At the 2012 San Diego Comic Con, Grimm star David Giuntoli talks about the fantasy adventure/action series. Check out the interview video from the annual geekfest.
Watch the video:
David Giuntoli Talks About ‘Grimm’
Christian Bale Expresses Sorrow for the Victims of the Colorado Shooting
Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.”
12 innocent moviegoers were killed and 58 others were injured when James Holmes, 24, opened fire during the first screening of The Dark Knight Rises. Holmes was arrested near his car in the theater’s parking lot and will be arraigned on Monday, July 23, 2012 in Colorado.
Warner Bros has declined to issue press releases with box office figures this weekend and has re-edited some of the film’s trailers. In addition, networks have pulled trailers out of respect for the victims of this horrifying event.
Drafthouse Films Picks Up Wake in Fright
The classic Australian thriller Wake in Fright has been acquired by Drafthouse Films for release in the US. Drafthouse is planning to kick the US run off with screenings at Film Forum in NYC on October 5 followed by a LA screening at The NuArt on October 19th.
Wake in Fright, directed by Ted Kotcheff (Rambo: First Blood), is considered to be one of the “seminal films in the development of modern Australian cinema.” The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971 where it picked up a Palme D’Or nomination, with a comprehensive restoration of the print screening at the festival in 2009 courtesy of guest curator Martin Scorsese. The 2009 screening made Wake in Fright one of only two films to be shown twice at Cannes.
“Kotcheff’s stunning and dreadfully creepy film inspired a generation of accomplished Aussie filmmakers,” stated Drafthouse Films Acquisition Director Evan Husney, “and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be the outfit that unleashes this masterwork to movie-lovers everywhere. I say without hesitation that this film is truly one of our all-time favorites.”
The Plot:
Thought to be lost forever until discovered in canisters marked for destruction in Pittsburgh, PA, Wake in Fright is the story of a “British schoolteacher’s descent into personal demoralization at the hands of drunken, deranged derelicts while stranded in a small town in outback Australia.”
Source: Drafthouse
First Look: Man of Steel Teaser Trailers
Warner Bros debuted two teaser trailers for the reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel, with the release of The Dark Knight Rises. Both trailers feature the same footage; it’s the narration that differs. The first trailer featured below has Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent talking about Clark Kent/Kal-El (played by Henry Cavill) while Russell Crowe as Jor-El provides the voice-over for the second trailer.
Directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen), Man of Steel also features Amy Adams (‘Lois Lane’), Diane Lane (‘Martha Kent’), and Michael Shannon (‘General Zod’).
Man of Steel is being released on June 14, 2013.
Watch the trailers:
Warner Bros, Christopher Nolan Respond to the Tragic Shooting
Due to the horrific murders of innocent moviegoers just trying to catch a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, theater chains – including AMC Theaters – are banning anyone in costume (no masks are allowed, either). Additional security has been brought in for some showings of The Dark Knight Rises, however screenings will continue as planned.
Initial box office estimates indicate the shooting by a lone gunman in Colorado hasn’t kept people away from theaters, but Warner Bros may refrain, according to Deadline, from putting out the standard box office estimates throughout the weekend in respect for the Colorado victims. Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter says networks including NBC, ABC, and CBS have pulled TV spots, and Warner Bros is re-editing trailers to delete scenes of guns.
The Dark Knight Rises filmmaker Christopher Nolan issued this statement:
Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Dark Knight Rises, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting, but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.”
Secret Lives of Wives, Witches Coming to Lifetime
Both The Secret Lives of Wives (not necessarily the final title) and Witches of East End have been given the greenlight by Lifetime. The two new dramatic series will air on the network in 2013, according to Lifetime Networks Executive Vice President of Programming Rob Sharenow.
The Secret Lives of Wives is inspired by the Iris Krasnow book, with Jill Gordon penning the pilot and serving as an executive producer. Dan Lin is also executive producing, and Krasnow and Jennifer Gwartz are producing.
Based on Melissa de la Cruz’s best-selling novel, Witches of East End will be executive produced by Maggie Friedman (Dawson’s Creek). Friedman is also on board as writer, with Fox 21 producing the series.
Details on The Secret Lives of Wives:
The Secret Lives of Wives (working title) will explore the unvarnished truth behind the marriages of four different women, breaking down the creative ways each close friend nurtures, maintains and endures what many see as an impossible convention of modern life. With a relatable and provocative approach, the pilot will provide an honest portrayal of the ultimate challenge every relationship faces – emotional and sexual longevity.
Details on Witches of East End:
Witches of East End centers on the adventures of a mother and her two adult daughters — both of whom unknowingly are their family’s next generation of witches — who lead seemingly quiet, uneventful modern day lives in Long Island’s secluded seaside town of North Hampton. When one of the daughters becomes engaged to a young, wealthy newcomer, a series of events forces her mother to admit to her daughters they are, in fact, powerful and immortal witches.
Source: Lifetime
Spartacus: War of the Damned Gladiator Training Video
“Boot camp was straight out of hell,” says Spartacus: War of the Damned star Liam McIntyre, but it was well worth the effort and energy put into it to deliver a final season of Spartacus worthy of its predecessors. The cast – including Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Simon Merrells, Dustin Clare, Ellen Hollman, Jenna Lind and Todd Lasance – and stunt performers went through a month’s worth of intense training prior to the start of shooting on Spartacus: War of the Damned. This upcoming last season is swinging for the fences, and the boot camp experience not only helped whip everyone into fighting shape but also proved to be an excellent bonding experience.
Spartacus: War of the Damned premieres in January 2013.
The Plot:
Spartacus: War of the Damned, currently in production in New Zealand, takes place following the defeat of Roman commander Gaius Claudius Glaber. Spartacus and his men have amassed major victories against the Romans after the Battle of Vesuvius. These victories have not only forged the legend of Spartacus, but have greatly increased the ranks of the rebellion slaves to more than 30,000. Rome is indeed beginning to tremble at the threat Spartacus now represents.
Watch the behind-the-scenes video:
Source: Starz
The Batman Films – A Look Back Over the Decades
By Kevin Finnerty
BATMAN: LEGEND OF THE DARK KNIGHT ON THE SILVER SCREEN
“I’m Batman” – that line has been delivered by many different actors over the years as they’ve donnned the famous dark cowl and fought the criminals of Gotham City up on the big screen. Now with Christopher Nolan’s last installment of his take on the Batman story, let’s take a look back at all the big screen incarnations of the Caped Crusader and his battle with crime.
THE BATMAN – 1943
This 15 chapter serial released by Columbia studios was the very first big screen take on the comic book hero. Actor Lewis Wilson portrayed both Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne as a secret agent fighting the Japanese during WW2. It was also the first time the Batcave was introduced. The costumes were truly horrible with Wilson looking like he was wearing a bad Halloween costume.
GRADE: D
BATMAN AND ROBIN – 1949
Once again Columbia Studio brings the Caped Crusader back to the theater in another 15 chapter serial, this time fighting the notorious ‘Wizard’. The studio spent even less on this serial and the result was even worse costumes and a loose fitting cowl for actor Robert Lowery. The dialogue was extremely cheesy and the action just plain awful.
GRADE: F
BATMAN: THE MOVIE – 1966
Based on the popular television series, this is the first time Batman is featured in a full-length motion picture. All the trademarks from the small screen are present, from the classic Batmobile to the Batcave. Most of the cast from the TV show appeared in the film including Adam West as Batman, Burt Ward as his loyal sidekick Robin, Cesar Romero as the killer clown The Joker and Burgess Meredith as Penguin. One notable actress missing is Julie Newmar as Catwoman who left the movie just before filming began. Just like the television show, the film had bright colors, campy dialogue, and silly overacting.
GRADE: C-
BATMAN – 1989
“Ever dance with the Devil in the pale moon light?,” asks The Joker (Jack Nicholson) to some of his victims right before he shoots them in Tim Burton’s dark film noir vision of the story of Batman and his fight to save Gotham City from the clown prince of crime. Originally, the casting of Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight caused loyal comic book/ Batman fans to send over 50,000 letters voicing their disapproval to Warner Brothers. But Keaton proved them wrong with his performance as the winged vigilante by night and eccentric playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne who behind closed doors is a lonely, smart and determined man bent on ridding his city of crime. Jack Nicholson received top billing for his performance as The Joker and also netted some of the gross of the box-office. His Joker is an over-the-top killing clown who only wants to destroy Gotham City, murder all its citizens, and leave their corpse with a killer smile.
GRADE: B
BATMAN RETURNS – 1992
“I am Catwoman. Hear me roar,” says Michelle Pfeiffer in her tight latex catsuit with her bullwhip in hand as the sexy feline and sometimes foe of the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s second and final time directing a Batman film. The studio executives were so eager for Burton to make the sequel to the first film, which grossed a then record-making $411 million worldwide, that they gave him creative control. The result led to our hero -once again played by Michael Keaton – slipping into the background and being upstaged by the two main villains in the film: The Penguin (Danny DeVito) who is shown to be an evil, disfigured half man/half bird entity, and Catwoman who instead of being a smart and cunning burglar is hell bent on ruining Batman and getting back at her boss who tried to kill her. This was a much darker film with a feel of the macabre and unimpressive special effects (in particular, Penguin’s sewer lair looked fake and silly).
GRADE: C-
BATMAN FOREVER – 1995
“Was that over the top?” asks the Riddler (Jim Carrey) in Joel Schumacher’s take on Batman’s continuing adventures which cast Val Kilmer as the caped vigilante, this time wearing an outfit given perhaps the worst addition to ever be put on the Batsuit … nipples. Chris O’Donnell joins the cast as the young Robin looking to avenge his parents’ death at the hands of the villain Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), all while Riddler puts a plan in motion to learn all of Batman’s secrets with a mind-reading machine. Goofy, silly, and a return to camp, Batman Forever steered too far from the Burton vision and added nothing memorable or original to the franchise.
GRADE: D
BATMAN & ROBIN – 1997
“Hold it Freeze. I’m Batman,” says George Clooney wearing the cowl and cape in what is considered by most the absolute worst Batman film ever made and one of the worst films of 1997, Batman & Robin. There isn’t one decent thing about the film. From the acting, to the campy horrible outfits, to the ridiculous sets, it’s almost as though Schumacher seemed to think he was making a live-action Saturday morning cartoon special.
GRADE: F
BATMAN BEGINS – 2005
“Do I look like a cop?,” growls Christian Bale as the Dark Knight in director Christopher Nolan’s first film of his Batman trilogy. Here Nolan sets out to tell the origin story of Batman, detailing how young Bruce Wayne, who looked up to and felt particularly close to his father, was taught as a child to stand up to his fears and always try to give something back – especially to those less fortunate. When Bruce witnesses his parents’ street mugging and murder, the scars and pain go deep and right into his soul. Thus the Batman is slowly being born.
Nolan does something with this film that no one had ever thought of or even dared attempt before, to take these classic comic book characters and put them into the real world. The result is a romanticized crime-fighting adventure with top notch performances and excellent production value.
GRADE: B+
THE DARK KNIGHT – 2008
“Why so serious?,” asks the late Heath Ledger in the role he made iconic and truly terrifying, The Joker, in Christopher Nolan’s second film about the winged vigilante and his fight to save his beloved Gotham city from organized crime. While Batman, once again played by Christian Bale, Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) and new D.A. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) focus on the mob and try to put most of the gangsters behind bars, they fail to see the growing threat of a madman. On the loose and terrorizing the city is a sadistic man who wears clown makeup and has some horrible scars across his face which seem to give him an unnatural and permanent smile. He wants nothing more than to create absolute chaos for Gotham City and its citizens.
Darker than Batman Begins and more of a gritty crime thriller, The Dark Knight surpasses all other Batman films before it with its wonderful production design, stunning action scenes, and stellar performances from its A-list cast. But it’s really the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the creepy, scary, maniacal, psychopathic killer The Joker that raises this film to an even higher level.
GRADE: A-
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES – 2012
Is it the perfect ending to Christopher Nolan’s trilogy? Read our review for the answer: The Dark Knight Rises film review
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A look back at the Batmobiles: Batmobile Photo Gallery
Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises
Reviewed by Kevin Finnerty
“There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches because when it hits, you’re all going to wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us,” says high-class grifter and cat burglar Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) to reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) in Christopher Nolan’s third and final installment in the Batman legacy, The Dark Knight Rises.
It’s been eight years since the death of Gotham City’s D.A. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) as well as the disappearance of Batman, who took the blame for Dent’s crimes and went from being the city’s hero to wanted vigilante and murderer. The lie seems to have worked and Gotham is almost crime-free and thriving. But the truth being buried haunts both Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), who longs to admit the truth, resign and vindicate Batman, and Bruce Wayne who has become a recluse, barely ever leaving the Wayne Manor and having no direction or purpose in his life.
This begins to change for Bruce, however, when he comes across Selina Kyle, a seductive and very smart cat burglar trying to rob Wayne Manor. Her beauty and playfulness peaks his interest to find out more about her.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon stumbles upon a group of mercenaries led by a hulking, brutal and extremely lethal terrorist named Bane (Tom Hardy) whose plan is to wage war against Gotham’s leaders, tear the city apart and leave it in ruins. So, once again, it’s up to Bruce to suit up and bring Batman out of his self-imposed retirement and take on the most physically formidable foe of his crime-fighting career.
The Dark Knight Rises is a suspenseful, riveting, action-packed film that brings the Caped
Crusader’s story to a perfect end. This is an epic film which tells a much larger and more complicated story than the first two films of the saga.
TDKR is wonderfully directed by Christopher Nolan who takes a two hour and forty four minute film and makes it seem to fly by. The pacing is flawless. The action scenes are exhilarating and stunning, especially the first 13 minutes of the film with the ruthless terrorist Bane hijacking a CIA plane while in mid-flight. It’s one of the greatest jaw-dropping opening sequences in movie history.
The cast is superb, led by Christian Bale as both the brooding and lost soul Bruce Wayne looking for a way back from his self-imposed isolation and pointless life, and as Batman, Gotham City’s true hero and protector. This time out he gives more feeling and emotion while portraying Bruce Wayne and gives the character what he almost lost in the second film…a human soul. Gary Oldman is solid as always as Commissioner Gordon, the honest, determined, good cop in a corrupt city who would give up everything to save his city and vindicate his one true friend, Batman, whose identity he still doesn’t know. Michael Caine is the emotional anchor of the film as Alfred, Bruce’s butler, confidant and surrogate father. A confessional scene between Alfred and Bruce is sure to bring lumps to the audience’s throats and tears to their eye.
However, the stand-out performance in the film goes to Anne Hathaway as the slinky, sly, cat burglar Selina Kyle. She brings sexiness, smarts and cunning to the high-class grifter who plays every angle and is only interested it seems in helping herself with her own agenda. She has strong chemistry with Bale and their scenes together, both as Bruce and Selina and Batman and Catwoman, are the highlights of the film. She steals every scene she’s in and is the best Catwoman (she’s never called this in the film) to ever grace the screen. Yes, even better than Michelle Pfeiffer’s take on the role in Tim Burton’s movie Batman Returns.
Tom Hardy delivers a chilling performance as the evil terrorist Bane whose only goal it seems is to destroy both Gotham City and Batman. But even though Bane is physically daunting and extremely dangerous, the character is almost too one-dimensional for most of the film. He lacks any real personality, wit or sick charm that made Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight one of the greatest villains in movie history.
The one big problem with the film is with the dialogue delivered by Hardy as Bane. Since his character is always wearing a breathing mask that protects him from horrible pain and keeps him alive, there are times when it’s very hard to understand Bane and other times when the audience will miss what he said altogether. It would have benefited the film if Nolan and Hardy re-voiced Bane’s lines in post-production in a sound booth the way the Star Wars films did with James Earl Jones being the voice of Darth Vader.
Compelling, emotional and thrilling, The Dark Knight Rises finalizes Nolan’s vision of the Batman saga and makes the franchise one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time.
GRADE: A-
The Dark Knight Rises hit theaters on July 20, 2012 and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.
The Master Theatrical Trailer Arrives
Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, and Philip Seymour Hoffman star in The Master, the upcoming dramatic film from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood). The Weinstein Company just released the theatrical trailer for the film and it’s obvious this will be one of TWC’s big Oscar pushes. The film centers on Phoenix’s character who leaves the Navy and is drawn to Hoffman’s Lancaster Dodd, the leader of a faith-based organization (Anderson supposedly based Hoffman’s character on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard).
The Master hits theaters on September 14, 2012.
Watch the trailer:
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