Quantcast
Channel: Movie Fanatic
Viewing all 7494 articles
Browse latest View live

AFI Movies of the Year: Who Is Their Best?

0
0

Movie Fanatic has started its Best of 2014 lists, with our Top 9 Animated Movies of 2014 and our Top 19 Movie Posters of 2014.

We’re not alone in starting the countdown as AFI (The American Film Institute) has launched their top 10, er 11 (!), of 2014. Guess the year was so fabulous, it expanded the list by one!

So, who made the list? Since AFI doesn’t rank them, it’s just a list of films, but the ones they included are notable and many will absolutely be up for Best Picture at next year’s Academy Awards.

What else is notable is what is missing. There is no mention of Gone Girl (a film that will be on our list in the coming weeks), but they did include two of our favorites with Nightcrawler and Whiplash.

We, for one, will include one on our top of 2014 list that arrived this summer… you know, the one that gave us those awesome Guardians of the Galaxy quotes.

Another thing that is interesting about this list -- other than one film, they all arrived in October or later.

Click through the slideshow below and discover the 11 best films of 2014, according to AFI.

American Sniper
Bradley Cooper is getting serious Oscar buzz for his role as the real life Navy SEAL who was the best American Sniper in war history. Clint Eastwood's also getting props for making his best film in years.

Finding Dory: Story and Locale Revealed!

0
0

Fans of Finding Nemo rejoiced when it was announced by Pixar that they would be pursuing a sequel and that it would follow one of the breakout favorite characters from the first film, Dory. Ellen DeGeneres voiced the forgetful fish and it became an instant classic in the annals of animation.

Finding Nemo Dory

Now we know a little more about what Dory will be doing and where she will be doing it in Finding Dory.

Pixar President Jim Morris was talking to Omelete and gave the world a few clues about our favorite clueless water creature.

Finding Dory will pick up six months after Finding Nemo concluded and Dory will be doing just fine, living among her peeps (fellow clown fishes). Nemo and Dory are out on a class field trip to witness the magic of migration (specifically manta rays heading home), Dory herself gets homesick and sends our heroine on a mission to discover her origins.

“The movie will be mostly set at the California Marine Biology Institute, a huge complex of sea life rehabilitation and aquarium, where Dory was born and raised. We will get to meet new characters, like an octopus, sea lions, a beluga whale, among others,” Morris said.

Beyond DeGeneres, casting has been somewhat quiet for Finding Dory, but now we know that too!

Legends Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy will lend their voices to the roles of Dory’s parents. Albert Brooks returns as does Willem Dafoe as Gill -- also look or the voices of Ty Burrell, Dominic West and Idris Elba (a Wire reunion!).

Watch Finding Nemo online as we ready for the June 17, 2016 release date of Finding Dory.

Where does Finding Nemo land on the top grossing animated movies of all time? Click through and find out!

Cars 2
Although Cars 2 arrived in 2011 and was not the most beloved of the Disney-Pixar movies, it still proved a force at the international box office. To date, Cars 2 has banked $559.9 million.

The Walk Trailer: Joseph Gordon Levitt Crosses The Twin Towers

0
0

Sony has released the first trailer for The Walk and it is simply stunning. Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Back to the Future, Flight) directs Joseph Gordon Levitt in the true story of Philippe Petit.

Who is Petit, you ask? Why, he’s the guy who crossed the Twin Towers in New York City in 1974 on nothing but a tightrope. And he captured the imagination of the world in the process.

Yes, the journey across two of the tallest buildings in the world was illegal, but by traversing the World Trade Center in Manhattan, he inspired many to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles.

What’s also so compelling about The Walk is Zemeckis shot it in IMAX and in 3D and it’s coming to theaters on October 2, 2015 in dizzying IMAX and IMAX 3D.

The film also stars James Badge Dale, Ben Schwartz, Charlotte Le Bon (The Hundred-Foot Journey) and Ben Kingsley.

Watch Back to the Future online and get ready for Zemeckis’ latest!  

And check out the first poster for The Walk below!

The Walk Poster

San Andreas Trailer: Dwayne Johnson Is California Dreaming

0
0

The first trailer for San Andreas has arrived and we’re quite compelled. It was always a mystery how this film would look, given what it was on paper.

Dwayne Johnson stars as a rescue helicopter pilot who is caught, like the rest of the west coast, by surprise when the San Andreas fault decides to move and causes “The Big One” that every citizen in California fears.

Given that premise, we like the story of Johnson as a man in search of his daughter (Alexandra Daddario) -- along with his ex-wife (Carla Gugino) -- when their world literally falls apart.

Johnson’s character also has to swing into action to save many, many more than simply his daughter. The film also stars Paul Giamatti (as seen in the trailer) and Kylie Minogue, Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Art Parkinson.

Look for San Andreas May 29, 2015 and in the meantime for your The Rock fix, watch Hercules online

Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino Reunited
These two are back together after Race to Witch Mountain! This time, the mountain may fall on them!

17 Biggest Movie Stars & Their Most Memorable Roles: Best of the Best

0
0

One doesn’t get to the A-list and achieve the status of being one of the biggest movie stars in the world without making a slew of fantastic films. In fact, most of the superstars in Hollywood have made their fair share of blockbusters, critical darlings and Oscar favorites.

But, what are Movie Fanatic’s favorite movies from each of the biggest stars in the world?

Here’s a hint… one of our favorite actors can be seen when you watch Fight Club online. And you see his wife when you watch Mr. and Mrs. Smith online. Yup, we said it, that’s our favorite Angelina Jolie movie!

We name 17 of the biggest movie stars in the world and go through one-by-one and reveal our favorite movie of theirs. There’ll be some surprises -- that we promise.

Click through and discover our 17 favorite movie stars and their 17 best movies!

Brad Pitt Fight Club
Brad Pitt is easily one of the biggest stars in town, and he has had many, many great films to his credit. But, for us, he will have a hard time ever topping Fight Club. Yeah, I know, we just talked about Fight Club... but it's our favorite Brad Pitt movie!

The Hobbit The Battle of the Five Armies Photos: Gandalf Eyes Trouble!

0
0

The release of the final chapter in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy is only a week away!

To celebrate that fact, Warner Bros. has released five new stills and each could not be more different and more important to the story than the last.

The moment we got that The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies trailer, we knew that Jackson’s love of Middle Earth was ever present. And it is one of the reasons we absolutely adore his movies -- from The Lord of the Rings trilogy to this tale of Bilbo and his grand adventure with his good buddy Gandalf.

One of the five photos features Gandalf and he looks a wee bit worried. You would be too if there were five armies heading towards one epic battle that Jackson has promised will comprise the final 45 minutes of the movie!

We also get a killer look at an Orc set to launch that battle, as well as a quiet moment between Richard Armitage’s Thorin Oakenshield and Martin Freeman’s Bilbo.

Watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug online to see where we left off and get all sorts of ready for the release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies when it arrives December 17.

Gandalf Sees Something Wicked This Way Comes
From the look on his face, what Gandalf is seeing is not so good.

Inherent Vice Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix, Paranoia Will Destroy You!

0
0

One of the best movies of the year (our full review is coming soon) is Inherent Vice.

Warner Bros. has released a trailer for the Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) movie and it truly puts the plot in perspective where that previous Inherent Vice trailer only teased.

Joaquin Phoenix is Doc, a private eye in 1970 Los Angeles who is drawn into the most complicated kidnapping/extortion plot/who knows what it is?!

While he tries to wrap his head around this case that was brought to him by his ex-girlfriend, the LAPD gets involved (Josh Brolin as lead detective is bloody brilliant) and the result is one of the most dramatic, hilarious and subversive films we’ve seen in some time.

Inherent Vice opens limitedly on December 12 (to qualify for the Oscars, and we think it deserves a bevy of nominations), and then premieres everywhere January 9.

Anderson’s latest features an all-star cast beyond Phoenix and Brolin, including Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Martin Short and more.   

Inherent Vice
The poster for Inherent Vice. The Paul Thomas Anderson movie has an all-star cast.

Guardians of the Galaxy DVD Review: A Sensational Spirit in the Sky!

0
0

Guardians of the Galaxy has arrived on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download and it’s the rare film that can be seen over and over and over, so this is one we clearly recommend for purchase.

Guardians of the Galaxy DVD

Who knew when that first Guardians of the Galaxy trailer arrived all those months ago, that this “risk” of a Marvel Studios movie with five unknown Marvel superheroes would go on to become the highest grossing film of 2014?

With $645 million earned so far globally, this is the movie that won’t quit, and with its arrival on home video, it’s great to have Chris Pratt as Star Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista’s Drax and the voices of Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot at our fingertips!

Those Guardians of the Galaxy quotes were not the only selling point here. Of course, the script by writer-director James Gunn is nothing short of brilliant. It is fun, enlightening, action-packed and filled with heart. But, what also sets it apart are the stunning visuals created by Gunn and his team and this world that feels so far away that, dare we say it, reminds us of a certain Star Wars universe with its attention to detail and grounded in a reality that clearly doesn’t exist way.

As we stated in our theatrical Guardians of the Galaxy review, this is not just a fantastic superhero movie, the flick is one of the best of 2014… period! And to have the DVD, Blu-Ray or digital download out now not only makes it a great gift for any film fan out there, but might we suggest you treat yourself to one of the more enjoyable cinematic experiences we’ve had in some time.

And it’s not just the fab five that pull us in. The cast is stellar and rises to the challenge. Our favorite heroes are in a classic battle of good (or is it not-so-good?) versus evil that takes the form of Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace, who kills it). We also treasured Michael Rooker as Star Lord’s adoptive father, Yondu Udonta, and Benicio del Toro as The Collector (who has a fantastic post-credits scene if you missed it in theaters).

Chris Pratt Zoe Saldana In Guardians of the Galaxy

When it comes to bonus features for the Guardians of the Galaxy DVD and Blu-Ray, it’s hard to know where to start because it’s so clear that Gunn put a whole lot of thought into making this one of the best home video releases of the year and not just one of the best films of the year.

The look of the film is explored in a making-of featurette and one aspect of it that we found particularly fascinating is the makeup and how so many of the characters (including Drax and Gamora) had to endure hours and hours of applications that would only be the beginnings of their day. To think that they then had to work for hours on end making a Marvel movie and all those pressures that come along with it -- that makes the viewer appreciate everything the cast had to do to bring us one of the best movies of the year even more.

We adore the extended scene featuring Rocket laughing at Peter Quill, aka Star Lord’s plan, or lack thereof. There is a whole lot of laughing (fake or otherwise) that we didn’t get to see in theaters and it also gives us a little more background into the dynamic of the group as they each comment on Quill’s “plan.”

Another deleted scene that fans will treasure is simply titled Sisters. It features Saldana’s Gamora battling her “sibling” Nebula (Karen Gillian) about who’s a better killer. We wouldn’t argue with either.

The gag reel works so well for a live action movie, but also embraces some of the things that animated movies have done of late. We particularly enjoy a couple of laugh-out-loud moments featuring the CG characters of Rocket and Groot -- no spoilers here as to details, just don’t miss this entire featurette.

Last, but not least, always thinking about their Marvel Cinematic Universe, the inclusion of an exclusive Look at Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron is a holiday gift from Kevin Feige and his team that takes us behind the scenes of next summer’s surefire blockbuster hit and explores Joss Whedon and what he promises to bring our way as a follow-up to The Avengers, our previous best Marvel movie.

Now that title belongs to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Watch Guardians of the Galaxy online right now and enjoy it again and again!

The Ronan Poster
Ronan the Accuser gets his own character poster!

The Dark Knight Rises: Christian Bale Interprets the Ending

0
0

Since Christopher Nolan concluded his Dark Knight trilogy, fans have often had lively discussions about the conclusion. Spoiler alert if you haven’t seen the movie:

Batman Dark Knight Rises

When Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne is sitting in a French café with his new girlfriend, Selina Kyle, and Michael Caine’s Alfred looks on with a smile, we get the impression that our hero has left the heroic way of life behind.

But, did he?

Some feel that the ending of The Dark Knight Rises was ambiguous. Some are even of the opinion that it was a dream.

Bale, out promoting his role in Exodus: Gods and Kings, was asked in an EW Q&A on SiriusXM by a fan as to his opinion on the conclusion. And as far as we’re concerned, that’s the final word.

“Alfred was just content with me being alive and away from the Batman life because that was always the life that he wanted for him,” Bale said.

“I find it very interesting and, with most films, I tend to always say it’s what the audience thinks it is. My personal opinion is no, it was not a dream. That was for real and he was just delighted that finally he had freed himself from the privilege but ultimately the burden of being Bruce Wayne.”

After all, this is not the Inception ending!

Watch The Dark Knight Rises online and see for yourself!

Gone Girl DVD Details: Revealed!

0
0

Gillian Flynn’s bestseller Gone Girl not only struck a chord with readers, but with movie audiences too. The film wound up being the highest grossing movie in director David Fincher’s prolific career. And now, Fox has announced plans for the Gone Girl DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download.

Gone Girl DVD

Ben Affleck stars as Nick Dunne, a man who comes home on his wedding anniversary to an empty house. His wife, Amy (a stunning Rosamund Pike), has gone missing and after the days go by, the community (and national media) begins to suspect he’s involved in her demise.

Fincher’s film (with its Gone Girl quotes) is considered in the running for a slew of Oscar nods, including Best Actress for Pike, Best Director for Fincher and Best Picture.

So, when is it coming home on DVD and Blu-Ray?

Look for it January 13, 2015 and each Blu-Ray even comes with a new Amazing Amy story called Tattle Tale. How brilliant is that?! The 36-page children’s book will only be available with the purchase of the Fincher Blu-Ray.

If you’ve seen the movie, you know all too well how impeccable this addition is… and if you’re still waiting to see Gone Girl, this is one you’ll want to purchase, and then you’ll be thrilled about the addition of the Amazing Amy book.

As we reported in our theatrical Gone Girl review, this film is a stunner and Affleck has never been better and Pike is a revelation.

In addition to the Amazing Amy book, the only other bonus feature reported as being included is the David Fincher audio commentary track… which, as a fan of the helmer, is all we need!

Ben Affleck Searches
Ben Affleck joins the search for his Gone Girl.

The Wedding Ringer: Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting on Becoming a Bridezilla!

0
0

When it comes to the scenes we saw Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting shooting on the set of The Wedding Ringer, the star cautioned that although it might seem that way, her character might not be a complete witch.

Josh Gad Kaley Cuoco Sweeting Kevin Hart The Wedding Ringer Set

“It opens with their relationship very, very cute and it turns dark as the movie goes on. As the stress of the wedding increases, she gets a little bit scarier. She’s kind of more annoying instead of unlikable,” Cuoco-Sweeting said.  

Is it safe to call her a Bridezilla?

“I guess she kind of is. There are moments where it naturally comes out and it worked for the character so I guess she has a little bit of Bridezilla in her for sure.”

As teased in The Wedding Ringer trailer, Cuoco-Sweeting is the fiance of Josh Gad, and as their wedding nears, it becomes obvious that she is going to have a lot of bridesmaids. Given that Gad's character has no friends, that is kind of a problem. That’s where Kevin Hart comes in… he runs a company that provides a Best Man (Hart) and as many groomsmen as the lonely guy with the great girl needs.

Cuoco-Sweeting admitted that working with two funnymen like Gad and Hart it was oftentimes difficult to get through a scene. But, it is something she’s used to working on the number one TV comedy in the country, The Big Bang Theory.

“There is a lot of ad libbing, which is my favorite thing to do, especially. Josh (Gad) and Kevin (Hart) are so hilarious, you never know what they’re going to say or what kind of take they’re going to give you so have to be ready every time. It’s been a lesson in comedy,” Cuoco-Sweeting said. “It’s actually been a total blast.”

Like The Big Bang Theory, The Wedding Ringer is an ensemble comedy, but it clearly is a much different landscape. For the actress, it is a welcome chance to spread her wings and grow as a thespian.

“I think anytime when you’re lucky enough to be on a series for as long as we have you get comfortable and things are very easy. The things come very easily the way I work off the guys. It’s a natural thing. To do that 90 percent of the time and then to jump in with a different group of people, who are just as funny in their own way, it definitely ups my game,” Cuoco-Sweeting said.

The Wedding Ringer Josh Gad Kaley Cuoco Sweeting

“It makes me think, ‘Oh, I can do something else and I can work with other people.’ It’s just a new experience. It makes me love comedy as much as I originally have because being able to work with so many funny people, I’m just very lucky.”

The Wedding Ringer star signed on to the project immediately after reading the script. But, how she got the script is a fascinating story.

“To be honest with you, I owe this whole thing to (director) Jeremy Garelick’s wife. His wife Sam and I go to the same gym and we were spinning together and she said, ‘Jer’s doing the greatest movie, you gotta be the lead girl.’ She called him right then,” Cuoco-Sweeting recalled.

“He called the next day. When I read the script I was laughing out loud and imagining Josh and Kevin and that made it even more funnier. This is my dream. Once the show ends -- unfortunately the show is not going to last forever, we would like it to -- this is the path I would like to go. I love this big, silly, comedy stuff. It’s my favorite.” 

Both of Cuoco-Sweeting’s co-stars in The Wedding Ringer are on fire cinematically lately. Watch Frozen online and see Gad as Olaf and turn around and everywhere you look you’ll see Hart lately! “Josh is a little hotshot… whatever! He won’t stop talking about it,” Cuoco-Sweeting said and laughed.

“To be honest with you and this is not taking away from Big Bang because we just have a blast there, but Josh might be one of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life.”

Gad plays a tech executive in The Wedding Ringer and Cuoco-Sweeting clearly has been around geeks all day long for years now on The Big Bang Theory. She admits, she can’t help it… the geekdom is contagious.

“I think we all have a little geek inside of us, especially with the stuff we do on Big Bang. It was actually really funny… I saw Gravity last night and I knew everything about the Soyuz capsule,” she said and laughed.

“I was telling my fiance (now husband) about it and he said, ‘Who are you?’ It was because we did those space episodes. I remember and I didn’t realize it. It’s seeping into my brain, and I don’t even know it!”

Josh & Kevin Boogie Down
Hart even teaches Gad some sweet moves!

Kingsman The Secret Service Red Band Trailer: Samuel L. Jackson as Twisted Genius!

0
0

Ever since that first Kingsman: The Secret Service trailer we have been oh-so keenly excited for the arrival of the comic book brought to life, courtesy of Matthew Vaughn. After Vaughn’s work directing Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class, we cannot wait to see what he will do with the world of Kingsman.

Now the film’s red band trailer has arrived and it fills in some more blanks, while still leaving miles of mystery for when the film lands February 13, 2015.

Kingsman: The Secret Service stars Colin Firth as a member of the most elite secret agent group the world has ever seen.

He sees something in a young lad (Taron Egerton) who has spent more of his life causing destruction to the world instead of saving it. Firth takes him under his wing and as we see in the above trailer, it goes pretty well.

Mark Strong also stars, along with legends Michael Caine and Mark Hamill, plus Samuel L. Jackson looks like he’s our villain! 

Watch X-Men: First Class online for a window into the world of Vaughn and get super psyched for Kingsman: The Secret Service

Colin Firth Character Poster
Colin Firth's leader of the Kingsman gets his own poster.

SAG Nominations Released: Birdman Leads the Way

0
0

The SAG nominations were announced this morning and although it’s a pretty even field, Birdman led the way ever so slightly with four nominations. That Michael Keaton (who was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role) film was followed close behind by Boyhood, The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything with three nods each.

Birdman Michael Keaton and Edward Norton

Birdman’s other nods came for Emma Stone for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (we so hope she gets an Oscar nod for this turn), Edward Norton for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (the SAG’s version of Best Picture).

Other nominations of note were Jake Gyllenhaal for Nightcrawler and Steve Carell who scored a nod for his first dramatic turn in Foxcatcher. Jennifer Aniston also scored huge with a nomination for her powerful role in Cake and Rosamund Pike kept up her Oscar chances for her title role in Gone Girl.  

Boyhood scored nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture as well as acting nods for Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette.

Ladies and gentlemen, awards season has started -- more on this on Movie Fanatic throughout the day. Oh, and one last thing, one of our favorite movies of the year, which you can see when you watch The Grand Budapest Hotel online, scored a nod for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – thus keeping its Best Picture Oscar nomination hopes alive!

Until then, here are the nominations.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

  • Steve Carell - Foxcatcher
  • Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game
  • Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler
  • Michael Keaton - Birdman
  • Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

  • Jennifer Aniston – Cake
  • Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything
  • Julianne Moore - Still Alice
  • Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl
  • Reese Witherspoon - Wild

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Robert Duvall – The Judge
  • Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
  • Edward Norton – Birdman
  • Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher
  • J.K. Simmons - Whiplash

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
  • Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game
  • Emma Stone - Birdman
  • Meryl Streep - Into the Woods
  • Naomi Watts - St. Vincent

Outstanding Performance by the Cast in a Motion Picture

  • Birdman
  • Boyhood
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel
  • The Imitation Game
  • The Theory of Everything

Dolphin Tale 2 DVD Review: Winter Gets Hope

0
0

Dolphin Tale was a surprise success in 2011, so it should not be too much of a surprise that we got a sequel in 2014. But, if you think about it, Dolphin Tale was a true story about a dolphin who survived when a group of humans got together and made her a prosthetic tail that saved her life. How can that story continue in a sequel?

Dolphin Tale 2 DVD

Now you can see the continuing amazing true story of Winter as the Dolphin Tale 2 DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download have arrived.

Turns out that Winter needed a friend to survive in captivity (due to the dolphin’s prosthetic tail, it could never survive in the wild, and in order to thrive in an aquarium environment, a dolphin needs a companion). When one perished from old age, the clock was ticking to find a new one and that life saving soul would arrive in the form of Hope the dolphin. So, yeah, there’s a pretty interesting part two to this Dolphin Tale.

As teased in the Dolphin Tale 2 trailer, the original cast returns in the sequel to reprise their roles, including Harry Connick, Jr. as Clay, the leader of the aquarium, Nathan Gamble as Sawyer Nelson, the boy that found Winter who we discover has a promising career in oceanic sciences ahead of him, Ashley Judd as Sawyer’s mom, Kris Kristofferson as Connick’s father and Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Clay’s teenage daughter who is also heavily involved in running the aquatic facility.

Oh, and of course you don’t have Morgan Freeman in an original movie’s cast and not bring him back, even though honestly, there is little for him to do in the sequel.

Our theatrical Dolphin Tale 2 review found the film to be a solid flick for families and it should be a fantastic entry into a family’s home video library. This is a fine family film that both parents and children will enjoy watching over and over. The themes and inspirations never get old, that is for sure. And if it inspires a little scientist in your youngsters, all the better!

The bonus feature Dolphin Tale 2: True Story may be even better than the film itself. It’s fascinating to see the real life dolphins and the people who care for them work their magic and their passion for the wild world is easily contagious. And Dolphin Tale 2: Underwater Magic is a fascinating inside look at how the film's underwater sequences were filmed. Kind of makes you want to get in the water!

Nathan Gamble Dolphin Tale 2

Another real life inspiration, Bethany Hamilton, cameos in Dolphin Tale 2 and it is beyond fitting. The pro surfer lost an arm to a shark and it’s clear she has a kindred spirit in Winter. She has a somewhat sizable role in Dolphin Tale 2, the film, but it is her spotlight bonus feature, Bethany Hamilton Meets Winter, that is truly touching.

This is not acting. This is the real deal. Hamilton and Winter, face to face, it is hard to get any more inspiriting and emotional than the reality of that moment. We say kudos to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for putting this one on the home video release for Dolphin Tale 2.

Speaking of inspiration, Dolphin Tale 2: The Mission explores the ongoing fight that this story captures to keep the oceans safe. There are tens of thousands of people out there doing everything they can to ensure that life underwater continues to exist as it has for hundreds of thousands of years. And that is captured impeccably in this featurette. Again, this is a must-see for the kids and if it inspires, all the better.

The Dolphin Tale 2 DVD and Blu-Ray also include a couple of music videos, Cozi Zuehlsdorff’s Brave Souls and Gavin DeGraw’s You Got Me.

Lastly, the Blooper Reel is enjoyable to watch if for no other reason than that pesky penguin. For those of you that saw Dolphin Tale, you know what we mean. And if not, watch Dolphin Tale online and discover how the story started and then watch Dolphin Tale 2 online

Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman
Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman share a lighter moment in Dolphin Tale 2

Inside Out Trailer: Pixar’s Latest Looks Amazing!

0
0

We were intrigued by that Inside Out teaser trailer that arrived a few months back and now Pixar has our full attention with the unleashing of their first full Inside Out trailer.

To say that Inside Out has an intriguing and utterly original concept is a gross understatement.

The story follows a little girl named Riley and, yes, she’s a full blown character living life as a young woman who is trying to fit in in a new city and a new school. But the real characters in Inside Out are the emotions inside her head.

We’ve got Joy (Amy Poehler), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith).

But what was striking about the above trailer is how we also get the emotional voices in the heads of the other characters, most notably Riley’s mom and dad!

Look for Inside Out in theaters June 19, 2015. In the mood for a Pixar classic -- watch Up online

Meet Joy
Meet Joy, she's voiced by Amy Poehler.

Mad Max Fury Road Trailer: Everyone's Gone Out of Their Mind

0
0

After you watch the most recent Mad Max: Fury Road trailer, you might be a little excited to see the latest film from the mind of Mad Max creator George Miller. Some had questioned how the series could go on without Mel Gibson in the role he made famous. But in two short minutes in the below teaser, you’ll be all about Tom Hardy as Mad Max.

It’s a world without hope and yet, there’s Max. He is the embodiment of optimism in a world that seems to have completely gone to hell.

We also get a nice glimpse and tease of dialogue from Charlize Theron’s character, who appears to be someone who can be an ally to Max in a world where he sorely needs them.

And Nicholas Hoult, who we love when you watch Warm Bodies online, is downright bat poop crazy in the above trailer! And we love it!

Miller continues his world where water and oil are at a premium and where wild bands of thugs roam the Australian outback looking for both, and at the least a little mayhem.

Mad Max: Fury Road also stars Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Look for it in theaters May 15, 2015… part of our best movie summer ever

Tom Hardy Gets Ready to Fire
Tom Hardy in a gritty still from Mad Max: Fury Road.

Oscar Watch: SAG Nominations Make Oscar Nominations Mystery Clearer

0
0

The SAG nominations were announced and it’s the first real look into the Oscar race we’ve had. Sure, the critics have chimed in, with the Los Angeles group awarding Boyhood Best Picture and the National Board of Review giving that nod to The Most Violent Year. But, they don’t vote for Oscars. Yes, actors do… and what have their choices for the nominations told us about the Academy Awards race so far?

Oscar Statue Picture

Movie Fanatic's Oscar Watch breaks it down...

First, despite rumors to the contrary, Steve Carell is still on pace to score his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his riveting turn in Foxcatcher. We thought that the role was more of a supporting one, as Channing Tatum is truly the star of the movie. It’s his story! But, Carell scored a SAG nomination and therefore, his highway to an Oscar nod just became a whole lot clearer.

One of our favorite movies of the year, Nightcrawler, featured the actor we think should win the award for Best Actor, Jake Gyllenhaal. But, he has been largely absent from previous nominations and critic awards. So, it was with utter delight that his name was among those honored with a SAG nod.

While still in Best Actor mode, it looks like Michael Keaton’s march towards holding his Best Actor Oscar has never been clearer for his role in Birdman. His honor from his peers at SAG all but guarantees his spot in the top five for Oscar gold, and we think -- he’s your front-runner.

The surprise for Best Actress nods at the SAG Awards has to be the inclusion of Jennifer Aniston for Cake. We think she killed it in that role, but honestly, doubt she’ll hear her name called when Oscar nods are announced in mid-January. We always thought Rosamund Pike gave an Oscar-worthy performance in Gone Girl, but weren’t sure that the Oscar voters would look past the blockbuster book turned blockbuster movie status and award her. Thanks to SAG, Pike is still oh-so in the running.

Our front-runner so far though for Best Actress has to be Julianne Moore for Still Alice. Her inclusion in the SAG nominations for this category all but assures that the actress that everyone loves, who has never won, will likely hoist her first trophy in early 2015.

Boyhood continued to impress and even though the film arrived early in the Oscar year, we’re thrilled that voters in awards circles haven’t forgotten. It earned a Best Cast nod (the SAG version of Best Picture) and nods for its actors in supporting roles -- Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette. Look for the same thing to happen at the Oscars. And even though SAG doesn’t award directors, you read it here first: There is no way director Richard Linklater doesn’t score an Oscar nod for his work on Boyhood.

Whiplash Miles Teller JK Simmons

When it comes to the Best Supporting Oscar, we said it in our Whiplash review, this thing is over. J.K. Simmons will win. It doesn’t matter who else is nominated. That bald gold guy will surely land in his hands. What’s also interesting to note is that the movie was released in October, and just like last October when we saw Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club, we knew the winner early in the process. Same thing this year … J.K. is a lock!

Lastly, a movie that arrived early in the year that will definitely land on our top 10 list for 2014 is The Grand Budapest Hotel. The fact that SAG awarded it with its own Best Picture-type nomination, gives us hope that Oscar won’t forget that Wes Anderson film come voting time. Watch The Grand Budapest Hotel online and see why it deserves some serious honor.

Oh, and one more thing. Note something seriously missing from the nominations? Yup, Selma got completely shut out. We don't think that means its Oscar hopes are dashed. It just means that not enough people have seen it. Yet.

Stay with Movie Fanatic for our weekly look at the Academy Awards with Oscar Watch, right up to and including the days after the Oscars!

Here are AFI's choices for best movies of the year... are any of yours in this slideshow below?

American Sniper
Bradley Cooper is getting serious Oscar buzz for his role as the real life Navy SEAL who was the best American Sniper in war history. Clint Eastwood's also getting props for making his best film in years.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 Trailer & Poster: Back to the Future!

0
0

The boys who gave us those unforgettable and cult classic worthy Hot Tub Time Machine quotes are back in Hot Tub Time Machine 2.

We’ve got the film’s first true trailer (if you don’t count that oh-so-naughty Hot Tub Time Machine 2 red band trailer) and it teases the story about how the boys get back in the tub and this time, they head into the future.

But, first, let’s back up a bit.

We find our favorite guys, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry and Clark Duke, in what is now their version of the present. Robinson is a pop star who has made millions recording other people’s songs before they had a chance to even write them (thanks to that Hot Tub Time Machine). And Corddry’s character has invented the internet!

As they fire up the time machine and head into the future, things are much different than they expected.

Now, they have to change the future in order to restore the past… or is it the present? Or maybe, it’s an altered version of the past/present?

Those questions are why we love time travel movies!! 

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 premieres February 20, 2015 and also features Adam Scott, Chevy Chase and Gillian Jacobs.

Check out the film’s first poster in the slideshow below, along with a few new stills!

And watch Hot Tub Time Machine online to see where we left off!

Guardians of the Galaxy Blooper Reel: Watch Groot & Rocket Mess Up!

0
0

One of the dozens of aspects we adored about the Guardians of the Galaxy DVD was the blooper reel. Now, we have it and can proudly share it with our readers. And can we say how much we love that Marvel did what so many animated movies have lately -- they included a blooper or two from our favorite CG characters, Groot and Rocket!

The release of the blooper reel is not only to promote the release of the Guardians of the Galaxy DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download, but also an upcoming appearance by the man behind the magic, James Gunn.

For fans in the Los Angeles area, Gunn will be signing copies of the Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack to the first 200 people that show up at Amoeba Hollywood on December 12 at 5 p.m.

And he’s planning to stick around till 7 p.m., so if you live in the City of Angels, make sure you head over to the iconic Hollywood record store!

Check out our favorite Guardians of the Galaxy quotes and if you haven’t seen it already or simply want to see it again, you can right now when you watch Guardians of the Galaxy online

Dave Bautista and Sean Gunn on the Set
Dave Bautista's Drax has a "there, there" moment with director James Gunn's brother, Sean. Sean was standing in for Rocket Raccoon.

9 Most Watched Trailers of 2014 on YouTube: Revealed!

0
0

It has been a banner year for movie trailers here at Movie Fanatic.

Some of the most anticipated movies of this year and next were teased. Watch The Avengers online and you know that sequel’s teaser trailer had to be one of the most popular in 2014.

But, was it the most viewed on YouTube? You would think it would be that or the teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Guess what? You’d be wrong.

Maybe it’s the trailer for the film you can see when you watch Godzilla online? Nope! But that’s on the list.

YouTube announced their top 9 most viewed movie trailers of 2014 and exactly how many views they each got.

What’s at number one will completely surprise you, especially given what else is on this list!

Click through and see the most viewed trailers of 2014, according to YouTube.

The Fault in our Stars
The lovefest audiences had for Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort's tragic romance should not have come as such a surprise. The Fault in our Stars trailer scored 29.9 million views on YouTube this year. And that's just one internet site!
Viewing all 7494 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images