Box Office Battlefield: Inside Out vs. Dope

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of June 19, 2015 includes Inside Out and Dope, as well as three limited releases. Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over the others and determine who will be victorious. Should you see ’em, skip ’em, or rent ’em? Find out below!

Last weekend, Jurassic World completely obliterated the competition, breaking records and taking names. Grossing $208 million domestically and totaling $524.4 million worldwide, Jurassic World is the first movie to ever cross the $500 million mark in an opening weekend. Universal even beat Marvel Studio’s The Avengers record of highest grossing domestic opening weekend by $1.4 million. Jurassic World earned can also claim the highest single day grosses for Saturday and Sunday; it broke the national per theater average with $49 thousand; and it’s the greatest PG-13 opening weekend ever. Suffice it to say Universal is very happy.

This weekend however, Jurassic World is up against some tough competition: Pixar. Having no release last year, a feat which has not been seen since 2005, and with little offerings to younger demographics in theaters recently, the latest animated feature from the studio powerhouse may bring about the second extinction of the dinosaurs. I’M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS! This is the Box Office Battlefield:

Inside Out (Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen) Rated PG [94 min] – After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.Starring Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Lewis Black, and Phyllis Smith [Watch the trailer]

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 98% • Audience – 93%

My review:

Although my expectations may have been far too high going in, I found Inside Out to be very, very sweet and incredibly well-developed. Compared to the Pixar’s latest, Inside Out definitely feels like a return to form for the once unstoppable animation studio. The story is more straightforward than I imagined, but its mechanics and world building are impeccably thought out, making the journey worth every second. Inventively hilarious and playfully smart, Inside Out is a touching coming-of-age story that stands up to Pixar’s finest. SEE THIS FILM! (Since this is an animated film the 3D works just fine.)

Dope (Rick Famuyiwa) Rated R [103 min] – Life changes for Malcolm, a geek who’s surviving life in a tough neighborhood, after a chance invitation to an underground party leads him and his friends into a Los Angeles adventure. Starring Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, and Kimberly Elise

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 88% • Audience – 83%

My review:

I didn’t quite know what to think about Dope going in. Coming out of Sundance, the film received critical acclaim, but it has a very different indie sheen compared to most from the festival. But after seeing Dope this week I can confidently agree with all the hype. Despite having beat-for-beat similarities to 2004’s comedic adventure through the world of porn, The Girl Next Door, Dope is far more calculating and smarter than your average bear. Dope offers a very surreal look at racial politics and socio-economic classes in the most cleverest of ways and delivers a tripod of characters worth rooting for. For a fresh young actor, Shameik Moore, puts in one hell of a performance – both sincere and confident – as the lead character of Malcolm. The only real problem I had with the film is its unique structure that made Dope seem a lot loner than it actually is. SEE THIS FILM!

Infinitely Polar Bear (Maya Forbes) [Limited] Rated R [90 min] – A manic-depressive mess of a father tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don’t make the overwhelming task any easier. Starring Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky, and Ashley Aufderheide

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 82% • Audience – 81%

Their reviews:

“Mark Ruffalo is yet again a revelation in Infinitely Polar Bear, and he’s not the only one. This is a first feature by Maya Forbes, yet many of its accomplishments put far more experienced filmmakers in the shade.” – Joe Morgenstern (Wall Street Journal)

“Though the film is choppily told and its episodic rhythm never gathers momentum, it contains well-observed moments and astute performances by Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana.” – Sheri Linden (LA Times)

My take:

Mark Ruffalo always dominates in these dramatic, indie roles. The man is a force majeure when it comes to switching from genre to genre. His newest feature, Infinitely Polar Bear looks very honest and mostly sad. Another Sundance pick from 2014, from what I understand this movie is an emotional journey thanks to Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana. MATINEE IT!

Manglehorn (David Gordon Green) [Limited] Rated PG-13 [97 min] – Left heartbroken by the woman he loved and lost many years ago, Manglehorn, an eccentric small-town locksmith, tries to start his life over again with the help of a new friend. Starring Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Harmony Korine, and Chris Messina

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 38% • Audience – 35%

Their reviews:

“A movie so listlessly written and constructed that it nearly redefines tedium.” – Sam Fragoso (Film School Rejects)

“But while Pacino is, as ever, a compelling presence, David Gordon Green’s latest is simultaneously overwrought and curiously slight.” – Keith Phipps (The Dissolve)

My take:

David Gordon Green is a unique director. He can hit you over the head with films like Your Highness and Pineapple Express, but can also transplant you in some very intimate character driven stories such as Joe and Prince Avalanche. Manglehorn is a terrible title and it feels like James L. Brooks’ As Good as it Gets. I’m not a big fan of Green’s indie storytelling too much, the concepts are there, but I’ve never thought they were told fairly well. And critics do not seem very fond of the picture either. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

The Overnight (Patrick Brice) [Limited] Rated R [79 min] – Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family “playdate” becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on. Starring Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 83% • Audience – 69%

Their reviews:

“Brice manages admirably to make his comedy at once daring and earnest, outlandish and relatable, obscene and sweet.” – Ella Taylor (NPR)

“The Overnight is the movie equivalent of fuzzy handcuffs: a tame and unimaginative attempt at spicing up the overly familiar scenario of a married couple trying to get their groove back.” – Inkoo Kang (The Wrap)

My take:

It may be a bit odd to see Taylor Schilling outside the confines of Litchfield Penitentiary, but with Adam Scott by her side I welcome this comedy with open arms. Again, yet another Sundance selection from this year, The Overnight has this comedic tone about it that invites my curiosity. Just from the trailer, I am anxious to see what kind of madness there is to behold based on the situational teases it presents. MATINEE IT!

Yes, Jurassic World absolutely dominated over this past week, but reviews have been quite mixed. I foresee a decent fallout, but there will be those stragglers who waited to see if the fourthquel would be any good. I’m sure there will be many clamoring for a second round viewing because it is entertaining to some extent, but its main challenger this weekend, Inside Out, brings a hard sell. For one it’s from Pixar; second, Inside Out draws in children, so their parents must take them which means more butts in seats; third, the reviews are practically unanimous in its favor; and lastly, the studio always proves to create stories for all ages. Dope is in somewhere close to 1,000 less theaters than Inside Out and does not cater to broad audiences. And Spy, Insidious: Chapter 3, and San Andreas stand no real chance based on their poor performances. It’ll be a close one this weekend folks. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:

Winner: Inside Out

Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoes

DreamWorks Releases First KUNG FU PANDA 3 Trailer [72 Screenshots]

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

The first Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer released today, which included a character teased at the end of Kung Fu Panda 2, Po’s father Li Shan, voiced by Bryan Cranston in the upcoming sequel. It’s been four years since we last saw our kung fu animal friends take on an evil peacock voiced by Gary Oldman; and it’s been an astonishing seven years since the original film debuted back in 2008. Is there still gas in the tank for this once beloved franchise?

Although there isn’t much in the way of story revealed within the Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer, Li’s first encounter with his son offers a great humorous beat that speaks to Po’s personality. Cranston, who has worked on Family Guy, Archer, and The Cleveland Show, was born to do voice work. His delivery and timing is executed brilliantly. J.K. Simmons has also joined the cast as the main antagonist, Kai, a bull with glowing green eyes.

The Kung Fu Panda series has always had such beautifully choreographed fight sequences, and the action at the beginning of the trailer leaves no doubts for this next installment. It will be interesting to see what kind of fighting style Kai will have.

Here’s the official plot synopsis for Kung Fu Panda 3 courtesy of DreamWorks Animation:

When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible—learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!

Despite what a handful of critics felt about the sequel, I’m still positive toward the series and have been looking forward to the third chapter of this story. Kung Fu Panda was part of my resurgence into animated feature films, and I’m hoping Kung Fu Panda 3 continues to keep the franchise strong.

(Click on the thumbnails below to begin the screenshot gallery)

Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni, Kung Fu Panda 3 stars the voices of Jack Black as Po, Bryan Cranston as Li Shan, Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper, David Cross as Crane, Rebel Wilson as Mei Mei, James Hong as Mr. Ping, and J.K. Simmons as Kai.

Source: DreamWorks

Netflix Streaming Report: Inuyasha, Transformers 4, The Butler, and More

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for June 18, 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. This past week, Netflix Watch Instant has been kind enough to supply us with Inuyasha, Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Butler, and more.

Transformers: Age of Extinction (Michael Bay) Rated PG-13 [165 min] – An automobile mechanic and his daughter make a discovery that brings down the Autobots – and a paranoid government official – on them. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Kelsey Grammer, and Stanley Tucci

Although this movie is one of the biggest tragedies to happen in all of cinema, Transformers: Age of Extinction is kind of cool to watch on mute.

(Watch it now)

InuYasha (Season 1-2) (Rumiko Takahashi) Rated TV-14 [24 min] – A teenage girl periodically travels back in time to feudal Japan to help a young half demon recover the shards of a orb of great power. Starring Moneca Stori, Richard Ian Cox, and Kirby Morrow

It’s great that InuYasha is back on Netflix Streaming, however, it’s only the first two seasons and would best be watched in an entire sitting. InuYasha has a fair amount of content with a good handful of filler episodes. It would just feel more complete to watch it all at once. But I’d still check the series out!

(Watch it now)

The Butler (Lee Daniels) – As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man’s life, family, and American society. Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, David Banner, David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, and James Marsden

I’m not as impressed with Lee Daniels’ The Butler as most people, but you can now check it out on Netflix Streaming to see for yourself.

(Watch it now)

Death Note (Tetsurō Araki) Rated TV-14 [24 min] – An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it. Staring: Mamoru Miyano, Brad Swaile, and Vincent Tong

Here’s an anime series that has been on my to-do list for quite some time. I’ve only heard wonderful things about it. Those who don’t like dark anime might not enjoy this series, but I’m going to give it a whirl.

(Watch it now)

The Cobbler (Thomas McCarthy) Rated PG-13 [99 min] – Max Simkin repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations. Disenchanted with the grind of daily life, Max stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. Sometimes walking in another man’s shoes is the only way one can discover who they really are. Starring Dan Stevens, Adam Sandler, and Steve Buscemi

The concept is interesting, but from what I’ve read from other reviews is that The Cobbler is pretty terrible. This seems like a departure from the slapstick comedy audiences have been accustom to with Happy Madison and Adam Sandler, which I’m all for. So I’d like to see for myself.

(Watch it now)

Additional titles added to Netflix this week:

Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of
Vampire Knight (Season 1-2)
Ascension (2014)
Heartland (Season 6)
Leprechaun: Origins
Monster (2014)
High Fidelity
Grey’s Anatomy (Season 11)
Life of Crime

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

Now Available to Own: Spirited Away, Chappie, Run All Night, and More

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of June 16, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie, television, and video game releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can save you some coin. New on shelves this week are Spirited Away, Chappie, Run All Night, and more.

Movies on Blu-ray

Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki) Rated PG [125 mins] – Spirited Away is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. Starring Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, John Ratzenberger, Tara Strong, and Bob Bergen

My thoughts: This movie is everything. I believe Spirited Away is my first, and definitely my favorite of his catalog. Your first Ghibli movie is typically always the one that sticks with you. BUY THIS NOW!

Special features include:

Introduction by John Lasseter
The Art of Spirited Away
Behind The Microphone
Original Japanese Storyboards
Nippon Television Special
Original Japanese Trailers
TV Spots

Chappie (Neill Blomkamp) Rated R [120 min] – In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. Starring Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Ninja and Yolandi Vi$$er

My thoughts: I liked Chappie a lot more than the hive mind. From what was attempted, I got a lot more out of what they were trying to do and really appreciated the story they wanted to tell. Sure there are things they could have improved upon, but I thought it was a very unique film. RENT IT!

Special features include:

Alternate Ending
Extended Scene: “A Very Bad Man
Eight Featurettes
We Are Tetravaal” featurette (Blu-ray and DVD exclusive featurette)

Run All Night (Jaume Collet-Serra) Rated R [114 min] – Mobster and hit man Jimmy Conlon has one night to figure out where his loyalties lie: with his estranged son, Mike, whose life is in danger, or his longtime best friend, mob boss Shawn Maguire, who wants Mike to pay for the death of his own son. Starring Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, and Vincent D’Onofrio

My thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised from what looked like your traditional Liam Neeson action flick. The plot is pretty standard, but the pacing is quick and the action is raw. The ending definitely is very detached and feels like they were out of ideas in how to tie it all up, but Run All Night exceeds my expectations. RENT IT!

Special features include:

Shoot All Night – Go behind the scenes with Collet-Serra as his team creates a white-knuckle ride through New York’s underbelly. (Blu-ray only)
Action All Night – The film’s cast and crew discuss that special something that has made Neeson a staple of grit and vulnerability on the screen. (Blu-ray only)
Deleted Scenes

The Cat Returns (Hiroyuki Morita) Rated G [75 mins] – Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. To change her fate, she’ll need to learn to believe in herself and, in the process, she will learn to appreciate her everyday life. Starring Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Peter Boyle, Elliott Gould, Andy Richter, Rene Auberjonois, Tim Curry, Judy Greer, Andrew Bevis, and Kristen Bell

My thoughts: It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen The Cat Returns. In fact I’ve only seen it once. There’s a very simple story told here and the characters are not very memorable. Not one of my favorite Studio Ghibli movies, but still a nice kids film. RENT IT!

Special features:

Original Japanese Storyboards
Original Japanese Trailers
TV Spots
The Making of The Cat Returns
Behind The Microphone

Unfinished Business (Ken Scott) Rated R [91 min] – A hard-working small business owner and his two associates travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives. But what began as a routine business trip goes off the rails in every way imaginable – and unimaginable – way, including unplanned stops at a massive sex fetish event and a global economic summit. Starring Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, Tom Wilkinson, Sienna Miller, and James Marsden

My thoughts: This movie tries really hard to excel past the typical Vince Vaughn formula, and it does to some extent. Unfinished Business is a very odd movie. The supporting characters are very odd and the film feels very morally ambiguous. In the end it has a good heart, but there isn’t really much of a story to grasp hold of and resonate with. There’s a handful of good laughs at least to enjoy. RENT IT!

Special features include:

Deleted and Alternate Scenes (Blu-ray and Digital HD): Caution: Not safe for work! Keep the party going with 30 minutes of outrageous additional footage you couldn’t see in theaters
Show Me Your Business: Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, Tom Wilkinson, James Marsden, Sienna Miller, and Nick Frost share their wildest, craziest and most memorable experiences on set
Gallery: Hilarious stock photo images of Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, and Tom Wilkinson posing in office settings

The Lazarus Effect (David Gelb) Rated PG-13 [83 min] – A group of medical students discover a way to bring dead patients back to life. Starring Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Evan Peters, and Sarah Bolger

My thoughts: This Pet Sematary knock off is pretty horrendous. Its low budget shows its true colors with subpar special effects and one main set. It comes across as a bottle episode of TV where all the characters are trapped in a single location for the entire run time. Even with the great actors involved, The Lazarus Effect’s terrible script is too much for them to carry the heavy burden. SKIP IT!

Special features include:

Creating Fear: The Making of The Lazarus Effect
Playing God: The Moral Dilemma (Blu-ray only)
Deleted/Extended Scenes (Blu-ray only)
Includes Digital HD (Blu-ray only)

The Wrecking Crew (Denny Tedesco) Rated PG [101 min] – A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew”, a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby. Starring Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, and The Association

My thoughts: I grew up listening to oldies. Don’t ask me why, it’s just one of those things that kind of happens. And i don’t regret it at all. If you love the classics, The Wrecking Crew is a really hands-on look into the music industry of the era. It’s a straight-forward documentary with great perspective. BUY OR RENT OR STREAM!

Special features include:

Deleted Scenes:
- Musicians
- Engineers
- Artists
- Producers/Arrangers
- Songs
- Themes
- Musician Jokes

Wild Tales (Damián Szifrón) Rated R [122 min] – A story about love deception, the return of the past, a tragedy, or even the violence contained in an everyday detail, appear themselves to push them towards the abyss, into the undeniable pleasure of losing control. Starring Liliana Ackerman, Luis Manuel Altamirano García, Alejandro Angelini, and Damián Benítez

My thoughts: I unfortunately have not seen this film, but it looked good and the reviews are good. RENT IT!

Special features include:

New video interview with director Damián Szifron
Making of featurette
Original Trailer

Beyond the Reach (Jean-Baptiste Léonetti) Rated R [95 min] – A high-rolling corporate shark and his impoverished young guide play the most dangerous game during a hunting trip in the Mojave Desert. Starring Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irvine, and Martin Palmer

My thoughts: With Arnold, Sean Penn, Stallone, Travolta, and many other aging actors getting back into action these days, Beyond the Reach doesn’t feel as tired as you’d expect with Michael Douglas in the forefront. There’s enough tension to keep your interest in the so so story. RENT IT!

Special features include:

The Making of Beyond the Reach
Six Wheeling: Inside and Outside the Ultimate Ride

Time Lapse (Bradley King) Not Yet Rated [104 min] – Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24hrs into the future and conspire to use it for personal gain, until disturbing and dangerous images begin to develop. Starring Danielle Panabaker, Matt O’Leary, and George Finn

My thoughts: I saw Time Lapse last year during the San Diego Film Festival. With high-expectations based on positive word-of-mouth, I was let down because I don’t think that the end of the film brings the story to a good conclusion. Time travel movies are hard, but I can’t give it a pass purely on the ambition of the filmmaker. It’s definitely refreshing and tries something new though. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

An in-depth look behind the scenes of creating Time Lapse
Two filmmaker commentaries
Deleted Scene with commentaries

Television Releases

The Newsroom: The Complete Third Season (Aaron Sorkin) Rated TV-MA [55 min] – A news anchor’s life is stirred up when he’s forced to work with a new team of colleagues. Starring Jeff Daniels, Margaret Judson, and Emily Mortimer

My thoughts: I sadly have not seen an episode of this show, but now that it’s over I will have to sit down and binge.

No special features listed

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Final Season (Lee Aronsohn and Chuck Lorre) [22 min] – A hedonistic jingle writer’s free-wheeling life comes to an abrupt halt when his brother and 10-year-old nephew move into his beach-front house. Starring Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher, and Angus T. Jones

My thoughts: I’ve never really liked Two and a Half Men, I particularly hate the theme song. I thought I’d give this season a try just to check it out in a post-Charlie Sheen world. Ashton Kutcher really doesn’t bring any substance to the sitcom and provides a very weird vibe. I would honestly prefer Charlie Sheen because at least it felt more honest. This is just a stretch that I’m sure many fans are glad to see is now over. SKIP IT!

Special features included:

Gag Reel

Blu-Ray Deals and Steals

American Sniper – $12.49
Interstellar – $12.99
Kingsman: The Secret Service – $12.49
Birdman – $10
The Wire: The Complete Series – $85.99
Gone Girl – $12.99
Snowpiercer – $8
Draft Day – $7.99
Nightcrawler – $13.99
Castle in the Sky – $17.99
Silver Linings Playbook – $8
Workaholics (Season 5) – $12.99
Everly – $9.99
The Descendants – $4.99
Big Eyes – $13
The Sandlot – $4.99
West Side Story – $5

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

Katherine Waterston Cast in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ as Female Lead

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

British actress and co-star of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice, Katherine Waterston, has been tapped as the female lead in the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She will be casting spells alongside Eddie Redmayne throughout the streets of 1920s New York in which the movie takes place.

The Hollywood Reporter states that Katherine Waterston will play the role of Porpetina, or Tina, who is said to be a witch operating in the U.S. Whether she will embrace her British roots or portray an American character is unknown. But what we do know is that there will be a wizarding school mentioned or seen in Fantastic Beasts. A little nugget of information J.K. Rowling teased on Twitter:

.@loonyloolaluna If I answer that fully it will reveal the location of the school, but you can take that as a yes!

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015

.@loonyloolaluna However, indigenous magic was important in the founding of the school. If I say which tribes, location is revealed.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015

Understanding how the mind of J.K. Rowling works, I can only assume that if there is a wizarding school in the states there will more than likely be a Ministry of Magic U.S. branch as well. Could Tina be a part of the Ministry of Magic or is she a foreign ambassador working in the U.S. from Britain?

Waterston will have some big shoes to fill thanks to Emma Watson who set the bar very high as Hermione Granger. I’m not familiar with Waterston’s work aside from Inherent Vice, and even then she wasn’t a huge presence in the film. But she was great in what she was given. She also appears in Michael Clayton, Robot & Frank, Being Flynn, Night Moves, and a handful of episodes of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. The next chance to see Waterston on the big screen will be in Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs biopic, where she plays Jobs’ love interest, Chrisann Brennan.

The Wrap also reported in May that another female role is up for grabs. This character in question will be Tina’s younger sister, Queenie. The actresses on the shortlist for that character are Saoirse Ronan (Hanna), Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds), Lili Simmons (HBO’s Banshee), and singer-songwriter Alison Sudol (Amazon’s Transparent), but the casting announcement has yet to be made official at this time.

Set around 70 years before the events of the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows New Scamander (Redmayne) as he embarks on a mission to document magical creatures for his book. Scamander is the supposed trailblazer of “magizoology,” which even warranted J.K. Rowling to realize the book for fans curious about his life and the fantastic beasts he finds.

Directed by David Yates, from a screenplay written by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits theaters November 18, 2016 in 3D and IMAX.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

E3 2015: Ubisoft Announces ‘South Park: The Fractured but Whole’ [Trailer]

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

After many delays, South Park: The Stick of Truth turned out to be one of the most highly praised games of 2014. Gamers were thrust into the true South Park experience from the beloved television series, creating the ultimate dream come true for fans. Regardless of its rocky development, Matt Stone and Trey Parker have reunited with Ubisoft San Francisco to announce Stick of Truth’s sequel, South Park: The Fractured but Whole.

During the Ubisoft presentation as you can see in the video above, a bunch of fun in-game cutscenes were shown with the boys running around trying to stop Butters aka Professor Chaos. Although that is just the baseline of the story, Stone and Parker announced that the story will still focus on the “new kid,” which is the player.

Bringing a more meta element into the game, Cartman promises The Fractured but Whole will be bigger and carry with it a better combat system. South Park Studios looks to build its already successful RPG platform deeper within the mythology of the show by integrating its superhero elements. South Park has revisited the Coon and friends story arc on a few occasions, delivering the origin of Kenny’s resurrection ability, and the themes and costumed characters have proved to be a hit.

I only hope we get to visit Mint Berry Crunch’s home planet of Kokujon or that we’ll see Cthulhu. Shablagoo!

Official plot synopsis for South Park: The Fractured but Whole courtesy of Ubisoft:

Players will once again assume the role of the New Kid, and join South Park favorites Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman in a new hilarious and outrageous adventure. This time, players will delve into the crime-ridden underbelly of South Park with Coon and Friends. This dedicated group of crime fighters was formed by Eric Cartman whose superhero alter-ego, The Coon, is half man, half raccoon. As the New Kid, players will join Mysterion, Toolshed, Human Kite, Mosquito, Mint Berry Crunch and a host of others to battle the forces of evil while Coon strives to make his team the most beloved superheroes in history.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, with a release date TBD.

Source: Ubisoft YouTube

E3 2015: Watch the ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ Gameplay Demo from the Microsoft Briefing

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

As expected since the E3 2015 announcement teaser earlier this month, the first gameplay footage for Crystal Dynamic’s Rise of the Tomb Raider was shown during Microsoft’s E3 press briefing this morning. The highly anticipated follow-up to 2013’s critically acclaimed Tomb Raider reboot delivered on all expectations. As you can tell in the video above, the gameplay presentation showcased death-defying action, pitting Lara Croft in what is expected to be her biggest adventure yet.

Although a sequel to the 2013 reboot, Rise of the Tomb Raider is still loosely considered a prequel to the original games from the ’90s. We find our young Lara learning the ropes, literally, as she develops further into the tomb raider she’s meant to become. Every aspect of this demo is exhilarating, full of intense, critical thinking, and quick reflexes on the part of the player. The snowy mountain climb makes the previous game look like Lara was riding on training wheels. Rise of the Tomb Raider is not playing around this time.

Those who played the recent Tomb Raider game know that Lara’s luck is not the greatest and the developers seem to love putting her through the ringer. Rise of the Tomb Raider is definitely upping the stakes with environmentally challenging tasks and even more grizzly obstacles to overcome. This demo has me very excited to see the finished product and I look forward to when it comes out for PlayStation 4.

Here’s some official screenshots of Rise of the Tomb Raider from Square Enix that released today:

And here’s the official plot synopsis for Rise of the Tomb Raider, courtesy of Square Enix:

“In her first adventure, Lara Croft was forged into a true survivor, but she glimpsed a deeper, secret world. Obsessed by what she has seen, Lara is now threatened by a shadow organization intent on killing her for what she knows. She is pushed to her physical and mental limits as she seeks the truth buried deep within the tombs of an ancient world. To unravel the mystery of a Lost City, Lara must use her survival skills and wits, learn to trust new friends, and ultimately accept her destiny as the Tomb Raider.”

Rise of the Tomb Raider hits shelves on its newly announced release date of November 10, 2015 as a timed release for Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Now that we’ve seen some gameplay, how do you think the game is shaping up? Tell us in the comments below.

Source: GameSpot YouTube and TombRaider.com

Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Cinderella, Unfriended, and More

Posted on June 13, 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 June 13, 2015 we have Cinderella, White God, Unfriended, What We Do in the Shadoes and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital HD, and Disney Movies Anywhere September 15

Cinderella (Kenneth Branagh) Rated PG [112 min] – When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger in the woods. Starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, and Helena Bonham Carter (Watch the trailer) Special features included are:

A Fairy Tale Comes to Life: Filmmakers and cast reflect on Cinderella‘s enduring power, along with the many joys and challenges of bringing this iconic tale to life.
Costume Test Fun: See the work of Academy Award-winning® Costume Designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, 2004) and share some lighthearted moments with the cast.
Staging The Ball: You’re invited behind the scenes for the making of the Palace Ball sequence, including its spectacular set, stunning costumes and more. It’s a lavish and massive undertaking…and a magical day on set.
Ella’s Furry Friends: Discover how the movie’s animal stars honed their memorable performances.
Alternate Opening, Ella’s Childhood: View moments from Ella’s idyllic childhood that do not appear in the movie. Introduction by Branagh.
Frozen Fever: It’s Anna’s birthday, and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever – but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk.
Deleted Scenes with introduction by Kenneth Branagh (DMA Exclusive)
- Serving (0:56)
- The Mourning (4:24)
- Getting to Know You (2:00)
- The Search for Cinderella (1:14)
- Dear Kit (2:57)

Available Blu-Ray, DVD, and On Demand August 11; Digital HD July 28

Unfriended (Levan Gabriadze) Rated R [82 min] – A group of online chat room friends find themselves haunted by a mysterious, supernatural force using the account of their dead friend.Director: Stars: Heather Sossaman, Matthew Bohrer, Courtney Halverson, Shelley Hennig (Watch the trailer) No special features yet announced.

Available on July 21

What We Do in the Shadows (Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi) Unrated [86 min] – Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane – like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts. Starring Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh, and Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Special features included are:

Commentary by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi
Behind the Shadows
Deleted Scenes
Video Extras
Interviews
Promo Videos
Poster Gallery

Available on Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, and Blu-ray Combo Pack September 15

Monkey Kingdom (Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill) Rated G [81 min] – A nature documentary that follows a newborn monkey and its mother as they struggle to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of the Temple Troop, a dynamic group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins found deep in the storied jungles of South Asia. Narrated by Tina Fey Special features included are:

A Special Thank You from Disneynature
Tales From The Kingdom
On The Set of Monkey Kingdom with Jane Goodall and Wolfgang Dittus
Disneynature Monkey Kingdom: The Conservation Story
It’s Our World Music Video Performed by Jacquie Lee

Available on Blu-ray and DVD July 7

Kill Me Three Times (Kriv Stenders) Rated R [90 min] – Professional hit-man Charlie Wolfe finds himself in three tales of murder, blackmail and revenge after a botched contract assignment. Starring Simon Pegg, Teresa Palmer, and Alice Braga Special features included are:

Behind the Scenes
AXS TV: A Look At Kill Me Three Times
Theatrical Trailer

Available on Blu-ray and DVD August 4

True Story (Rupert Goold) Rated R [100 min] – When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel meets accused killer Christian Longo – who has taken on Finkel’s identity – his investigation morphs into a game of cat-and-mouse. Starring James Franco, Jonah Hill, Felicity Jones, and Ethan Suplee Synopsis: After journalist Michael Finkel (Hill) is fired from The New York Times for embellishing a story, he learns that accused murderer Christian Longo (Franco) has been claiming to be him. Hoping this story will save his career, Finkel begins interviewing Longo in prison. But soon, the men find themselves in an eerie game of cat and mouse. Special features included are:

Alternate Ending
Deleted Scenes
Mike Finkel Featurette
Who is Christian Longo?
The Truth Behind True Story
The Making of True Story
Audio Commentary by Director Rupert Goold
Gallery

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD August 11

Person of Interest: The Complete Third Season (Jonathan Nolan) Rated TV-14 [43 min] – A former CIA operative is recruited by an enigmatic billionaire to prevent violent crimes. Starring Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Chapman, and Michael Emerson Special features included are:

Music of Interest – Step inside the studio of Composer Ramin Djawadi for an intimate look at his process along with Show-Runners Jonathan Nolan and Greg Plageman as they discuss scoring sequences and key elements of music themes in Person of Interest.
Going Underground with Root and Finch – Michael Emerson and Amy Acker give us a one on one tour through the newly created Subway Headquarters with the Production Designer, Rick Butler.
Person of Interest 2014 Comic-Con Panel – Executive Producers Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight) and Greg Plageman (Cold Case) are joined by the series’ stars for a special Q&A at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.
Gag Reel
Digital HD Digital Copy of the Entire Season

Available on wide release Blu-ray June 23

Song One (Kate Barker-Froyland) Rated PG-13 [86 min] – A young woman strikes up a relationship with her ailing brother’s favorite musician. Starring Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, and Mary Steenburgen Special Features:

Behind-the-scenes recording of the soundtrack
Deleted scenes

Available on DVD August 11

2 Broke Girls (Whitney Cummings and Michael Patrick King) Rated TV-14 [22 min] – Two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business – if only they can raise the cash. Starring Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, and Garrett Morris

Gag Reel
Unaired Scenes

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

Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Cinderella, White God, Unfriended, and More

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Box Office Battlefield: Jurassic World

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of June 12, 2015 includes Jurassic World as well as a two limited releases. Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over others and determine who will be victorious. Should you see ’em, skip ’em, or rent ’em?

Last weekend, Paul Feig’s Spy took first place in theaters with San Andreas and Insidious: Chapter 3 close behind. Not very franchise blockbuster-y films, this weekend promises a bigger, badder, and more shiny sequel. Can Jurassic World dust off the franchise to reign supreme? Hold on to your butts! This is the Box Office Battlefield:

Jurassic World (Colin Trevorrow) Rated PG-13 [124 min] – Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor’s interest, which backfires horribly. Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Irrfan Khan, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Nick Robinson

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 71% • Audience – 87%

My review:

I honestly had very little expectations going in to see Jurassic World, and those expectations were met. The film has some decent entertainment value, but in terms of being something bigger than its whole with strong reflective themes, you’re going to have to keep watching the original Jurassic Park. The theme park world they create and the evolution of John Hammond’s idea is very realized and fun to see, but it’s hardly experienced to be amazed by it all. The use of the classic John Williams theme is very underwhelming compared to its first use in Jurassic Park. The characters are well cast with some fine actors, but very surface level. The fact that they have to try and make someone the bad guy is really forced and feels inorganic to the story. I highly suggest skipping it in 3D. MATINEE IT!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon) [Limited] Rated PG-13 [105 min] – High schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl, finds his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer. Starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, and Connie Britton

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 84% • Audience – 92%

My review:

The more time I’ve give to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl to sit with me, the greater the story has resonated with my emotions. MaEatDG is one of those special indie darlings out of Sundance that you can’t help but feel charmed by because of its raw honesty and well-developed characters. I was kind of taken aback by the awkward chuckles when I first watched the trailer in theaters with a crowd when the title card appeared, but I can understand how it can be a bit unsettling. But that feeling kind of plays into the personality of the film, which only strengthens its appeal and uniqueness. SEE THIS FILM!

The Wolfpack (Crystal Moselle) [Limited] Rated R [80 min] – Locked away from society in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Angulo brothers learn about the outside world through the films that they watch. Nicknamed, ‘The Wolfpack,’ the brothers spend their childhood reenacting their favorite films using elaborate homemade props and costumes. Their world is shaken up when one of the brothers escapes and everything changes. Starring Bhagavan Angulo, Govinda Angulo, Jagadisa Angulo, and Krsna Angulo

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 76% • Audience – 76%

Their reviews:

“The sheltered world of the Angulos, informed by cinema more than the teeming city right outside their apartment windows, is a haunting and utterly unique one.” – Alison Willmore (BuzzFeed)

“At its best, The Wolfpack helps us to see the cinema in the world, and not the other way around.” – David Ehrlich (Little White Lies)

My take:

I have not seen this film, but it looks like a very good sit if you’re a lover of cinema and want to see how that affected the lives of these people.

Since Jurassic World is the only wide release this weekend, and the fact that Spy and Insidious: Chapter 3 didn’t open with outstanding numbers last weekend, there’s a pretty clear winner here. The original Jurassic Park opened in 1993 with a domestic gross of $47 million. My guess for this weekend is that it will gain at least $65 million. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:

Winner: Jurassic World

Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoe

Winner: Inside Out

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Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital HD, and Disney Movies Anywhere September 15

Available Blu-Ray, DVD, and On Demand August 11; Digital HD July 28

Available on July 21

Available on Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, and Blu-ray Combo Pack September 15

Available on Blu-ray and DVD July 7

Available on Blu-ray and DVD August 4

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD August 11

Available on wide release Blu-ray June 23

Available on DVD August 11

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Winner: Jurassic World

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