Park Performing “Iridescent” Live in Moscow

In celebration of the film, Linkin Park performed a special outdoor concert to more than 10,000 fans at Vasilyevsky Spusk of the Red Square in Moscow – with the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Basilica as the backdrop (June 23rd). The 3D Michael Bay film opened the Moscow International Film Festival. You can hear the song during the film’s end credits.

2. Tyrese Gibson on The Green Carpet

Okay, so maybe this wasn’t exactly a part of the film, but the always handsome Tyrese Gibson’s arrival on the green carpet for the Global Premiere of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON made us sit up and take notice. Moscow Film Festival on June 23, 2011 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Lucian Capellaro).

3. The 3D Look Of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

Held in May at the Paramount Theater at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, Director/Executive Producer Michael Bay and James Cameron spoke to the gathered crowd of attendees at the TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON 3D – TRANSFORMING VISUAL ART: A Conversation with Michael Bay and James Cameron. After seeing this roller coaster of a movie, we’re convinced!

4. The Wingman Scene & Behind-the-Scenes Look
Photo credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Wingsuit flyers in TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, from Paramount Pictures. ©2011 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Hasbro, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. © 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

5. Bumblebee in TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

Sam Witwicky’s faithful Autobot once again had us wishing for a guardian camaro to call our own.

6. IMAX-Sized Transformers Posters

7. Optimus Prime and Sentinel Prime (spoilers ahead)

Lots to love about the Primes in the 3rd installment. To begin with, Optimus now transforms into a conventional Peterbilt 379 cab, rather than the cab over design of his original Generation 1 body, however he keeps his first generation trailer. Second, the autobot smackdown between Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy) and Optimus Prime. Lastly, big cheers to the Buzz Aldrin cameo & to the STAR TREK nod by the filmmakers.

8. BIG action scenes between the Autobots and Decepticons

Invisotext Spoiler:

When Optimus learns that the humans have concealed the discovery of a Cybertronian ship on the moon he and Ratchet investigate. They recover Sentinel Prime, who Optimus returns to life using the Matrix. After Sentinel Prime insists the Earth expel the Autobots the Wreckers prepare the Autobot ship Xantium for flight. The Autobots escape in the first booster stage and return to Earth before Starscream destroys the ship. Optimus kills Shockwave in combat and uses Shockwave’s weapon to stop the space bridge from bringing Cybertron to Earth.

9. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Berlin premiere of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON on June 25th, 2011 at the CineStar Sony Center

and finally

10. Michael Bay’s Thank You Note To The Fans

(via http://www.michaelbay.com/)


BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 25: Director Michael Bay attends the “Transformers 3” European premiere on June 25, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images for Paramount)

06/26/2011

I just want to take the opportunity to thank all the fans around the world for letting me have fun with the Transformers franchise. It has been a wonderful opportunity to have worked with about 4000 crew members around the world. These artists are some of the very best in the entire film business. I’m honored to have had you work along side me. We had an amazing time.

“Dark of the Moon” has some of the most technically challenging sequences ever shot. And shot in 3D. I must urge you to find the very best theatre and see this movie in that format. 3D was a forethought, not an afterthought in this movie. I’m glad Jim Cameron and Steven Spielberg really convinced me to shoot in this new technology. We used and invented many new techniques to make the 3D sharper, brighter and more color contrast. I think theatre owners heard their audience that they need to respect the specs of the projectors and not dim the bulbs to save money.

Many theaters are presenting it in the brand new 7.1 sound, which is awesome. This is the most comple intricate sound track that me and my Academy Awarding winning sound team have done. They really out did themselves to make this a big picture experience. Hopefully you will have as much fun watching this movie as we all had making it.

Thanks,

Michael Bay

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 26: Fans smile at the Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon – UK Premiere at the BFI IMAX on June 26, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON – The Review

Optimus Prime proves that he is still a bad-ass!

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is having a hard time after college. Sure, he might have saved the world a few times, and he may have a ridiculously hot girlfriend, but that doesn’t help him gain any sort of meaningful employment. It seems that without the Decepticons roaming around, he doesn’t feel like he has a purpose. Little does he know, the Decepticons are back, with something huge up their sleeve.

See, when the U.S. landed on the moon, there was a lot that they hid… such as the giant spacecraft that was busted down on the dark side of the moon! Since we decided to hide that little fact, the Decepticons have had plenty of time to plan their next move. They want to bring Cybertron down to Earth. The Autobots, along with Sam, are unprepared, but ready to fight once again to prevent the takeover of Earth, and the enslavement of the human race.

I really enjoyed this film! The 3D was absolutely stunning. They didn’t cram it down your throat, or throw in a whole bunch of nonsense just so that it pops out into the audiences face. Instead, they used the 3D to enhance the space scenes, as well as the fight scenes. The scenes from space were breathtaking. Between the extensive detail of the planets and the gorgeous camera glides… this is 3D done right!

The Autobots look better than ever! Their transformations were smoother and their presence feels more substantial on screen! It’s hard not to get excited when they transform from their car forms and into their fighting forms! When that happens, you know that some amazing action is about to take place! Bumblebee is still my favorite, but they all kick some serious ass!

The only effect that I was disappointed in was their CGI effect of President Kennedy. The black and white television scenes were not bad, but when they showed “him” in color, talking with his staff, it looked horrible. His mouth did not match up, and it looked horribly cheesy. His skin color didn’t even match up! Who was that orange man? Last time I checked, Kennedy was not from the Jersey Shore! Nixon’s clips were so fast that even if they did mess him up, you would have to concentrate on it to really see it. Kennedy, however, has more screen time and it is painfully obvious that he could have been done better.

This is my favorite cast in the franchise. They put together a great mixture of old and new cast members, which really made this film stand out. Of course, leading out the cast is Shia LaBeouf. I have been a fan of LaBeouf since I first saw him on the Disney Channel. From an early age, you could tell that he was(is) incredibly talented. His smart-assed, slightly nerdy portrayal of Sam is wildly entertaining. LaBeouf is the perfect combination of loud-mouthed geek… mixed with underlying action star. Patrick Dempsey joined the cast as a handsome, wealthy businessman who seems to be after Sam’s girlfriend. It’s not very often that we get to see Dempsey in a villainous role, and I have to say, I loved it!

I need to just go ahead and throw this out there… just once… There is a whole lot of sexy going on in this film! There is always a piece of eye candy for the gentlemen, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley certainly fulfills that role. I was actually impressed by her. For her first big film, I thought she did a wonderful job… especially since they didn’t show her speaking in the trailer! Not gonna lie, that didn’t give me high hopes. Still, she prevailed. Sure, when I saw the ass shots in the first couple of minutes, I said to myself “Noooow it’s a Michael Bay film!”, but he didn’t ignore the ladies this time. Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson are back for some good old fashioned ass-kicking. As if this weren’t enough of a tasty eye treat, they brought in Patrick Dempsey! Dempsey plays Dylan, a suave, rich jerk that is use to getting what he wants. Let me clue you in on something… making the hot guy an asshole (within reason, of course) only makes him more desirable! Well played Bay… Well played… (I know everyone goes crazy for his McDreamy character, but I’d gladly take Ronald Miller from CAN’T BUY ME LOVE any day!).  Correct me if I am wrong, but LaBeouf faired rather well to round out this snack pack. He seems to have packed on some muscle in this film, and despite them not really showcasing it, it was noticeable. (Plus, I am always a sucker for the dorky… snarky types!)

John Malkovich makes his presence known in this installment as Sam’s new boss. I can’t decide if I would love to have him as a boss, or if he would have me hiding under my cubicle in tears! Either way, it’s John Malkovich! He wins at life! (Yep, that’s what I meant… That guy WINS… at LIFE!). Oh yeah, Ken Jeong makes his Transformers debut, and he does not disappoint!

Another point that I need to bring up… the Megan Fox issue. This movie did not lack because Megan Fox was absent. In fact, I think Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as Carly fit into the film perfectly. She had just the right amount of innocence in her role. Megan Fox can kick ass, and yes, she is incredibly sexy, but I just don’t think that her relationship with the character of Sam would have fit in with the rest of the story. Fox was a great “first girl” for Sam… her character Mikaela was the hot bitch. Now that Sam is older, he needs a stable love. Although Carly plays up the sass in the beginning, her character certainly does not have that bitchy, or cocky tone that the character of Mikaela had. It’s nothing against Fox, but I just don’t think that her character would have fit in with this film.

This is the way that Transformers should have been done from the beginning.

OVERALL RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Netflix Nuggets: Celebrate the 4th of July With a Lot of Movies!

Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films being made available by Netflix for instant streaming. Important Note: There may be some films that do not become available on the specified dates. This is merely a report of the most accurate release dates I can find, but is not directly confirmed by Netflix themselves. Continue reading Netflix Nuggets: Celebrate the 4th of July With a Lot of Movies!

IMMORTALS Trailer No. 2

Watch the legends of the Greek Gods come to life like never before  in the second trailer for director Tarsem Singh’s Greek epic IMMORTALS which debuted this morning at Ryan Seacrest.com

From the producers of 300, Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, Immortals tells the story of the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke), who leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity. A mortal chosen by Zeus named Theseus (Cavill) must lead the fight against Hyperion and his evil army with the fate of mankind and the Gods at Stake.

IMMORTALS stars Henry Cavill (Superman: Man of Steel), Luke Evans (Robin Hood), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Mickey Rourke (Iron Man 2), Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies) and John Hurt (Hellboy).

IMMORTALS will be in theaters in 3D on November 11, 2011.

“Like” the film on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/immortals

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD Goes 4D With Aromascope

DIMENSION FILMS TAKES MOVIEGOERS TO A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION

New York, NY – Dimension Films announced has that SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD is taking moviegoers to a whole new dimension in 4D with Aromascope. Cutting edge filmmaker and director of the highly popular SPY KIDS franchise, Robert Rodriguez, was one of the first to re-introduce audiences to 3D since its inception in the 1950s. After many years away from the cultural mindset Rodriguez brought back a whole new wave and rebirth of 3D into mainstream cinema in 2003 with SPY KIDS 3-D: GAME OVER. The film impressed and entertained audiences and went on to gross close to $200 million.This innovative and celebrated franchise will now be the first to introduce audiences to the new adventure of 4D where they will have 8 special opportunities throughout the movie to access the action interactively through smell. The introduction of scent in the movie going experience adds to the outrageous fun by enhancing the action, adventure and comedy to take you where no film has gone before.

With each individual admission ticket, kids and parents will also receive an Aromascope card that is free of charge with easy to read numbers outlined. As the numbers flash on the movie screen the audience will rub the corresponding number on their card. When each of the 8 aromas are unleashed you will get to experience a special moment in the film and be transported into scenes in the family adventure film. This fun added attraction takes the audience beyond sight and sound and into a symphony of scents as the movie is coming to life.

“Families are going to love the interactivity of this new addition to the movie going experience. And best of all, you won’t have to pay extra for 4D Aromascope, which will be provided to every theater whether it be 2D or 3D,” said Robert Rodriguez.

4 times the gadgets, 4 times the adventure and 4 times the dimension. Audiences can get a whiff of the bigger, better experience on August 19th when SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D opens in theaters nationwide.

“Like” the film on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/spykids

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, including Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE, THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; and SCRE4M. Upcoming releases include SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D, APOLLO 18, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, THE DETAILS and MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. Recently wrapping are I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT and COGAN’S TRADE.