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Thursday, November 28, 2013

3D Movie Release Updates From Legendary: WARCRAFT And SEVENTH SON


Some release updates for you from Legendary Pictures on some anticipated 3D projects in the coming years, namely Duncan Jones' WARCRAFT and Sergei Bodrov's SEVENTH SON.

First up lets discuss WARCRAFT as I've played World of Warcraft and love it. It's about time that a feature based on this popular MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) hit the screen! Right now I prefer LOTRO (Lord of the Rings Online) as it is entirely free to play - although paying a tiny bit here and there make things much more enjoyable. But I digress. WARCRAFT is coming from a very vibrant and expansive universe. The groundwork has all been done in the game as far as environment and flora / fauna, and now comes the story. Whether they weave the movie's story into the gameplay's story to some degree remains to be seen. I definitely think we will be seeing some of the lore introduced at least.

WARCRAFT will be released now on March 11, 2016. That's plenty of time to pull together a really good effort for this. Can't wait! The movie was originally going to be released on December 18, 2015 and well... it's kinda busy then on the silver screens, so great move.

Here's a description for WARCRAFT:
Legendary Pictures’ WARCRAFT, a 3D epic adventure of world-colliding conflict based upon Blizzard Entertainment’s globally-renowned universe, will be directed by Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code) and is written by Charles Leavitt and rewritten by Duncan Jones. The producers are Charles Roven, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Alex Gartner. Stuart Fenegan, Jillian Share and Brent O’Connor will serve as executive producers. Blizzard’s Chris Metzen will co-produce.

Next up is SEVENTH SON. From the storyline below it sounds as though it could come from a WARCRAFT universe as well (it won't). But I love the direction Legendary is taking with these projects and I'm hoping for more!

SEVENTH SON will be released on February 6, 2015 and distributed by Universal Pictures.

Here's the storyline for THE SEVENTH SON:
In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Oscar winner Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesized hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom. Sergei Bodrov directed SEVENTH SON from a screenplay by Matt Greenberg, Charles Leavitt and Steve Knight, based on the book “The Spook’s Apprentice” by Joseph Delaney. The film is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Thomas Tull and Lionel Wigram. Jon Jashni, Brent O’Connor and Alysia Cotter are executive producers, with Jillian Share and Erica Lee co-producing.

More updates when I get them!

Monday, November 25, 2013

New Viral Campaign For X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST - Magneto Assassinated JFK

Spoiler warning! For the movie, not who killed John F. Kennedy. Unless... No.

But we do have a viral video making its way through the interwebs depicting Magneto as the true assassin of JFK by altering the trajectory of Oswald's 2nd bullet on that fateful day in Texas. The video names the event as "The Bent Bullet" theory and you can read more about it here.

This movie is looking MASSIVE and I'm loving it already just thinking about what goodies director Bryan Singer and his amazing cast have in store for us!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-MEN: FIRST CLASS in an epic battle that must change the past — to save our future.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens on May 23, 2014.


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Hilarious New Commercial For Air New Zealand With A Middle-earth Twist!


Love it when corporations get creative like this, and why not? New Zealand IS Middle-earth right? I won't spoil a thing for you - you have to watch.

But to top it all off, you could win seats at the premiere of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG at either Wellington or Los Angeles! For more info on the contest, head on over to Air New Zealand.

I've never been to Kiwi but obviously would love to go there. What a trip that would be! Can't wait to see DOS - and some more brilliant native 3D shot on 3ality Technica rigs :-)

Oh and advance tickets for DESOLATION OF SMAUG are on sale tomorrow!





Via Collider

Must Watch: Jonas Cuaron's Short Film Tie In With GRAVITY And How It May Make Oscar History


Very cool development here with the release of Jonas Cuaron's short film entitled ANINGAAQ and its tie-in with his father's amazing movie GRAVITY which is still in theaters. The rest of the post has minor spoilers in it as well as the short film, so don't read ahead unless you've seen GRAVITY or worst case scenario, you don't plan to see it (but please do - highly recommended).

ANINGAAQ tells the story of what happens on the other end of the radio transmissions that Sandra Bullock's character is able to initiate in GRAVITY. Until now, no one new who she was speaking to and under what terms. Now we know!

The 7 minute short was short entirely in Greenland at a cost of $100,000 (mainly transportation costs of equipment and crew). Moreover, Warner Bros. has decided to submit the film as an entry to the Academy for Best Short Film Oscar. This will mark the first time that a movie and a short film that have a tie-in have both been nominated for an Academy Award (assuming they both get the nod), and the first time that this has happened as father / son duo.

Check out the short below:



Via THR

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Exclusive Interview: Steve Schklair, 3D Producer on STALINGRAD - We Talk THE HOBBIT And THE GREAT GATSBY Too!


I recently had the the opportunity and pleasure to speak with Steve Schklair, 3D Producer on STALINGRAD (catch up on our coverage of the movie here) and CEO of our friends at 3ality Technica. The movie was directed by the much in demand Russian filmmaker Fedor Bondarchuk and is the entry from Russia for the upcoming Academy Awards, Best Foreign Language Oscar.

Steve and I talk about the movie at length (the whole interview is just over 30 minutes) including segments on the director, the 3ality Technica equipment and services, the magnificent sets, Russian crews, the film's esthetics, budget, box office, some of the history involved, Fedor Bondarchuk and his cinematographer, etc.

We also touch upon THE GREAT GATSBY and THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG as 3ality Techica was instrumental in the making of those 3D movies, as well as what's next for Steve and 3ality.

After a record breaking launch in Russia and the Ukraine, STALINGRAD is now enjoying huge box office returns in China. To date the movie has earned $65.7 million with more results due from China.

Here's the interview; enjoy:



Here's the storyline for STALINGRAD:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her. Thomas Kretschmann and Yanina Studilina star.

And here's a description of Battle of Stalingrad from Wikipedia:
The Battle of Stalingrad (August 23, 1942–February 2, 1943) was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in the southwestern Soviet Union. Marked by constant close-quarters combat and lack of regard for military and civilian casualties, it is among the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. The heavy losses inflicted on the German army make it arguably the most strategically decisive battle of the whole war. Afterwards, the German forces never regained the initiative in war in the East.

If you haven't seen the trailer yet (And I highly recommend you do), check it out here.

Definitely check out this movie if you have the opportunity and I'll have more information about distribution soon for western audiences.


Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Force Of GRAVITY: $500 Million In Box Office And Still Climbing


What can I say that I haven't said already? If you haven't seen GRAVITY yet in theaters, get out and enjoy. Beyond that, what a remarkable achievement for Alfonso Cuaron and Warner Bros. The movie will hit $500 million in worldwide box office this weekend and is still drawing in the crowds and has already pulled ahead of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS in receipts.

Look for GRAVITY to hit ~$260 million domestically and ~$300 million in foreign markets for a nice ~$560 million take PLUS CHINA. I haven't included China in the mix here but I expect big things from them, especially with their IMAX screens. Is expecting a $600 million a long shot? I don't think so. We'll see.

Anyway, I'm just so thrilled with the success of a movie that deserves to be successful! Cuaron nailed it. I wish the movie was longer because the time just flies when you're watching it, but really - it's a masterpiece.

We need more original stories like this with near perfect 3D and acting!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

First Teaser Trailer For Disney's MALEFICENT Arrives


I haven't given any judgement on MALEFICENT yet. I'm on the fence. Could be a bomb or a huge win - likely the later. But it had better be good for Angelina Jolie who gave up what seems to be an Oscar nod for turning down the lead in GRAVITY. Now THAT's a bad move. The Sandra Bullock role is once in a lifetime if you ask me. But I digress.

I don't find Jolie's character all that intimidating actually. The horns look cool, but just some extended cheekbones and some contact lenses? Sure it's early on in the movie. Likely there are some surprises to that end as the movie progresses and Maleficent turns more, shall we say, evil.

I did like the Pandora like environment in a few scenes. It is certain Disney spared no expense in getting this thing done. At this stage though, I was hoping for more.

Here's the storyline:
From Disney comes MALEFICENT—the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic SLEEPING BEAUTY. A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

MALEFICENT opens on May 30, 2014 in 3D and in flat.



HERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS Opens In 3D On January 10, 2014


**UPDATE: Well someone messed up at Summit, or they've got to get their act together, but just days after announcing very publicly that HERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS will open on February 4, 2014 - they change it to January 10, 2014. So let it be.

The first of two Hercules movies is dropping on February 7, 2014 January 10, 2014 as Summit has announced its intentions with the property. This is the Kellan Lutz movie, not the Dwayne Johnson starrer.

I don't have too much to say about the production yet as I wasn't all that thrilled with the first trailer and I haven't seen any 3D yet - hopefully that feeling goes away with the next trailer. Click here for all of our Hercules coverage.

Here's the press release:
Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF) company, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Millennium Films’ action-adventureHERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS starring Kellan Lutz (THE TWILIGHT SAGA, the upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 3) and directed by Renny Harlin (DIE HARD 2, CLIFFHANGER). Summit will release the film in 3D and 2D nationwide on February 7, 2014. The deal was announced today by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, and Avi Lerner, Chairman of Millennium Films.

Lutz stars as Hercules, the mythical Greek hero, demigod and son of Zeus. Betrayed by his King and sold into slavery, Hercules must use his formidable strength to fight for his freedom and return to his true love, Hebe, the Princess of Crete (played by Gaia Weiss).

The supporting cast includes Scott Adkins (THE EXPENDABLES 2), Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus”), Liam Garrigan (“Strike Back”), Johnathon Schaech (“Ray Donovan,” “The Client List”), Roxanne McKee (“Game Of Thrones”) and Rade Serbedzija (“Red Widow”). Screenplay is by Daniel Gliat. Producers are Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Boaz Davidson and Renny Harlin. Executive Producers are Avi Lerner, Trevor Short and John Thompson.

“We look forward to working with Millennium to bring this larger-than-life hero to theaters and action fans in the new year,” said Friedman and Wachsberger. “We are also very proud to work on a project starring Kellan, with whom we have grown very close throughout the release of all five TWILIGHT SAGA films as well as the production of THE EXPENDABLES 3 scheduled for release next year.”

“We’re thrilled to be expanding our relationship with the very talented team at Lionsgate and Summit, who had such extraordinary success with Kellan in THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchise and with whom we have a great partnership on THE EXPENDABLES franchise,” Lerner said. “And I’m very pleased that ours will be the first movie in the 21st century to reintroduce modern audiences to this classic, timeless story.”

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate and Summit by Jason Constantine, Lionsgate’s President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Eda Kowan, Lionsgate’s SVP of Acquisitions, and Wendy Jaffe, Lionsgate’s EVP of Business & Legal Affairs for Acquisitions & Co-Productions, and on behalf of Millennium by Avi Lerner and Mark Gill.

HERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS opens on February 7, 2014 January 10, 2014 in 3D.

Saturday, November 09, 2013

THOR: THE DARK WORLD Hammers The Box Office !


Can Marvel do no wrong? Seriously. They are kings of the box office, they have a recently renewed TV series with AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. and just signed a deal with Netflix to have four of their characters (Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones) with separate series culminating in a crossover series entitled THE DEFENDERS, all of which is based in Hell's Kitchen, NYC.

THOR: THE DARK WORLD continues in the Marvel tradition of kick ass action, great storytelling, compelling characters all in a solid 3D conversion (haven't seen it yet, but my assumption based on previous productions). Of course being a follow up to THE AVENGERS doesn't hurt as IRON MAN 3 can attest with it's $1.2 billion take (that's fifth best EVER). So we'll see where Thor 2 goes. It has already hit $140 million worldwide with only one day reporting in North America. My projection is $90 million for the weekend domestically.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

For all of our THOR 2 coverage, click here. And here's the link for all of our Marvel coverage!

THOR: THE DARK WORLD is now playing!

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

HOBBIT UPDATE! New Trailer, Fan Event Video And Production Video !!



WOW! What a 24 hours in Middle-earth! We've got the new trailer for THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, a video from the Fan Event that took place yesterday and a brand new Production Video showing us what they shot this past summer for pick ups!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

The Fan Event was attended by Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Jed Brophy, Peter Jackson (barefoot!) and Lee Pace providing a worldwide scope to very internationally appealing work by J.R.R. Tolkien. The event was stationed in New York, London, Los Angeles and Wellington with many more cities participating for fans to watch.

Naturally the trailer is jaw dropping! Love it! I won't spoil it for you but suffice to say we have more of well, everything!

The Production Video is what I truly enjoy the most in this job - how the movies are made. I could watch BTS (behind the scenes) video for hours upon hours. So please do watch them all - they make the trifecta of Hobbit videos!

Yet again - another movie that our friends over at 3ality Technica are extremely proud of thanks to the use of their 3D rigs and services. December can't come soon enough!


THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG opens on December 13 in HFR 3D, 3D and flat.

Here's the trailer:




Here's the fan event - you can fast forward to 10:00 for the trailer and 12:30 for the actual event!




And the new Production Video... Enjoy!!



STALINGRAD 3D Grabs Over $8 Million More With China Opening - $60 Million Worldwide !


Fedor Bondarchuk’s 3D World War II movie STALINGRAD is posting exceptional numbers overseas. First it set records in Russia and the Ukraine and now it has landed in China. Over the first four days of release, STALINGRAD has gated $8.3 million from 7,013 screens, beating the openings of PEARL HARBOR and WAR HORSE.

Screenings continue in Russia as well, bringing in another $2.8 million making it's take on Russian soil $47.8 million with an additional $3.3 million in the Ukraine.

Total box office to date is ~$60 million and is Russian's entry for Foreign Language Oscar.

I know the folks over 3ality Technica are very proud of the movie and it's continued success! In fact I recently conducted an interview with Steve Schklair, 3D producer on the movie (also CEO of 3ality) and I will have that up shortly for you.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her. Thomas Kretschmann and Yanina Studilina star.

Watch the trailer for STALINGRAD 3D here.

Source: Variety


Friday, November 01, 2013

LOOK: New Poster For NURSE 3D - Release Set February 2014!

Lionsgate has finally given a release date for it's horror movie NURSE 3D and the studio decided to inject us with a new poster featuring Paz de la Huerta. Clearly it's an exploitation project and I'm very curious how it's all going to wind up looking on the big screen.

The first poster was a little too graphic for MarketSaw - but you can view it here.

I know the stereographer of the movie, Brent Robinson and we met recently in Toronto and discussed NURSE 3D and his upcoming projects. I think I'll try to line up an interview with him if he can squeeze me into his busy schedule so we can discuss the movie. If you have any questions, let me know!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Nurse 3D is a thriller/horror film directed by Doug Aarniokoski and written by David Loughery starring Paz de la Huerta, Katrina Bowden, Corbin Bleu. By day Abby Russell is a dedicated nurse, someone you wouldn’t hesitate to trust your life with. But by night, her real work begins…using her smoldering sexuality she lures cheating men to their brutal deaths and exposes them for who they really are. When a younger nurse starts to suspect Abby’s actions and compromises her master plan, Abby must find a way to outsmart her long enough to bring the cheater you’d least expect to justice.

NURSE 3D opens on February 7, 2014.

Image Source: HitFix


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