Now available to own titles for the week of February, 2 2016 are Snow White, Bridge of Spies, Batman: Bad Blood, and more. Continue reading
Now Available to Own: Snow White, Bridge of Spies, Batman: Bad Blood, and More
Tag Archives: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Now Available to Own: The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Hayao Miyazaki Collection, and Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition
Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of November 17, 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 The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki, and The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition, and more.
Source: Tumblr
Movies on Blu-ray
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Guy Ritchie) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Elizabeth Debicki
In its attempt to bring back the sexy spy genre, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. succeeds to some degree thanks to Guy Ritchie’s filmmaking style. The cast is beautiful and the locations are extravagant, but the characterization and the plot are lukewarm. The Blu-ray is host to a decent amount of special features that if you liked this movie you’d be enamored not to fall in love with the behind the scenes process.
Special features include:
- Spy Vision: Recreating ’60s Cool
- A Higher Class Of Hero
- Metisse Motorcycles: Proper-And Very British
- The Guys from U.N.C.L.E.
- A Man of Extraordinary Talents
- U.N.C.L.E: On-Set Spy
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [Extended Edition] (Peter Jackson) Rated PG-13 [144 min] – The Company of Thorin has reached Smaug’s lair; but can Bilbo and the Dwarves reclaim Erebor and the treasure? And, if so, can they hold on to it? Starring Martin Freeman, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage, and Evangeline Lilly
I’m sure most who love everything Middleearth know by now to wait for the Extended Editions. They never lack in awesome special features and the additional scenes always prove to add more value in the story. However, including additional scenes to the already bloated Hobbit franchise enacts the opposite effect. The additional scenes bring hardly anything we couldn’t have already gained through the story itself and makes the experience even worse since the film itself is quite terrible. My glimmer of hope that the extra scenes may improve the story, but sadly they did not. If you do want this film, the special features are abundantly thorough and give good insights into the chaos of The Battle of the Five Armies.
Special features include:
- Commentary with director/producer/writer Peter Jackson and co-producer/writer Philippa Boyens
- The Appendices – The Appendices Parts XI and XII showcase a chronological history of the filming of The Battle of the Five Armies, documenting the work done on set chronologically through the three shooting blocks and in the world of its digital effects.
- New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth – Part 3
The Collected Works Of Hayao Miyazaki – Disney presents, for the first time, all 11 of Miyazaki’s feature-length masterpieces in one spectacular 12-disc collection available on Blu-ray Exclusively via Amazon.com. Experience the majestic works of one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema. Hayao Miyazaki weaves his unique style of artistry and epic adventure into astonishing tales of triumph, bursting with imagination and wonder.
Unfortunately I was not able to get my paws on this to review, but I think it’s still worth mentioning if you are a fan of Studio Ghibli like me. I think the price point, $215 on sale, is wildly too high compared to many box sets I’ve seen. Not including the collectible booklet or the packaging, if you’re putting a value on the set based on the movies alone they’re almost $20 per movie, which is what each Ghibli film typically sells for on sale. I’d wait until it price drops down to a more reasonable level.
Content and special features include:
- Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
- Castle in the Sky (1986)
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
- Porco Rosso (1992)
- Princess Mononoke (1997)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
- Ponyo (2008/2009)
- The Wind Rises (2013)
- Yuki no Taiyo ( Yuki’s Sun) – A 1972 TV pilot based on an original manga by Tetsuya Chiba, directed by Hayao Miyazaki who was also in charge of storyboards and key animation.
- Akado Suzunosuke ( Little Samurai) – Three episodes (Episode 26, 27 & 41) of the hit 1972 anime series with storyboarding and more by Hayao Miyazaki.
- Director Hayao Miyazaki Retirement Press Conference, Uncut Version
Blu-Ray Deals and Steals
- John Wick – $8
- Men In Black Trilogy – $15
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $8
- Divergent – $8
- Orphan Black (Season 1) – $14.99
- A Most Violent Year – $8
- Paddington – $9.99
- The: The Complete Series – $89.99
- Maleficent – $14.99
- Christmas Vacation – $7.99
- Elf – $7.99
- Blue Jasmine – $6.99
- Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology – $24.99
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
Image source: flickeringmyth
Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Sinister 2, It’s Always Sunny Season 10, and More
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 October 31, 2015 we have the Sinister 2, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 10, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Season 2, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD January 12; Digital HD December 22
Sinister 2 (Ciarán Foy) Rated R [97 min] – A young mother and her twin sons move into a rural house that’s marked for death. Starring James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon, Robert Daniel Sloan, and Dartanian Sloan
Special features include:
- Extended Kill Films (Blu Ray Only)
- Fishing Trip
- Christmas Morning
- Kitchen Remodel
- A Trip to the Dentist
- Sunday Service
- Cornfield
- Deleted Scenes
- New Chain
- A Late-Night Warning
- Stupid Bird
- Lipstick
- Stomberg’s Last Drink
- Time to Watch Another: The Making of Sinister 2
- Feature Commentary with Director Ciarán Foy
Available on DVD January 5, 2016
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 10 (Rob McElhenney) – Four young friends with big egos and slightly arrogant attitudes are the proprietors of an Irish bar in Philadelphia. Starring Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito
Special features include:
- Gag Reel
Available on DVD February 6, 2016
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Season 2 (Sam Rolfe) [DVD Only] Unrated [50 min] – The two top agents of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement fight the enemies of peace, particularly the forces of THRUSH.Stars: Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, Leo G. Carroll
- No special features listed
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD March 8
Open Season: Scared Silly (David Feiss) Unrated [80 min] – When a case of mistaken identity leads both humans and animals to believe there is a monstrous werewolf on the prowl in Timberline National Forest, former hunter Shaw seizes on the opportunity to re-open open season. With Shaw on the loose and all the animals at risk, it’s now up to Boog, Elliot, and Mr. Weenie to face their fears, track down the elusive werewolf, and get open season closed permanently. Starring Donny Lucas, Will Townsend, Trevor Devall, Kathleen Barr, Garry Chalk, and Melissa Sturm
Special features include:
- Stepping into the Spotlight – Mr. Weenie’s Process (Blu-Ray Only)
- Blooper and outtakes (Blu-Ray Only)
- Scaredy Pants: The Fears of Open Season: Scared Silly (Blu-Ray Only)
- Open Season Super Speedy Re-Cap
- Feature Commentary with Director David Feiss
- Director profile – David Feiss
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 3
Best of Enemies (Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville) Rated R [87 min] – A documentary on the series of televised debates in 1968 between the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr. Starring Gore Vidal, William F. Buckley, and Dick Cavett
Special features include:
- Interview With Directors Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon
- Additional Interviews
- Theatrical Trailer
Available on DVD and Digital HD January 5, 2016
Little Dead Rotting Hood (Jared Cohn) Unrated [90 min] – The residents of a small town discover that something more sinister than killer wolves is lurking in the backwoods: first the wolves start turning up dead…then people. Starring Eric Balfour, Bianca A. Santos, and Patrick Muldoon
- No special features listed
Available on DVD and Digital HD January 5, 2016
Battle for Skyark (Simon Hung) Rated PG-13 [88 min] – On a dangerous future Earth filled with monsters, an orphan tries to escape back to SkyArk, a man-made city in the sky, but he soon learns that he has a much greater purpose. Starring Caon Mortenson, Garrett Coffey, and Taylor Coliee
- No special features listed
Available on DVD and Digital HD January 5, 2016
Mercury Plains (Charles Burmeister) Rated R [102 min] – A troubled man runs away to Mexico and is recruited to join a paramilitary group of teens fighting the drug cartels. He proves himself to the group, but questions their motive. Starring Scott Eastwood, Angela Sarafyan, and Nick Chinlund
Special features include:
- Director’s Commentary
- Deleted Scenes
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 3
Tiger House (Thomas Daley) Rated R [80 min] – Kelly sneaks into her boyfriend’s house but tonight, she’s not the only unwelcome visitor. As the situation spirals out of control, the suburban house becomes a terrifying arena for violence. Starring Kaya Scodelario, Dougray Scott, and Ed Skrein
Special features include:
- The Making of Tiger House
- Trailer
Available on DVD November 17
A Horse Tale (Brad Keller) Rated G – Uptight city accountant Michael Thompson is hired to help a family save their stable before the bank shuts them down. Michael reluctantly agrees, but as he searches for ways to save a family’s legacy, he finds something he never expected. Starring Charisma Carpenter, Patrick Muldoon, and Dominique Swain
Special features include:
- Award-Winning Minuscule Bonus Episodes
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
Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Ant-Man, The Man from UNCLE, Ted 2, and More
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 October 17, 2015 we have Ant-Man, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Ted 2, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.
Available on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 8
Ant-Man (Peyton Reed) Rated PG-13 [117 min] – Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world. Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Peña [Watch the trailer]
Special features include:
- Audio Commentary with Peyton Reed and Paul Rudd
- Making Of An Ant-Sized Heist: Set your watch and count down the action in this behind-the-scenes look at how to pull off a heist movie, including Scott Lang’s heist “family,” Ant-Man’s costume, plus amazing stunts and effects.
- Let’s Go To The Macroverse: Shrink down to size in this fascinating look at creating the world from Ant-Man’s perspective, from macro photography through the subatomic.
- WHIH NewsFront: A collection of content, including a glimpse at the future of Pym Technologies with Darren Cross, anchor Christine Everhart’s interview with soon-to-be-released prisoner Scott Lang on his notorious VistaCorp heist, and more.
- Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 17
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Guy Ritchie) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Elizabeth Debicki
Special features include:
- Spy Vision: Recreating ’60s Cool
- A Higher Class Of Hero
- Metisse Motorcycles: Proper-And Very British
- The Guys from U.N.C.L.E.
- A Man of Extraordinary Talents
- U.N.C.L.E: On-Set Spy
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 15
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]
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
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 24
No Escape (John Erick Dowdle) Rated R [103 min] – In their new overseas home, an American family soon finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape in an environment where foreigners are being immediately executed. Starring Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson, Thanawut Kasro
Special features include:
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director John Erick Dowdle and Writer/Producer Drew Dowdle
- Deleted Scenes
- Behind-the-Scenes Gallery
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 8
Knock Knock (Eli Roth) Rated R [99 min] – When a devoted husband and father is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse. Starring Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, and Ana de Armas [Watch the Trailer]
Special features include:
- Audio Commentary by Eli Roth, Lorenza Izo, Nicolás López and Colleen Camp
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary by Eli Roth
- “The Art of Destruction: The Making of Knock Knock” Featurette
- Still Gallery
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 1
Goodnight Mommy (Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz) [Limited] Rated R [99 min] – Twin boys move to a new home with their mother after she has face changing cosmetic surgery, but under her bandages is someone the children don’t recognize. Starring Susanne Wuest, Lukas Schwarz, Elias Schwarz, and Hans Escher
Special features include:
- “A Conversation with Filmmakers Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala”
Available on Criterion Blu-ray January 19
Inside Llewyn Davis (Ethan Coen and Joel Coen) A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, and Justin Timberlake
Special features include:
- New 4K digital transfer, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- New audio commentary featuring writers Robert Christgau, David Hajdu, and Sean Wilentz
- The First Hundred Feet, the Last Hundred Feet, a new conversation between filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and directors Joel and Ethan Coen about the evolution of their approach, from Blood Simple to Inside Llewyn Davis
- Inside “Inside Llewyn Davis,” a forty-five-minute 2013 documentary
- Another Place, Another Time (2014), a 101-minute film documenting an Inside Llewyn Davis tribute concert, featuring Joan Baez, Mumford & Sons, Punch Brothers, Gillian Welch, Jack White, and others
- New piece on the history of “Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song),” featuring music producer T Bone Burnett and the Coens
- New piece about Dave Van Ronk and the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early sixties, featuring music writer and historian Elijah Wald
- Sunday, a short 1961 documentary by Dan Drasin about the riots that took place in Washington Square Park after folk musicians were prevented from gathering and playing there
- Trailers
- PLUS: An essay by film critic Kent Jones
Available on DVD and Digital HD December 15
Teen Wolf (Season 5 Part 1) (Jeff Davis) Rated TV-14 [41 min] – A somewhat awkward teen is attacked by a werewolf and inherits the curse himself, as well as the enemies that come with it. Starring Tyler Posey, Dylan O’Brien, and Tyler Hoechlin
Special features include:
- Gag Reel
- Special Effects Breakdown: Jeep Flip
- Special Effects Breakdown: Building a Character
- Special Effects Breakdown: Building a Scene
Available on DVD and Digital HD December 1
Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos (Gabriel Riva Palacio Alatriste and Rodolfo Riva-Palacio Alatriste) Rated PG-13 [98 min] – Toto, a young chick born the run of the litter, rises to the occasion when a rancher threatens his home and his family. Starring Bruno Bichir, Carlos Espejel, and Angélica Vale
Special features include:
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (English-language cast)
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (Spanish-language cast)
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
Box Office Battlefield: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. vs. Straight Outta Compton
Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of August 14, 2015 includes The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Straight Outta Compton, along with a handful of 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, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation chose to accept the impossible task of thwarting off four new wide releases, successfully completing their mission. Fantastic Four found no love while the low-budget thriller, The Gift bestowed upon its niche audience what its title infers.
Can Tom Cruise pull a three-peat or will the N.W.A. cruise down the street for a victory lap? Or will the ’60s chic spies from the U.S. and Russia get the upper hand? I got my mind on my tummy and my tummy on my mind. This is the Box Office Battlefield:
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Guy Ritchie) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Elizabeth Debicki
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 67% • Audience – 81%
My review:
To be clear, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a prequel to the 1964 spy television series, which makes the title of the film completely useless in context of what you can expect to see. Regardless, Guy Ritchie’s flashy showmanship works to the advantage of the cast whose chemistry captures the lighthearted nature of the TV show to some degree. But that’s all this movie is: all spectacle and no substance. Adding in a little more adult tone to liven up the series, U.N.C.L.E. has a handful of good scenes stitched together within an uninteresting story.
There’s little tension and it bears very few surprises, surprises that it seems to hit you over the head with to make sure you understand what’s happening at all times. The performances are really good from Vikander (especially), Cavill, and Debicki, but Hammer’s Ilya is barely fleshed out well enough to understand his thought process and leaves the actor out to dry – he does the best he can with what’s given. The worst offender of this movie is its structure where it would prefer telling you everything that is happening or describing certain characters, rather than letting it all happen naturally and organically with the story. It’s excruciating to bear. Go in for the action, but stay for the Vikander. RENT IT!
Straight Outta Compton (F. Gary Gray) Rated R [147 min] – The group NWA emerges from the streets of Compton, California in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood. Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., and Paul Giamatti
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 87% • Audience – 94%
My Review:
If you know me, you know that biopics are not my bag. There has to be something extra special about them to catch my interest. Seeing something great in Straight Outta Compton due to its content, I found that my expectations mostly lined up to what I was given, but I wanted more despite its two and a half hour run time. They crammed so much story in, from the inception of N.W.A. to the beginning of Aftermath Records, but the filmmakers didn’t flesh out Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube well enough beyond the scenes that server the story for any particular moment.
Straight Outta Compton focuses more on breezing through the cliff notes of the rappers’ lives than actually providing enough personality or character to fully understand their motivations and drive. With what’s provided, the direction and production is very well put together, and seeing the influence that this group had on the music industry is a fascinating watch. The performances and the casting are also on point. But ultimately the film needed to be a little more focused on what makes Dre, E, and Cube unique throughout their journey and not so much about the journey itself. SEE IT!
Mistress America (Noah Baumbach) [Limited] Rated R [84 min] – A lonely college freshman’s life is turned upside down by her impetuous, adventurous soon-to-be stepsister. Starring Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke, Seth Barrish, and Juliet Brett
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 80% • Audience – 84%
Their reviews:
“At the center of the film is the interesting idea that we’re all putting on performances for each other; unfortunately, the manner in which “Mistress America” explores that theme also makes it a movie where moments of authenticity are scarce.” – Rebecca Keegan (Los Angeles Times)
“Ms. Kirke is skillful and appealing as Tracy, but Ms. Gerwig’s performance is a comic diamond, and not in the rough. Her timing is flawless, her delivery is droll.” – Joe Morgenstern (Wall Street Journal)
My take:
Noah Baumbach has a unique vision as a filmmaker that speaks to a specific audience. In my opinion, the Woody Allen fans of this generation. His New York hipster storytelling is intimate and personal. You can hear Baumbach’s voice throughout the dialogue, where sometimes it can be profound while other times pretentious. Mistress America definitely comes across as his standard issue hipster fare, targeted to a very specific audience. But what I get most out of Baumbach’s storytelling is at least he is trying to say something compared to many of the empty films we typically get. RENT IT!
Ten Thousand Saints (Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini) [Limited] Rated R [113 min] – Set in the 1980s, a teenager from Vermont moves to New York City to live with his father in East Village. Starring Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Emily Mortimer
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 60% • Audience – 88%
Their reviews:
“A very fine film, full of quietly impressive performances and young characters who register as authentic.” – Neil Genzlinger (New York Times)
“Heart-warming, funny, and real, which means at times it can be desperately sad, this is a fantastic new development for Springer Berman and Pulcini. This one’s going to go far.” – Katie Walsh (The Playlist)
My take:
Steinfeld and Butterfield had decent chemistry in Ender’s Game together, and it’s nice to see them in something less chaotic to showcase more of their talent. Based solely on the trailer and the reviews, the plot looks OK and it’s earned mostly positive reviews. But something about the film feels like it could get muddled down or the direction won’t be as sharp based on the run time for such a small story. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!
Final Girl (Tyler Shields) [Limited] Rated R [90 min] – A man teaches a young woman how to become a complete weapon. 13 years later, at 18 she will approach a group of sadistic teens who killed blonde women for unknown reasons. The hunting season begins. Starring Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley, Logan Huffman, Alexander Ludwig
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 43% • Audience – 20%
Their reviews:
“This patchy, underwritten thriller could almost pass for a critique of any number of genre forebears in which the mere presence of a hot, ass-kicking female avenger is meant to seem subversive.” – Justin Chang (Variety)
“Breslin, whose recent resume hasn’t lived up to her Oscar nomination for “Little Miss Sunshine,” needs to find something worthy of her talents. An Oscar nominee shouldn’t even watch ‘Final Girl,’ much less star in it.” – Joe Neumaier (New York Daily News)
My take:
I like the concept, however, Final Girl looks really cheap and too campy. The dialogue is harsh to listen to and I don’t think the movie brings anything new to the table. Intent can only get you so far, but if you can’t capture it on film there’s very little point. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!
People Places Things (2015) – [Limited]Certificate R 85 min – ComedyMetascore: 68/100 (14 reviews)Will Henry is a newly single graphic novelist balancing parenting his young twin daughters and a classroom full of students while exploring and navigating the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.Director: James C. StrouseStars: Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Jessica Williams, Stephanie Allynne
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 74% • Audience – 87%
Their reviews:
“Rampant cutesiness, improbable spontaneous decisions, indie-movie clichés, and the occasional decent one-liner.” – Mike D’Angelo (AV Club)
“To say that People, Places, Things is a lovely experience makes it sound less challenging than it is. It provides a range of emotion, all of which it earns.” – Neil Miller (Film School Rejects)
My take:
This looks kind of cute. From the reviews, People Places Things sounds a little messy, but has the right kind of heart that won’t feel like an entire waste of effort. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!
Although Rogue Nation has a strong following, I don’t think it has enough supporters to carry itself into first place for the third weekend in a row. Both wide releases make strong cases to earn that top spot. U.N.C.L.E. has two chiseled chinned leading men with a beautiful supporting cast, while Straight Outta Compton holds dear a special history to many fans. On the other side of the coin, U.N.C.L.E. is your typical action/spy adventure with some wit, but not enough to satisfy to make a strong case for top dollars. We’ve seen it all before. And Straight Outta Compton has a long run time with an R rating, limiting the availability for audiences to enjoy. Both movies bring nostalgia with them, but the one that will win is the story that holds the most relevance to today’s culture. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:
Winner: Straight Outta Compton
Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoes
Now Available to Own: The Affair, Insurgent, Orphan Black, and More
Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of August 4, 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 Insurgent, Orphan Black (Season 3), Far from the Madding Crowd, and more.
Movies on Blu-ray
The Divergent Series: Insurgent (Robert Schwentke) Rated PG-13 [119 min] – Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side. Starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Mekhi Phifer, Miles Teller, Octavia Spencer, Zoë Kravitz, and Ashley Judd
Insurgent only made the series more convoluted. With nearly its entire cast completely unbearable, making idiotic character decisions at every turn, Insurgent makes Beautiful Creatures look like an Oscar contender.
Special features include:
- Audio Commentary with Producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher
- “Insurgent Unlocked: The Ultimate Behind-the-Scenes Access” (Feature-Length Documentary)
- Special Featurettes
- Marketing Gallery
Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Vinterberg) Rated PG-13 [119 min] – In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor. Starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, and Tom Sturridge
I have not seen this movie yet, but I’ve heard it’s an early awards season candidate. I like Carey Mulligan, so I’m down to check it out sometime.
Special features include:
- Deleted Scenes + Extended Ending
- Bathsheba Everdene
- The Suitors
- Adapting Far From the Madding Crowd
- The Look of Far From the Madding Crowd
- Gabriel Oak
- William Boldwood
- Sergeant Troy
- The Locations of Far From the Madding Crowd
- Thomas Vinterberg
- Theatrical Trailer
A Little Chaos (Alan Rickman) Rated R [117 min] – Two talented landscape artists become romantically entangled while building a garden in King Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles. Starring Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci, and Matthias Schoenaerts
Did not see this movie, but it looked pretty boring. Sorry Professor Snape.
- No special features listed
True Story (Rupert Goold) Rated R [99 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
What starts off as one of the more disturbing visual cold openings for a film I have seen in a while, True Story is a fascinating watch. Sadly, with how intriguing the relationship forged between Franco’s Longo and Hill’s Finkel is, the movie fizzles out after the halfway point. I like Felicity Jones, but her part felt completely wasted. Goold tries really hard to create parallels between the two leads, but there is not enough to back up his intentions. And the ending is very anti-climactic.
Special features include:
- 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
Innerspace (Joe Dante) Rated PG [120 min] – A hapless store clerk must foil criminals to save the life of the man who, miniaturized in a secret experiment, was accidentally injected into him. Starring Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan
I had never seen or even heard of Innerspace until I learned of its Blu-ray release. And when I sat down to watch this film I had no real idea what to expect. Innerspace is definitely a very original story that’s kinda fun, but way too long. There’s a lot of pop culture references taken from the movie that we see today; there’s even a recent episode of Archer very similar to the premise of this film. It’s a silly watch for sci-fi comedy fans, but I don’t think it would hold up to modern audiences today; there’s just not a lot there to keep someone’s attention.
Special features include:
- Commentary with Director Joe Dante, Producer Michael Finnell, Costars Kevin Mccarthy and Robert Picardo and Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Muren
- Theatrical Trailer
Blast from the Past (Hugh Wilson) Rated PG-13 [112 min] – A romantic comedy about a naive man who comes out into the world after being in a nuclear fallout shelter for 35 years. Starring Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, and Christopher Walken
The title speaks for itself with this latest Blu-ray transfer. I wasn’t a big fan of Blast from the Past when it first released, but thought I would give it another go. It’s barely passable. The characters are too uninteresting to care about their dilemmas. However, it’s a good concept that worked very well in Netflix’s The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Special features include:
- Theatrical trailer
Barely Lethal (Kyle Newman) Rated PG-13 [96 min] – A teenage special ops agent coveting a “normal” adolescence fakes her own death and enrolls in a suburban high school. She quickly learns that surviving the treacherous waters of high school is more challenging than international espionage. Starring Hailee Steinfeld, Sophie Turner, and Jessica Alba
What would happen if Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass grew up to be a rebellious teenager? Oh wait, they already touched on it in Kick-Ass 2. And as terrible as that movie was, Barely Lethal does slightly better. There’s more focus on Hailee Steinfeld’s young assassin character as she transitions into high school. There’s also an oddball sensibility that provides a few chuckles. Barely Lethal wants to be edgy, but can’t quite reach the high bar it sets for itself. Perhaps if they went for an R rating they would have had a little more freedom to obtain that edge.
Special features include:
- Deleted Scenes
- Audio Commentary with Director Kyle Newman and Actors Dove Cameron and Thomas Mann
- “Back to School: On the Set of Barely Lethal” Featurette
Child 44 (Daniel Espinosa) Rated R [137 min] – A disgraced member of the military police investigates a series of nasty child murders during the Stalin-era Soviet Union. Starring Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Noomi Rapace, and Joel Kinnaman
Period pieces are not my bag, and Child 44 did not change my opinion of the genre. All the big stars involved are a wasted talent. The movie drags on far too long with a throughline mystery itching to be solved in a more dynamic and colorful way. The climax is unearned and the thrilling case behind the murders is not captivating at all.
Special features include:
- Reflections of History” featurette
The Last Survivors (Thomas S. Hammock) Unrated [95 min] – A teenage girl fights to protect the last working well in a drought-stricken valley from a greedy water baron. Starring Haley Lu Richardson, Booboo Stewart, Max Charles, and Nicole Arianna Fox
Not all post-apocalyptic movies have to revolve around zombies or segregated districts. The Last Survivors is a really intimate and well-intentioned dystopia flick that takes chances. Unfortunately there isn’t much depth or story to create an interesting world in its short run time, which makes the film feel overly long. Haley Lu Richardson is a strong lead for this B-movie flick at least, but that doesn’t make up for the lack of everything else that could help support her.
- No special features listed
A la mala (Pedro Pablo Ibarra) Rated PG-13 [99 min] – When aspiring actress Maria Laura’s best friend begs her to flirt with her boyfriend to test his fidelity, Maria finds a lucrative new career. After being hired by women across the city, Maria is given a gig that should be business as usual until she ends up falling head over heels for her latest mark. Starring Aislinn Derbez, Mauricio Ochmann, and Papile Aurora
This movie is also sitting on my shelf. I’ve liked Pantelion Films’ previous releases (Spare Parts; Instructions Not Included), and A la mala looks like it was made in the same vein; kind of goofy, but with a good heart.
- No special features included
Adult Beginners (Ross Katz) Rated R [90 min] – A young, narcissistic entrepreneur crashes and burns on the eve of his company’s big launch. With his entire life in total disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged pregnant sister, brother-in-law and 3-year-old nephew in the suburbs – only to become their nanny. Starring Nick Kroll, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Joel McHale, and Jane Krakowski
I have not seen this movie nor have I had the opportunity presented to me.
Special features include:
- The Making of Adult Beginners featurette
Television Series
The Affair (Hagai Levi and Sarah Treem) [DVD Only] Rated TV-MA [60 min] – The psychological effects of an affair between a married waitress at a Hamptons diner and a teacher who spends his summer at his in-laws’ estate on the island. Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson
I wasn’t going to check this series out until I remembered that The Affair earned an OK amount of awards season buzz last year. Although I’ve only gotten through the first couple episodes, The Affair has tickled my interest and I’m curious to see how the plot pans out through the rest of the season. I really like the his/her storytelling device they use to tell the perspectives of Dominic West and Ruth Wilson’s characters. It’s a unique way to unveil character details as well as build a mystery.
Special features include:
- Character Profiles: Montauk, Noah, Helen, Alison, and Cole
- Tale of Two Costumes
- Happyish: Episode 1 and 2
- Ray Donovan – Season One: Episode 1
- Madam Secretary – Season One: Episode
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete First Season (Sam Rolfe) [DVD Only] Unrated [50 min] – The two top agents of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement fight the enemies of peace, particularly the forces of THRUSH.Stars: Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, Leo G. Carroll
I wanted to check out The Man from U.N.C.L.E. original series before the movie adaptation hit theaters this month. I watched the first few episodes and enjoyed it for the most part. The time when this series was made had its limitations, but overall the show doesn’t take itself as seriously as Bond. The episodes could be a little tighter, but I like Napoleon Solo as a semi-charming agent for U.N.C.L.E.. He’s not someone I would want to continually watch because he doesn’t seem to be the most skilled agent, but he comes from a good place. The Russian comes off as a robotic side-kick who slowly learns humanity; a little cliché for these times, but fresh for its original run.
- No special features included
Orphan Black: The Complete Third Season (John Fawcett and Graeme Manson) Sarah is in a desperate race to find her missing daughter, but her scorched earth tactics spark a war with Rachel, dividing and imperiling all the clones. As Sarah discovers more about her past, mysterious newcomers appear, but can they be trusted? Starring Tatiana Maslany, Dylan Bruce, and Jordan Gavaris
This is still on my shame list that is begging me to take it off. I’ll watch this series some day…
Special features include:
- Creating the Castor Clones
- The Rendition Camp: Behind the Walls
- Dissecting the Scenes
- The Look of Orphan Black
- Team Hendrix: Rockin’ the Suburbs
- A blooper reel featuring hilarious outtakes from the season
Blu-Ray Deals and Steals
- Chappie – $11.99
- Nightcrawler – $8.99
- The Boxtrolls – $8.99
- The Guest – $8.99
- Paddingonton – $14.99
- Fifty Shades of Grey – $14.99
- End of Watch – $4.99
- Lucy – $8.99
- How to Train Your Dragon – $10
- Ghostbusters 1 & 2 – $9.99
- The Spectacular Now – $5
- The LEGO Movie – $13
- Under the Skin – $9.99
- Cloverfield – $4.99
- Fury – $13
- Sin City – $5
- Gone Girl – $13
- Mud – $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
Complete Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels Schedule
Although Marvel Studios will not be attending Comic-Con 2015 this year because most of the cinematic universe cast is off shooting Captain America: Civil War, there is a good handful of high quality panels for all movie lovers to enjoy this year. Some of the heavy hitters includes Jennifer Lawrence making an appearance to promote The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2; the cast of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice will be on site for Warner Bros.; and Lucasfilm returns for the MUCH anticipated Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens panel with the cast and filmmakers. Check out the full list of Comic-Con 2015 movie panels below:
Day 1: Thursday Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels
10:00am – 11:00am Comic-Con Film School 101: Preproduction and Screenwriting – Comic-Con Film School is back for another four-day, nuts and bolts class on how to make a movie for very little money using available video technology and desktop postproduction software. Whether you’re shooting your first Doctor Who fan film or that story about the leather-clad girl who hunts vampire-werewolf hybrids, this course will take you from script to final product so that you too can enter your own movie into the CCI-IFF. This first class covers the specifics of preproduction on the cheap, including screenwriting, scheduling, location scouting, crewing-up, and getting equipment for nothing. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star of the Paula Peril series), Jack Conway (producer of Machinima ETC), Vera Vanguard (producer of The Building of Good and Evil), Nick Murphy (writer/director of Pizza and Bullets), Josh Perilo (writer of Wedlock), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Grand Ballroom D, Manchester Grand Hyatt
10:15am – 11:15am Studio Production Chiefs Speak – Fans love to debate and dissect exactly what Hollywood is doing right and wrong. Now, for the first time at Comic-Con, top production executives from major Hollywood studios will reveal the frank realities of their jobs and why they make the decisions they do. 20th Century Fox senior vice president Daria Cercek (X-Men, Spy), Warner Bros. senior vice president Drew Crevello (Dungeons & Dragons, Akira), and Lionsgate executive vice president Jim Miller (The Hunger Games, Power Rangers) will discuss the development process, how they choose intellectual property to adapt, how movies get green lit, how filmmakers and actors are selected, what mistakes can lead to bad movies, how they balance originality vs. faithfulness to source material, and how much they care about the opinions of fans. Rather than merely previewing upcoming releases, you will get insights into how Hollywood really works on this panel moderated by Wall Street Journal film industry reporter Ben Fritz. Room 6DE
10:30am – 11:30am Open Road – TBA Hall H
11:00am – 12:00pm The Crowd: How Creatives Are Using New Means to Connect with Their Audience – Hugh Howey (author of the self-published Silo trilogy), Gary Whitta (author of the debut novel Abomination, crowdfunded through Inkshares, co-writer of Star Wars: Rogue One), and Lora Innes (author of The Dreamer, crowdfunded through Patreon, co-host of the Paper Wings Show) discuss crowdfunding and crowdsourcing models that allow creatives to connect directly with their audience to produce their work. Gary and Lora will participate in a Q&A session moderated by Veronica Belmont (host of The Sword & Laser, crowdfunded through Patreon, and Dear Veronica for Engadget). Room 7AB
11:00am – 12:00pm The Super Story Behind the Pixar Short Sanjay’s Super Team – Director Sanjay Patel and producer Nicole Grindle present a peek behind the curtains at Pixar Animation Studio’s latest short, Sanjay’s Super Team. The filmmakers will discuss the production process as well as the unique inspiration for this incredibly personal film that features superheroes like you’ve never seen them before. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
11:00am – 2:00pm Thursday Playback Room Block #1 – The Playback Room will be showing the following panel presentations from either or both Hall H and Ballroom 20: Open Road, The Autobiography of James T. Kirk, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and The Last Witch Hunter. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) The Playback Room, Omni Hotel, 4th Floor Ballroom
12:00pm – 1:00pm Voice Over Celebration with Beloved Cartoon, Video Game, and Film VO Actors – From zero to sixty, a voice actor must convey a plethora of emotions, often impromptu. You will get an in-depth look into how voice actors approach the art, beauty, and challenges of performing on the spot. Susan Eisenberg, Rob Paulsen, Caitlin Glass, Anthony Bowling, Tara Platt, and Yuri Lowenthal from beloved titles including Wonder Woman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Diablo, Pinky and the Brain, League of Legends, Full Metal Alchemist, Call of Duty, Samurai 7, Attack on Titan, The Devil is a Part Timer, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil discuss this pivotal topic, led by Genese Davis (The Holder’s Dominion, MMORPG). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
12:00pm – 1:15pm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 – Lionsgate presents an exclusive first look at one of the studio’s highly anticipated films coming to theaters this fall. Get a sneak peek into the powerful final chapter of the epic The Hunger Games film franchise. Attendees will be shown exclusive, never-before-seen footage from Mockingjay: Part 2 and treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session revealing details on the big-screen finale. Hall H
12:30pm – 1:30pm Roddenberry Entertainment Presents – Eugene Roddenberry (CEO Roddenberry Entertainment, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry), Trevor Roth (COO/head of development, Roddenberry Entertainment) and Tory Mell (producer, Roddenberry Entertainment) discuss the groundbreaking new app for their film White Room: 02B3. They will also be talking about the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek and premiering their new short film Instant, along with special guests Tony Janning (actor, White Room: 02B3, Instant, Legend of Neil) and Alex Albrecht (director, Instant). A surprise guest will be giving away a traditional iPad. Room 24ABC
1:00pm – 2:00pm Digital Bits Blu-ray Sneak Peek: Star Trek: Axanar – Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt, veteran Blu-ray/DVD producers Charles de Lauzirika (Twin Peaks, The Martian),Cliff Stephenson (Hannibal, The Hunger Games), and Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-rays), and executive producer Alec Peters (Star Trek: Axanar) discuss major upcoming Blu-ray titles and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray developments. They will explain the groundbreaking process of creating studio-quality independent Blu-ray releases, including the new Prelude to Axanar: Special Edition. There will be an audience Q&A and lots of great giveaways. Room 23ABC
1:00pm – 2:00pm Science Channel: Raiders, Raptors, and Rebels: Behind the Magic of ILM – Fans will get to see exclusive clips and receive unprecedented access behind the scenes at Industrial Light and Magic, as science and creativity give birth to some of today’s top films. The secrets behind Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and many more will be revealed during this once-in-a-lifetime panel. Join Science Channel as they celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Industrial Light and Magic at this year’s Comic-Con like no one else can. Surprise guests and exclusive footage along with a very special prize will be given away at this VIP experience where the science behind the movies is unveiled for the first time ever. Room 25ABC
1:30pm – 2:00pm Trailer Park – See the latest and greatest trailers with all of your pop culture-loving friends here on the big screen at Comic-Con. Hall H
2:00pm – 3:00pm Class of 1985: The Greatest Geek Movies of: Don’t Forget About Us – Moderator Mark A. Altman ( Free Enterprise, Agent X) and panelists discuss the great geek year of 1985, as they go back to the future with such films as, well, Back to the Future, Lifeforce, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Clue, Legend, Rocky IV, Brazil, Commando, Weird Science, Silverado, Fletch, A View to a Kill, Cocoon, Witness, Return to Oz, Re-Animator, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Fright Night, Real Genius, Subway, After Hours, Ladyhawke, Enemy Mine and, yes, Robert Burnett, just for you: To Live & Die In L.A. And for good measure, they’ll discover a new type of martial arts,Gymkata, and prove to Virginia there really is a Santa Claus: The Movie. Enrolling in this brunch club are Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class), gymkataspert Steve Kriozere (NCIS, Agent X), Charles de Lauzirkia (Crave, Alien Anthology), and David E. Williams ( Femme Fatales, Lifeforce: The Space Vampires). Charge it to the Underhills! Room 5AB
2:00pm – 3:00pm Greenlight Your Passion Project! – Project creators, actors, producers, and crowdfunding professionals discuss the power of crowdfunding as it pertains to greenlighting your own project! This panel of pros has successfully raised millions of dollars for feature film, short-films, documentaries, and web-series. Join an informative and uplifting discussion on the power of crowdfunding your dreams, featuring Ericka Anderson (Seed & Spark director of crowdfunding), Mark Gantt (The Bannen Way, The Night Visitor), Etta Devine (The Selling, Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse), Mark Netter (Nightmare Code, Dark Matter Productions), Jodie Bentley (COO Reinventing Films), and moderator Leah Cevoli (film producer and crowdfunding professional). Room 7AB
3:00pm – 4:00pm 3rd Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero – From the ominous horns of Jaws, to the inspiring theme for Star Wars, music has always been an important supporting character in movies. For the superhero genre, the music reflects these emotions and more. This panel offers a behind the scenes look at the music of today’s biggest superhero film and TV projects with unreleased film clips and never before heard music. Participating composers include Junkie XL (Mad Max: Fury Road, Batman v. Superman), Christophe Beck (Ant-Man), Marco Beltrami (Fantastic Four), Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Lorne Balfe (Terminator: Genisys), and Blake Neely (Super Girl, Arrow, Flash). Produced by Costa Communications. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
3:00pm – 4:00pm The Might and Magic of Legacy Effects – Legacy Effects is one of the leading practical effects companies in the motion picture industry. Their work is featured in films including Pacific Rim, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jurassic World and Terminator: Genisys. Meet the studio founders and get a firsthand look into the making of these blockbuster films. You may even get a sneak peek at some of the actual props from the films. Engage in an exciting presentation, Q&A, and maybe even a couple of giveaways. Room 32AB
3:30pm – 4:30pm Animated Effects in Live Action – When the word animation is used, we think of cartoons. However, the line between live action and animation is becoming blurred due to technological advances. Industry professionals who create some of the most memorable animated visual effects will have a lively discussion on how they blend animation with live action seamlessly. They include David Derks (ASIFA Hollywood), and Adam Howard (Birdman, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday). Room 26AB
4:15pm – 5:15pm Hollywood Location Scouts – Working closely with the director and production designer, location scouts are the artists who translate the script into reality by exploring the world to figure out exactly where the movies and TV shows should be made. Six location scouts will discuss the creative and logistical aspects of their jobs, relate some exciting anecdotes, and answer audience questions. ModeratorScott Trimble (Terminator: Genisys, Jurassic World) joins panelists Nick Carr (Spider-Man 3, Enchanted), Stephenson Crossley (Fear the Walking Dead, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Stacey McGillis (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Infiltrator), Kei Rowan-Young (Django Unchained, Chef), and Steve Woroniecki (Tomorrowland, X-Men: First Class). Grand Ballroom D, Manchester Grand Hyatt
4:30pm – 6:20pm Thursday Playback Room Block #3 – The Playback Room will be showing the following panel presentations from either or both Hall H and Ballroom 20: Doctor Who: BBC America Official Panel, Sherlock, Con Man: The Fan Revolt 13 Years in the Making, and MTV’s Teen Wolf. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) The Playback Room, Omni Hotel, 4th Floor Ballroom
5:00pm – 6:00pm How to Make A Movie with a Camera Phone – Mobile Film Festivals are becoming the next big thing. Cell phone cameras now have the capability of shooting 4k – which makes cell phone filmmaking now a possibility to be taken seriously. San Diego Independent Filmmaker Paul Giret (Film For Food) will explain the process of how to use your everyday mobile device as a movie making tool. Giret recently was one of the 15 participants in the Qualcomm 4K Challenge in which contestants were given a 4K Motorola Droid to produce a short film that will also play at the San Diego Film Festival this year. He will be joined by his cast member Carol Morrow (Supergirl Unburdened) from his mobile film “Pitch and Hitch” and Mike Egbert who will elaborate on the production process. Topics will cover on what filmmaking tools, Dolly, Jib, Slider, Car Mount to use, how to properly attach the camera to these tools, what apps work best to control your exposure, what is the workflow and how to handle footage during post-production (editing) process. Join this panel along with Ty Mabrety (Bang Zoom Pow) and Crysstal Hubbard (Supergirl Unburdened) who helped make Cell Phone Films from script to screen. With special guest moderator Machelle Noel (GeekRockTV & Faith Hollywood TV). Room 5AB
5:30pm – 6:30pm Fright Night: 30 Years of Screams – Horror screenwriter Greg Beville (Blackstar Canyon) details the special effects and making of Fright Night 1985 and how the film’s practical effects compare to horror films today. Moderated by Now Streaming’s Andrew Furtado (Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut). Room 6A
6:00pm – 7:00pm NASA: Journey to Mars – America’s space agency is leading the world on a journey to the Red Planet. From the current orbiters and rovers that are making historic scientific discoveries, to the development of the largest and most powerful rocket ever conceived by human, NASA is pushing the final frontier to the planet that has been the subject of conjecture and the focus of the search for life beyond our home planet. We plan an enlightening discussion moderated by Aditya Sood (executive producer, The Martian). Also some of NASA’s best and brightest; Jim Green (director of planetary sciences, NASA Headquarters), Todd May (manager, NASA Space Launch System Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center) and Victor Glover (astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center). As well as author Andy Weir (The Martian) especially in light of NASA’s involvement in the upcoming Ridley Scott motion picture The Martian. Room 6BCF
6:00pm – 8:00pm World Premiere of Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery! – Starchild, Demon, Catman and Spaceman join everyone’s favorite teen sleuths in an explosive, new, must-see musical adventure no KISS Army member will want to miss! In Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, the Mystery Inc. gang travels to KISS World, an amusement park dedicated to the band, for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group. Six KISS songs are featured alongside an original new song performed by the band written just for the film. Be part of the first audience to see this landmark merging of pop culture icons, then stay for a panel featuring the legendary band KISS – Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer; NCIS star Pauley Perrette and longtime “Shaggy” and “Daphne” voices Matthew Lillard (The Bridge) and Grey Griffin (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated), director Tony Cervone (Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon) and writer Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken). The panel will be moderated by director/actor/writer Kevin Smith, who also has a role in the film along with Jason Mewes. Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery! will be released via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital HD July 10 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD July 21. Hall H
7:00pm – 8:00pm Nick Carter Goes West: From Boy Band to Zombie Western – Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys discusses his first foray into film production with the studio behind Sharknado and Z-Nation. Fellow Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, and The Asylum producers join the panel conversation. Room 5AB
7:30pm – 8:30pm Robotech: The Next 30 Years – Kevin McKeever (VP of marketing at Harmony Gold) showcases all the latest merchandise, along with the latest updates on the live-action Robotech film. Room 24ABC
7:30pm – 8:30pm Tattooine Law: Legal Lessons from Star Wars – Federal Magistrate JudgePaul Grewal, Gerry O’Brien (NY political consultant and novelist), Jessica Mederson, Esq. (The Legal Geeks), and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. (The Legal Geeks) explore the legal system from a galaxy far, far away. The panel will jump to light speed to explore the many legal lessons on Tatooine, including the intricacies of property ownership of R2-D2 and C-3PO; employee and independent contractor safety issues in Jabba’s Palace; and Han’s legal justification to shoot first. Room 26AB
8:00pm – 9:00pm Son of Name That Movie – Returning for a third record-breaking year is the combination game show and visual/audio event known as Son of Name That Movie. Inkpot Award-winning host and creator John Field presents the fu- filled program shown to a packed house of film fans the last two years running. In this all-new version, 50 clips from 50 different sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films are presented. Place your ticket in the Magic Film Can. If picked from among audience members, you get to play the game by simply naming as many of the clips as possible. There will be first- through fourth-place prizes. And, if someone on the panel cannot name the clip and an audience member can, that person will get a bonus prize as well. Room 9
8:00pm – 10:30pm 18th Annual Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza – Ric Meyers (Inside Kung Fu, Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie [& Book]) has got a whole new bunch of eye-bulging, jaw-dropping, breath-taking, goose-bumping, funny-bone-cracking fight scenes from the best, worst, and weirdest films in the whole world. With his co-hosts Graham Eldwood and Chris J. Mancini (Comedy Film Nerds, Ear Buds) back in action; a report direct from Beijing by the king of YouTube kung-fu Eric Jacobus (as well as the Comic-Con premiere of his amazing new Rope-A-Dope 2); and their standard operating surprises, it’s not just awe-some, it’s awe-all. Be there or be in Tiananmen Square! Room 6A
9:00pm – 10:30pm Floyd Norman Documentary – Filmmakers Michael Fiore (producer of the upcoming feature Home Invasion) and Erik Sharkey (director of Drew: The Man Behind the Poster) will show clips from their original feature-length documentary and reunite Floyd Norman (legendary Disney and Hanna Barbera animator and story artist) with many animators and artists that he influenced and worked with over his 60-year career. Panelists will include notables featured in the documentary includingPaul Dini (animation writer/producer), Gary Trousdale (co-director of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Scott Shaw! (cartoonist, humorist, historian), Leo Sullivan (animator, producer, publisher), Ken Mitchroney (writer, director, story artist), Adrienne Nichelle Brown-Norman (illustrator, Disney Publishing), and Tom Sito (animator, professor of animation, USC). The documentary also features interviews with such notables as actress Whoopi Goldberg, cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, Disney music composer Richard Sherman, producer Don Hahn, Maleficent), Ralph Guggenheim (former Pixar VP of animation), and film critic/historian Leonard Maltin. The documentary is supported by a musical score composed by Ryan Shore (composer, Disney’s Penn Zero and WB’s Scooby-Doo!). The filmmakers will moderate a Q&A session and celebrate Mr. Norman’s 80th birthday. Room 9
9:00pm – 11:30pm Spirited Away Screening – Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away has captured the hearts of viewers all over the world. Join Her Universe and Hot Topic for Studio Ghibli trivia, prizes and a special screening of the beloved film, hosted by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein. Horton Grand Theatre
Turn The Right Corner 