Marvel’s unveiled a brand new poster for the action adventure film Guardians of the Galaxy directed by James Gunn and coming to theaters on August 1, 2014. And along with revealing a new poster, Marvel’s announced cast members Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, and Karen Gillan will be joining director James Gunn for a live Q&A on Facebook on Monday, May 19th at 10am PT. The live Q&A will also showcase the release of a new trailer.
The Plot:
From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.
It’s official – the new Star Wars movie has begun shooting. Bad Robot and Star Wars‘ official twitter accounts, as well as the official Star Wars tumblr, all announced the start of filming on Star Wars: Episode VII. J.J. Abrams is directing and recently the main cast was confirmed. Starring in the new Star Wars film are John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker.
Star Wars: Episode VII will open in theaters on December 18, 2015.
Actress Jennifer Lawrence plays "Box of Lies" with host Jimmy Fallon on May 15, 2014 (Photo by: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC)
Jennifer Lawrence stopped by The Tonight Show to chat up her upcoming movie X-Men: Days of Future Past and while there she and host Jimmy Fallon competed in the Box of Lies game. The Box of Lies game is all about who has the best poker face and involves Fallon and Lawrence alternately opening numbered boxes, deciding whether to lie or tell the truth about the contents, and their opponent then guessing if they’ve described the actual item.
Ludacris will be handling hosting duties at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards taking place on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas. The musician/actor is currently busy filming Fast & Furious 7 but he’ll take time out off from shooting to take the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to take on the hosting gig.
Billboard also announced an expanded list of presenters that includes Chrissy Teigen, Danica McKeller, Jack Antonoff, Josh Groban, Lucy Hale, Omar Epps, Phillip Phillips, Sarah Hyland, Shania Twain, and Andy Dorfman.
Artists confirmed to perform include 5 Seconds of Summer, Ariana Grande, Florida Georgia Line, Iggy Azalea, Imagine Dragons, Jason Derulo, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Katy Perry, Lorde, Luke Bryan, Miley Cyrus, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, OneRepublic, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, and Shakira. The Billboard Music Awards will also feature a Michael Jackson world premier experience.
I’m feeling in a weird mood today so while you may be expecting a Godzilla review from yours truly that follows the normal format of a pithy opening, minimal plot description, description of the highs and lows, rounded out with a summarizing paragraph … well, you’re sort of right. (We call that the ‘ol switcheroo!)
Actually, I am feeling non-linear … is that a feeling? Meh. I’ve written it. We’ve come too far to go back. Before I get to talking about the actual components of Godzilla (which I suppose is why you actually are reading this), let me start off by saying that if you are going to see this, do me and the world one favor. DO NOT see this in 3D. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I take this stance, but for a movie with a scale of this size, you’d think 3D might actually work out. It certainly did for Pacific Rim. But here, aside from some ash floating around during the opening credits, you’re about as likely to find depth in the 3D as you are to find depth in a Kardashian. So, let’s just not buy the 3D tickets pretty please and get Hollywood to be choosier about when to employ this blatant cash grab. And I’m talking mostly to anyone who doesn’t carry a U.S. passport. I don’t mean to profile, but this 3D thing is sort of more the fault of worldwide audiences plunking down their cash for 3D than us ‘Mericans.
But I digress.
So, Godzilla. Should you see it? Well, really all you need to factor in is your enjoyment of big budget disaster/monster movies. If you like them, you’ll like this. I suppose there might be a contingent of hardcore Godzilla fans who may find this updated version a bit blasphemous but I’m sure I’m not alone in welcoming something … ANYTHING … that will wash the bad taste out of our collective mouths thanks to the truly horrendous Godzilla attempt in ’98.
Still, some people may not realize how director Gareth Edwards would put his stamp on things. Perhaps that’s because they didn’t see his previous film, Monsters. If you haven’t either, you’re truly missing out on one of the smartest, most well-shot, and freshest sci-fi films in years. And considering that film was done on a micro-budget with almost no crew and Edwards somehow managed to make it look like he had tens of millions of dollars at his disposal, it’s nothing short of fantastic.
However, there are people who may not find it all that exciting … because the title and premise don’t fit into the expectations of the mainstream. Monsters is about the people, not the extraterrestrial behemoths. And that’s okay, because it’s compelling and intelligent; using the science fiction as a backdrop for the human drama that’s actually center stage.
Others may worry that Godzilla falls into Cloverfield territory. I’m one of the few people it seems who found that one interesting and there are certainly some similarities between the films. But there’s no hand-held camera conceit on display here and I think audiences will find more to identify with in these characters than in those hipsters running around New York.
So as I got myself ready for Godzilla, I wondered if Edwards would take a more humanistic approach to the big-budget, high-profile gig he had gotten himself into (some of the creature design also seems inspired by his work on Monsters). And with little shock to my system, the center focus of this movie isn’t the big G, it’s a Navy lieutenant (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his family. I don’t want to get into plot so much as it might lead to spoilers, but he and his family are somewhat at ground zero for the majority of events that lead up to the world learning of these gargantuan creatures … and that they don’t have a lot of control when it comes to curbing their immense appetite for destruction.
Now, action junkies should not despair. There are a more than few cities that feel the repercussions of giant monsters and their disdain for buildings, bridges, and whatever the military tries to do to stop them. And the action is spectacular. Edwards has such a good eye for creating compelling visual effect shots and taking advantage of light and scale. He showed this brilliantly in Monsters and does so again here. More than a few scenes come with a multitude of poster moments, and it makes the notion that the best place to see Godzilla being inside a movie theater even that much more apparent. Sure, you’ve got a lovely, big television at home but unless you’re rolling in Dr. Dre’s Beats money, your set up still probably doesn’t match that of a nice, state-of-the-art theater.
With that said, what makes the movie so compelling are the multiple father-son stories woven into the fabric of events. While there are some moments that may slow the pace down a bit too much for people because of it, Edwards and company are attempting to get the audience to invest in the characters, and for the most part it works. Taylor-Johnson has come a long way from his days as Kick-Ass (almost more so physically than anything else) and casting Elizabeth Olsen as his wife was a smart choice and turns a throwaway role into something just a bit more. Bryan Cranston’s frantic energy plays well as Taylor-Johnson’s dad and I’m always a fan of David Strathairn in films so seeing him play the big shot Admiral was a welcome departure from the typical blowhard tough guy movies tend to cast in that role.
Some of the stuff Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins have to do as part of their somewhat vague scientist roles comes off as caricature-ish but considering the nature of the old Toho films that this is attempting to pay homage to, I can get past most of it. Sure, there are a few plot clichés that seem paint by number, but most of that is kept to a minimum. Perhaps the hardest thing to forgive and pretty much my only major gripe is the convenience of weaving Taylor-Johnson’s character into the global events. This was somewhat reminiscent of the recent Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Both films are so hell-bent on having this central character involved that they give them skills and access to opportunities that are so outside the range of realistic that it sticks out like a sore thumb.
However, that’s really about all I have to complain about when it comes to the movie. Sure, I could have used a bit more monster-on-monster action, but not a lot more as it would then throw off the balance of human drama that is truly the driving engine here. So while I will reiterate that anyone out there wondering what to expect should not be surprised that most of the monster stuff is towards the back end of things, there are so many ways a movie like this could go wrong that getting most of it right really should be commended. Godzilla is back, and as long as the helm of this franchise is kept in the right hands, I’d be intrigued at seeing some sequels. I love watching things go boom, and all those years playing Rampage in the arcades do nothing but increase my appreciation of movies like this.
GRADE: B+
Godzilla opens in theaters on May 16, 2014 and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence.
Harrison Gilbertson, Addison Timlin, and Jeremy Irvine in 'Fallen'
Filming has wrapped up on the film adaptation of Lauren Kate’s bestselling book Fallen, as just announced by Mayhem Pictures, Lotus Entertainment, and Silver Reel. Scott Hicks (Shine) directed the first film based on Kate’s young adult tale of fallen angels, with Addison Timlin, Jeremy Irvine, and Harrison Gilbertson tackling the lead roles. The cast also includes Joely Richardson, Lola Kirke, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Daisy Head, Hermione Corfield, and Malachi Kirby.
“I’m delighted to have directed the film Fallen, based on Lauren Kate’s best-selling novel. I was drawn in by the intriguing premise of the story, the powerful array of memorable characters, and in particular the timeless romance between Luce and Daniel. I’m thrilled to have assembled a very fine cast, featuring the exceptionally promising talents of Addison, Jeremy and Harrison, and I have enjoyed working with them, together with the remarkable Joely Richardson, over the past months,” said director Hicks.
Fallen is the first of a four-book series that has sold more than 9 million copies to date. And commenting on the movie version of her book, Kate said, “Luce and Daniel’s story created a global community of fans. I think of this movie as a love letter to them.”
The Plot:
Fallen is seen through the eyes of Lucinda “Luce” Price, a strong-willed seventeen-year-old living a seemingly ordinary life until she is accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Sent off to the imposing Sword & Cross reform school, Luce finds herself being courted by two young men to whom she feels oddly connected. Isolated and haunted by strange visions, Luce begins to unravel the secrets of her past and discovers the two men are fallen angels, competing for her love for centuries. Luce must choose where her feelings lie, pitting Heaven against Hell in an epic battle over true love.
William Moseley, Vincent Regan, Elizabeth Hurley, and Alexandra Park star in 'The Royals' (Photo by: James Dimmock/Paul Blundell/E!)
E!’s first original scripted series The Royals has released a first-look trailer and photo featuring Elizabeth Hurley, which leads straight into the question, “Where has Elizabeth Hurley been for the past decade?” The new series, which will start shooting next month, will debut sometime in 2015 with Hurley, Vincent Regan, William Moseley and Alexandra Park in starring roles.
The Plot:
Some are destined for greatness while others are destined for drama. And then there are those who are destined for both.
The Royals is centered around a fictional British royal family set in modern-day London and will focus on their extravagant lifestyle, regal traditions, and life under public scrutiny.
From lavish parties and politics to forbidden romances and family secrets, the drama is as decadent as one could imagine, proving that being born into their elite world comes at a cost.
The first season of Reign finishes up with “Slaughter of Innocence” airing at 9pm ET/PT on The CW on May 15th. This final episode of season one finds the fate of France hanging in the balance as Mary and Francis decide what must be done to the King.
The Plot:
When the King’s (Alan Van Sprang) madness and cruelty reaches a fevered pitch, Mary (Adelaide Kane) and Francis (Toby Regbo) take action. Their choices could change the course of history, but an unforeseen terror brewing in the woods could cost them, and their friends, everything. Mary makes a drastic decision when she learns Lola (Anna Popplewell) is going through a life-threatening labor at a location outside of the castle.
Megan Follows, Torrance Coombs, Caitlin Stasey and Celina Sinden also star. David Frazee directed the episode written by Laurie McCarthy and Doris Egan.
The cast of 'Manhattan' (Photo Courtesy of WGN America)
The dramatic series Manhattan will debut on July 27, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT on WGN America. Set in the 1940s, Manhattan was created by Sam Shaw (Masters of Sex) and stars John Benjamin Hickey, Olivia Williams, Daniel Stern, Ashley Zukerman, Rachel Brosnahan, Katja Herbers, Alexia Fast, Christopher Denham, Harry Lloyd, Michael Chernus, and Eddie Shin.
Thomas Schlamme (The West Wing) directed the 13 episode series which was filmed on location in New Mexico.
The Plot:
Fueled by mystery and suspense, Manhattan is set in the 1940s in a town whose very existence is classified. Frank Winter (Hickey) and his team of brilliant but flawed scientists have been recruited to work on a project even they could know nothing about until their arrival. Once inside “The Hill,” a middle-class bubble on a dusty foothill in the New Mexico desert, they begin to sense that this is no ordinary assignment. In fact, they are living in a town with the world’s highest concentration of geniuses, yet it can’t be found on any map – a place where men and women are torn between duty and their moral values, husbands and wives conceal the truth from each other and their families, the military keeps secrets from the scientists they chaperone, and the scientists keep secrets from each other. Manhattan depicts the wonder, danger and deceit that shadowed the first “nuclear” families.
Glen Babbit (Stern) mentors the younger scientists and helps them navigate the political minefield of Los Alamos. Charlie Isaacs (Zukerman), a wunderkind, becomes as expert in deception as he is in equations and his wife, Abby Isaacs (Brosnahan), emerges as an unlikely leader among the other wives. Frank’s wife, Liza (Williams) is a scientist in her own right – a botanist who has put her own career on hold to move to the desert with her husband and their rebellious 16-year-old daughter Callie (Fast), and in the process begins to uncover unsettling changes in their environment. Ambitious British scientist Paul Crosley (Lloyd) takes advantage of every opportunity for upward mobility, even at the expense of the man who recruited him for the Manhattan Project. Helen Prins (Herbers) is one of the few female scientists assigned to the project and remains a complete mystery to her male colleagues, including Jim Meeks (Denham), Louis “Fritz” Fedowitz (Chernus) and Sid Liao (Shin).
Coming this fall on The CW, Jane the Virgin is the story of a 23 year old woman who is accidentally inseminated and has to decide what to do with her life following the unexpected pregnancy. Although the series won’t be arriving until at least October, the network’s released a trailer and a clip from the show headed up by Gina Rodriguez in the title role. The cast also includes Justin Baldoni, Brett Dier, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas, Ivonne Coll, and Jaime Camil.
Jane the Virgin will air on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT.
The Plot:
When Jane Villanueva was a young girl, her grandmother, Alba, convinced her of two things: telenovelas are the highest form of entertainment, and women must protect their virginity at all costs. Now age 23, Jane is a driven young woman studying to become a teacher, nursing a dream to be a writer, and supporting herself with a job at a hot new Miami hotel. All the years of watching telenovelas with the two women who raised her – her sexy, young-at-heart mother, Xiomara, and her still-devout grandmother, Alba – have given Jane a slightly unrealistic view of romance.
Still, she is determined not to make the same mistake her mother made – becoming an unwed mother at 16. Jane has managed to find a wonderful fiancé: a handsome, hard-working detective named Michael, who loves her enough to accept her detailed timeline for their future together and even her insistence on “saving herself” until they’re married.
All of Jane’s meticulous life plans are turned upside down, however, when she sees her doctor for a routine check-up and is accidentally artificially inseminated with a specimen meant for the patient in the next room. Unbeknownst to her, the specimen belongs to Rafael, a reformed playboy and cancer survivor, who is not only the new owner of the hotel where Jane works but also a former summer crush of hers. A few weeks later, the unsuspecting Jane is faced with the most important decisions of her life.
Will she continue with the pregnancy? How can she explain the situation to her fiancé and family? And what should she do about the wishes of the biological father, Rafael, and his scheming wife Petra? Though she has always tried to be the good girl who does the right thing, Jane’s life has suddenly become as dramatic and complicated as the telenovelas she has always loved.
Stumble It! 
