Josh Hutcherson’s been working in feature films since 2003, but with his starring role as ‘Peeta’ in The Hunger Games, the 20 year old actor was catapulted to a new level of fame. However, back before he was cast to play the baker’s son who becomes Katniss’ partner in the Hunger Games arena, Hutcherson took on the role of ‘Robert’ in the remake of Red Dawn.
Delayed since 2010 (it was filmed in 2009), Red Dawn is finally in theaters and in this video courtesy of Open Road Films, Hutcherson talks about remaking the ’80s action film. He also discusses the story, boot camp, bonding with the cast, his female co-stars, working with Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and being directed by Dan Bradley.
Watch the video:
The Plot:
Red Dawn tells the story of a group of teens in small town America that escapes capture and bands together to form a guerilla-style resistance, known to them at the Wolverines, when the United States is invaded by North Korean forces. Jed, as the member of the Wolverines with actual military experience, becomes the leader of the militia as they fight to free their country.
—Posted by Rebecca Murray
Josh Hutcherson Talks Red Dawn and Remakes
Rise of the Guardians Review
Reviewed by Kevin Finnerty
“It is our job to protect the children of the world. Now we face a threat greater than ever before,” says Santa (voiced by Alec Baldwin) to Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pine) who has been selected to join the mighty four and become a guardian in the animated adventure Rise of the Guardians.
Jack Frost loves having fun and creating a snow day for the kids to play around in and have a day off from school. His only wish is that he would get a little credit for his work. Unlike the other famous Immortals – Santa, The Tooth Fairy, The Sandman and the Easter Bunny – all the young, innocent children just don’t know of or believe in Jack.
When the evil Pitch (voiced by Jude Law), the Lord of Fear, decides to launch an attack on all the children in the world, Santa gets a message from the mysterious Man in the Moon that the only way they will be able to stop him is to make Jack a fellow Guardian. This is going to be harder than even Santa thinks, especially since Jack is a fun-loving and irresponsible soul who doesn’t get along at all with the Easter Bunny (voiced by Hugh Jackman).
Fast-paced and funny, Rise of the Guardians is an animated adventure that puts a very different spin on some of the classic holiday icons. The film has a solid cast of voice talent bringing to life the classic holiday characters that are extremely different this time around from what moviegoing audiences are used to.
Alec Baldwin is great as the voice of Santa, the designated leader of the group who sounds as though he’s originally from Russia. This isn’t the round jolly old elf the world has always envisioned but a big, burly tough old man who looks as though he lifts weights when he’s not playing with his toy train at the North Pole.
Hugh Jackman is the scene-stealer as the voice of the Easter Bunny. He gives the egg-hiding rabbit an Aussie edge that’s sure to remind the audience a little of Crocodile Dundee. He also provides plenty of laughs in the final showdown between the Guardians and Pitch. And Jude Law is perfect as the voice of the evil boogieman, Pitch. He gives the villain a real essence of style and malice.
Rise of the Guardians is visually breathtaking, with the stunning animation and look of all the characters and the world they live in. The golden glow of the Sandman and his dreams as they streak the dark night sky is a feast for the eyes. The 3D technology really enhances the action in the film, making the audience feel as though they are flying along with Santa, Bunny and Jack on Santa’s magical sled or needing to duck to avoid getting hit in a snowball fight.
The only flaw with the film is after the opening scene when Jack Frost creates a snow day for the kids and chaos ensues. The action is so frenzied and hectic that it’s impossible to follow and the images on the screen become almost a blur.
Creative and fun, Rise of the Guardians is an engaging, visually impressive film that is sure to entertain the entire family and is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.
GRADE: B
Rise of the Guardians hits theaters on November 21, 2012 and is rated PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action.
2013 Grammy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The Recording Academy has released the names of the songs being added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. 2013 will be the 40th anniversary of the Hall of Fame, with 933 titles – including the 27 new titles – representing every genre included as part of the prestigious collection.
To be eligible for consideration, the title must be at least 25 years old and “exhibit qualitative or historical significance.”
“With the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame celebrating 40 years, it’s especially important to note that these entries continue the tradition of inducting a wide variety of recordings that have inspired and influenced both fans and music makers for generations,” stated Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “Memorable for being both culturally and historically significant, we are proud to add them to our growing catalog of outstanding recordings that have become part of our musical, social, and cultural history.”
2013 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Inductees
“ACT NATURALLY”
Buck Owens
(Johnny Russell, Voni Morrison)
Capitol (1963)
Country (Single)
“AIN’T NOBODY HERE BUT US CHICKENS”
Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five
(Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer)
Decca (1946)
R&B (Single)
“ALLONS À LAFAYETTE (LAFAYETTE)”
Joe Falcon
Columbia (1928)
Folk (Single)
BACK IN BLACK
AC/DC
Albert/Atlantic (1980)
Rock (Album)
BAND ON THE RUN
Paul McCartney & Wings
Apple (1973)
Rock (Album)
“BONAPARTE’S RETREAT”
W.H. Stepp
(Traditional arr. Stepp)
Library of Congress (1937)
Country (Single)
CROSSCURRENTS
Lennie Tristano Sextet
Capitol (1949)
Jazz (Album)
“EL DÍA QUE ME QUIERAS”
Carols Gardel
(Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Le Pera)
Paramount (1935)
Latin (Single)
ELTON JOHN
Elton John
Uni Records (1970)
Pop (Album)
FOGGY MOUNTAIN BANJO
Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs And The Foggy Mountain Boys
Columbia (1961)
Country (Album)
HERE’S LITTLE RICHARD
Little Richard
Specialty (1957)
Rock (Album)
“HIT THE ROAD JACK”
Ray Charles
(Percy Mayfield)
ABC-Paramount (1961)
R&B (Single)
“HOUND DOG”
Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton
(Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
Peacock (1953)
Blues (Single)
“I GOT YOU (I FEEL GOOD)”
James Brown
(James Brown)
King (1965)
R&B (Single)
JOHN COLTRANE AND JOHNNY HARTMAN
John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman
Impulse! (1963)
Jazz (Album)
LOST IN THE STARS
Original Broadway Cast
Decca (1949)
Musical Show (Album)
MINGUS AH UM
Charles Mingus
Columbia (1959)
Jazz (Album)
“MY BLACK MAMA [PARTS 1 & 2]”
Son House
(Son House)
Paramount (1930)
Blues (Single)
“NEAR YOU”
Francis Craig And His Orchestra
(Francis Craig & Kermit Goell)
Bullet (1947)
Pop (Single)
“ON BROADWAY”
The Drifters
(Jerry Leiber, Barry Mann, Mike Stoller, Cynthia Weil)
Atlantic (1963)
R&B (Single)
“PIANO MAN”
Billy Joel
(Billy Joel)
Columbia (1973)
Pop (Single)
“STEALIN’ STEALIN'”
Memphis Jug Band
(Will Shade)
Victor (1928)
Blues (Single)
THAT NIGGER’S CRAZY
Richard Pryor
Partee/Stax (1974)
Comedy (Album)
“THEME FROM ‘NEW YORK, NEW YORK'”
Frank Sinatra
(Fred Ebb & John Kander)
Reprise (1980)
Traditional Pop (Single)
“THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'”
Bob Dylan
(Bob Dylan)
Columbia (1964)
Folk (Track)
“THE TITANIC”
Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman
(Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman)
Okeh (1924)
Country (Single)
WHITNEY HOUSTON
Whitney Houston
Arista (1985)
Pop (Album)
Source: The Recording Academy
‘iCarly’ Ends with a Special Finale Event
Nickelodeon’s saying goodbye to their popular comedy series iCarly with a one-hour long series finale event on November 23, 2012 at 8pm ET/PT. The series is finishing up after five years with a special appearance by a character who’s been mentioned but has never appeared on the show – Carly Shay’s Air Force Colonel dad.
The Plot:
In “iGoodbye,” Spencer (Jerry Trainor) offers to take Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) to the Air Force father-daughter dance when their dad, Colonel Shay, isn’t able to accompany her because of his overseas deployment. When Spencer gets sick and can’t take her, Freddie (Nathan Kress) and Gibby (Noah Munck) try to cheer Carly up by offering to go with her. Colonel Shay surprises everyone when he arrives just in time to take Carly to the dance.
When they return from their wonderful evening together, Carly is disappointed to learn her dad must return to Italy that evening and she is faced with a very difficult decision.
Noomi Rapace Joins Rolling Stones in Doom and Gloom
The Rolling Stones perform “Doom and Gloom” while Noomi Rapace, best known for her daring performance in the original Swedish version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, channels her tough girl attitude. She also gets to do a little dancing, wear some truly bizarre costumes, and stuff herself until her head explodes. I think I even glimpsed a few zombies shuffling around…
The video was directed by Jonas Jonas Åkerlund. “Doom and Gloom” marks the “first time that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood have been in the studio together for seven years.” – Per the video’s description
Watch the video (not safe for work – and there’s a bit of nudity):
Check Out Tina Fey in Admission
Focus Features has officially revealed the trailer for the comedy movie Admission starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. They’re also showing off the poster for the March 8, 2013 release directed by Paul Weitz (About a Boy, In Good Company) and featuring Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn, Gloria Reuben, Nat Wolff, and Lily Tomlin.
The Plot:
Straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer Portia Nathan (Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate, the free-wheeling John Pressman (Rudd). Pressman has surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption many years ago. Soon, Portia finds herself bending the rules for Jeremiah, putting at risk the life she thought she always wanted — but in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having.
Watch the trailer:
Movie Review: ‘Rise of the Guardians’
Every time I saw Rise of the Guardians on a screening schedule, I kept thinking of Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole. I suppose that’s a good thing because after avoiding trailers as I’m sometimes able to do, I walked into the theater with little to no expectations (reinforced by 2012’s lackluster animated landscape).
Of course, it just means this is another example of the adage about finding what you seek once you’ve stopped looking. Rise of the Guardians, based on the book by William Joyce, is an updated take on the characters that many kids grow up to realize were invented by adults to create an artificial manipulation of their actions. Some of them get new names in the film but the ideals they stand for are still intact.
Santa Claus allows a subtle blackmailing of the wee ones, the Easter Bunny helps make a religious holiday fun for the kids (there’s probably more to it but I’m a heathen), and the Tooth Fairy mitigates the mental trauma one should rightfully have when your chompers start falling out of your mouth. The film also throws in Jack Frost (who I only really related to Christmas songs and the nipping of my nose), the Sandman, and the Bogeyman – or Pitch, as they call him in this film. Each of them represents some basic element of the human condition, whether it be wonder, fun, compassion, or even fear.
What works for the film is the ability to deliver this basic good vs. evil tale within a simple construct and with loads of humor interspersed throughout. While it’s always fun to listen to an Australian Easter Bunny (voiced by Hugh Jackman), the scene stealers in the laugh department are from Santa’s workshop: the elves and the Yeti. They flipped it around so the elves are these tiny creatures that echo the playfulness of the minions from Despicable Me and the Yeti are the ones building all the toys while also providing security for the North Pole.
The Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) helps to provide a heart to the whole proceedings, Santa (Alec Baldwin) is the ringleader of the group, and the story of Jack Frost learning about his past and embracing his role as a Guardian will be easy for the kids to understand; and is handled well enough for the adults to enjoy as well. Jude Law’s portrayal as the villain is a fun element also. The carefulness with which he has always approached language in his films brings a severity to Pitch that plays nicely against the warmth of Chris Pine’s Jack Frost (pun slightly intended).
To go along with the excellent voice work is very clean and crisp animation that nicely balances a playful and yet realistic style. What’s more is that this is one of those few examples where I say go right ahead and see this in theaters with the 3D glasses we all hope get sanitized thoroughly each and every time. Although usually just a result of producers’ and studios’ love of higher ticket prices, there’s a nice depth to the way they handle the 3D and it enhances the experience, which is the only reason filmmakers should employ the technology in the first place.
If you have very small children, you might want to wait to see this at home on a smaller screen or wait until they hit the 6 or 7-year-old mark. It is rated PG and some of the actions brought forth by the villain may be scary for the youngest of moviegoers. Aside from that, however, Rise of the Guardians is the most fun I’ve had involving an animated film in 2012 and provides families with an entertaining and demographic-friendly option for the holidays. Considering your only option in recent years has been one of the awful Chipmunkstrosities, this is a huge step up.
GRADE: A-
Rise of the Guardians hits theaters on November 21, 2012 and is rated PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action.
New Jack the Giant Slayer Trailer
“If you think you know the story, you don’t know Jack”
New Line Cinema’s new trailer for Jack the Giant Slayer (formerly known as Jack the Giant Killer) features more action and more CG creatures than the first teaser. It also shows off more of Ewan McGregor, Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Stanley Tucci. Directed by Bryan Singer, Jack the Giant Slayer‘s aiming for a March 1, 2013 release in theaters.
The Plot:
Jack the Giant Slayer tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend — and gets the chance to become a legend himself.”
Watch the trailer:
Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton Perform Just a Fool
Watch the video:
Stephen King Reveals Details on Ghost Brothers of Darkland County
What is Ghost Brothers of Darkland County? It’s a Southern gothic supernatural musical, according to Stephen King. King, John Mellencamp, and T Bone Burnett created the musical which features original music and lyrics plus “key dialog excerpts” from guest artists including Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham and Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan.
The soundtrack’s set for release on March 19, 2013 by Hear Music/Concord Music Group in a variety of formats, including the standard edition with the complete soundtrack, dialog excerpts and digital libretto. The 2CD/1DVD Deluxe Edition has the soundtrack, deluxe art work, handwritten lyrics, specially printed libretto and the Making of Ghost Brothers mini-documentary DVD featuring in-depth interviews with King, Mellencamp and Burnett along with other bonus material.
The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County came about after Mellencamp told King a story about a murder on his Indiana land. Per King’s press release, “[…]two brothers had gotten in a fight over a girl; one brother accidentally killing the other, only to die along with the girl in a car crash a short time later.” A few days after hearing the story, King wrote an outline for a play. From there, it transformed into a full-length musical.
The official plot description: “Set in the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi, the Ghost Brothers’ story centers on two sets of brothers: the ghosts of Jack and Andy, dead in an apparent murder/suicide, and their nephews, the living Frank and Drake, who seem to be headed toward the same downward spiral as their uncles. Joe, younger brother of Jack and Andy, father of Frank and Drake, has decided it’s time to reveal his own terrible secret at the site of the tragedy, before it’s too late.”
Details on Ghost Brothers [Courtesy of Stephen King.com]:
“The superb blues ‘n’ roots music of Ghost Brothers reflects the wide range of styles and influences needed for a work that jumps back and forth across decades. Rather than use the songs to propel the play’s narrative, as in a conventional musical, Mellencamp chose to make them a way to reveal the emotions and inner workings of the characters—like Neko Case’s exquisite, unapologetic delivery of ‘That’s Who I Am;’ the intense passion of Kristofferson’s ‘How Many Days;’ or Costello’s cunning ‘That’s Me,’ which establishes the persona of ‘The Shape,’ the Puck-like devil figure at the heart of Ghost Brothers who floats between the worlds of the living and the spirits. Numerous other highlights include the thunderous, dramatic ensemble piece ‘Tear This Cabin Down’ and ‘Jukin,’ a grease-laden delta-rocker performed by Sheryl Crow. Mellencamp himself delivers the closing ‘Truth,’ a sublime meditation on the moral issues underpinning the action.
Though some of the songs were written without knowing where they would fit in the script, most were the result of specific assignments. ‘Steve would call me up and go, ‘We need a song like this to fill this place,” Mellencamp says. ‘To be able to go, ‘OK, now you’re a 10-year-old boy, what would he say? Now you’re a 19-year-old girl trying to attract the attention of a barroom of fellas’…that was just fun to do.’
Once a working show had been assembled, producer Burnett—acclaimed for his work on such albums as Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack—was brought in to help unify the flow and feel of the music on stage. Burnett would also prove crucial when it came time to cast and record the Ghost Brothers album.
He started with the voice of ‘The Shape’—’immediately, Elvis Costello came up,’ says Burnett, ‘who could be better playing the devil?’ Rosanne Cash struck the producer as a match for Monique, Joe’s troubled wife, as did Kris Kristofferson’s unmistakable scratchy baritone to play the patriarch himself.
As the story emerged, it became clear to the collaborators that Ghost Brothers had taken them into unfamiliar territory—and they liked it that way. ‘John can make rock & roll records and I can write books for the rest of our lives,’ says King, ‘but that’s the safe way to do it, and that’s no way to live if you want to stay creative. We were willing to be educated, and at our age, that’s an accomplishment.’
GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY Track List and Credits:
-Libretto by Stephen King
-Music & Lyrics by John Mellencamp
-Musical Direction by T Bone Burnett
-Featured cast: Kris Kristofferson, Meg Ryan, Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis, Elvis Costello
-Featured musicians: Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Phil Alvin, Kris Kristofferson, Taj Mahal, Neko Case, Dave Alvin, Rosanne Cash, John Mellencamp
1. That’s Me | Elvis Costello
2. That’s Who I Am | Neko Case
3. So Goddamn Smart | Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow
4. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me | Elvis Costello
5. Brotherly Love – Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey
6. How Many Days | Kris Kristofferson
7. You Are Blind | Ryan Bingham
8. Home Again | Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal
9. What’s Going On Here | Rosanne Cash
10. My Name Is Joe | Clyde Mulroney
11. Tear This Cabin Down | Taj Mahal
12. And Your Days Are Gone | Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin
13. Jukin’ – Sheryl Crow
14. What Kind Of Man Am I | Kris Kristofferson, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow,
Dave Alvin, Taj Mahal
15. So Goddamn Good | Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, Sheryl Crow
16. Away From This World – Sheryl Crow
17. Truth – John Mellencamp
Source: StephenKing.com
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