Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Steve Jobs, Fargo Season 2, Burnt, and More

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

While we provide you with a list of available new releases Now Available to Own every Tuesday, Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD looks at all of the recent home video announcements. For the week of December 19, 2015 we have the Steve Jobs, Fargo Season 2, Burnt, Our Brand is Crisis, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD February 16, 2016

Steve Jobs (Danny Boyle) Rated R [122 min] – Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter. Starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Katherine Waterston

Special features include:

Inside Jobs: The Making of Steve Jobs
Feature Commentary with Director Danny Boyle
Feature Commentary with Writer Aaron Sorkin and Editor Elliot Graham

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD February 23, 2016

Fargo Season 2 (Noah Hawley) A drifter named Lorne Malvo arrives in small-town Minnesota and influences the population with his malice and violence, including put-upon insurance salesman Lester Nygaard. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson, Jeffrey Donovan, Kieran Culkin, and Brad Garrett

Special features include:

Lou on Lou: A Conversation with Patrick Wilson, Keith Carradine and Noah Hawley
Waffles and Bullet Holes: A Return to Sioux Falls
The Films of Ronald Reagan: Extended Fargo cut
The True History of Crime in the Midwest
Skip Sprang TV Commercial

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD January 26, 2016

Burnt (John Wells) Rated R [101 min] – Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars. Starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, and Riccardo Scamarcio [Watch the Trailer]

Special features include:

Burnt: In the Kitchen with Bradley Cooper
Deleted Scenes
Q&A highlights with the Director and cast
Feature Commentary with Director John Wells and Executive Chef Consultant Marcus Wareing

Available on Blu-ray and DVD February 2, 2016; and Digital HD January 19, 2016

Our Brand Is Crisis (David Gordon Green) Rated R [107 min] – An American woman, well-versed in political campaigns, is sent to the war-torn lands of South America to help install a new leader but is threatened to be thwarted by a long-term rival. Starring Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie, and Joaquim de Almeida [Watch the Trailer]

Special features include:

Sandra Bullock: A Role Like No Other featurette.

Available on Blu-ray and DVD January 12, 2016; and Digital HD December 18

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Gregory Plotkin) Rated R [88 min] – Using a special camera that can see spirits, a family must protect their daughter from an evil entity with a sinister plan.Director: Stars: Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Ivy George, and Dan Gill

Special features not yet announced

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD February 9, 2016

Grandma (Paul Weitz) Rated R [79 min] – Self-described misanthrope Elle Reid has her protective bubble burst when her 18-year-old granddaughter, Sage, shows up needing help. The two of them go on a day-long journey that causes Elle to come to terms with her past and Sage to confront her future. Starring Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, and Judy Greer

Special features include:

A Family Portrait: The Making of Grandma
Q&A with Lily Tomlin, Sam Elliott, and director Paul Weitz
Commentary with Lily Tomlin, Sam Elliott, Julia Garner and Paul Weitz

Available on DVD February 2, 2016

Meadowland (Reed Morano) Rated R [105 min] – In the hazy aftermath of an unimaginable loss, Sarah and Phil come unhinged, recklessly ignoring the repercussions. Phil starts to lose sight of his morals; Sarah takes off on a potentially disastrous journey, falling deeper into her own fever dream. Starring Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson, John Leguizamo, Ty Simpkins, Giovanni Ribisi, Juno Temple, and Elisabeth Moss [Watch the Trailer]

Special features not yet announced

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD March 1, 2016

Don Verdean (Jared Hess) Rated PG-13 [90 min] – A self-professed biblical archaeologist who has fallen on hard times starts to bend the truth in order to continue inspiring the faithful. Starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, and Jemaine Clement

Special features include:

“Digging In: Behind the Scenes of Don Verdean” Featurette
“Behind the Sounds” Featurette
Audio Commentary with Director Jared Hess

And that’s it for this week. What are you looking forward to picking up when they release?

Stay tuned for more Blu-Ray and DVD announcements every Saturday.

All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com

Click here for more home video announcements

Netflix Streaming Report: Christmas 2015 Edition

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for December 17, 2015. After the long week you deserve a relaxing staycation with a bowl of popcorn, a bucket of ice cream, and only your Netflix queue to judge you. Since nothing but garbage has been made newly available this past week, and no one should subject themselves to watching Adam Sandler’s Ridiculous 6, I’ve compiled a thorough list of all the Christmas movies on Netflix that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home this holiday season.

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (Many Directors) – From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films for the first time with all-new extras including an inside look at the Disney Animation shorts, featuring introductions and interviews with the acclaimed filmmakers themselves.

On this year’s Disney Animated Shorts Collection you’ll find Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa. It’s a cute little film that has the elves helping out Mrs. Claus in a tight bind. Plus, all of the shorts included in the collection are all great, including my favorite of the bunch, Paperman.

Here’s the full list of shorts:

Frozen Fever (2015), Feast (2014), Get A Horse! (2013), Paperman (2012), Tangled Ever After (2012), The Ballad of Nessie (2011), Tick Tock Tale (2010), Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa (2010), How to Hook Up Your Home Theater (2007), The Little Matchgirl (2006), Lorenzo (2004), and John Henry (2000)

(Watch it now)

Perez Hilton

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Henry Selick) Rated PG [76 min] – Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn’t quite understand the concept. Starring Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, and Catherine O’Hara

Despite director Henry Selick confirming that The Nightmare Before Christmas is in fact a “Halloween movie,” the film is still an exceptional watch during the holidays. Because for us horror fans, it’s Halloween 24/7/365, or 366 next year.

(Watch it now)

Source: Cosmo

Love Actually (Richard Curtis) Rated R [135 min] – Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England. Starring Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Kiera Knightley, Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth, and Liam Neeson

Pretty sure Love Actually has become essential holiday viewing for many since its release in 2003.

(Watch it now)

Source: Buzzfeed

Fireplace for Your Home (Netflix) [60 min] – This edition includes a crackling yule log set to holiday favorites such as “Joy to the World” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Having a Christmas party? This crackling fire place is the best thing to throw on in the background if you want to set a nice ambiance for your guests.

(Watch it now)

Source: CarensClassicCinema

A Christmas Carol (1938) (Edwin L. Marin) Not Rated [69 min] – A greedy miser is given an otherworldly opportunity to redeem himself on Christmas Eve, when three spirits take him on a journey of revelation. Starring Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart

I haven’t seen this first adaptation of A Christmas Carol, but I’m sure it is adequate enough if you’re looking to watch this classic story.

(Watch it now)

Source: Rockettes.com

White Christmas (Michael Curtiz) Not Rated [120 min] – A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney

I’ve never understood why White Christmas has been such a holiday staple in cinema history. I think the story is uninteresting, it’s overly long, and I don’t feel the romantic chemistry that much. However, the singing and dancing are grand, the production is great, and the acting is stellar. I just don’t know. Someone help me figure out this conundrum.

(Watch it now)

Source: Tumblr

Happy Christmas (Joe Swanberg) Rated R [82 min] – After a break up, Jenny moves in with writer Kelly, her filmmaker husband, and their child. Despite a rocky start, Jenny’s influence helps Kelly realize that an evolution in her life, career and relationship is necessary for her happiness. Starring Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, and Joe Swanberg

Not your typical Christmas bread and butter, Happy Christmas flirts more with the idea of family and being there or one another. Christmas is used as a backdrop.

(Watch it now)

A Very Murray Christmas (Sofia Coppola) Rated TV-MA [56 min] – Bill Murray worries no one will show up to his T.V. show due to a terrible snow-storm in New York City. Starring Bill Murray, Paul Shaffer, Rashida Jones, Jason Schwartzman, Maya Rudolph, Jenny Lewis, David Johansen, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Michael Cera, and Chris Rock

It’s Bill Murray singing Christmas carols with celebrity guests. What more could you really ask for?

(Watch it now)

Source: Perez Hilton

Bad Santa (Terry Zwigoff) Rated R [91 min] – A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss discovers the plot. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, and Lauren Graham

Bad Santa is truly one of the best Christmas comedies I have seen thus far in my life. It’s sharp, raunchy, and everything your traditional Christmas movie isn’t while still maintaining the spirit of the holiday season. What other movie are you going to find a drunk mall Santa piss himself while also shacking up with a senile grandmother and her socially inept, cherub faced grandson?

(Watch it now)

Source: MTV

Mean Girls (Mark Water) Rated PG-13 [97 min] – Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. Starring Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey, Jonathan Bennett, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Franzese, Neil Flynn, Rajiv Surendra, Amy Poehler, Amy Gasteyer, and Tim Meadows

Sure, Mean Girls only celebrates Christmas for about eight minutes, but they are eight glorious minutes. Who doesn’t yell out “FOUR FOR YOU GLEN COCO! YOU GO GLEN COCO!”? Who hasn’t memorized Kevin G and the Power of 3’s rap lyrics? I would find it hard to believe you don’t dance along with the Plastics during the Winter Talent Show to “Jingle Bell Rock”. Plus, Mean Girls is such an awesome movie anyways.

(Watch it now)

More Christmas movies on Netflix:

Serendipity
While You Were Sleeping
The Ref
Bojack Horseman Christmas Special
Christmas Bounty
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mickey Mouse
Trading Places
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
Ernest Saves Christmas
Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special
Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year
The Mistle-Tones
The Cat and the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas
The Ref
Saving Santa
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
DreamWorks’ Holiday Classics
Happy Holidays from Madagascar
Kung Fu Panda Holiday
Get Santa
12 Dates of Christmas
Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure
Trailer Park Boys: X-Mas Special
Santa Buddies
The Search for Santa Paws
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
A Holiday Engagement
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Christmas with the Kranks
Bob’s Broken Sleigh

Also newly added to Netflix this past week:

Fresh Dressed
Helix (Season 2)
Theresa is Mother
Awaken
Burnistoun (Season 1)
Myth Hunters (Season 3)
Slow Learners
Time Out of Mind
Unbranded
The Da Vinci Code
The Adventures of Puss in Boots (Season 2)
Kaanchi
Rob the Mob
Kano

What will you be watching this weekend?

Look forward to more new titles from the Netflix Streaming Report every Thursday on TTRC.

All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com

Hideo Kojima Reforms Kojima Productions and Announces a New Partnership with Sony

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

After an exhaustive year with video game developer/publisher Konami, Hideo Kojima, the Japanese designer, writer, director, producer, and genius mastermind behind the critically acclaimed tactical espionage action series Metal Gear, has finally found solace with the creation of a “new” independent game studio, Kojima Productions. The second chapter of the respected developer has begun and with it comes a fresh franchise and partnership with Sony that fans all over the world will be on high alert for.

In the official video announcement above, Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House confirms Kojima’s involvement with a PlayStation 4 exclusive title through the reborn Kojima Productions. Kojima-san looks more than ecstatic than ever to begin his next journey of his career now that his relationship with Konami is at an end:

“I’m happy to let you know that I have established my own independent studio today. And I’m excited to tell you that the first title from this new studio is a collaboration with PlayStation. I’m thrilled to embark on creating a new franchise with PlayStation that will give you all a new and innovative gaming experience, so please stay tuned”

The good thing is that Kojima will be able to work with his independent company and while flexing his creative muscles on something he has told IGN would be “slightly more edgy” than what we’ve been accustom to. Kojima will be joined by former Metal Gear Solid artist Yoji Shinkawa and producer Kenichiro Imaizumi, who will both take on senior positions supervising art design and production, respectively.

Here’s the official press release from Kojima Productions:

GAME DESIGNER HIDEO KOJIMA OPENS NEW STUDIO: KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS

KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS announced today that it has officially opened its doors. Lead by award-winning game designer, HIDEO KOJIMA, the studio will begin focusing its efforts in developing products that will push the boundaries in innovation and ignite consumer interest worldwide.

As Kojima has stated, only the first untitled game of this original franchise will be a console exclusive to the PlayStation 4. Kojima himself has since said in a follow up interview that it will also come to the PC after its release on the PS4. It will be interesting to see what kind of games will be developed considering Kojima has exclusively been working on Metal Gear for almost three decades. Kojima also explains to IGN how he is approaching the creative process:

“I want to create something that’s what people expect, but at the same time will have something new that people haven’t seen before. I’m thinking smaller-scale, not too many people, and focusing on game creation at first.”

The thought of Kojima applying his engaging narrative and visionary talents into a new intellectual property is very exciting. As far as the new studio is concerned, Kojima believes there will be more “agility”:

“We’ll be able to do things that are more edgy, preserving the quality we’ve had so far, while at the same time finding new challenges and exploring new areas.”

Prior to this year’s release of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Kojima’s name and the Kojima Productions logo were pulled from all marketing materials, including the game’s box cover art as well as the Konami website. The original Kojima Productions under Konami has since been dissolved and transitioned into Konami Digital Entertainment. And with the announcement of his reformed company a new logo has been born:

Everything is in the details when it comes to Kojima, and he goes on to tell IGN how the logo was conceived:

“I’ve always loved astronauts, and [the new Kojima Productions logo] is designed so it can be seen as a medieval knight or an astronaut’s helmet. The concept is, with new technology and a pioneer spirit, we want to bring you to a new realm – within the digital world, I mean – we want to travel together with you to a new realm to which no one has gone before. As for the skeleton, we’re homo sapiens – people of wisdom – but we’re also homo ludens – people who play – and the concept behind this logo is that: With new technology and a pioneer spirit, we’ll deliver play to a new world.”

The esteemed game designer is no stranger when it comes to dropping players into vast new worlds. And he is most thankful to the fans who have supported him through this transition:

“I’ve been in this industry for 30 years. I turned 52 this year. I’m getting to a new start, and I am very confident. I’ll keep creating games until the day I die. Rest assured I’m making more games, something more fun, something you haven’t seen, and it would be great if I could count on the fans to support me in this.”

The full force of fan love and respect was felt after the recent controversy at The Game Awards last month where Konami’s lawyers prevented Hideo Kojima from attending the event to accept the awards Metal Gear Solid 5 earned – Best Action/Adventure Game and Best Score/Soundtrack at this year’s Game Awards. A more than baffling decision.

Sadly, Konami still retains the rights to the Metal Gear series, but we are happy and look forward to whatever the revered developer will come up with next.

What would you like to see Kojima-san tackle next?

Source: PlayStation Japan; Kojima Productions; IGN; Polygon

Now Available to Own: Rogue Nation, The Scorch Trials, Ted 2, and More

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of December 15, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie and television releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can help save you some coin. New on shelves this week are Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Fantastic Four, Ted 2, and more.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Plane Stunt

Source: Huffington Post

Movies on Blu-ray

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (Christopher McQuarrie) Rated PG-13 [131 min] – Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF. Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, and Simon Pegg

Having not seen M:I 2-4, Rogue Nation is surprisingly well contained. I can’t say I was lost at all while watching the film and the screenplay does a fine job at filling in details drawn out over the course of the franchise. The only thing I am missing out on is the built camaraderie between characters. The action is wonderful, the energy is high, and the cast is engaging. The Mission: Impossible franchise has always done a good job at raising the bar from what I have seen, and the special features on this disc are quite thorough. And with how real the stunts are and how much effort is put into making this Rogue Nation feel authentic, the special features are definitely worth your time.

Special features include:

Audio Commentary by Tom Cruise and director/screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie
Lighting the Fuse
Cruise Control
Heroes
Cruising Altitude
Mission: Immersible
Sand Theft Auto
The Missions Continue

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (Wes Ball) Rated PG-13 [131 min] – After having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Starring Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Giancarlo Esposito, Ki Hong Lee, Dexter Darden, Jacob Lofland, Rosa Salazar, Aidan Gillen, and Patricia Clarkson

As much as I am intrigued by this franchise, The Scorch Trials gets a little too bogged down in the drama and the mystery of W.C.K.D. The cast is still pretty strong and there’s a lot of decent action sequences. But overall, this second chapter didn’t create a spark to make this young adult dystopia stand out from the rest.

Special features include:

Janson’s Report
Secrets of the Scorch
Visual Effects
Visual Effects Reel
Deleted and Extended Scenes with Audio Commentary from Wes Ball, T.S. Nowlin, Joe Hartwick Jr. and Dan Zimmerman
Gag Reel
Galleries
Theatrical Trailers

Ted 2 (Seth MacFarlane) Rated R [115 min] – Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he’s a person in a court of law. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Giovanni Ribisi, Patrick Warburton, Sam J. Jones, and Morgan Freeman [Watch the Trailer]

I had hoped that Ted 2 would expand upon the heartfelt relationship between Ted and Johnny, and although there are some glimpses of it, Seth MacFarlane favored frat boy humor over character development in this sequel. The movie is funny, but in the end it’s hardly memorable compared to the first film.

Special features include:

A Giant Opening Dance Number (Blu-ray exclusive)
Deleted Scenes (Blu-ray exclusive)
Gag Reel (Blu-ray exclusive)
Cameo Buddies (Blu-ray exclusive)
Thunder Buddies 4 Lyfe
Roadtripping
Creating Comic-Con
Feature Commentary with Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild and Jessica Barth

Fantastic Four (Josh Trank) Rated PG-13 [100 min] – Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell

What a waste of effort and money on everyone’s part. There wasn’t even a press release or an announcement sending notification that this title has become available. Shows how much importance was placed on trying to salvage this bomb.

Special features include:

Powering Up: Superpowers of the Fantastic Four
The Quantum Gates
Planet Zero
Concept Art
And More!

Source: Tumblr

TV Show Releases

Extant Season 2 (Mickey Fisher) Rated TV-14 [42 min] – An astronaut struggles to learn how she became pregnant while on a 13-month-long solo space mission. StarringHalle Berry, Pierce Gagnon, and Grace Gummer

For as much heart as Halley Berry puts into Extant the sadder it is to see this series flounder. Despite ditching many of the first season faults, Season 2 picks up many of its own, dissolving would could be captivating sci-fi. The special features are bountiful on this Blu-ray set, and they do cover a lot of ground. So if you are a fan, it’s worth noting you won’t be disappointed with the extras.

Special features include:

Extant: A Look at Season 2
Chemistry: Molly & JD
The Carnival of the Mind
A Tour of the Sets
Gag Reel
Two Humanichs: Ethan & Lucy
The Season Finale
Deleted Scenes

CSI: The Finale (Anthony E. Zuiker) Rated TV-14 [60 min] – An elite team of police forensic evidence investigation experts work their cases in Las Vegas. Starring Laurence Fishburne, Marg Helgenberger, and George Eads

It’s shows exactly like CSI that make me hate procedurals, which is unfortunate because there are some good ones out there like Sherlock. And the fact that the series finale is wrapped up in a nice DVD all by itself worries me. CSI is such trashy escapism masked by a facade of pretentious dialogue, robotic characters, and nonsense narratives that it boggles the mind as to why it was allotted so much time on air.

Special features include:

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Case Closed
CSI: SIGN OFFS – The Finale Cast Says Goodbye
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Audio Commentary by Serie Creator Anthony E. Zuiker

Additional Releases this Week

He Named Me Malala (DVD Only)
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Dick Tracy
Marco Polo: Season One
Teen Wolf: Season 5 Part 1

Blu-Ray Deals and Steals

The Flash (Season 1) – $19.99
The Hayao Miyazaki Collection – $184.99
The Man from UNCLE – $14.99
Edward Scissorhands – $7.99
Gotham (Season 1) – $19.99
Whiplash – $9.99
Only Lovers Left Alive – $9.99
Mad Men: The Complete Series – $109.99
Kingsman: The Secret Service – $9.99
Spy – $9.99
Young Adult – $5
Wild Tales – $11.99
Peak Blinders (Season 1) – $14.99
American Sniper – $13.98
The Interview – $6.99
What If – $9.99

All prices from Amazon.com. Best Buy, Frys, and Target all price match online prices.

What will you be taking home this week? Tell us in the comments section below!

All plot synopses come courtesy of IMDb.com

FANTASTIC BEASTS Teaser Trailer Unlocks the Magical World of HARRY POTTER Once Again [15 Screenshots]

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Amidst all the Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiere hype this week, Warner Bros. has dropped the epic announcement trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. The brief teaser, which clocks in at just under two minutes, literally invites us to return to the wizarding world. For those of us who grew up on Harry Potter, it’s like our childhood is beckoning for us to come play once more.

The short snippet, which consists largely of titles and glimpses of the characters, still manages to pack in all the wonder and magic we expect from the Harry Potter franchise. The Fantastic Beasts teaser has on display the exceptional costuming of course, from Collin Farrell’s impeccable suit to Seraphina (Carmen Ejogo) and her elaborate get up. The signature sets continue the grand detail we are accustomed to as well, which are showcased in the Magical Congress of the United States of America courtroom scene.

However, the most noteworthy moment for me is the teaser’s score. From the moment it began, I felt chills as it set the tone better than any of the visuals. While the composer has not yet been confirmed, there are a few notes that echo “Hedwig’s Theme” composed by John Williams, which in my opinion played such a large role in constructing the Harry Potter universe.

So what does the Fantastic Beasts teaser tell us? That Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has brought his mysterious case with him to the United States, and in it a collection of magical beasts. Unfortunately for Mr. Scamander, and the unsuspecting citizens of New York, he left the case open “just a smidge” thus releasing some of these fantastic beasts out into the world. And it will be up to Newt to return them back into the case. This is where we really get into meat of the plot, which revealed itself along with the character descriptions earlier last month.

To add to the conflict, the destruction from these beasts will likely cause tension among the wizards of New York and the no-maj (the term American wizards call muggles). Plus could it be we have another golden trio? Will Newt, Jacob (Dan Fogler), and Propentina (Katherine Waterson) live up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione?

Extended commentary:

Seraphina’s stylist must be Effie Trinket, but she looks fab.
Text transitions seem to have different animal fur/skin textures? Still no beasts though. Where are the beast?!
Ohhh that Collin Farrell, so broody surrounded by the destruction.
Eddie Redmayne is like an adorable golden retriever flopping about. Again, he could not be more perfect for this role.
Where are the owls?

(Click on any thumbnail below to begin the image gallery)

Stay tuned for more updates, we will be sure to keep you informed on everything and anything related to the highly anticipated return to the wizarding world. Here’s the plot synopsis of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, courtesy of Warner Bros.:

Eccentric magizoologist Newt Scamander comes to New York with his trusty weathered case. This case is one of those way-way-way-bigger-on-the-inside magical devices, and within are expansive habitats for a collection of rare and endangered magical creatures from Newt’s travels around globe. He discovers the American wizarding community is fearfully hiding from Muggles and the threat of public exposure is an even graver concern than in the UK. Fantastic Beasts is the story of what happens when this uniquely skilled English wizard travels to wiz-phobic America and a variety of his creatures, some quite dangerous… get out of their case.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Faith Wood-Blagrove, Jenn Murray, Jon Voight, and Ron Perlman. The film is set to arrive in theaters on November 18, 2016.

Source: Warner Bros.

U.S. Remake of French Horror Film, MARTYRS, Gets a Trailer and Release Date

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

One of my worst fears have come true, the remake of the classic French horror film, Martyrs, is finally going to be released to the public on January 22, 2016. And with this revelation comes an awfully vague trailer, stripping the very fabric of its origins. Starring Pretty Little Liars’ Troian Bellisario and from True Blood, Baily Noble, it will most likely be audiences who will become the true martyrs when all is said and done.

Necessity comes to mind while watching this teaser. Much like the American remake of Oldboy, The Grudge, or The Ring, there is only one rational possibility as to why this remake of Martyrs exists. That reason being: to appease audiences who do not favor foreign films and have heard the great many things Martyrs beholds, thus capitalizing on the laziness of said demographic.

It isn’t without stats to back it up. Ju-on‘s original U.S. release in 2004 earned $325 thousand domestically from 11 theaters, while its American remake, The Grudge, earned $110.3 million in over 3,300 theaters that same year. The U.S. remake of Ringu, The Ring, saw a $129 million haul at the box office domestically in 2002.

However, the exact negative effect has been seen with the most recent 2013 remake of the Korean thriller Oldboy. The original made a little over $700 thousand across 28 theaters in its U.S. release, while the remake nabbed a mere $2.19 million in 583 theaters. Not quite the return on investment the studios were hoping for. Which leads me to believe the same will happen with a similarly abstract film such as Martyrs, especially with how vicious and unforgiving the original is.

If you think the American trailer is too coy, the trailer for the 2008 French film provides a little more context, but also hints at its brutal nature. Be forewarned, this trailer is NSWF:

Extended commentary:

Just because it is a dark movie doesn’t mean you have to shoot it that way.
I think the actresses will do fine, with what’s presented to them, which probably isn’t much based on what I see in the trailer.
The MPAA will definitely have an influence on this remake as most American audiences wouldn’t be able to stomach the French version.
This production feels like such a waste of time and effort.

Here’s the official plot synopsis of Martyrs, courtesy of Anchor Bay Films:

Ten-year-old Lucie flees from the isolated warehouse where she has been held prisoner. Deeply traumatized, she is plagued by awful night terrors at the orphanage that takes her in. Her only comfort comes from Anna, a girl her own age. Nearly a decade later and still haunted by demons, Lucie finally tracks down the family that tortured her. As she and Anna move closer to the agonizing truth, they find themselves trapped in a nightmare – if they cannot escape, a martyr’s fate awaits them…

Directed by Kevin Goetz and Michael Goetz, Martyrs stars Baily Noble, Troian Bellisario, Kate Burton, and Blake Robbins. The film is set to arrive in theaters on January 22, 2016. It will also be On Demand and also available on Blu-ray and DVD on February 2, 2016.

Source: FilmTrailerZone

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 21st Critics’ Choice Awards Nominees

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

After last week’s nominations were revealed for the 22nd Annual SAG Awards and 73rd Golden Globes, it feels like it could be anyone’s game at this point. This morning the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced their 21st Critics’ Choice Awards nominees with George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road leading the charge with 13 nods. Hosted by T.J. Miller, the winners will be revealed during a live broadcast from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on A&E, Lifetime, and LMN on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST.

Mad Max: Fury Road has undoubtedly become the underdog favorite of this awards season, as it has become one of the most revered features of the year by critics, myself included – my review. The big topic of conversation, aside from gaining Best Picture recognition, is Charlize Theron’s nods for both Best Actress and Best Actress In An Action Movie. Tom Hardy, of course, is nominated for Best Actor In An Action Movie, but it’s George Miller for Best Director that has really invested my interest into whether he could be a contender come Oscars. The film has also garnered nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Visual Effects, Best Action Movie, and Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie.

Trailing behind the whirlwind, critically acclaimed hit is Carol, The Martian, and The Revenant with nine nominations each. While this year’s big favorite, Spotlight, has earned itself eight nominations from critics, followed by The Big Short and The Hateful Eight with six each. Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, The Danish Girl, Jurassic World, and Sicario each earned five nominations and Room obtained four. Charlize Theron isn’t the only actress up for multiple Best Actress categories, as Jennifer Lawrence is up for three for her work in Joy and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, while Rachel McAdams is up for two awards for Spotlight and True Detective.

And while the film categories are all up in the air, the television categories prove that the increasing output of excellent programming continued this year with FX, ABC, and HBO both gaining 14 nominations each; FOX is close on their heels with 12 nods. The big standout series this year, as determined by critics, is FX’s Fargo with eight nominations. The Leftovers (HBO) and Transparent (Amazon) are not far behind with five nominations each; Black-ish (ABC), Mr. Robot (USA), and Penny Dreadful (Showtime) each earned four.

So what can we takeaway from this year’s 21st Critics’ Choice Awards nominees? For starters, no other awards group has seen more movies this year than the critics, assumably. It’s their jobs to assess the year in film. Who better has a sound voice of reasoning than those who sit in dark rooms and watch movies multiple times per week? In the long run, sure, all awards are practically meaningless gold statues, and the varying award categories the BFCA and BTJA have set have little influence when it comes to the Oscars, but if these voices of reason can help sway voters to at least make an earnest decision at the polls we can be safe in knowing we won’t have another year where a Shakespeare in Love wins against a Saving Private Ryan.

21st CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEES – THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

BEST PICTURE

The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Sicario
Spotlight
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

BEST ACTOR

Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
Matt Damon – The Martian
Johnny Depp – Black Mass
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett – Carol
Brie Larson – Room
Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Paul Dano – Love & Mercy
Tom Hardy – The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo – Spotlight
Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon – 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone – Creed

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara – Carol
Rachel McAdams – Spotlight
Helen Mirren – Trumbo
Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

Abraham Attah – Beasts of No Nation
RJ Cyler – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Shameik Moore – Dope
Milo Parker – Mr. Holmes
Jacob Tremblay – Room

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

The Big Short
The Hateful Eight
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton
Trumbo

BEST DIRECTOR

Todd Haynes – Carol
Alejandro González Iñárritu – The Revenant
Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott – The Martian
Steven Spielberg – Bridge of Spies

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen – Bridge of Spies
Alex Garland – Ex Machina
Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – Inside Out
Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short
Nick Hornby – Brooklyn
Drew Goddard – The Martian
Emma Donoghue – Room
Aaron Sorkin – Steve Jobs

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Carol – Ed Lachman
The Hateful Eight – Robert Richardson
Mad Max: Fury Road – John Seale
The Martian – Dariusz Wolski
The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki
Sicario – Roger Deakins

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Bridge of Spies – Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo
Brooklyn – François Séguin, Jennifer Oman and Louise Tremblay
Carol – Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler
The Danish Girl – Eve Stewart, Michael Standish
Mad Max: Fury Road – Colin Gibson
The Martian – Arthur Max, Celia Bobak

BEST EDITING

The Big Short – Hank Corwin
Mad Max: Fury Road – Margaret Sixel
The Martian – Pietro Scalia
The Revenant – Stephen Mirrione
Spotlight – Tom McArdle

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Brooklyn – Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Carol – Sandy Powell
Cinderella – Sandy Powell
The Danish Girl – Paco Delgado
Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP

Black Mass
Carol
The Danish Girl
The Hateful Eight
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Ex Machina
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
The Walk

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie

BEST ACTION MOVIE

Furious 7
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Sicario

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE

Daniel Craig – Spectre
Tom Cruise – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Tom Hardy – Mad Max: Fury Road
Chris Pratt – Jurassic World
Paul Rudd – Ant-Man

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE

Emily Blunt – Sicario
Rebecca Ferguson – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World
Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST COMEDY

The Big Short
Inside Out
Joy
Sisters
Spy
Trainwreck

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Christian Bale – The Big Short
Steve Carell – The Big Short
Robert De Niro – The Intern
Bill Hader – Trainwreck
Jason Statham – Spy

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Tina Fey – Sisters
Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
Melissa McCarthy – Spy
Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
Lily Tomlin – Grandma

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE

Ex Machina
It Follows
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

The Assassin
Goodnight Mommy
Mustang
The Second Mother
Son of Saul

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Amy
Cartel Land
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
He Named Me Malala
The Look of Silence
Where to Invade Next

BEST SONG

Fifty Shades of Grey – Love Me Like You Do
Furious 7 – See You Again
The Hunting Ground – Til It Happens To You
Love & Mercy – One Kind of Love
Spectre – Writing’s on the Wall
Youth – Simple Song #3

BEST SCORE

Carol – Carter Burwell
The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone
The Revenant – Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto
Sicario – Johann Johannsson
Spotlight – Howard Shore

Continue Reading to see the the Television Category Nominees–>>

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12 Days of DEADPOOL Promises to be Naughty and Nice

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

In anticipation of their latest superhero venture, and of course in the spirit of the holiday season, 20th Century Fox will be hosting the 12 Days of Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth has delivered this message personally to all his fans patiently awaiting for February 12 to arrive.

The promises of goodies to come begin today with the first arriving via Entertainment Weekly. Over the next 11 days expect to find lovely little Deadpool gifts spread across 11 different outlets. And on the final day, Christmas morning, we’ll be receiving a brand spanking new trailer.

Check out the advent calendar below as to where you can find Deadpool spreading cheer for all the good boys and girls to see and hear:

If 20th Century Fox stays true to the character’s roots, the 12 Days of Deadpool should bear a lot of fun, hilarious and maybe even naughty little presents leading up to the new trailer. I expect we’ll see some new posters, still images, and maybe even a few viral marketing pieces. In the mean time, you can check out the previous teaser trailer here to hold you over.

Here’s the official plot synopsis for Deadpool, courtesy of the Official movie website:

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Directed by Tim Miller, Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson aka Deadpool, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, T.J. Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Ed Skrein as Ajax, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Stefan Kapicic as Colossus, and Leslie Uggams as Blind Al. The film is set to be released in theaters on February 12, 2016.

Be sure to follow Turn The Right Corner on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr if you know what’s good for you! Your support means a lot and you’ll get all the updates right to your feeds.

Source: 20th Century Fox

The First STAR TREK BEYOND Teaser is Fast and Furious [72 Screenshots]

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

While many are thinking about a time long ago in a galaxy far, far away, another franchise among the stars has popped out of the darkness. This morning, Paramount has released their first trailer for Star Trek Beyond, the third entry of the rebooted film franchise. Only this time it is Justin Lin (Fast Five; Fast and Furious 6) who has taking the reins to direct from J.J. Abrams while he sits back as a producer.

Other than the lack of lens flares, I think just about anything will be a step above Star Trek Into Darkness and its wacky agenda to hide the fact that it is a remake of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The Star Trek Beyond teaser is sleek, fast, and furious, something Lin knows how to manage quite well. However, this doesn’t exactly feel like a Star Trek movie. It could be that the marketing team just wants to get butts in seats by throwing shiny, fast paced action scenes at our faces, but that’s not what the franchise is entirely about. Though fun space battles have always been present, compared to the epic space opera that is Star Wars, Star Trek has been more about the discovery and science of space.

Now that doesn’t mean exploring the final frontier isn’t the goal in this film, but it makes me wonder what exactly Star Trek Beyond is about since there is a lack of plot synopsis and no real explanation as to what’s going on in this teaser. They treat this next adventure as just that, while teasing new aliens played by Sofia Boutella and Idris Elba. I’m assuming one could be Kirk’s next conquest while the other the main villain against the Enterprise crew.

Speaking of the Enterprise, it’s nice to see all of the cast return — including Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu, Karl Urban as Bones, and Anton Yelchin as Chekov — because I rather like this crew. They’ve always been very charismatic bunch and have had great on-screen chemistry, though then can’t seem to keep a ship in tact.

What do you think of the Star Trek Beyond teaser? Tell us in the comments below and let us know if you’re excited for the next voyage of the Starship Enterprise.

Extended commentary:

Beastie Boys is a nice call back to the first film, but is that all Kirk listens to?
The planets they explore look vast and detailed, it’s a shame that a lot of it looks CGI.
Why is the frontier pushing back? Did the Enterprise stumble upon a star system that does not want to become a part of the Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets?

(Click on any thumbnail below to open the image gallery)

Directed by Justin Lin, Star Trek Beyond stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Joe Taslim, and Lydia Wilson. This film is set to arrive in theaters on July 22, 2016.

Source: Paramount Pictures

THE BFG Teases a Larger than Life Story in First Trailer

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Moving on from spies and the Cold War, Steven Spielberg is embarking on a more mystical journey filled with larger than life characters. Based on the children’s book written by Roald Dahl of the same name, the first teaser trailer for The BFG finds our young, precocious Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) getting into more trouble than her curiosity expected.

Back when I was a young lad, I couldn’t get enough of Roald Dahl’s literary works, particularly Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. However, I can’t recall ever reading The BFG. Jack and the Beanstalk and other variations of this story have never really fancied my interest. I think it’s because the use of giants in fiction have never really had any strong thematical impact on my life. I can’t really say at this point whether The BFG is going to be a good film based on this short tease, but the effects look far and away better than Jack the Giant Slayer.

If you’re curious, The Big Friendly Giant was adapted as a full-length animated feature in 1989, and you can watch the entire thing on YouTube.

Extended commentary:

There’s cats, so that’s a plus.
Pan was about a young kid from Britain whisked away on an adventure to a far off land, and that movie ended up being terrible.
Sophie’s pretty dumb for establishing her three rules and then not following them. She deserves to be taken.
The BFG definitely feels very Spielbergian.
I didn’t even have to see the credits to guess the score was composed by John Williams. It has that Disney sensibility and also that whimsical Williams flare.
Spielberg tried family oriented fantasy once before with Hook, let’s hope he does better this time.

Here’s the official plot synopsis for The BFG, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios:

Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The BFG, while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler and Fleshlumpeater on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary, that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, The BFG stars Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, Penelope Wilton, Rebecca Hall, and Jemaine Clement. This film hits theaters on July 1, 2016.

Source: Walt Disney Trailers

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD February 16, 2016

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD February 23, 2016

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD January 26, 2016

Available on Blu-ray and DVD February 2, 2016; and Digital HD January 19, 2016

Available on Blu-ray and DVD January 12, 2016; and Digital HD December 18

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD February 9, 2016

Available on DVD February 2, 2016

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD March 1, 2016

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21st CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEES – THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Continue Reading to see the the Television Category Nominees–>>

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