Thursday, July 31, 2014

A Marvel Success Well Guarded: A Review of Guardians of the Galaxy


“You’re Welcome.” Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy anticipates gratuitous amounts of praise and appreciation from the tagline on the movie poster. Protentious? Possibly. However, the film matches its bark with dynamically established characters and colorfully built worlds. Guardians presents itself for many audiences, offering a wonderful introduction and telescope to Marvel’s Cosmic Universe wherein The Avenger’s Earth resides.

The film begins with Peter Quill, our protagonist charismatically played by Chris Pratt in his first big movie performance. From a heart-wrenching introduction scene of his childhood, to a thrilling flash forward to the adult and self-proclaimed Starlord. A shenanigan swashbuckler who follows the lineage of the likes of Harrison Ford as Han Solo from Star Wars. This parallel easily places the film amongst the original trilogy or other classic science fiction blockbusters such as The Fifth Element. Constantly gripping his Walkman, Peter Quill thoroughly humbles the film, grounding the audience to comfortable Terra (Earth) while exploring new territories and introducing new characters.

Most notable of these are the admirable misfits Rocket Raccoon and Groot. Rocket Raccoon was a show stealer, a viscous and savvy talking rodent well voiced and characterized by Bradley Cooper. Rocket’s companion Groot, a Vin Diesel voiced tree creature, also brings life to the frames even with three word “vocabulistics”. Alongside Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista, this group eventually mocked as the Guardians of the Galaxy, all become real personalities with creative problem solving skills and witty chemistry. This contributes to a hilariously fun cinematic experience. These characters are the film’s genius.

Before its release, many have regarded Guardians as Marvel’s gamble that would determine the success of the rest of their movie endeavors including major story arcs in both Avengers 2 and 3. That gamble is the reaction of mass audiences to the subjects of this film, the establishment of the Marvel Cosmic Universe, and the introductions of major characters and concepts. The big bad Thanos (to whom all Marvel nerds quiver in fear) has an intimidating appearance in Guardians, and brings in toys like the Infinity Gems. These topics are Marvel at its most hardcore form of nerdiness that one less savvy in comic book knowledge would find relatively inaccessible.  Yet with the distinct characters and their own personal journeys within the film, the audiences’ baby steps into new worlds plopped from the panels of comic books are taken with comfort and ease.

As a result, this film provides a genre that has not shown itself in quite some time: A riveting space opera the likes of Fifth Element or Serenity that most studios are too scared to produce. Marvel holds no bars when it even comes down to the teaser trailers, depicting a talking Raccoon, avoiding all societal pleasantries, scratching at his crotch. This is a perfect portrayal of Marvel in its relationship with the audience. Now that they have been dating a while, they start to get a little more comfortable. Hence Marvel, scratching its balls with no regard for its significant other, and still loved just as much for being true to itself. Guardians of the Galaxy stands as a fun film on its own, but also provides complexity and details to a series.

I give it 6 out of 6 Infinity Gems.

By Ross Carpenter

Monday, July 28, 2014

OUR LEADER THE MOCKINGJAY TEASER TRAILER IS HERE!

The wait is finally over! See the BRAND NEW teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated film: THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1.

Be sure to check out the epic OUR LEADER THE MOCKINGJAY TEASER TRAILER below and get ready for the incredible return on November 21.

OUR LEADER THE MOCKINGJAY TEASER TRAILER 

#OurLeadertheMockingjay
  
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 opens nationwide November 21, 2014!

WARCRAFT motion logo revealed at their Comic-Con panel



#WARCRAFTMOVIE AT COMIC-CON

Legendary Pictures’ has just revealed a WARCRAFT motion logo at their Comic-Con panel! The 3D epic adventure of world-colliding conflict based upon Blizzard Entertainment’s globally-renowned universe will be released in 3D by Universal Pictures on Friday, March 11, 2016.

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Legendary Pictures’ WARCRAFT will be released in 3D by Universal Pictures on Friday, March 11, 2016.

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

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY London premiere

Images from tonight’s premiere of Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY in London are now available. Cast members Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, and director James Gunn attended the event at the Empire Leicester Square in London

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens in theaters on August 1, 2014!
Twitter: @Guardians
Tweet the Hashtag: #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy

Thursday, July 24, 2014

New Documentary “PLASTIC GALAXY: The Story of Star Wars Toys” – OUT NOW on DVD

New Documentary “PLASTIC GALAXY: The Story of Star Wars Toys” – OUT NOW on DVD

Check Out the 13-minute Film Teaser Here: www.PlasticGalaxyMovie.com

Get Your DVD HERE via Amazon
Screening Soon at Intervention Con (Washington, DC) and Days of the Dead Convention (Los Angeles, CA)

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PLASTIC GALAXY: The Story of Star Wars Toys. It begins a long time ago...

When Star Wars landed in the theaters, it introduced audiences to a galaxy filled with heroes and villains, robots and space ships, and a dizzying variety of alien life. But when the lights came up, they all disappeared... Unless you had all the toys. In which case, the adventure never had to end. Like no toys before them, Star Wars toys were a phenomenon that swept the nation, permanently transforming both the toy and movie industries, and ultimately creating a hobby that, 30 years later, still holds sway over its fans.

Plastic Galaxy is a documentary that explores the groundbreaking and breathtaking world of Star Wars toys. Through interviews with former Kenner employees, experts and authors like Steve Sansweet and Gus Lopez, and of course collectors, it looks at the toys’ history, their influence, and the fond and fervent feelings they elicit today.

With help from a successful Kickstarter campaign, Plastic Galaxy was released earlier this year on DVD, and is available on Amazon (link above) and select brick and mortar stores. Check out a 13-minute film teaser here:www.PlasticGalaxyMovie.com. You can also watch a “Know Your Toy Lightsaber” video here:https://vimeo.com/47776783

The region-free DVD includes the 70-minute feature, as well as more than 40 minutes of extras:
• Tiny Toys, Giant Disaster: The Star Wars Micro Line
• Know Your Toy Lightsaber!
• The Art and Science of Kenner Prototypes
• Steve Sansweet: The Secret Origin of a Record-Setting Collector



UPCOMING APPEARANCES
AUGUST 22-24: Intervention (www.interventioncon.com). Washington, D.C.
w/ David Pescovitz (Boing Boing) & Onezumi Hartstein (Onezumiverse) + others. Screening Plastic Galaxy + Q&A

SEPTEMBER 26-28: Days of the Dead Convention (http://www.daysofthedead.net/los_angeles/). Los Angeles, CA.
w/ Clive Barker (Hellraiser), Corey Feldman (Goonies, Lost Boys), Tara Reid (American Pie, Sharknado), Joe Turkel (Blade Runner, The Shining), Cast Reunion for John Carpenter's The Thing, + others. Screening Plastic Galaxy + Q&A @ 3:00PM

Plastic Galaxy was produced and directed (and shot and edited!) by Brian Stillman, who, along with co-producer Karl Tate, spent more than three years working on the film. Plastic Galaxy in presented in association with X-Ray Films & Futurious Industries, with consulting producers John Alvarez & Mike Ritter. Karl Tate also served as production designer on the film, and animation was handled by Stephen Baker. The original music in the film is credited to Chris Ianuzzi.

Visit the film's web page at www.PlasticGalaxyMovie.com, or find PLASTIC GALAXY: The Story of Star Wars Toys on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plasticgalaxy.


ABOUT THE CREATORS:
BRIAN STILLMAN (Director/Executive Co-Producer/Camera/Editor)
Brian Stillman has more than 15 years experience as a professional journalist in both the print and documentary worlds. He has written articles and produced video pieces for numerous magazines and web sites, including Guitar World, Future Music, Super 7, the music magazine Revolver (where he was also managing editor), and the New York Post. In 2007 he released his first documentary, Toys Are Us: A Revolution in Plastic, which focused on the world of designer vinyl toys.
Brian is also a die-hard toy and science fiction collector. Most of his office is taken up by vintage robots and ray guns from the 1930s through the 1960s; he writes about much of the collection at his blog, Doc Atomic's Attic of Astounding Artifacts(astoundingartifacts.blogspot.com).
When not chasing down turn of the century tin and plastic, he’s hunting toys for his Star Wars collection. (Big Surprise!) While not as big as some of those featured in Plastic Galaxy, Brian’s proud of his toy shelves, which house some pretty neat stuff (if he does say so himself).
Brian is a huge, HUGE fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, particularly the first film, which he’s seen more times than he can count. He also regularly gorges himself on both classic and modern science fiction films and books, Dr. Who and Star Trek episodes, and even deep cuts like Tom Corbett: Space Cadet, and Space Patrol.
No one who knows him is all that surprised he made a film about Star Wars toys.


KARL TATE (Co-Producer/Production Designer)
Karl Tate was born in New Orleans but considers the Big Apple his home. Karl has more than 20 years of experience as a professional designer with credits including information graphics and illustrations for The Associated Press, SPACE.com , Livescience.com, LAPTOP magazine, and many others. Karl currently works for TechMediaNetwork and its online properties.
Just like Brian, Karl has what you might call a fondness for the sci-fi stuff. Karl's main focus as a collector is prop replicas from TV and movies. He also has a collection of vintage robots, ray guns and space toys.
Karl served as Associate Producer and Designer on Toys Are Us: A Revolution in Plastic.

Interviews with Brian Stillman:
-- The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show, Ep. 110, January 2014. (Podcast) http://jeffrubinjeffrubinshow.com/episode/110-star-wars-toy-documentarian/
-- Star Wars Collectorbase (web article) http://www.starwars-collectorbase.com/Collectorbase/dokumentationen/plastic-galaxy.html (scroll down for English)
-- Through The Black Hole (web article) http://www.throughtheblackhole.com/en/brian-stillman-interview/
  
For more information, visit:
-- Facebook: facebook.com/plasticgalaxy
-- Twitter: plastic_galaxy
-- Web site/news: www.PlasticGalaxyMovie.com

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

THE EXPENDABLES 3 New Comic Con Posters and Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

In celebration of this week's San Diego Comic Con, and the most fun action film of the summer: THE EXPENDABLES 3, we have BRAND NEW Comic Con posters and a kick-ass behind-the-scenes featurette! Make sure you take a look at all your favorite action heroes in the stunning Comic Con posters and featurette below and join the fun when it hits theaters this AUGUST 15! 

Download the Comic Con posters here:

Check out the new behind-the-scenes featurette here: 

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THE EXPENDABLES 3 team includes your favorite action heroes - Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Terry Crews …and a new generation of badasses - Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammar, Harrison Ford, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Victor Ortiz, and Glen Powell.

THE EXPENDABLES 3 will be in theaters everywhere on AUGUST 15!

THE EXPENDABLES 3 Official Socials:
Official Instagram: www.instagram.com/LionsgateMovies
#EX3

Friday, July 18, 2014

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY -Part 1- Trailer at Comic-Con

LIONSGATE AND SAMSUNG TO DEBUT OFFICIAL THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 TRAILER

First Official The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 Trailer to Premiere Exclusively on the Galaxy Tab® S at San Diego Comic-Con® and in Samsung Experience Shops within Best Buy Locations Nationwide

Santa Monica, Calif. and Dallas, TX – July 18, 2014 –Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung), have teamed up on the next installment of the global blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.  The collaboration will launch with all fans getting a sneak peek of the film’s first official teaser trailer, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, exclusively on Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab® S ahead of its online release.

In a first-of-its-kind experience, fans will have the opportunity to preview the highly-anticipated The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 trailer on the Galaxy Tab S at an exclusive premiere in San Diego during Comic-Con on Friday, July 25. For those outside San Diego, beginning Saturday, July 26, fans can visit participating Samsung Experience Shops within Best Buy locations nationwide throughout the weekend to preview the trailer. Samsung will also provide visitors that view the trailer at Samsung Experience Shops one complimentary ticket to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 when it opens in theaters worldwide on November 21, while supplies last.

Additionally,  owners of select Galaxy devices* will have the opportunity to download the all-new Hunger Games Movie Pack App, via Google Play™ for access to exclusive content from The Hunger Games franchise.

“We’re giving our consumers the unique experience to premiere the official trailer of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I on our new Galaxy Tab S,” said Todd Pendleton, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Telecommunications America. “Together with Lionsgate, we will give Samsung Galaxy owners access to experience The Hunger Games franchise like never before.”
"We’re thrilled to be partnering on Mockingjay 1 with a company that has the global stature of Samsung and whose innovative technologies touch every aspect of consumers’ lives around the world," said Paula Kupfer, SVP of Consumer Products & Licensing at Lionsgate.  "They are a perfect fit with our franchise, and together we envision unlimited opportunities for expanding the world ofThe Hunger Games in exciting and visionary ways."
During San Diego Comic-Con:

On Friday, July 25 at 12:00pm PT, cast members from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 will introduce the trailer on the Galaxy Tab S in the Capitol Gallery located in the Samsung Galaxy Experience in San Diego (in the Hard Rock Hotel, corner of 5th and L Streets). 
Nationwide at Best Buy:

Fans outside the San Diego area can also get an exclusive preview of the first official The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 trailer beginning on Saturday, July 26 and extending through Sunday, July 27 by visiting Samsung Experience Shops inside select Best Buy locations. While supplies last, visitors will receive one complimentary pass to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 when it opens in theaters November 21.

The Hunger Games Movie Pack App:
As part of the collaboration, The Hunger Games Movie Pack App will be available to download for free on select Samsung devices* beginning July 28, via Google Play. The app will give Galaxy owners access to exclusive Hunger Games content, including scripts, book excerpts, video clips and more.
Galaxy Tab S owners will have the opportunity to download the first two Hunger Games films for free, in addition to receiving all the exclusive content through the app. Samsung will continue to deliver exclusive Hunger Games content to Galaxy owners through the app leading up to the film’s premiere on November 21. *

Samsung, Galaxy, Galaxy S, and Galaxy Tab are all registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

*The Hunger Games Movie Pack App will be available to download for free on the Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 starting July 28.

*Limit to 200,000 downloads per movie.  Available through December 31, 2014.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Livin’ the Dream: A Review of The Purge: Anarchy


Like apple pie, freedom, and moonshine, the The Purge: Anarchy proclaims itself “An American Tradition”, but follows an even greater heritage. From Greek tragedians to today’s blockbusters and Michael Bay-hem, it follows the tradition of catharsis, the cleansing or restoration of one’s self from a release of emotion. A purge, if you will. You know how you watch Marley and Me and you cry yourself to sleep like a baby and feel like victory the next day? Now that’s a purge. That’s catharsis. The film itself may have poor acting. The actors may have little substance to work with. But alongside this, there are a few societal complaints and whines, as well as some satisfying violence. By god that is American. That is cathartic.

Anarchy establishes its delicious premise within the first few frames, a near future in which the US and its inhabitants are no longer held against any form of law or control (with the exception of a few “convenient” ones) for a full, party hardy 12 hours a year; this is a speculative and fun premise wholly appropriate for today’s skeptical, bitter, and vengeful United States of America. I mean, you know it sounds satisfying to do what you wish for once. I know it sounds satisfying to do what I wish for once. It sounds… cathartic. How convenient. Shortly after this we are introduced to different groups of people and their individual struggles and stereotypes, all too excitedly thrown together, a hastily made time-bomb in anticipation for a cathartic explosion. The two out-of-touch lovers, the struggling mother and fiery youth, and the loner with a mysterious past, aptly named Sergeant. Through plot devices and broken cars these characters are brought together during the hours of the annual purge where they must survive total anarchy in the city, and the demons within themselves. The sequel succeeds in taking the first film’s premise out of the security of one family’s home and placing it under fire amongst the streets exploring some valid and poignant social commentary. With anarchy comes unfiltered questions and truth.

American’s entitlements are brought into question. Entitlement to safety. Entitlement for possession, control, freedom. Entitlement for vengeance. With a lack of rules and a whole playground, many characters show no limits to acquire their self-proclaimed entitlements. This highlights recent developmental conflicts within our own society. Familiar phrases as “gun-control”, “self-defense”, and “death penalty” certainly come to mind. Division of class within the country, the fear of classism, profiteering on militarism and violence, government control and sinister agendas are also play toys picked up by the writers; however, it is never apparent which toy becomes “the favorite”.

Such intelligent queries are weighed down by the forced and lackluster character drama, and equally average over-acting from the film’s cast. Nothing new is presented on behalf of the character cut-outs, and there are moments of dialogue so poor, the writing becomes embarrassingly laughable. This is redeemed, however, by the vivid, visceral hyper-violence and thoroughly gratifying gun-slinging. There is satisfaction, catharsis, that choreography and death brings forth in this film. Because America.

Anarchy follows the American dream. With smart societal ponderings, mediocre meandering of the characters and their actors, and the thrilling violence, the film wants to be everything. And like America, with its reticles aimed high, it achieves just a little bit of something. Character drama? Meh. Snarky sci-fi dystopia? Maybe. Action-thriller? Just maybe.

If you like smart sci-fi: raise your hopes for another one this year. If you are an unfulfilled vigilante wanna-be seeking wish fulfillment: This is your shit. If you are looking for a fun summer “R” film, this is worth a shot. There is a point in the film when one of the faceless protagonists exclaims “Fuck it,” as he pick up a gun and joins the anarchistic chaos. Take it as a guide. I certainly took it to mind.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 America Hell-yeahs.

By Ross Carpenter
for MOVEMENT Magazine

Monday, July 14, 2014

The Orchard Moves to Harmontown The Riotous Road Documentary on “Community” Creator Dan Harmon to Release this Fall via The Orchard


Film Also Features Appearances by Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Joel McHale, Among Others


(New York, NY | July 14, 2014) The Orchard, a pioneering independent music, film and video distribution company and top-ranked MCN, has acquired theatrical and digital rights spanning North America and the U.K. to Harmontown.
The documentary, directed by Neil Berkeley (Beauty Is Embarrassing) and co-produced by Future You Pictures and Starburns Industries, follows Community creator and writer/producer Dan Harmon on tour for his eponymous podcast series. The film features appearances byJack BlackBen StillerSarah SilvermanJason Sudeikis and Joel McHale -- among other A-list comics -- and will be released by The Orchard theatrically and digitally this fall.
A kindred spirit to nerds everywhere, Harmon has achieved celebrity via “Community,” but cut his teeth writing for shows such as “The Sarah Silverman Program” and the Jack Black/Ben Stiller pilot “Heat Vision and Jack.”
After being fired from the hit series he created, Harmon takes his writing on the road in Harmontown and performs live podcasts for his cult-like fan base across the country. Known for his wit, cynicism, genius and self-deprecation, the film initially begins documenting Dan’s fandom, and progressively evolves into a deeper character and case study.
"Harmontown is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a man that would quote himself saying that a movie about him is fascinating,” says Harmon. “It's more than a documentary. It's your chance to figure out what's wrong with me while cutting me in on the profit."
Harmontown originally premiered as part of the Documentary Spotlight at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and continued with limited, special engagement screenings at Hot Docs and the Los Angeles Film Festival. Screening to critical acclaim, Harmontown has been lauded by critics like Oliver Lyttelton of The Playlist, who called the film “unexpectedly moving” and Harmon “a legitimately fascinating unlikely superstar. 
Echoing the structure of the film – the chronicling of Harmon’s podcast tour – Harmon will embark upon another podcast tour in concert with Harmontown’s theatrical expansion.
“It’s exciting to know that the world will finally get to see this movie and that our incredible partners, The Orchard, are going to make that happen,” says Executive Producer, Joe Russo II. “From the first conversation we had with them, we knew that they had the energy and understanding of our audience to make the release a success. The movie is in good hands, and we can’t wait for the world to see it.”
“Sometimes, getting fired results in amazing opportunities. In the case of Dan Harmon, it resulted in the engaging and hilarious pop culture-infused doc Harmontown,” says The Orchard’s SVP of Film & TV, Paul Davidson. “Here at The Orchard, where Harmon-fanaticism runs rampant, we’re proud to be bringing Dan’s rollicking roadshow to his fans everywhere."
The deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group and Josh Braun of Submarine on behalf of Future You Pictures and Starburns Industries with Danielle DiGiacomo of The Orchard.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy - Special Extended Look


Guardians of the Galaxy - Special Extended Look



GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens in theaters on August 1, 2014!