Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox International jointly announced on February 1st that fans the world over had rushed the web – crashing multiple servers in the process – to secure advance tickets for the now sold-out February 14th preview screenings of TITANIC in 3D. Well guess what WAMG readers, we have some of those highly sought after passes for the Valentine’s Day screening here in St. Louis. That’s right, you have the opportunity to be one of the many moviegoers who are lucky enough to secure a seat to be among the first people anywhere to see the newly re-mastered TITANIC in 3D, in advance of the film’s worldwide release on Wednesday, April 4, 2012!

Photocredit: Merie Weismiller Wallace © 2011 Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What ship recently made the news when it went down, ala the Titanic, with a hole ripped in its hull and what was the name of the captain, who unlike the Titanic, DID NOT go down with the ship?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Cameron, who also directed the breakthrough 3D epic AVATAR, will bring TITANIC to life as audiences have never seen it before, digitally re-mastered to an unparalleled 4K 3D, harnessing the innovative technology of StereoD. The re-release of TITANIC also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Titanic setting sail on April 10, 1912. Written, directed and produced by James Cameron, TITANIC is the second highest grossing movie of all time. It is one of only three films to have received a record 11 Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Director; and launched the careers of stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Photocredit: Merie Weismiller Wallace © 2011 Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Called “A spectacular demonstration of what modern technology can contribute to dramatic storytelling” by Variety upon it’s release in 1997, the long in the works 3D conversion was overseen Cameron and his Lightstorm producing partner Jon Landau who produced the hit movie.

TITANIC in 3D will be in theaters Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

Learn more about TITANIC in 3D at http://www.titanicmovie.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TitanicMovie

Follow it on Twitter: @TitanicMovie

Twentieth Century Fox is declaring “War” on Valentine’s Day with its comedy-action film THIS MEANS WAR, on Tuesday, February 14.

In the film, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy portray the world’s deadliest CIA operatives, as well as inseparable partners and best friends… until they fall for the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis ever – each other.

WAMG has passes to the advance screening of THIS MEANS WAR – Monday, February 13th at 7pm at Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Cine.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: After watching the trailer above, you must pick a side – Team Pine or Team Hardy…and tell us why!

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Official Site: http://www.thismeanswarmovie.com

“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thismeanswar

Follow it on Twitter: @ThisMeansWarMov #ThisMeansWar

Nicolas Cage reprises his role as Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In this gritty new vision for the character, directed by Neveldine/Taylor (Crank), Johnny is still struggling with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter – but he may risk everything as he teams up with the leader of a group of rebel monks (Idris Elba) to save a young boy from the devil…and possibly rid himself of his curse forever.

WAMG has passes to the advance screening of GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE on February, 16, 2012 at 7PM at B&B Wildwood Theatre.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Name the actor who played Mephistopheles in the 2007 film.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE in 3D will ride into theaters February 17, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.thespiritofvengeance.com/
“Like” Ghost Rider on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghostridermovie
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/GhostRider #GhostRider

This film has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for INTENSE SEQUENCES OF ACTION AND VIOLENCE, SOME DISTURBING IMAGES, AND LANGUAGE.

Interview conducted by Tom Stockman February 1st, 2012

It looks like Hammer Horror really is back. THE WOMAN IN BLACK, the new ghost story from the rebooted Hammer studios, made over 21 million dollars in the U.S. this past weekend. This is exciting news to the many fans of the British studio, which produced so many wonderful horror films in the ‘50’s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. THE WOMAN IN BLACK is not the first film from the new Hammer, but it is the first of their films to adopt the period gothic formula of old, and its success bodes well for the studio. Hammer is the specialty genre label of its parent company, Exclusive Media.  Simon Oakes is Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media Group and President & CEO of Hammer. He led the acquisition and recapitalization of Hammer in 2007. Nigel Sinclair is Co-Chairman and CEO of Exclusive Media, one of the industry’s leading independent production and distribution companies. Mr. Oakes and Mr.Sinclair took the time from their schedules to talk to We Are Movie Geeks about THE WOMAN IN BLACK and the future of Hammer Horror.

We Are Movie Geeks: The trailer for THE WOMAN IN BLACK makes it look like a gothic horror film in the grand tradition of the House of Hammer, certainly more than THE RESIDENT or LET ME IN. Do you think that production designer Kave Quinn was consciously trying to make this film look like a vintage Hammer production?

Simon Oakes: Good question. I think the material lent itself to that sort of production design and I’m very pleased that you raised the point of production design because I think that Kave is extremely talented and created an incredible world and when you see the movie I think you’ll see that. Everybody who has read the book, which has been a best seller for 25 years, has a sense of what Eel March House looks like, and the play has been running in England for 22 years, so that’s what we were up against. People had used their imagination . But yes, the book is a pastiche of all gothic horror of the 19th century and it’s all about material that lends itself to that, just as with LET ME IN when we had to recreate a world that was America in the 1980′s.

WAMG: You mentioned Eel March House, which in the trailer looks wonderfully scary. Was that a set that was built or did you actually find that house somewhere?

SO: There’s always a bit of cheating going on in the process as you know. The actual house is real. We found it up the East coast of England in Peterborough at the end of a causeway so that was all real. The house was all real, but we built the interiors.

WAMG: What made James Watkins the right director for THE WOMAN IN BLACK ?

Nigel Sinclair: I think what James revealed as a director was his visual acuity, his ability to understand the mood and emotion of a moment and how a human being who was experiencing what Daniel was experiencing would not need a lot of massive visual cues, just a combination of sound and light and a sensory reaction to things which, I hate to call it Hitchcockian, but it is. I think that his talents range from production design to sound design to directing his actors and understanding his story. The scenario of this tale makes it an incredible powerful story.

SO: You’re right. I think James needs to be credited on two levels. One is that he’s a technician and that he worked carefully in building his team everything from the costume and makeup to cameraman so he basically covered all of the options in terms of production for the film. Secondly, he has a sensibility about the genre and he knows that if you don’t care about the characters, then you don’t have a great horror movie, so he wasn’t shy about having the jumps and the scares and the fear and the suspense but at the same time he made sure that you’re rooting for Daniel’s character Arthur, that you actually care about him and his family and why he’s doing what he’s doing. You never once question why he’s puttuing himself in jeopardy as opposed to just getting the hell out of there. And that’s the skill that James has, understating the genre but at the same time saying “Let’s care about the story”.

WAMG: And James Watkins had made EDEN LAKE in 2008 which was a very scary film.

SO: Of course, a very good film.

WAMG: You have a built-in audience for THE WOMAN IN BLACK with the casting of Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur. Was the role offered to him or did he audition? How did he get this role?

NS: Well Simon know Daniel’s agent very well and we had been discussing internally how powerful we thought Daniel was in his legendary performances in the Potter films. We thought he demonstrated tremendous range, which is a quality we were looking for with THE WOMAN IN BLACK and we got the script to Daniel and he read it on a plane ride to New York and he told his agent that he’d like to do this movie and meet the director.

WAMG: Daniel Radcliffe is 22 years old yet in THE WOMAN IN BLACK  he’s playing the widowed father of a 5-year old son. Was the script adjusted at all to accommodate this younger actor?

NS: No, not really. The original script was written specifically toward the description in the original novella, but we took the view that he would be in his twenties. People had children younger in those days so it was conceivable and believable that he could be that character. It was a good question, because Daniel’s first thought was that he liked the script and wanted the part but he needed to be convinced as well that he could do this. James Watkins met Daniel in Los Angeles right after Daniel had read the script and convinced him that he could pull it off. When that was decided, everything else fell into place quite easily.

WAMG: How was Daniel Radcliffe to work with?

NS: There’s an old word to use to describe people like him and that is trooper. He was amazing.

SO: Daniel’s reputation is that he’s had this character and he’s grown in to extraordinary fame and prosperity and he wears it well. With some people, that could drive them over the edge, but not Daniel. He’s got a very nice personality, he’s generous, and very conscious and aware of his great opportunities.

NS: On the last day of shooting his part. Simon got on old Hammer poster from the original DRACULA from 1957 and presented it Daniel, which was a fitting gift to give to someone who has everything. On his last day, he brought everybody up to the top of the stpes, the gaffers and the crew, and said “When I left Potter, I wondered what kind of world I was jumping in to and you all have become my new family. You’ve taken me into your heart and protected me and we’ve made this movie together and I can’t image a more magic way to go next after Potter”, and it was very touching.

WAMG: Do you think Daniel Radcliffe had any familiarity with the vintage Hammer films?

NS: Oh yes, he was a Hammer fan, that’s why this worked for him. He knew all about Hammer which is why he was so excited about Simon getting him that poster. Daniel is quite a cinephile. He’s up on movies, he knows a lot about films, he comes from a film family and I can saw that he thought helping rebuild Hammer for the 21^st century was something he wanted to be part of and looking at the press he did on London for the premiere last week, he went to great lengths to describe how proud he was to be part of relaunching this great British film label.

WAMG: Was there ever talk of a cameo for Christopher Lee in THE WOMAN IN BLACK?

SO: No, not this one. Christopher worked with us on THE RESIDENT, and he’s amazing.

WAMG: Were you both Hammer horror fans as younger men? Were you able to see the Hammer classics on the big screen when they were new?

SO: Tragically yes, we’re both old enough to remember those films when they first came out. They had a huge impact on me. I’m often asked what my favorite is and I used to love the Quatermass series. They were incredible and scary and ahead of their time. And the early Hammer Frankenstein films as well.

WAMG: Now that you’ve acquired and recapitalized the Hammer brand, do you control all the old Hammer titles?

SO: Exclusive Media, which is our group  that Nigel and I are a part of, our holding company owns Hammer and all the rights and titles to some 300 movies. Some were produced with long-term distribution rights with other studios.  Some we have the direct distribution rights for ourselves. Literally everybody involved with the Hammer films, meaning Warner Brothers, Fox, Sony have become conscious of their  part in the legacy of filmmaking and we recently  announced an initiative to restore  all of the Hammer library materials to a very high standard. We’ve found that every singe of these distributors , who are all forthright corporate people, all chipped with contributions and we’re doing a restoration of Hammer materials than any film historian would be excited about. That, we feel, is testimony to this long tradition.

WAMG: Any plans on remaking any of the classic Hammer titles and which ones would you like to see remade?

NS: We certainly are looking at a rebooting of Quatermass, I don’t think there’s any problem in saying that. The character, as opposed to the film. I don’t think there’s anything else actually on the line here that we can talk about now. I love Quatermass, I also love the Hitchcock-like Hammer such as SCREAM OF FEAR that Hammer made in the early ‘60s. I love FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN, that’s a favorite Hammer film, oh there were so many.

WAMG: Good luck with THE WOMAN IN BLACK and thanks for taking the time to talk to We Are Movie Geeks.

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom.

Disney’s THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theatres nationwide on February 17. WAMG has passes to the advance screening – February 11th at 10:00am at the Great Escape Gravois Bluffs Cine.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned __ Oscar® nominations. (HINT)

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Visit the film’s official site: http://disney.go.com/official-sites/arrietty/index

“Like” THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SecretWorldofArrietty

Paige and Leo (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) are a happy newlywed couple whose lives are changed by a car accident that puts Paige in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, Paige has no memory of Leo, a confusing relationship with her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange), and an ex-fiancé (Scott Speedman) she may still have feelings for. Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.

THE VOW will be in theaters February 10, 2012. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, WAMG  has passes to the advance screening in St. Louis on Wednesday (2/8) at Ronnies at 7PM.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us your favorite romantic movie and why.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.thevow-movie.com/

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

Follow it on Twitter: @TheVowMovie

THE VOW has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for the following reasons: an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language.

It’s your big chance to win a ticket for free, to a movie for you and the whole family!

The 3D-CGI feature DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope.  The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Ashley, the girl of Ted’s dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.

DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop).

Enter your e-mail below, along with your name, for a chance to win a family four-pack of passes to a special advance screening on Saturday, February 25 at 10:00 AM. 

You should enter just once. You should, take a shot!

Take a minute to enter. Give it all that you’ve got!

IN THEATERS MARCH 2

Visit the film’s official site:  http://www.theloraxmovie.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theloraxmovie

Follow it on Twitter: @TheLorax

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. While supplies last. Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One pass (each admits two) per person. Theater is overbooked to ensure capacity. Employees of participating sponsors are ineligible. DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX has been rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested – Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children) for brief mild language

When J. EDGAR was released last Fall, We Are Movie Geeks published our Top Ten Tuesday article on Clint Eastwood’s best films as director. With word that Eastwood has come out of acting retirement, it’s time for another Top Ten list, this time of movies that Clint has starred in. TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE is currently filming and stars Clint as an ailing baseball scout in his twilight years who takes his daughter (played by Amy Adams) on the road for one last recruiting trip. This will be Clint’s first acting role since GRAN TORINO in 2008.

Super-8 CLINT EASTWOOD Movie Madness will be a great way to celebrate the life and films of this legendary American actor. It takes place February 7^th at the Way Out Club in St. Louis (2525 Jefferson in South City). Condensed versions of these memorable Clint Eastwood films will be shown on a big screen on Super-8 sound film: WHERE EAGLES DARE, ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, and THE EIGER SANCTION each run 18 minutes, and HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER runs 35 minutes. We’re also bring our 16mm projector and showing a 16mm print of an episode of RAWHIDE, the western TV series that Clint Eastwood starred in in the 1960′s and 8-minute versions of TARANTULA and REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, two ’50s sci-fi films that Clint Eastwood had small roles in early in his career. We’ll have Clint Eastwood trivia with prizes, and much more. The Way Out Club is located at 2525 Jefferson Avenue (at Gravois) in South St. Louis. Admission is only $3.00.

Clint Eastwood has appeared in 67 films in his six (!) decades as an actor, and here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are his ten best:

Honorable Mention: HONKYTONK MAN

By the 1980s, Clint Eastwood was one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.  With his own production company, directorial skills, and economic clout, Eastwood was able to make smaller, more personal films.  A perfect example is the underrated HONKYTONK MAN, which also happens to be one of Eastwood’s finest performances.

Drawing upon Eastwood’s love of both music and period history, MAN tells the story of Red Stovall, a consumptive but hard-living country singer, set sometime during the Depression.  While on his way to Nashville for a shot at the Grand Ole Opry, Red stops to collect his nephew Hoss (charmingly played by Eastwood’s son, Kyle) from his sister’s farm in the Oklahoma dust bowl.  Also tagging along is Hoss’s grandfather (John McIntire), who wants to return to his family homestead in Tennessee.  From that setup, the film is essentially a road trip full of adventures—both comic and tragic—that will affect Hoss forever.

This fairly simple story is told with great affection by Eastwood the director.  The period detail and setpieces are wonderful, with Eastwood again showing a keen eye for both comic timing and character-driven drama.  He even throws in some suspense, as once again Eastwood the actor wields a gun—but this time with humorous results.  And a traffic stop which begins with some tension ends with an extended punchline.  Eastwood also handles his actors with ease, drawing first-class performances from a group of great character actors, including Eastwood “regulars” Verna Bloom (HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER) and Matt Clark (JOSEY WALES), plus Barry Corbin, Tim Thomerson, and Gary Grubbs.  As grandpa, the veteran McIntire was never better; the scene where he recalls the Land Rush of 1893 is simply perfect.  Also giving a fantastic performance was Alexa Kenin as Marlene, a young stowaway on the road trip who provides much comic relief.  A familiar face on 1970s TV, Kenin was a rising young supporting actress (PRETTY IN PINK) who was found dead in her apartment a few years later at age 23.  Her cause of death has never been disclosed.

MAN is also peppered with some of the brightest stars of country music.  Ray Price, Shelly West, David Frizzell, and Porter Wagoner all make brief appearances, and Marty Robbins, who died a short time after filming, had a Top 10 country hit with his rendition of the title song.  In addition to the country music which fills the soundtrack, there is a healthy shot of blues in the form of Linda Hopkins.  Eastwood does all his own singing for the film, and has a pleasant enough voice to make his performance entirely believable.  Relaxed and funny, Eastwood seems right at home with the period dialogue, such as “my raw-boned Okie girl,” and “double damn tarnation!”  Whether he’s on stage singing, or teaching his nephew the ways of the world, or stealing chickens (!), Eastwood dominates the film and shows just what a great screen presence he is—sometimes rough, sometimes sensitive, but always likable.

10. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ

Fact: Alcatraz is an impenetrable island fortress. Fact: No one has ever escaped from Alcatraz. Fact: Clint Eastwood doesn’t care much for facts! In ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ Eastwood gave one of his best screen performances; distinctive, persuasive, and powerful. We know very little of his Frank Morris except that he has escaped from prisons before and has been sent to Alcatraz because no one gets off the Rock. Eastwood’s fifth and final film with director Don Siegel has aged well, with no sentiment or melodrama to get in the way of the details of the escape. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ doesn’t proceed at the break-neck pace of your typical action film. Siegel follows the breakout plan with meticulous detail. Even when Morris and his two comrades manage to get out of their cells, the story doesn’t focus on the suspense of the chase between escapees and guards. In fact, the prison officials are not seen until the discovery on Angel Island, and at that point, the prisoners are never seen again. Instead, the battle is between men and the physical space they have to conquer. It’s less about avoiding guards and more to do with navigating heights and depths and barriers. The prison itself, rather than those who oversee it, becomes the antagonist. When Eastwood won his first directing Oscar, he thanked Siegel (and Sergio Leone) and when watching ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, a masterful piece of storytelling in which the characters say little, letting the camera explain the action. the older director’s influence is apparent.

An 18 minute condensed version of ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ will be screened at Super-8 CLINT EASTWOOD Movie Madness February 7^th at The Way Out Club

9. IN THE LINE OF FIRE

As Clint Eastwood’s movie career neared the fifty year mark, his characters eased into old age, slowed down physically, and were haunted by their ghosts of the past. This is definitely the case with Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan in Wolfgang Peterson’s IN THE LINE OF FIRE. Frank’s still on the job, and he sweats and wheezes as he joins the much younger agent s in running alongside the presidential limo. Besides his shortened stamina, he’s haunted by that Fall day in Dallas over thirty years ago, when he couldn’t shield the young Commander-in-Chief in time. As Frank puts it, ” If I had taken that bullet, it would’ve been alright with me”. Unfortunately a deranged assassin played with gusto by John Malkovich knows of Frank’s past and taunts him ( ” I see you standing over the grave of another president’ ) in several encounters. Eastwood’s registers Frank’s every emotion ( shock, disgust, fear while trying to keep him on the line long enough for a trace ) during several phone conversations with the threatening gunman. Besides these scenes with Malkovich, Eastwood shows a different side with two of the other young actors in the film. With the novice agent played by Dylan McDermott, Eastwood’s a teacher, mentor, and father figure, while with Rene Russo’s Lilly Raines, he attempts a gentle, hesitant friendship that becomes a tender romance. Peterson has crafted a gripping, edge-of-your-seat action thriller anchored by one of Eastwood’s best, mature, vulnerable performances.

8. THE BEGUILED

THE BEGUILED was a gothic tale of deception and horror from 1971 set in the time of the Civil War. Clint Eastwood played John McBurney, a wounded Union soldier who takes refuge in a Southern school for ladies whom he must keep beguiled or risk being turned over to the Confederates. Directed by Don Siegel, this gothic horror story ends with the captive paying dearly for his ingratitude towards his captors’ sick brand of Southern hospitality. In addition to the implied sexual situation, there is an explicit seduction followed by a gruesome amputation scene. Siegel (whose DIRTY HARRY would open a couple of months after this box-office failure) not only paces THE BEGUILED with a solid mix of sexual tension, eroticism and black humor, he fits the female cast perfectly to their roles – from Geraldine Page’s yearning spinster (with a very dirty secret), to Elizabeth Hartman’s naive nineteen-year-old with chaste romantic fantasies, to Jo Ann Harris’s seductive teen slut. The characters Eastwood played in his career survived Nazis, lynchings, assassins, and gangsters but John McBurney never stood a chance in a house full of scorned women.

7. HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER

One of the headstones in a graveyard in HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER bears the name Sergio Leone as tribute as the first western that Clint Eastwood directed exudes the mythical aura of many of Leone’s genre offerings. Basically reprising his “Man With No Name” persona from the Leone trilogy, Eastwood took the standard Western revenge story to new levels. In HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER Eastwood is “The Stranger” who wanders into the small mining town of Lago to merely have a few drinks, a quick shave, and bath. Before long, he’s killed three bad guys, raped the town tramp, forced the town to rename itself ‘Hell’ and has literally painted it red. And he’s the hero! Almost all the characters in HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER are repellant and unlikeable especially the cowardly townsfolk who stood by idly and watched as three gunmen bullwhipped their sheriff to death. No wonder John Wayne, after seeing HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER, wrote an angry letter of protest to Eastwood complaining about the negative depiction of Wayne’s beloved “spirit of the West”. Too bad Duke, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER is one of the greats!

An 35 minute condensed version of HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER will be screened at Super-8 CLINT EASTWOOD Movie Madness February 7^th at The Way Out Club

6. MILLION DOLLAR BABY

For a fella that’s long past most folks’ retirement age, Clint Eastwood is full of surprises. And great performances. In 2004′s MILLION DOLLAR BABY, which he also produced, directed, and scored, Eastwood is grizzled old boxing medic Frankie Dunn. Like many of his later characters Dunn is haunted by the past. But it’s not just the memories of big fights and title bouts, it’s his estrangement from his daughter. In his golden years his only family is another former boxer Eddie ‘ Scrap-Iron’ Dupris played by Morgan Freeman who helps in running Dunn ‘s seen-better-days training gym. Just as in  UNFORGIVEN the two actors have a great relaxed rapport as they wax nostalgic about the good ole’ days ( correcting each other’s recollections ) and disparage the lack of class and grit in the new kids. And then Hilary Swank’s Maggie enters their lives. We see Eastwood act casually dismissive of the ” lady ” boxer, but he gradually responds to her spirit. Reluctantly he becomes her stern trainer and slowly becomes a surrogate father to Maggie. In one terrific sequence Maggie’s greedy, ” trashy”, relatives berate and bully them. The Eastwood of a couple of decades ago would’ve put that young ‘mouth-y’ punk through a wall, but the older, wiser man knows this thug isn’t worth the effort or abbreviation. He’s worth no more than a hard, disgusted stare. In the film’s heartbreaking final scenes we get to see a tender, loving Eastwood that he’s rarely shown on screen. The final encounter between Frankie and Maggie may have the most macho movie fan reaching for his hankie. Although Eastwood earned no acting gold , his co-stars Freeman and Swank both earned Oscars. It’s quite a testament to Eastwood’s acting ( and directing ) skills - he’s so good he pushes his fellow thespians do their best work.

5. GRAN TORINO
In 2008, Clint Eastwood made GRAN TORINO, both as a director and as an actor, but Eastwood himself pronounced this would be the last time he stars in one of his films. Whether or not that holds true is yet to be seen, given rumors about his next film TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE. What was, perhaps painfully clear however, is that Eastwood is no longer a spring chicken. Much like his character in the film, Walt Kowalski is an aging and stubborn man, set in his ways. Walk sets out to teach a teenage neighbor a thing or two after he attempts to steal Walt’s pride and joy, a sweet 1972 Gran Torino muscle car. The tension arises as Walt, a Korean War veteran, builds an unlikely friendship with the boy of Hmong ethnicity, both of whom live in a crumbling urban neighborhood. Walt sees the world around him falling apart in his eyes, but eventually comes to terms with his own prejudice through his actions in the teenage boy’s benefit. Eastwood plays the crotchety curmudgeon with a natural ease, drawing a bit from Dirty Harry’s own sense of charm and manners. It’s great to see Eastwood expanding his storytelling craft into more meaningful films, while also embracing his age as an actor in a less flattering role, giving the film a stronger resonance.

4. DIRTY HARRY

“You’ve got to ask yourself a question: ‘do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” Clint Eastwood muttered his most famous line in DIRTY HARRY, starring as Harry Callahan, the hard-working San Francisco cop who can’t finish his lunch without having to stop a bank robbery with his 44 Magnum (“the most powerful handgun in the world”). Harry must take the law into his own hands when a psychotic killer is released on a technicality and the cat and mouse play between Harry and the killer ‘Scorpio’ is taut, suspenseful and horrifying but critics in 1971 attacked the movie for evading the complex legal problems and moral issues of vigilante justice. Clint’s cynical superhero is basically irresponsible in endangering the lives of innocent people in his personal crusade against criminals but that just made Harry more endearing to most audiences and the movie was a smash success, spawning four (excellent) sequels. Director Don Siegel keeps the action tightly-wound and fast-paced and Andy Robinson is one of the most vicious, warped, and complex villains in cinema. Due to Callahan’s fascist nature, John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman all reportedly turned down the part. Eastwood stepped in to the role and when he’s twisting Scorpio’s broken arm (“I have a right to a lawyer!” Scorpio whines), he smiles just a little and we behold the perfect match between actor and character.

3. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES

In 1976, the nation’s Bicentennial received a special gift with the release of THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, arguably Clint Eastwood’s best Western film, and one of the best Westerns ever made.  There is so much about JOSEY WALES that is remarkable, compelling, and downright entertaining, that I reckon we’ll begin with the making of the film.  Based on a novel by Forrest Carter, the film follows the books’ mixture of vengeance tale, travelogue, buddy story, Old West folklore, and realistic Native American characters, with a sprinkling of actual historical figures, such as the great Comanche leader Ten Bears.  (The author himself is a fascinating story, as he was originally a segregationist speechwriter named Asa Carter, who worked for George Wallace and even ran for public office before reinventing himself as an award-winning author sympathetic to Native American causes.  For years, “Forrest” denied that he was Asa Carter and even tried to give the impression that he was Native American.)

The film’s production is also a grand tale of Hollywood lore.  Originally, Phil Kaufman (RIGHT STUFF) was hired to direct the movie with Eastwood and his company producing.  Kaufman worked on the pre-production and casting, rewrote the script, and began principal cinematography.  However, less than a month into shooting, Kaufman was unceremoniously fired from the production, and Eastwood took over as director and finished the film.  The Director’s Guild became involved and created a new rule that prohibits anyone working on a film to replace a director fired from the same film.  This rule (unofficially called the “Eastwood rule”) is still in effect today.  According to legend, Kaufman was fired because both he and Eastwood were smitten with a pretty young actress in the film named Sondra Locke.  In fact, Locke and Eastwood became a couple afterwards and worked together on five more movies before their relationship crashed and burned in a stormy public breakup 10 years later.  However, a more likely reason for the firing was Kaufman’s detail-oriented style using multiple takes.  An economy-minded Eastwood supposedly had his fill when Kaufman drove miles back to town from an isolated set to acquire a small prop he wanted to include in a scene.

Whatever its origins, JOSEY WALES has become a modern classic.  One of the few Western films to be included in the National Historic Registry, the movie succeeds on all levels.   JOSEY WALES begins as a post-Civil War revenge tale, but this plotline is soon more or less resolved in what is the first of many amazingly filmed gun battles.  The story then becomes a road movie, with Wales on the run from the evil bluecoats.  It is interesting to note that in nearly every other film treatment of the Missouri/Kansas border wars, the pro-Union Kansas abolitionists are portrayed as the good guys, while the Missouri rebels are the bad guys.  JOSEY WALES neatly flips this model so that we immediately sympathize with the outlaw.  During his flight to safety in the Indian Nations, Wales collects a ragtag group of citizens (a Native American man and woman, two Kansas women, a Mexican, etc.) who seem willing to forgive whatever crimes are in his past and follow him.  It also doesn’t hurt that Wales is mighty handy with a pistol, and has saved many of their lives.

The film is built as a series of misadventures, and Eastwood the director shows an exceptional flair for character-driven comedy, and for staging some of the coolest gunfights ever to hit the silver screen.  Eastwood the actor gives one of his best performances as Josey Wales, a man who has lost everything but finds he is not alone.  As the film progresses, we see the brittle hardness of the outlaw soften into a man with hope for a future.  The supporting roles are uniformly excellent as well.  John Vernon (POINT BLANK, ANIMAL HOUSE) is the turncoat who comes to sympathize with Wales.  Bill McKinney (DELIVERANCE) is the obsessed evil bluecoat leader.  Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Sheb Wooley, and Royal Dano are all great character actors who are marvelous here.  Locke is simply wonderful in her scenes and brings a sweet note of innocence to the movie.  But special mention must go to Chief Dan George (LITTLE BIG MAN), the great Native American actor as Wales’ first new friend, Lone Watie.  Part Scarecrow of Oz, part spokesman for the Native American plight, and part action hero, George steals every scene he is in.

And the classic dialogue- much of it lifted right from the novel –is simply unforgettable:   “Dyin’ ain’t much of a living.”  “Hell is coming to breakfast.”  “Endeavour to persevere!”   Most important of all, the film has a big, bold heart as Eastwood unabashedly shows both his love for this period of American history and his love of film, never shying away from softer moments, such as with Locke, or from the violence of the frontier which could happen at any moment.  In the meeting with Ten Bears, the thematic climax of the film, these elements combine beautifully in a brilliantly executed scene that contains the wonderful “There is iron in your words of death” speech delivered by actor Will Sampson.  The struggles of the modern world may not be life or death, but we as moviegoers and Americans can certainly relate to stories of friendship, adversity, and everyday human truths.

2. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

In 1964, Clint Eastwood accepted the lead role in a Western being filmed in Spain titled “The Magnificent Stranger.”  The part had been offered to many of Hollywood’s most rugged actors, including Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn, and Charles Bronson.  Eastwood, on break from his TV series RAWHIDE and looking for a film project, immediately recognized the story as a remake of Kurosawa’s YOJIMBO.   When the movie was finally released in the US, the title had changed to A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, and both a star and a new genre, the “spaghetti Western,” were born.

The “Man With No Name” series of Westerns directed by Sergio Leone and starring Eastwood came to a spectacular conclusion with THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY.   Set amid the turmoil of the Civil War, the story follows three men (hence the title) on a quest for gold treasure.   Leone directs with his usual dramatic flair, filling the screen with landscapes, gunfights, closeups of dangerous men, treks through the desert, prison camps, Civil War battles, and an incredibly suspenseful and satisfying conclusion.  With cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli, who would later shoot films for some of Europe’s greatest directors (Louis Malle, Roman Polanski, Lina Wertmuller, etc.) and composer Ennio Morricone (who topped his previous two No Name Westerns with one of the great film scores of all time here), Leone created what some critics regard as his masterpiece.  Yes, even better than ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.

Eastwood’s “No Name” character fills the good role of the title, while great character actors Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach are the bad and the ugly.  Van Cleef, the co-hero of Leone’s and Eastwood’s previous Western FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, here perfectly personifies evil.  Ruthless and calculating, with his “devil eyes,” Van Cleef is a great screen villain.  Wallach gives the performance of his career as Tuco, the ugly.  Whether he’s faced with death on the hangman’s noose, or confronting his Catholic heritage, or trying to revive his “friend,” the marvelous Wallach always makes Tuco sympathetic and likable—so much so that you’re alarmed when Eastwood’s character is mean to him.

Eastwood has joked that the small cigarillos he had to smoke kept him in character as The Man With No Name because (a) he’s a non-smoker, and (b) they tasted really, really bad.  In his final Leone Western, Eastwood shows the same laconic squint that made him so famous.  But he also shows a bit of the same compassion we only glimpsed in the previous No Name Westerns, here in his relationship with Tuco, and in smaller moments, such as witnessing the carnage left after warfare.  In its final images of Eastwood riding off into the sunset, rich and invincible, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY capped an incredible trilogy in the annals of film mythology.

1. UNFORGIVEN

In the 1960′s Clint Eastwood broke free of his television work and helped redefine the movie Western ( along with film maker Sergio Leone ). Nearly thirty years later Eastwood decided to close the door on his work in the ‘oaters’ with the character of William Munny in UNFORGIVEN. While most of his Westerners were anti-heroes or rebels, Munny is a full-fledged outlaw who’s tried to change his ways. You can see the toll this life has taken on Munny’s face : exhausted by his failure at farming during the day and from sleepless nights haunted by the ghosts of his victims of his lawless years. Eastwood has great rapport with his co-stars. Morgan Freeman shares the trail ( and criminal memories ) during the trip to avenge the “working” ladies. The two old saddletramps are almost an elderly married couple who calls out the other on their B.S. without hesitation. Eastwood becomes the teacher/ mentor with Jaimz Woolvett as the full-of-bravado ‘ Schofield Kid’. After a bloody shoot-out they exchange the film’s best lines. The visibly shaken Kid : ” Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.” The weary Munny replies, ” We all got it coming, kid “. And then there’s the scenes with the town Sheriff, ” Little” Bill Daggett expertly played by Gene Hackman ( earning a well-deserved Oscar ). After Bill shows his true colors, Eastwood releases his inner beast from his younger violent days in a memorably brutal, bloody climax. His ” Man with no Name” may be his most famous Western character, but Willian Munny makes for an exceptional final act for Eastwood’s work in this genre.

Clint Eastwood has made so many great films and runner-ups for this list would have to include A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, BRONCO BILLY, TIGHTROPE, and WHERE EAGLES DARE.  Stop by the Way Out Club February 7^th for more Clint mania.

The new 3D family adventure JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND begins when seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist.

Unable to stop him from tracking the signal to its source, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest that will take them first to the South Pacific, and then to a place few people have ever seen. Or lived to tell about. It’s a place of stunning beauty, strange and threatening life forms, volcanoes, mountains of gold and more than one astonishing secret.

Together with Gabato (Luis Guzmán), the only helicopter pilot willing to risk the trip, and Gabato’s beautiful, strong-willed daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone human inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island underwater and bury its treasures forever, in this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND also stars Michael Caine as Sean’s grandfather, Alexander, the stranded traveler they’re seeking, and Kristin Davis as Sean’s mother, Liz.

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND will be in theaters and IMAX® Friday, February 10. WAMG has passes so you can bring the whole gang (a family 4-pack) to the advanced screening – Saturday (2/4) at Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Cine at 10AM

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:  Tell us what title both Jules Verne and HG Wells share.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Shot in 3D, the film is directed by Brad Peyton from a screenplay by Brian Gunn & Mark Gunn, story by Richard Outten and Brian Gunn & Mark Gunn. It is produced by Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson, and Charlotte Huggins, who previously collaborated on “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” Richard Brener, Michael Disco, Samuel J. Brown, Marcus Viscidi, Michael Bostick and Evan Turner serve as executive producers.

One of the things filmmakers hope that moviegoers will feel as they watch JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is the sense of wonder that Jules Verne imbued into his adventures.

“As a kid, growing up, those books were summer reading,” Flynn recalls. “It’s the kind of story that would make your imagination run wild. To be making a movie now, based on a Jules Verne book, and to possibly be introducing young people to him and his ideas for the first time, is fantastically rewarding.”

“This is everything I wanted to see on screen when I was a kid, and something I think is cool enough for families to enjoy together,” Peyton concludes. “It’s a lot of action and laughs, weird creatures, and some touching moments that I hope will resonate with both kids and adults.”

This film is rated PG for some adventure action and brief, mild language.

Visit the film’s official site: www.themysteriousisland.com/

“Like” it on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/journey2themysteriousisland

Hey there kids! Melissa here, with another exciting tale for you…

(Insert Jazz Hands Here)

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to participate the the press junket for Liam Neeson’s new film THE GREY, where his character leads an unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Battling mortal injuries and merciless weather, the survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements – and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt – before their time runs out.

So, for your listening pleasure… here are the roundtables from the day. TAHDAHHHHH!!

THE GREY Roundtable: Liam Neeson

THE GREY Roundtable: Dermot Mulroney & Dallas Roberts

THE GREY Roundtable: Frank Grillo & James Badge Dale

THE GREY Roundtable: Joe Carnahan

In THE GREY, Liam Neeson leads an unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness.  Battling mortal injuries and merciless weather, the survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements – and a vicious pack of rogue woes on the hunt – before their time runs out.

THE GREY is in theaters now

The elegant, period ghost story follows young lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), who has been dispatched to the small village of Crythin Gifford to close an estate - a house he soon discovers has a bad reputation in town, as locals have spotted a “Woman in Black,” indeed a ghost of the occupant who died years before. With the children of the village in danger from the Woman in Black’s wrath, Arthur seeks to appease the spectral forces and put the town, and himself, at peace. The film also stars Ciaran Hinds and Tony Award winner, Oscar nominee Janet McTeer. Produced by Talisman Films in association with Hammer Films.

WAMG is giving away passes to the advanced screening of THE WOMAN IN BLACK in St. Louis on Tuesday, January 31st at Ronnies at 7PM

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What are some sure signs that your house is haunted?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

If you’re a tweeter use #WomanInBlack and #WhatDidTheySee Twitter hashtags to share movie info with friends! @WomanNBlack

WHAT DID THEY SEE? Find out for yourself: http://whatdidtheysee.com/

Become a FAN on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWomanInBlackMovie

THE WOMAN IN BLACK opens in theaters
February 3, 2012

The fourth installment in the blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA franchise THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 has grossed an estimated $701.3 million in global box office receipts since the film’s release on November 18, 2011. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1 is on its way to becoming the highest grossing film in the series to date looking to surpass the worldwide box office gross of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON which tallied $709.8 million.

WAMG has the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special Twi-hard in your life! Win a DVD copy of THE THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1, available on Blu-ray and DVD February 11th. Click HERE to find the nearest BreakingDawn DVD/Blu-ray Midnight Release Party near you!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: How well do you know your TWILIGHT? What 2 animals do Emmett and Edward prefer when hunting?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. The action-packed, modern day vampire love story TWILIGHT, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON was released November 20, 2009 and the third installment, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was released June 30, 2010.

The next chapter in THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 2 will arrive in theatres on November 16, 2012. Academy Award winner Bill Condon directed both the first and second part of the two-part finale starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The project, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, was written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing.

Visit the film’s official website: http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com/

Follow the film on Twitter: @Twilight #BreakingDawn

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BreakingDawn

Oscar® winner Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-thriller SAFE HOUSE. Washington plays the CIA’s most dangerous traitor, who stuns the intelligence community when he surfaces in South Africa. When the safe house to which he’s remanded is attacked by brutal mercenaries, a rookie (Reynolds) is forced to help him escape. As the masterful manipulator toys with his reluctant protégé, the young operative finds his morality tested and idealism shaken. Now, they must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. 

WAMG has passes to the advance screening of SAFE HOUSE in St. Louis on February 7th.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us your favorite spy / CIA film and why?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Synopsis:

For the past year, Matt Weston has been frustrated by his inactive, backwater post in Cape Town. A “housekeeper” who aspires to be a full-fledged agent, the loyal company man has been waiting for an opportunity to prove himself. When the first and only occupant he’s had proves to be the most dangerous man he’s ever met, Weston readies for duty.

Tobin Frost has eluded capture for almost a decade. One of the best ops men that the CIA’s known, the ex-intelligence officer has given up assets and sold military intel to anyone with cash since he turned. From trading secrets to North Korea to aiding splinter cells, the damage he’s done to the U.S. is immeasurable. And he’s now back on the reservation with a secret.

As soon as Frost is brought in for debriefing, mercenaries come and tear apart Weston’s safe house. Barely escaping, the unlikely partners must discover if their attackers have been sent by terrorists or someone on the inside who will kill anyone standing in the way. Now it’s up to Weston to figure out who he can trust before they’re both eliminated from the game.

SAFE HOUSE will be in theaters
February 10

Visit the film’s official site: www.NoOneIsSafe.com

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SafeHouse

SAFE HOUSE is Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language.

Award winning actress Glenn Close plays a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland in ALBERT NOBBS. Some thirty years after donning men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Mia Wasikowska (Helen), Aaron Johnson (Joe) and Brendan Gleeson (Dr. Holloran) join a prestigious, international cast that includes Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Janet McTeer, Brenda Fricker and Pauline Collins.

Rodrigo Garcia directs from a script that Glenn Close, along with Man Booker prize-winning novelist John Banville and Gabriella Prekop, adapted from a short story by Irish author George Moore.

WAMG is giving away passes to the advanced screening of ALBERT NOBBS in St. Louis – Wednesday, January 25th at 7pm at Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: How many times has Glenn Close been nominated for an Academy Award?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

ALBERT NOBBS opens nationwide in theaters January 27, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://albertnobbs-themovie.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertNobbs

Photo Credit: Patrick Redmond

When former NYPD officer-turned-prison escapee Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington, Avatar & Clash of the Titans) enters the famed Roosevelt Hotel on 45th & Madison in New York City, heads to one of the highest floor and steps out onto the ledge, he threatens more than just his own well-being. A whole city is about to seize up, including some very nervous people with some very big secrets.

Ex-cop Cassidy ‘s heart-stopping decision to stand on the ledge of a high-rise building creates not only a media firestorm, but a delicate situation for hard-living New York Police Department negotiator Lydia Spencer (Elizabeth Banks, The Next Three Days & Zack and Miri Make a Porno), who tries to talk him down while dealing with a departmental rival (Edward Burns, Nice Guy Johnny & 27 Dresses) who believes she has a conflict of interest. But the longer Lydia spends trying to get to the root of Cassidy’s predicament, the more she realizes he could have an ulterior objective.

Might it have something to do with the mysterious project his brother and ardent supporter (Jamie Bell, The Adventures of Tintin & Billy Elliot) is working on with his girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez, Casa di mi Padre) while Cassidy bides his time on the ledge? Or with the efforts Cassidy’s best friend on the force (Anthony Mackie, Real Steel & The Hurt Locker) is making to help get him down? Or with the behind-closed-doors dealings of a powerful businessman (four-time Oscar® nominee Ed Harris, Pollock & A Beautiful Mind)? As more pieces of the puzzle are revealed over the course of Cassidy’s bold stunt, suddenly the story of one disgraced cop trying to prove his innocence becomes something decidedly more eye-opening. Eventually the stakes become more dangerous than the prospect of one man on one ledge simply losing his balance.

WAMG is giving away passes to the advance screening of MAN ON A LEDGE on Thursday night, January 26th, at B&B Wildwood Theater at 7pm.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: In the propulsive, twisty action thriller Man On A Ledge, director Asger Leth (Ghosts of Cite Soleil) takes a naturally heart-pounding scenario and delivers a 3 twisty, nail-biting thriller about the risk a desperate man with few options is willing to take to clear his name. How far would you step out if your life was on the line?? 

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

MAN ON A LEDGE will be in theaters January 27, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.manonaledge.com/

“Like” MAN ON A LEDGE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ManOnALedge

The film is rated PG-13

Interview conducted by Tom Stockman January 9th, 2012

Though disarming in appearance, actor Kurtwood Smith’s two best-known big-screen roles are memorable villains. He was the psychotic Clarence in ROBOCOP in 1988 and played a very different scoundrel the next year in DEAD POET’S SOCIETY where he was the unforgettable  Mr. Perry, the overbearing bully father of aspiring actor Neil (played by Robert Sean Leonard) who meets a tragic end. He played a comedy variation on that role as the conservative, tough-loving dad on the TV sitcom That ‘70’s Show from 1998 to 2006. Smith’s other credits include FLASHPOINT, RAMBO III, TO DIE FOR, DEEP IMPACT, and roles on both Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He can currently be seen on the TV series Chaos. The Disney classic DEAD POET’S SOCIETY has been digitally restored and presented for the first time in Blu-ray High Definition this week, and We Are Movie Geeks spoke to Kurtwood Smith about the film.

We Are Movie Geeks: When you filmed DEAD POET’S SOCIETY did you realize you were making a classic?

Kurtwood Smith: I didn’t realize we were making a classic but I knew that, with Peter Weir directing, that we were making a very good film. There were so many talented people involved. Tom Schulman the writer, and of course Robin and these young actors Robert Sean Leonard and Ethan Hawke and, in particular Josh Charles. Those guys were really really talented so I knew we had a good chance of making an excellent movie.

WAMG: How did you get the role as Mr. Perry in DEAD POET’S SOCIETY?

KS: They sent the script to my agent and wanted to know if I was interested. They started out asking me if I was interested in either the part of the father or of the headmaster (eventually played by Norman Lloyd). I said I was, and then it fell apart. Peter Weir was not connected with it at the time. Then about a year later they came back and said that Peter Weir was going to direct this so I went in and read the scene for Peter and we filmed it. That was the only time I had the director do the filming of the audition himself. We talked at length about the role and then a couple of weeks later I got it.

WAMG: What was Robin Williams like?

KS: I knew Robin from before. I had worked with him doing Theater in Marin County and I’d seen him on and off over the years. I only had two scenes with him in the movie and one of those was cut. Peter had cut it and put it back in, then cut it out again. It was a scene after Neil’s funeral . We decided it was redundant and cut it.

WAMG: Have you worked with Robin Williams since then?

KS: No, I’ve seen him and seen his stage shows and recently saw him in New York in the play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, and we caught up a bit, but that’s the only film we made together.

WAMG: Let’s talk about the character you played in DEAD POET’S SOCIETY, Mr. Perry. Why did Mr. Perry have such a hard time with his son Neil wanting to be an actor?

KS: I think Mr. Perry thought that sort of life would be a waste. Peter Weir and I decided that, as far as Mr. Perry’s back story went, we were determined that the character be understandable. He didn’t know how to express it but he obviously loved his son and was determined that his son was going to take advantage of the advantages given him and do something with his life. Obviously Mr. Perry struggled throughout his life and he saw, as most parents do today, going into theater as a very chancy, difficult future so he was determined his son wasn’t going to waste his life that way.

WAMG: Could you relate to Neil Perry? What did your family think of your chosen profession?

KS: My family was fine with my acting career, as long as I went to college.

WAMG: Did you discourage or encourage your daughter Laurel from becoming an actress?

KS: I didn’t encourage her because I know it’s a difficult thing but at the same time it would have been improper of me to discourage her. I stressed that I wanted her to get an education and graduate from college. Then it was up to her, and she’s made it work. She does mostly commercials now.

WAMG: At the end of the day, do you think Mr. Perry blames Mr. Keating for his son’s death or does he recognize his own bullying?

KS: If we had left that scene in that I mentioned, you wouldn’t have aslked the question because it’s still clear in that scene that he blames Mr. Keating but obviously in that kind of situation he would have had to know responsible. Whether or not he’s willing to accept that, given the kind of guy that he is, he wouldn’t accept that. It would be a hard thing for him to admit.

WAMG: Were there any other scenes in DEAD POET SOCIETY featuring you as Mr. Perry that were cut out besides the one you mentioned?

KS: That’s the only one I remember. There were some scenes that were cut from the script when Peter Weir took it over. In the original script, Mr. Perry drags his son off the stage while he’s performing Midsummer Nights Dream, but we all agreed that was over the top. But I don’t recall any other scenes being shot and then cut, but that’s over 25 years ago so, who knows.

(At this point in the interview, a rep from Disney breaks in the phone line and lets me know I have only one more question left ! I haven’t even brought up ROBOCOP or any of Mr. Smith’s many great film roles – oh well – one last question:)

WAMG: Were you in THE DEER HUNTER (the IMDB has him listed as “POW in Cage ” Uncredited -Unconfirmed)?

KS: No, I was not in THE DEER HUNTER but I keep hearing that I was. I really need to go back and watch that film again and see why everyone thinks I’m in there.

WAMG: Good luck with the Blu-ray release of DEAD POET’S SOCIETY and with your future projects and thanks for talking to We Are Movie Geeks.

KS: My pleasure, thank you.

The We Are Movie Geeks Blu-ray review of DEAD POET’S SOCIETY can be found HERE

OPENS FEBRUARY 3RD

Based on the inspiring incredible true story that united the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Local newsman Adam Carlson (Krasinski) can’t wait to escape the northern tip of Alaska for a bigger market. But just when the story of his career breaks, the world comes chasing it, too. With an oil tycoon, heads of state and hungry journalists descending upon the frigid outpost, the one who worries Adam the most is Rachel Kramer (Barrymore). Not only is she an outspoken environmentalist, she’s also his ex-girlfriend.

With time running out, Rachel and Adam must rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales. As the world’s attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations entrenched against one another and leads to a momentary thaw in the Cold War.

Meet Fred, Wilma and Bam-Bam at the advanced screening of Universal Pictures’ BIG MIRACLE – Saturday (1/28) at 10AM.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: One onlooker of the unfolding rescue was journalist Thomas Rose, whose book was published in 1989. Name the book that BIG MIRACLE is based on.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.everybodyloveswhales.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bigmiraclemovie

Tweet #BigMiracleMovie to join the conversation

Its time for another DVD Giveaway, and this time we are bringing you THE SCORPION KING 3: BATTLE FOR REDEMPTION.

FROM THE PRODUCERS OF THE MUMMY, A LEGEND
RETURNS IN AN EPIC ADVENTURE FOR GLORY
STARRING RON PERLMAN AND BILLY ZANE

A once-powerful warrior king takes on a new life as an assassin for hire in the DVD Original™ The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download January 10, 2012. The latest chapter in  Universal’s enormously popular The Mummy franchise, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption  brings the heroic, larger-than-life saga of the dethroned king Mathayus to face some of his fiercest demons and most vicious rivals—both real and supernatural—ever.

In a dangerous, action-packed battle to regain his glory and reclaim the empire, Mathayus’s journey is steeped in intrigue, sorcery and romance, fueling this new film that spawned from the billion-dollar The Mummy film franchise. The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption tops the series once again, featuring even more of the heart-stopping action, mind-bending stunts and astonishing plot twists that have earned the series millions of fans the world over. The film’s spectacular fight scenes, choreographed by renowned stunt experts Kawee “Seng” Sirikanerut (Ongbok, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Civilization) and Supoj “Jimmy” Khaowwong (Batman Begins), are showcased within enchanting ancient palaces, against a backdrop of breathtaking desert vistas.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:  In a battle with the Scorpion King, what would you choose as the best line of defense and why – martial arts or swords? Best answer wins…

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

CONTEST WILL END ON FRIDAY, January 20th 11:59pm CST.

The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption stars Golden Globe® winner Ron Perlman (“Sons of Anarchy,” Hellboy II: The Golden Army) as Horus, the powerful King of Egypt and Billy Zane as the villainous Talus. Directed by Roel Reiné, the film also stars Victor Webster (“Castle,” Surrogates) as Mathayus and UFC star Kimbo Slice (Locked Down), Bostin Christopher (Unbreakable); six-time WWE World Champion Dave Bautista (House of the Rising Sun), and Temeura Morrison (Green Lantern, Stars Wars: Episode 3 — Revenge of the Sith), Selina Lo (Shanghai) and Krystal Vee (Streetfighter: The Legend of Chin-Li).

With lavish production values including an army of warrior elephants and astounding battle sequences featuring a myriad of martial arts and swordfight sequences, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption is an ambitious and spectacular DVD Original™ release from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production division of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The Scorpion King 3 Blu-ray Combo Pack includes an all-new UltraViolet™ copy of the film. UltraViolet™ is the revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, put them in the cloud and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smart phones and soon, consumers can download to devices of their choice too.  The Scorpion King 3 Blu-ray Combo Pack also includes a Digital Copy of the film which is compatible with iTunes®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod™ touch, Android or other retail partners.  So now, consumers can truly enjoy their movies and TV shows anytime, anywhere, on the platform of their choice! The UltraViolet™ service is currently available in the United States only.

BLU-RAY^TM and DVD BONUS FEATURES:

• DELETED SCENES MONTAGE:  Set to the film’s epic score, this montage of deleted shots provides a pictorial look at the production 
• SWORDS AND SCORPIONS: A MAKING OF: Viewers are given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how this epic action film was brought to life, filled with cast and crew interviews.
• PREPARING FOR BATTLE: Get up close and personal with undefeated black belt champion Victor Webster as he transforms himself into the perfect action hero
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR ROEL REINĖ
• DELETED/EXTENDED SCENES

BLU-RAY^TM Combo pack Exclusive BONUS FEATURES: Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.

• UltraViolet™: The revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, put them in the cloud and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smart phones, currently available in theUnited States only.
• BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to watch the latest trailers and more!
• pocket BLU™ app: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPad®, iPhone®, iPod®  touch,  Android™, PC and Mac®  to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player.  Plus iPad® and Android™ tablet  owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablets’ larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before.  pocket BLU™ offers advanced features such as:
  • ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray^™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live^™ functions with ease.
  • VIDEO TIMELINE:  Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
  • MOBILE-TO-GO:  Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray^™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
  • BROWSE TITLES:  Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU^™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray^™ Hi-Def.  They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
  • KEYBOARD:  Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
    • DIGITAL COPY:  In addition to redeeming a Digital Copy of the movie through the pocket BLU™ app, Viewers can also download a digital version of the full-length movie from participating digital retailers to enjoy on a choice of popular electronic and portable devices.

SYNOPSIS

Since his triumphant rise to power in the original blockbuster The Scorpion King, Mathayus’ kingdom has fallen and he’s lost his queen to plague. Now an assassin for hire, he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew. Starring Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Billy Zane (Titanic), and featuring 6-time WWE champion Dave Bautista and UFC star Kimbo Slice, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption takes The Mummy phenomenon to an all-new level of epic action and non-stop adventure!

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Victor Webster, Ron Perlman, Billy Zane, Kimbo Slice, Bostin Christopher, Dave Bautista, Temeura Morrison, Temeura Morrison Temeura Morrison Selina Lo, Krystal Vee
Directed By:  Roel Reiné
Written By: Brendan Cowles, Shane Kuhn, Randall McCormick
Producers: Leslie Belzberg, Patti Jackson
Production Designer: Kuladee Suchatanun
Director of Photography: Roel Reiné
Edited By:  Radu Ion
Casting By: Ivy Isenberg
Costume Designer: Jeaw Nyee Tan
Original Music By: Trevor Morris

INFORMATION BLU-RAY™/DVD Combo Pack:
Street Date: January 10, 2012
Copyright: 2012 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 63120778
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.78:1
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action and sexual and crude references
Languages/Subtitles: English/Spanish Subtitles/French Subtitles
Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
Run Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD
Street Date: January 10, 2012
Copyright: 2012 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 63115461
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Rating: PG-13
Languages/Subtitles: English/Spanish Subtitles/French Subtitles
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time:  1 Hour 46 Minutes

http://www.the-scorpion-king.com/

As some of you head into the three day weekend, WAMG is offering passes to the IMAX screening of Paramount Pictures’ MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL.

The IMAX release of this fourth installment of Mission: Impossible features approximately 30 minutes of scenes shot with IMAX cameras. These specific sequences will expand to fill the entire screen, exclusively in IMAX, and further immerse the audience in the explosive action and vast scope of the film. One featured sequence includes the unbelievable stunt performed by Tom Cruise as he scaled the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, providing an up-close, you-are-there experience as only IMAX can.

“The sequences shot with IMAX cameras, coupled with the visionary storytelling of Brad Bird and incredible scope of this film will – mark my words – blow audiences away,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment.

Ending it’s IMAX run next Friday, these special ROE’s are only good for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (1 – 17, 18, 19)

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What Oscar-winning composer wrote the score for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—GHOST PROTOCOL is directed by Brad Bird, written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and is produced by Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. Blamed for the terrorist bombing of the Kremlin, IMF operative Ethan Hunt is disavowed along with the rest of the agency when the President initiates “Ghost Protocol.”  Left without any resources or backup, Ethan must find a way to clear his agency’s name and prevent another attack. To complicate matters further, Ethan is forced to embark on this mission with a team of fellow IMF fugitives whose personal motives he does not fully know.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL is in theatres now.

For more information, visit http://www.MissionImpossible.com
Like us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/MissionImpossibleMovie
Follow Mission: Impossible on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GhostProtocol

Why, hey there all you fancy kids out there… It’s time for another delicious Top Ten brought to you by the WAMG gang!

So sit back, relax, and enjoy our picks for the

TOP TEN WORST FILMS OF 2011

In our opinon, anyway… I mean, we are just a bunch of movie lovers who were less than fond of the films below. Hey, they aren’t all winners! So let’s jump right in and start with number 10.

10. Red Riding Hood

Opened March 11, 2011

Opening Weekend: $14,005,335

Domestic Box Office: $37,662,162

In Theaters: 77 days / 11 weeks

The tagline on the poster read, ‘Believe the Legend. Beware the Wolf.’ It left off ‘Be ready to lose two hours you’ll never get back’. A bloodthirsty werewolf terrorizes a rural village and the paying public in this terrifyingly awful take on the classic fairytale of RED RIDING HOOD. Director Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT, yeah, need we say more??) has set a bunch of modern characters into the days of old, only to be made more cringing with foolish overacting, dreadful dialogue and the ripping off of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST lines – “Let’s Kill the Beast!!” Either British thespians Julie Christie and Gary Oldman lost a bet or were in desperate need to make their house payments. There’s a big, bad wolf – only this time he and the full moon should’ve been left from rising.

09. Conan The Barbarian

Opened August 19, 2011

Opening Weekend: $10,021,215

Domestic Box Office: $21,295,021

In Theaters: 49 days / 7 weeks

No Arnold Schwarzenegger – no CONAN THE BARBARIAN! It’s that simple. Not only was the re-imagining silly and unnecessary, the 3D did nothing but hamper Lionsgate’s attempt to bring one of history’s most iconic action heroes to back to life. Fans became the hell-bent avengers to the memory of the original 1982 version of the boy born on the battlefield who grows into a hulking warrior seeking retribution for his father’s death. With all its ferocious beasts, CONAN THE BARBARIAN left the audience facing the most horrific of monster of all – the movie itself.

08. Dream House

Opened September 30, 2011

Opening Weekend: $8,129,355

Domestic Box Office: $21,302,340

In Theaters: 49 days / 7 weeks

DREAM HOUSE was a mystery story that had very little actual mystery, a thriller with few thrills. This stretched-thin, often deeply labored ghost story made its 85 minutes feel like 12 days as it weaved around situations of suspense and straight up horror. With a plot that hinged upon recycled twists from far better movies and a twist you could see coming in your sleep, DREAM HOUSE never worked as a thriller because it had no element of surprise. Stars Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz met on this movie and married and while I’m glad to know that DREAM HOUSE was a positive experience for someone, I just wish it had been the viewer.

07. The Hangover Part II

Opened May 26, 2011

Opening Weekend: $85,946,294

Domestic Box Office: $254,464,305

In Theaters: 113 days / 16 weeks

Todd Phillips made such huge waves with the edgy, comedic THE HANGOVER, so much so there was actually some buzz for Oscar recognition. So, how does THE HANGOVER PART II fail so miserably when it’s directed by the very same person? It’s simple, really. The filmmakers made absolutely no effort to do anything original This is formulaic shlock on a level that redefines the textbook definition. THE HANGOVER PART II quite literally takes the first script, pulls out all the key details, but leaves the plot, characters and dialogue the same, replacing the empty spaces like blanks on a game of Mad Libs. Part I: Alan cares for a baby. Part II: Alan cares for a monkey. Part I: Stu loses a tooth. Part II: Stu gets a face tattoo. We could go on all day doing this, but you get the point. If HANGOVER PART II were actually HANGOVER PART I, it would have succeeded, but its not and therefore feels like an unwelcome episode of cinematic deja vu.

06. Zookeeper

Opened July 8, 2011

Opening Weekend: $20,065,617

Domestic Box Office: $80,360,843

In Theaters: 112 days/ 16 weeks

The concept of Kevin James as stumbling likeable boob who talks to animals may have seemed like a winner on paper but James, a graceful fat funnyman in the John Candy/Chris Farley mold, was unable to transcend the thin story and weak script that the lightweight, family-friendly comedy THE ZOOKEEPER gave us. The film lacked the disarming silliness, adorable critters, and inspired gags kids crave and wasted the sheer personal appeal of James and Rosario Dawson. At 102 minutes, it seemed to run for several hours as James bumbled his way through a story that made less and less sense by the minute. THE ZOOKEEPER was the worst live-action kids movie of 2011.

05. Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil

Opened April 29, 2011

Opening Weekend: $4,108,630

Domestic Box Office: $10,143,779

In Theaters: 84 days / 12 weeks

HOODWINKED TOO!:HOOD VS. EVIL is everything awful about modern feature animation in one loud, obnoxious, unending package. The character designs are ugly, the script is jammed with dated pop culture gags, and each character, no matter how insignificant, has to be voiced by a celebrity. Tedium and torture for movie audiences of all ages and a waste of artistic talents.

04. I Don’t Know How She Does It

Opened September 16, 2011

Opening Weekend: $4,402,201

Domestic Box Office: $9,662,284

In Theaters: 70 days /10 weeks

I DON”T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT is a limp, whiney mess trying to pass itself off as a modern working mom comedy. The film can’t decide on a tone (characters being interviewed as in a ” mockumentary”, then the lead breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience ) and wastes the talents of great comic actors ( Seth Myers, Olivia Munn, and as a drippy hubby Greg Kinnear ). Sarah Jessica Parker adds yet another entry to her growing list of movie misfires.

03. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Opened December 25, 2011

Opening Weekend: $72,348

Domestic Box Office As Of January 9th: $508,738

Still In Theaters

Two insufferable hours of sanctimonious Hollywood mush, EXTREMELY CLOSE AND INCREDIBLY LOUD aims so high and so has that much further to fall.  A self-important look at one boy’s experience with the 9-11 tragedy, the end product has the oily feel of a cynical politician contemptuously reciting platitudes to a hopeful audience. It’s a picture that looks to be tailor-made for Academy consideration, with the supporting players, including Tom Hanks, Max Von Sydow, and Sandra Bullock, given big emotional scenes that are practically variations on their most lauded turns. But it’s this kid Thomas Horn, who’s in every scene, who gives the whiniest, most precocious, and unpleasant performance by a child actor in cinema history. You’re supposed to feel sympathy for him but I just wanted to knock him down and stomp on his neck!

02. Larry Crowne

Opened July 1, 2011

Opening Weekend: $13,096,065

Domestic Box Office: $35,608,245

In Theaters: 49 days / 7 weeks

What happened to Tom Hanks, the director of BAND OF BROTHERS? For that matter, what happened to Tom Hanks the actor? Hanks directed a pleasing debut feature in THAT THING YOU DO, but his sophomore effort falls with a loud thud. Co-written with Nia Vardalos (MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING), Hanks also stars as the title character, a down-on-his luck, happy-go-lucky do-gooder returning to school, with a hint of Andy Griffith, as subtle as garlic. Hanks draws on a heavily stereotypical performance to develop his dopey character, while Julia Roberts musters every ounce of her being to give a cold, emotionless and otherwise completely unlikable performance as Hanks’ love interest and college teacher. The story and the dialogue is so riddled with cliches you’d get more originality watching a marathon of B-grade film noir. Predictable, sappy, painfully unfunny… all accurate descriptions of this Hollywood romantic bomb.

01. Jack and Jill

Opened November 11, 2011

Opening Weekend: $25,003,575

Domestic Box Office: $71,974,493

In Theaters: 59 days / 8 1/2 weeks

If you went to the theater expecting this to be a good movie, then we can’t be friends anymore. Adam Sandler has knocked some funny films out of the park, but this might be the biggest blunder of his career. When did Sandler decide to take the Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence cross-dressing route, and why did  his friends not stop him? I could sit here and talk about the horrible acting, and Sandler’s annoying girly voice, but I would rather just throw my hands in the air and be done with it!

What do you think? What movies dissapointed you this year? We’d love to know!

Till next time,

WAMG