The footage is jaw-dropping, albeit quite quick, and includes a look at BooBoo Stewart's character, as well as Wolverine going through some sort of mind-meld, and Michael Fassbender's Magneto and Patrick Stewart's Professor X looking quite serious.
We can see why they're so serious! Judging by that incredible X-Men: Days of Future Past trailer, Trask industries has put getting mutants wiped off the map high on their list of things to do.
Stay tuned... As the X-Men: Days of Future Past release date of May 23 gets ever closer, we suspect more footage will be released. And if it's half as thrilling as this short spot, we cannot wait. Until then, watch X-men online and see how it all got started.
Beast is superhuman, a genius and has sharp claws. Love to see what happens when he and Wolverine get together!
2.
Meet Bishop
Bishop is new to us in the X-Men movie world. His ability to absorb energy should come in quite handy.
3.
Meet Blink
Blink is another newbie to the X-Men movie world. She can teleport... not much else to say!
4.
Meet Bolivar Trask
Bolivar sees Mutants as a threat. He also founded Trask industries, which will play a huge part in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
5.
Meet Charles Xavier
We don't need to "meet" Charles Xavier! We know him too well. In X-Men: Days of Future Past, McAvoy's Xavier is not in a good place.
6.
Meet Colossus
Colossus likes walks in the moonlight... wait, no he doesn't! He has an organic steel body and super human strength.
7.
Meet Ian McKellen's Magneto
Ian McKellen's Magneto has straddled both sides of good and evil. We're thinking he's good in X-Men: Days of Future Past... but is he really?
8.
Meet Iceman
As you can get, Iceman can be kind of cold, perhaps even icy.
9.
Meet Kitty
Meow! Kitty can make her way through solid objects. That will be a priceless ability for our mutant heroes.
10.
Meet "Young" Magneto
Michael Fassbender is back as Magneto and in X-Men: Days of Future Past, to say he's conflicted is a gross understatement.
11.
Meet Mystique
Jennifer Lawrence is Mystique. Of all the mutant abilities, we'd kind of like hers of shapeshifting.
12.
Meet (again) Professor X!
Professor X is at the heart of our story. He knows trouble is brewing at Trask industries and is the one who implores Wolverine to go back in time.
13.
Meet Quicksilver
Quicksilver can go faster than the speed of sound. Must be nice to be him when stuck in traffic.
14.
Meet Storm (again!)
No one can manipulate the weather like Storm. Period.
15.
Meet Sunspot
As you can gather from his name, Sunspot can absorb solar energy and rechannel it in the form of superhuman strength.
16.
Meet Warpath
Warpath is most likely on a warpath, yes, and he has superhuman speed, but it is hightened senses that will come into play the most.
17.
Wolverine
You don't need to meet Wolverine! After five movies, Hugh Jackman's mutant alter-ego has permeated pop culture. What you do need to know, is Wolverine bridges our two worlds in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
When it comes to introducing the world to a new group of superheroes, Marvel has done it better than anyone. That’s why it should not have been such a surprise that the reaction to the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer was so universally positive.
But still, executives over at Marvel Studios, particularly head honcho Kevin Feige, had to be a little nervous when they debuted the spot that teased their August 1 release that stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and the voices of Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon and Vin Diesel as Groot.
Given the display of joy from the world to their new heroes, Feige is clearly the picture of delighted. “I was very pleased with it, because it's still early days for us, as the movie is coalescing and formulating itself in the cutting room. But there are a few things that we would be locked into: the cast, their looks, our use of music and our very unique tone,” Feige said to IGN.
The leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Lord!
2.
Guardians of the Galaxy Walking!
Zoe Saldana and Chris Pratt lead the gang that is The Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel's latest superheroes.
3.
Guardians of the Galaxy's Spaceship!
How do heroes travel? In Guardians of the Galaxy, it's via a spaceship!
4.
Vin Diesel Loves Groot
Of course Vin loves Groot, he's voicing him!
5.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Cast
The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy strikes a pose. Remind anyone of The Usual Suspects?!
6.
Guardians of the Galaxy Concept Art Photo
The concept art for Guardians of the Galaxy. We can't wait to see what it acutally looks like on film.
7.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Logo
The Logo of Guardians of the Galaxy. Chris Pratt leads the charge as Star Lord.
“The fact that that’s what that teaser is about and that’s what people are embracing, there are a lot of happy people in the offices -- that people are into this.”
Look for Guardians of the Galaxy this summer, and until then, click through and meet the latest Marvel superheroes with video introductions to each of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Keanu Reeves' iconic role of Johnny Utah is getting an update and news arrives that G.I. Joe Retaliation star Luke Bracey has landed the role. We previously reported that Gerard Butler is Bodhi (the role originated by Patrick Swayze) and now our main duo is locked in.
Reeves and Swayze are one of our 17 Movie Dream Teams and it’ll be hard to picture anyone else in those roles, but Alcon Entertainment is going forward with the remake of the Kathryn Bigelow classic and filming is expected to start in the early summer.
Word is the story of the new Point Break will involve an Extreme Sports loving group of bank robbers that Utah will infiltrate and try to bring down. Although wouldn’t you say that Swayze and his cronies were into extreme sports, a la surfing and skydiving? Guess they could add base jumping?!
Thor: The Dark World has the unique blessing of coming out on home video as part of the Marvel universe. The reason we say this is the newly released Thor: The Dark World DVD and Blu-Ray contain bonus features that are sure to generate serious buzz for the latest chapter in the Chris Hemsworth-starring Norse god story.
Not only is there the super fun film itself (check out our theatrical Thor: The Dark World review), but there is an exclusive look at Captain America: The Winter Soldier and a Marvel One Shot called Hail to the King that features a continuation of Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin story from Iron Man 3. See what we mean?
First, the Thor-centric materials on the Thor: The Dark World DVD and Blu-Ray:
Our absolute favorite bonus feature has to be A Brothers’ Journey: Thor & Loki. From the moment Loki and Thor graced the screen together in the first Thor, it was the secret to the success of that film. Tom Hiddleston could not have been a better person to portray the evil brother of Thor… and Hemsworth is impeccably chosen to portray Thor.
Their relationship has been at the center of not only Thor, but also The Avengers and now Thor: The Dark World. In the latest chapter of the Thor mythology, Thor needs Loki’s help as they are fighting a common enemy on Asgard. Delving into the brotherly relationship that drives these Marvel Studios stories is a brilliant bonus feature and it is handled with grace in this 30 minute feature that is both entertaining and enlightening.
Hiddleston and Hemsworth both chime in, as do filmmakers, as to their favorite moments of these two brothers that are currently helping the Marvel world tick. It, honestly, may be the best movie-centric bonus feature on a Marvel DVD and Blu-Ray in several years.
Given the serious nature of the battle for Asgard and all that entails, the Thor: The Dark World Gag Reel is a fantastic addition and it’s always such a joy to see actors lose their way and have fun laughing at themselves. Goodness knows we get quite a few laughs from this gag reel!
What else is exemplary about the Thor: The Dark World DVD and Blu-Ray is the never-before-seen extended cut of the movie that you don’t have to be a die-hard superhero fan to appreciate. The deleted scenes are also a terrific bonus to see what made the film and what ended up on the cutting room floor. In this case, it’s not that these scenes were not solid, it’s clear they were just cut for time.
Now, the two Marvel universe-related extras that make this a must-own for any fan of the superhero studio:
The Exclusive Look: Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier previews the film that lands April 4 and showcases the cast of characters that by this point we know really well. This includes Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and of course Chris Evans who is back for his third turn as Captain America.
The look also introduces us to the latest villain, the Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan. If it appears from the Captain America: The Winter Soldier trailer that our World War II-era hero might have met his match, you’d be right. This is one tough son of a gun.
Finally, the Marvel One Shot: All Hail the King is nothing short of brilliant. This bonus feature would be worth the price of the package alone… even without that Thor movie being at the center of the entire thing.
Kingsley’s turn as “Mandarin” is supremely sensational and it is beyond blissful to see him embody the character once again in this short that is an extension of Iron Man 3. We will not reveal anything more than the short’s existence and how amazing it is… anything more would be a spoiler. Just. Watch. It.
Following the death of Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd is going to have to re-work his script for Ghostbusters 3.
We wondered whether the film would even move forward, but it seems that Ramis’ participation was going to be merely in cameo form as the crux of the story will be a new crop of Ghostbusters.
We’re guessing now that the only original Ghostbusters star that will appear in the third film will be Aykroyd himself. Bill Murray has already said that he does not want to participate.
The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Aykroyd will go back and tweak his script to remove the cameo that Ramis had agreed to make. Word is that the third film in the franchise is going to start shooting this year in Cleveland and no news has arrived in terms of casting the new crop of Ghostbusters.
In a classic Murray line, he utilizes his skills of explaining the obvious!
Dana Barrett: You know, you don't act like a scientist. Dr. Peter Venkman: They're usually pretty stiff. Dana Barrett: You're more like a game show host.
Dr. Egon Spengler: I have a radical idea. The door swings both ways, we could reverse the polarity flow through the gate. Dr. Peter Venkman: How? Dr. Egon Spengler: [hesitates] We'll cross the streams. Dr. Peter Venkman: 'Scuse me Egon? You said crossing the streams was bad! Dr Ray Stantz: Cross the streams... Dr. Peter Venkman: You're gonna endanger us, you're gonna endanger our client - the nice lady, *who paid us in advance*, before she became a dog... Dr. Egon Spengler: Not necessarily. There's definitely a *very slim* chance we'll survive. [pause while they consider this] Dr. Peter Venkman: [slaps Ray] I love this plan! I'm excited it could work! LET'S DO IT!
Dr. Peter Venkman: I'll take Miss Barret back to her apartment and check her out. [Dana Barret looks up confused] Dr. Peter Venkman: I'll go check out Miss Barret's apartment. OK?
Dr. Peter Venkman: Egon, this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole through your head. Remember that? Dr. Egon Spengler: That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me.
Egon, ever brilliant, may have had one lapse of judgment.
Dr. Egon Spengler: I'm worried, Ray. All my readings point to something big on the horizon. Winston Zeddemore: What do you mean, big? Dr. Egon Spengler: Well, let's say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Based on this morning's reading, it would be a Twinkie thirty-five feet long, weighing approximately six hundred pounds. Winston Zeddemore: That's a big Twinkie.
Sigourney's turned into something that could be on Wild Kingdom.
Dr. Egon Spengler: There's something very important I forgot to tell you. Dr. Peter Venkman: What? Dr. Egon Spengler: Don't cross the streams. Dr. Peter Venkman: Why? Dr. Egon Spengler: It would be bad. Dr. Peter Venkman: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad"? Dr. Egon Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. Dr Ray Stantz: Total protonic reversal. Dr. Peter Venkman: Right. That's bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.
I see dead people. Sure, but we had no idea Bruce Willis was done. This twist was so incredible, M. Night Shyamalan has been chasing its success ever since.
I see dead people. Sure, but we had no idea Bruce Willis was done. This twist was so incredible, M. Night Shyamalan has been chasing its success ever since.
2.
The Empire Strikes Back
We agree with Luke and his response to finding out Darth Vader is his father. "Noooooooooo!" Didn't see that coming.
3.
Se7en
The way that David Fincher executed (sorry, bad pun) his ending was nothing short of brilliant. Don't open the box, Brad. Just don't do it.
4.
The Usual Suspects
That tricky little bastard, Keyser Soze! Speaks volumes as to the power of Kevin Spacey's performance, we'll tell you that much.There's manipulating and there's what was accomplished by him in The Usual Suspects.
5.
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes is one of those films that waits, literally, until its final frame to give us the twist. Admit it, the first time you saw it, you thought Charlton Heston was on another planet and NOT Earth! Those. Damn. Dirty. Apes!
6.
Fight Club
Edward Norton and Brad Pitt are playing the same person. Really?! Well done, indeed.
7.
Fallen
Denzel Washington is a cop searching for a zealous religious killer. Turns out... Washington is not who he thinks he is! Surprised?!
8.
The Crying Game
The Crying Game was a surprise hit and we think that had a lot to do with the fact that absolutely no one knew that Jaye Davidson was playing a guy!
9.
Chinatown
It's Chinatown, Jake. Yeah, but incest is still shocking no matter where a movie takes place! When Faye Dunaway announces that her daughter is also her sister... well, color us blinded by that one!
10.
The Others
Nicole Kidman is a mother trying to protect her children from the ghosts in her house known as The Others. But... wait, what if she and her kids are the ghosts?!
11.
The Prestige
Christopher Nolan is a master at the twist and proof of that is all over The Prestige. Besides being a fantastic magician movie, we'd like to meet someone who saw that ending coming. Anyone?
Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be introducing the world to one of our favorite Marvel characters, the Falcon. Anthony Mackie gets the honor of playing the winged hero in the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger, and today... the Falcon gets his own poster!
As shown in the Captain America: The Winter Soldier trailer, Mackie and his heroic alter ego aid Cap in what could be his toughest mission to date. The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) raises some serious trouble, and as seen in that previously mentioned teaser, takes Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury to within inches of his death!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier lands in theaters April 4. To fan the fires of anticipation, check out the Falcon poster below, and then click through to look at all of the Captain America: The Winter Soldier character posters!
Anthony Mackie gets his spotlight in the latest Captain America: The Winter Soldier poster. Mackie is the Falcon.
2.
Robert Redford Captain America: The Winter Soldier Poster
Robert Redford gets the spotlight with his own Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He plays an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
3.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Movie Poster
The official Captain America: The Winter Soldier poster. Chris Evans is back for his third tour as Cap.
4.
Captain America Character Poster
Captain America gets his own character poster. Cap's back in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
5.
Black Widow Character Poster
The Black Widow character poster has arrived. Scarlett Johansson is back in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
6.
Nick Fury Character Poster
Nick Fury is back in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Samuel L. Jackson is the man behind S.H.I.E.L.D.
To get a better picture of Mackie in action, yesterday Marvel released a slew of Captain America: The Winter Soldier stills... check all of them out below! And to get ready for the wildly anticipated sequel, let's go back to the beginning and watch Captain America: The First Avenger online.
The duo that works out together fights together! Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie star in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
2.
Cap & Black Widow in plain clothes!
The superheroes dress for casual Friday.
3.
Anthony Mackie is Falcon
Cap has help in the form of Anthony Mackie's Falcon.
4.
Sebastian Stan is the Winter Soldier
Sebastian Stan is our villain, the Winter Soldier.
5.
Scarlett Johansson is Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson is back as Black Widow. She and Cap had such great chemistry in The Avengers, watch for sparks to fly in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
6.
Anthony Mackie is Armed and Dangerous
Anthony Mackie is Falcon, and he's ready to take flight.
7.
Cobie Smulders is back!
Cobie Smulders continues her role from The Avengers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
The 40th annual Saturn Awards have announced their nominations and leading the pack with eight each is Gravity and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
The awards are given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films -- who salute great achievements in genre films. Some of the nominees on this list may surprise, such as Now You See Me and Jack the Giant Slayer, but it is the business of this awards show to salute mainly blockbusters -- although you will notice a fair share of salutes to independent films such as Her, Stoker and 12 Years a Slave.
Here are the Saturn Award nominations... the winners will be announced in June:
One of the most surprising things about the release of Gravity on DVD and Blu-Ray is one realizes how powerful the Alfonso Cuaron story is. Sure, it is a stunner on IMAX and in 3D, but none of the tale’s power is lost on a smaller screen, particularly with the proliferation of hi-definition TVs.
Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star as astronauts who, after a Russian satellite explodes, find their ride home completely destroyed by debris. They are just spinning in space and spend the film trying to find their way home… against some serious odds.
As we reported in our theatrical Gravity review, the film is flawless which is why it sat atop our top 10 movies of 2013 and is our predicted winner of Best Picture in our latest Oscar Watch column.
Cuaron co-wrote the story with his son Jonas and it is a sci-fi and cinematic spectacle, yes, but it truly is at its heart a story of the human spirit and the strive to live that has kept us alive for many millennia. That strength is perfectly embodied by Bullock who gives the performance of her life, and that is saying something given the fact that she already has a Best Actress trophy on her shelf for The Blind Side.
Given that most of the film is Bullock alone (as you can tell from these Gravity quotes), she must carry the movie, and boy, does she ever. That spectacle that was seen on the big screen is smaller, sure, on TV screens with the Gravity DVD and Blu-Ray release, but as we stated, it is uncanny how much of the power is not lost and that speaks volume to how incredible this film is… period.
When it comes to bonus features on the Gravity DVD and Blu-Ray, over three hours is included and it only reinforces our feeling that this film is one that will go down as one of Hollywood’s best of all time.
The various features chronicle Cuaron’s almost four year effort to bring this epic to audiences. It also showcases the struggle it was to capture an acting performance for the ages all within the confines of zero gravity.
Some fascinating out-of-the-story featurettes are also inspiring, particularly Gravity Mission Control. In the film, we never leave space and the Bullock-centric story. But, we hear Mission Control (the voice of Ed Harris), and it is a beacon of hope for Bullock as she strives to survive. This bonus feature delves deeper into why Cuaron chose not to show Mission Control and how the institution that is Mission Control hangs over the movie throughout.
Harris also serves as narrator on Collision Point: The Race to Clean Up Space. The entire story of Gravity doesn’t happen without all that space debris and it is utterly shocking how much of it is out there and how it truly poses a danger to all who travel in the great beyond.
For those who wish to discover further how the magic of the movie was achieved, Shot Breakdowns is a priceless look at how Cuaron managed to take his audience into space, all without really leaving the ground!
Lastly, Sandra’s Surprise is a terrific bonus feature that is a must-see. We won’t say a word about it though, as it will ruin… the surprise!
Anna Kendrick has been an actress who has made all the right moves since starting out -- from taking a supporting role in the Twilight Saga to her Oscar-nominated turn in Up in the Air opposite George Clooney. But, who could ever have predicted that it would be her role in the film that gave us those stellar Pitch Perfect quotes that would make her a huge star?
Kendrick not only exploded, thanks to acting in Pitch Perfect, but she became a hit singer with her track from the film -- Cups -- becoming a smash single that stayed on the music charts for months!
After Pitch Perfect, the musical offers came fast and furious at Kendrick (and she took two of them). Now, she says in a recent interview with Yahoo, who could say no to what was being offered? But with the announcement of Pitch Perfect 2, she may be done singing for a while.
"I never want to sing again, honestly. It’s hard as (expletive). The Pitch Perfect sequel is going to be fine, ten girls have to be able to sing the songs so it’s going to be fine, but doing The Last Five Years and then Into the Woods straight away, I was like, I don’t want to have to think about my voice so much. I want to be able to drink beer whenever I want,” Kendrick said.
“Honestly, after Pitch Perfect I wouldn’t have ever wanted to do a musical. I would have intentionally tried not to do a musical, but when it’s The Last Five Years and Into the Woods, you can’t really say no."
Crafting a solid movie when much of the canvas that can be painted on with drama or comedy is the confined space of an airplane is not easy.
With the Liam Neeson-starring Non-Stop achieving just that (our review lands February 28), we were inspired to think of 10 other movies that take place on a plane that run the gamut.
There’s comedy -- just watch Airplane! online and there’s one -- thrillers, drama, action and even a bit of romance that can be found in a movie at 30,000 feet. One of them even gave us one of the great movie lines ever... check out these Snakes on a Plane quotes!
Click through and see which 11 plane movies we think really get off the ground.
Liam Neeson is an Air Marshall in this thriller from producer Joel Silver. It is a thrill a minute, and also manages to add a murder mystery element to the action on a plane subgenre of film.
Liam Neeson is an Air Marshall in this thriller from producer Joel Silver. It is a thrill a minute, and also manages to add a murder mystery element to the action on a plane subgenre of film.
2.
Airplane!
Is there a better comedy on a plane than Airplane? Hardly. There may not be a better movie comedy... period.
3.
Snakes on a Plane
Besides having the best movie quote ever about snakes on a plane, this cheesy flick is a midnight movie classic. Samuel L. Jackson said he signed on without reading the script, simply because of that title!
4.
Air Force One
Harrison Ford was not only one of our best movie presients, but one of the best movie heroes to save a plane! Get. Off. My. Plane! Amen, Harrison!
5.
Executive Decision
A surprisingly good thriller that stars Kurt Russell as the leader of a team trying to save a hijacked jet at 40,000 feet with 400 people on board. This isn't saying much, but it is also the best Steven Seagal movie ever.
6.
Up in the Air
The heavily Oscar-nominated Up in the Air doesn't always take place, well... Up in the Air. But the George Clooney, Anna Kendrick-starring film is a charmer that features a whole lot of flight time.
7.
Con Air
It should be no surprise that Con Air is on this list! Nicolas Cage and a bevy of movie all-stars shine in this action flick that finds out what happens when a bunch of convicts take over a plane. It helps that Cage is on board and he just wants to get home to see his little girl. Put the bunny back in the box!
8.
Flight
Denzel Washington stars in a sobering plane movie, Flight. Washington's drunk pilot may be grounded, but this film soars in every way and that crash sequence is one of the best ever captured on film.
9.
Soul Plane
Snoop Dogg doing his thing at 30,000 feet? Sure, board the Soul Plane and get ready for the party to never end.
10.
United 93
One of the most must-see movies that takes place on a plane or anywhere else for that matter. The true story of what happened on United 93 on 9/11 and how those heroes saved hundreds and hudreds of lives.
11.
Red Eye
Who would have thought that horror master Wes Craven's tightest and most effective movie would take place on an airplane? Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy star in a thriller that will have you sporting... red eyes!
The long-awaited Entourage movie started shooting and even gave us our first photos (seen below in our behind-the-scenes slideshow). But now, we also have a release date!
Look for Vince (Adrian Grenier) and the boys to return to the Entourage world on June 12, 2015.
Also, we’ve added a snapshot to the slideshow below of Liam Neeson on the set of Entourage earlier today. Neeson is promoting his Non-Stop and we suspect he is playing himself. As you see in the photo… he’s talking to newly anointed studio head Ari Gold (Piven).
Word has arrived today, via Variety, that Girls star Adam Driver is in final talks to sign on to play the villain in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII. Although he can never replace a Darth Vader in terms of cinematic evil power, look for Driver to play a similar role in the first chapter of the new trilogy.
Our previous thoughts that Hugo Weaving and Michael Fassbender are both still being pursued was confirmed by the magazine, and it appears that we will get some serious “official” casting news sooner than later with Star Wars Episode VII filming set to start in late spring or early summer.
Look for Star Wars: Episode VII December 18, 2015 and until then… let’s revisit why that first Star Wars made such a mark!
You knew you were in for something truly special when that Imperial fighter flew into the scene, feeling like it was literally going right over our heads.
You knew you were in for something truly special when that Imperial fighter flew into the scene, feeling like it was literally going right over our heads.
2.
Obi-Wan Tells Luke About The Force
The Force wasn't only a foreign concept to Luke, but to audiences as well. When Obi-Wan explained it to Luke in this iconic scene... we were sold.
3.
Darth Vader's First Scene
When Darth Vader walked onto Leia's ship, bodies on the floor all around him, he emerged from the smoke, and an iconic movie villain was born. Then, he spoke!
4.
Han Solo Shoots Greedo
In the Cantina when Han Solo shoots Greedo, it wasn't only just an introduction to the unlikely hero that is Han Solo. It was an announcement of a movie legend that we will likely never see again.
5.
The Cantina
The Cantina scene showed us that this truly is a galaxy far, far away... that is filled with all sorts of fascinating characters. And try hearing that Cantina band song and not have it in your head all day!
6.
Darth Vader Chokes
When Darth Vader chokes Admiral Motti to near death and says, “I find your lack of faith disturbing," we are exposed to how The Force can be used for evil in its most menacing of ways.
7.
Princess Leia is No Damsel in Distress
Princess Leia was a different kind of movie heroine. There were few like her before, and she opened the door for all the fighting female characters that would come.
8.
Those Are Not the Droids...
One of the more famous quotes to come out of Star Wars arrives when Obi-Wan tells the Storm Troopers that "those are not the droids you are looking for." Seeing him literally command the minds of others had us beyond fascinated with the character of Obi-Wan.
9.
Obi-Wan's Sacrifice
When Luke witnesses Obi-Wan and Darth Vader fighting in that momentous scene, Obi-Wan makes the ultimmate sacrifice. His death would hang over the entire trilogy.
10.
Han Clears the Way for Luke
Just when we thought Han had flown off somewhere else, other than to join in the fight, he surprises us... and his timing was perfect. Han shot those Imperial Fighters and as he said best, "You're all clear, kid!" Death star... say goodbye.
11.
Luke Destroys the Death Star
After Han clears the way, Luke listens to Obi-Wan telling him to "Use the force, Luke." He focuses... and the Death Star is destroyed!
Non-Stop producer Joel Silver knows how to make blockbusters. When he first came to Hollywood from New Jersey, studios weren’t making big budget action movies. He changed that with his first solo produced film, 48 Hours, and has not looked back since.
Just a sampling of his filmography reveals some of the film world’s biggest hits from Lethal Weapon and Die Hard to The Matrix and Sherlock Holmes, and now he’s sure to have a new hit with Non-Stop starring Liam Neeson.
We caught up with Silver for an exclusive interview where he gives us insight into what he looks for in a film that more often than not turns into a blockbuster. He also chimes in on the action movie resurgence of Non-Stop star Neeson, as well as how the super-producer even got into this business in the first place.
Movie Fanatic: You could choose any movie at this point in your career to put your time and talents into, so what was it about Non-Stop that it had to have the Joel Silver name on it?
Joel Silver: The script. Right away I thought it would be something that would be fun to see. It’s like Murder on the Orient Express, but you’re on a plane traveling at tremendous amounts of speed at that height. And you are in a situation that you don’t know who the bad guy is and if we do our job right – and I think we did – you don’t know who the bad guy is until we tell you. I thought it was a good yarn, a good story, and when I let Liam read it, he said, “I want to make this movie.” It became real very quickly.
Movie Fanatic: What was it about Jaume Collet-Serra (director) and Mr. Neeson that they make such a good team? They were great with Unknown and now this.
Joel Silver: On Unknown, which was the first thing we did together, we all enjoyed the experience and we felt that there was an opportunity to do other movies together. Jaume’s a great director. He has a great ability to collect great actors. The cast in this movie is unbelievable. It’s a unique opportunity to work with a director who knows what he wants and knows how to get there and really takes the time to tell the story and have all the footage to get everything clear and concise to have the movie make sense.
Movie Fanatic: Your filmography is quite varied, from action and blockbusters to it being all over the place. What do you look for in a film to attach yourself to?
Joel Silver: It’s the old story, if I read a script that I want to see, that pushes me to go that extra mile to get it made. It’s hard to get movies made. When I feel that, I think people will feel that too.
Movie Fanatic: Going back to the beginning, all those decades ago, what made you want to get into the world of storytelling that is moviemaking?
Joel Silver: I grew up in South Orange, New Jersey. I was far from Hollywood. I grew up in the 1960s and there were a lot of movies on TV. It was a heyday for watching movies on television. My parents felt I watched too much television. But, I kept saying to them, “This is what I want to do! I want to make movies.” I went to NYU to film school and I was able to see a lot of movies that we could study. It was the 1970s and that was a great time for movies. When I arrived in L.A. in 1975, I already had a great knowledge of movies that I liked. I not only knew about the movies, but how they were made. I was passionate about trying to make action movies that weren’t like the kind that were being made back then. When I made 48 Hours in 1982, that movie was very similar to Non-Stop. It was an action movie with humor. It had thrills and chills. I’ve been able to make the kind of movies that I’ve always wanted to see and like and I’m going to keep doing it until they tell me I can’t do it anymore.
Movie Fanatic: Liam is not new to being an action star… we could go back to Darkman or The Phantom Menace. And now he’s found action success quite often with Taken. What do you think it is about Mr. Neeson that audiences are compelled by him in action?
Joel Silver: He knows his way around a lightsaber [laughs]! He’s like Robert Downey Jr. You had to put Downey in an iron suit to have people realize he can do anything. Liam can do anything. Audiences just love Liam. They believe him in anything. They don’t want him to get hurt. They want him to succeed. He’s an actor and a persona that we can truly pull for, time and time again. And a lot of Non-Stop is a close-up on Liam’s face. You watch him see and think and figure things out… people are wowed by him.
Movie Fanatic: What do you think it is about the movie on a plane idea, whether it’s Air Force One or even Airplane! that is so attractive?
Joel Silver: Many people in our world have been on airplanes. It’s a shared experience. It is fraught with concern and potential danger. I think when you tell a story like this, it’s easy for people to appreciate and understand. You make it in such a way that people are intrigued, you have a great, successful venture, which I think this is and I hope this will be.
Liam Neeson is an Air Marshall in this thriller from producer Joel Silver. It is a thrill a minute, and also manages to add a murder mystery element to the action on a plane subgenre of film.
Liam Neeson is an Air Marshall in this thriller from producer Joel Silver. It is a thrill a minute, and also manages to add a murder mystery element to the action on a plane subgenre of film.
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Airplane!
Is there a better comedy on a plane than Airplane? Hardly. There may not be a better movie comedy... period.
3.
Snakes on a Plane
Besides having the best movie quote ever about snakes on a plane, this cheesy flick is a midnight movie classic. Samuel L. Jackson said he signed on without reading the script, simply because of that title!
4.
Air Force One
Harrison Ford was not only one of our best movie presients, but one of the best movie heroes to save a plane! Get. Off. My. Plane! Amen, Harrison!
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Executive Decision
A surprisingly good thriller that stars Kurt Russell as the leader of a team trying to save a hijacked jet at 40,000 feet with 400 people on board. This isn't saying much, but it is also the best Steven Seagal movie ever.
6.
Up in the Air
The heavily Oscar-nominated Up in the Air doesn't always take place, well... Up in the Air. But the George Clooney, Anna Kendrick-starring film is a charmer that features a whole lot of flight time.
7.
Con Air
It should be no surprise that Con Air is on this list! Nicolas Cage and a bevy of movie all-stars shine in this action flick that finds out what happens when a bunch of convicts take over a plane. It helps that Cage is on board and he just wants to get home to see his little girl. Put the bunny back in the box!
8.
Flight
Denzel Washington stars in a sobering plane movie, Flight. Washington's drunk pilot may be grounded, but this film soars in every way and that crash sequence is one of the best ever captured on film.
9.
Soul Plane
Snoop Dogg doing his thing at 30,000 feet? Sure, board the Soul Plane and get ready for the party to never end.
10.
United 93
One of the most must-see movies that takes place on a plane or anywhere else for that matter. The true story of what happened on United 93 on 9/11 and how those heroes saved hundreds and hudreds of lives.
11.
Red Eye
Who would have thought that horror master Wes Craven's tightest and most effective movie would take place on an airplane? Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy star in a thriller that will have you sporting... red eyes!
Ridley Scott likes to keep his audience guessing. From walking away from making a sequel to Alien, that would become Aliens, Scott has strung together a series of films since he started that all share that Scott stamp, but are clearly from a filmmaker who has refused to be defined. His latest, The Counselor, arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray and could not be more different than anything he has done before.
The Counselor is a drug trade crime thriller starring Michael Fassbender (soon to be seen in X-Men: Days of Future Past) who goes by no other name than the one in the title. He’s a lawyer, engaged to Penelope Cruz, who is about to embark on a drug deal that will make him millions… he hopes.
Fassbender’s Counselor is working on this deal with one of his clients, a balls-to-the-wall crazed performance by Oscar winner Javier Bardem, and alongside a cowboy-hat sporting Brad Pitt. Meanwhile, Bardem is married to a snake of a woman, played with over-the-top panache by Cameron Diaz.
As we stated in our theatrical The Counselor review, the film is pretty solid, but slightly misses the mark. There are holes to it, but for fans of Scott, it is still a thrill ride worth taking.
The Counselor DVD and Blu-Ray release features a never-before-seen unrated extended cut, overseen by Scott himself. And there’s also over an hour of making-of footage featuring that all-star cast.
The unrated extended cut is fascinating and in fact, we wish that was what was released in the theaters. It is much more of a complete film and probably the one that is closest to what Scott had in mind when he set out to make the film in the first place. The script (previewed in these great The Counselor quotes), written by No Country for Old Men author Cormac McCarthy, truly comes to life on that extended cut.
The bonus features are few, but the two provided truly give a glimpse into the moviemaking magic that is a Scott production. Truth of the Situation shows how this film, that is truly noir in so many ways, was a unique challenge for Scott… and one he relished. The Virals bonus feature is one that needs to be seen, and you’ll get little more from us than… go watch it!
It may have been eight years since Borat entertained us with his way off opinions of how things work, but since 2006 few movies have been quoted as fiercely as the one starring Sacha Baron Cohen.
You could probably, just off the top of your head, think of five Borat quotes right now… without any effort!
That speaks volumes as to the comedy writing skills of Cohen, as well as his ability to improv off-the-cuff as his foreign journalist alter-ego traveled America and had to respond to what was being thrown at him.
Click through and see our favorite 13 Borat quotes and then, we’re sure you’ll want to watch Borat online.
Universal has released the latest poster for A Million Ways to Die in the West. The Seth MacFarlane follow-up to his smash hit that gave us all those Ted quotes is set to arrive in theaters May 30.
As teased in that supremely funny A Million Ways to Die in the West red band trailer, MacFarlane is a farmer who is being taunted by a gunslinger (Liam Neeson). When a strange woman (Charlize Theron) comes to town, she teaches him the ways of working with weapons so he can stand up for himself and perhaps, win back his lady love (Amanda Seyfried).
The all-star cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi and Sarah Silverman.
Want an idea of the kind of comic mayhem you’ll be in for with this Western comedy? Watch Ted online and we bet you’ll put A Million Ways to Die in the West on your calendar for the end of May!
Director Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller have continued the story they started in 2006 and fans could not be more eager for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For to hit theaters August 22.
The second page of Sin City: A Dame to KillFor photos features the return of Mickey Rourke’s character Marv and we get our first look at a new character portrayed by Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Now, Mr. Rodriguez, when can we please have that first trailer?! Until then, we’ll just have to watch Sin City online.
We were one of those who thought getting a new Spider-Man so soon after Tobey Maguire hung up his web was not a bad idea.
Andrew Garfield is a stellar actor and even though Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man carried much of the same origins story as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, it was better acted, had a better story and frankly, a better villain.
Now that we’re gearing up for the second chapter in Webb's series, teased in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer, we present 7 elements that are integral to ensure that this sequel works.
We don’t doubt Webb’s talent and are keenly aware that the dynamic director is probably way ahead of us!
Click through and see what 7 things we hope for in the highly anticipated sequel that lands May 2. To gear up for that, why not catch up on the original Webb film and watch The Amazing Spider-Man online.
One of the things we adore about Spider-Man in general is he always has a sense of humor, no matter what he's doing... even in the most dire of circumstances. We suspect in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, that will grow even further.
One of the things we adore about Spider-Man in general is he always has a sense of humor, no matter what he's doing... even in the most dire of circumstances. We suspect in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, that will grow even further.
2.
Peter Parker & Gwen Stacy Romance Grows, But Not Without Peril
Gwen and Peter truly hit it off in the first film, now their romance must continue and grow… but there must be some conflict. We suspect a certain villain (or three) will have something to do with that. It was wise for the Shailene Woodley Mary Jane character to have her scenes cut. We're not quite ready for that kind of relationship conflict.
3.
Don't Batman and Robin The Villains
Batman and Robin famously overcrowded its film with too many villains. Even though we know there are three in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, we know that the main one will be Electro (Jamie Foxx). The Rhino (Paul Giamatti) is supporting and Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin will likely just be introduced as his villain will play a bigger role in subsequent films. Well, let's hope that is how it goes!
4.
Let Foxx be Foxx
Electro is such a fascinating villain. How does Spider-Man deal with fighting someone who can literally electrocute you? And Foxx is an Oscar-winning actor. Webb, we're sure, won’t let Foxx be overshadowed by layers of Electro make-up or lightning-wielding power. Foxx is best when he is just being Foxx. We haven't seen him play a true villain before, and… we. can't. wait.
5.
Spider-Man Loves Being Spider-Man
Now that we got that origins story over with, we hope that even though the stakes of danger are higher in the second film Peter Parker is having a true blast being the superhero. Now that he has command of his powers, look for him to bask in the glow of being… well, Spider-Man!
6.
Harry Osborn & Peter Parker Friendship Must Flourish
One of the great joys of the Raimi trilogy was the friendship (before it turned sour) between Harry Osborn and Peter Parker. With actors as powerful as Dane DeHaan and Andrew Garfield, we look forward to much joy between these two… before their epic Spider-Man and Green Goblin battle.
7.
Leave Us On a Cliffhanger
We suspect that Spidey will do just fine against Electro, but there must be a cost paid to being a hero and we suspect that will happen in the closing moments of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. And here's an idea: Leave us hanging. We remember when Empire Strikes Back ended and we had to wait, impatiently we might add, for Return of the Jedi. With the power of the Spider-Man mythology… there is no reason The Amazing Spider-Man 2 could not leave us panting for The Amazing Spider-Man 3.
Muppets Most Wanted is set to hit theaters March 21 and brings back all our favorite Muppets characters, but… there’s trouble for our reunited friends.
Download the Muppets Most Wanted Kermit and Miss Piggy Valentine's Day card and send to someone you love!
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Happy Valentine's Day from The Muppets
Don't be a chicken and send this Muppets Most Wanted Valentine's Day card to someone you love!
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Miss Piggy's Wedding Dress
Is Miss Piggy getting married in Muppets Most Wanted?
4.
Muppets Most Wanted: Kermit
Our favorite Muppets character, Kermit, gets his day in the sun with his first Muppets Most Wanted character poster. The sequel to The Muppets lands March 21.
5.
Muppets Most Wanted: Miss Piggy
Missy Piggy, as she so deserves, gets her first solo Muppets Most Wanted poster. She and her love, Kermit the Frog, are back!
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Muppets Most Wanted: Animal
Animal gets the spotlight. But, where's his drum kit?! He's back with the Muppets gang in Muppets Most Wanted!
7.
Muppets Most Wanted: Fozzie Bear
The true comedy vet of The Muppets gets his Muppets Most Wanted character poster. Fozzie Bear, ladies and gentlemen!
