Some movies have so much hype before their release, but then fall short of expectations. Unfortunately, ‘Sparkle’ falls into that category.

‘Sparkle’ is a remake of the 1976 movie. It is about three sisters trying to make it big in the Motown scene in 1968. Sparkle is often overshadowed by her two older sisters, especially Sister. Along the way, the trio deals with drugs, controversy, abusive relationships and an overprotective mother.

Sounds familiar, right?  Does ‘Dreamgirls’ bring a bell to anyone?

The movie didn’t live up to Toonari Post’s expectations because it was lacking that extra sparkle. The plot of the movie focused so much on getting a record deal but did not dive deep into what happened after Sparkle scored a record deal, which made the movie feel incomplete. The movie focused so much on how Sister dealt with fame, drugs, fortune, her abusive relationship with her husband, and her sisters trying to help her fight her problems.

There was a lot of hype and excitement surrounding the release of this film because of the death of Whitney Houston. Unlike ‘Dreamgirls,’ it may not get any Golden Globes, Oscar nominations or awards, but I do think this was a great last performance from the late Whitney Houston. She was a great singer and actress, and in this film, it showed that she truly enjoyed being a mother.

However, the acting felt a little forced, especially during the make-out scenes.  But there were definitely some standouts in the movie. Whitney Houston, of course, was one of them. Playing a mother came natural to her.  Jordin Sparks did a good job as well, especially since this was her first movie, even though the interactions with other characters were a little painful to watch. Carmen Ejogo did a good job playing Sister, one of Sparkle’s older sisters who became involved with drugs.

The song choices in this movie were not that great at all because they sounded more “church oriented” than the sounds of Motown. Despite that, Jordin outshined everyone, including Whitney Houston, when it came singing.

Sparkle was more suited for the small screen and did not have all the glitz and glamor as one would expect. Overall, Toonari Post had high expectations for this movie, but it was lacking in certain vital places.

The article ‘Sparkle’: A Watered Down Version of ‘Dreamgirls’ appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Christian Bale returns as Batman in the final chapter of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The movie has had great expectations throughout the United States and the movie’s release date, July 20, has been marked by Batman fans for a long time.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is director Nolan’s conclusion to the rebooted Batman trilogy, which began in 2005 with ‘Batman Begins’ and continued in 2008 with ‘The Dark Knight,’ which received eight academy award nominations. ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ returns with actors that have appeared in the other movies; Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, Michael Caine as Alfred, and Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon. But the movie introduces a new character: ‘Warrior’ actor Tom Hardy, who will be playing Bane, Batman’s new enemy, and whose origins have similarities with Alexandre Dumas’ Edmond Dantes.

The movie takes place eight years after D.A. Harvey Dent was killed and Batman was blamed for his murder, so he had to disappear from Gotham City. But Bane, a new villain, arrives in Gotham City, a masked terrorist with ruthless plans; this forces Batman to end his self-imposed exile and face this new threat.

Nolan knows the expectation his movie has and said: “I think the fans are very passionate about these characters the way a lot of people are very passionate. Batman’s been around for over 70 years and there’s a reason for that. He has a huge appeal, so I think you know people certainly respond to the character.”

Nolan also defended himself against some recent criticism that accuses him of perceiving similarities between the villainous back-breaker Bane and Mitt Romney’s similarly named venture capital firm, Bain. He was surprised of receiving this kind of criticism and said: “I really don’t have an answer for it, it’s a very peculiar comment to make.”

In the MTV Movie Awards, Christian Bale remembered Academy Award winner Heath Ledger, who died at the age of 28 shortly after playing the Joker in the last Batman movie. Bale broke down and cried during the awards when he saw a compilation of scenes from ‘The Dark Knight’. He said “Wow, great to remember Heath at that moment. Wonderful to see Heath Ledger there.”

The movie duration is 165 minutes, but the movie trailer promises action in every single minute. You don’t have to worry about getting bored, so don’t think twice and enjoy the newest movie of the Gotham City hero.

Image Courtesy of Ron Phillips |  TOM HARDY as Bane in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action thriller “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. TM & © DC Comics.

The article Christopher Nolan Fills Expectations with ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Everyone knows that all the most highly anticipated blockbuster movies generally come out in the summer and this summer is no exception. Already several blockbusters have been released such as ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Prometheus,’ ‘Men in Black 3,’ and ‘Brave,’ but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing left to see. In my case my two most highly anticipated haven’t even been released yet or been out that long, but I’ll get to those two soon.

First I’ll talk about my longshot movie which I doubt a ton of people are excited for or even know about and that is ‘ParaNorman.’ ‘ParaNorman’ is a stop-motion film made by the creators of ‘Coraline;’ it is about a boy named Norman who has the ability to talk to the dead and has to use his abilities to save his town from a witch’s century old curse. He’ll have to fight against ghosts, witches, zombies, and worst of all, adults in order to save his town.

I really enjoyed ‘Coraline’ so when I heard that the same creators were making another stop-motion children’s film I was immediately interested. I think the other reason I was intrigued by this movie is the fact that it reminds of Neil Gaiman book The Graveyard Book. A bit of a coincidence since ‘Coraline’ is based on Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name. Anyway, this is one unreleased movie that I know I have to see.

The next movie I’m excited to see is ‘The Amazing Spider-man.’ Even though I was initially uncertain about this movie since it struck me as odd to immediately reboot the series rather than just make a sequel. However, my previous skepticism left me after I saw more and more of the trailers and realized this movie might finally give me the Spider-man I always wanted in the previous film series.

The Spider-man that is constantly spewing out corny jokes even when he is fighting someone clearly intent on killing him, which I always felt was missing from the previous films. I also like that his love interest is Gwen Stacy like she first was in the comic books and that they also put in the web shooters. The video game is also pretty good and since the game is a sequel to the movie that leads me to be hopeful that the movie it is based on is also excellent. This is a movie I’ve been waiting for all summer and I can’t wait to see it!

Lastly, but certainly not least, the movie I have been waiting four years for ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ I love Batman and I love Chris Nolan’s movies, so the Chris Nolan Batman films are really a match made in heaven for me. To this day ‘The Dark Knight’ is my favorite movie, so I waited anxiously for the eventual sequel knowing that it would be a good movie. Even though I am not sure this movie will be better than ‘The Dark Knight,’ (mainly because The Joker is my favorite Batman villain) but I do know it will be worth watching. Every time I see the trailer for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ I get chills and unbelievably excited.

These are the three movies that left this summer that I want to see and I’m certain I’m not the only one. The summer may be almost over, but that doesn’t mean all the summer movies have already been released.

Image Courtesy of  The Amazing Spiderman

The article Blockbusters: What I Can’t Wait to See! appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Silver Spring, U.SA. – Investigation Discovery’s new series Reel Crime/Real Story, hosted by legal champion and biopic subject Erin Brockovich, uncovers the true facts and real personalities behind iconic crime-and-justice movies that have become a part of our pop culture.

Featuring the headline-stealing homicides that inspired Hollywood hits, Reel Crime/Real Story reveals the true tales on which award-winning films Selena, Monster, and To Die For were based, with never-before-seen interviews, crime scene reconstructions, and footage gathered from the actual investigations. Reel Crime/Real Story premieres as a three-part series on Tuesday, May 29 at 10 PM E/P on Investigation Discovery.

“Box office numbers and industry accolades are a testament to the fact that Hollywood continues to be fascinated by true-life crimes,” said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery. “Our new series, Reel Crime/Real Story is further evidence of what Investigation Discovery’s growing audience already knows: truth is often stranger and more interesting than fiction!”
Each episode of Reel Crime/Real Story reveals how art imitated life in some of the world’s most notorious cases:

Monster premieres Tuesday, May 29 at 10 PM E/P
The media dubbed her the “Damsel of Death” and Hollywood immortalized her as “Monster.” This episode explores the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, America’s first female serial killer. Though executed in 2002, her story was immortalized by actress Charlize Theron, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the prostitute turned femme fatale in 2003′s Monster.

In a never-before-seen interview shot before Wuornos became one of only 11 women executed in the past two decades, she comes clean and reveals intimate details of the lesbian love affair that led her to kill seven men. This episode also includes the first ever on-screen interview with the undercover detective who brought Wuornos into custody.

Selena premieres Tuesday, June 5 at 10 PM E/P
Latin music sensation Selena Quintanilla Perez found new life in a posthumous biopic starring Jennifer Lopez in her career-launching role. Lovingly nicknamed the “Mexican Madonna,” Selena was just 23 years old when her personal assistant and the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, gunned her down in a cheap motel room in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The 1997 film, Selena, tracks the star’s meteoric rise to chart-topping stardom and her whirlwind romance with band member and husband Chris Perez. Through interviews with Perez, law enforcement, and the hotel manager in whose arms Selena died, Reel Crime/Real Story explores the story beyond the movie: a shocking and senseless crime that snuffed out a bright young star’s life and career.

To Die For premieres Tuesday, June 12 at 10 PM E/P
Pamela Smart lives on in Hollywood history as the woman whose salacious story inspired Nicole Kidman to win her first Golden Globe. The real-life scandal of a teacher who used sex to entice her 15-year-old student boyfriend to murder her husband rocked the small town of Derry, N.H. before exploding into a national media frenzy.

The 1995 film To Die For parodies Smart as an ambitious, cold-hearted seductress out for her husband’s blood, but who is the real Pamela Smart? Family members, local law enforcement, lawyers, and media who followed the case from day one attempt to piece together the profile of a woman who thought murder was the only answer to an unhappy marriage.

Reel Crime/Real Story is produced by ITV Studios America for Investigation Discovery. For ITV Studios, John X. Kim is executive producer. For Investigation Discovery, Eugenie Vink is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.

The article Reel Crime/Real Story Reveals True Stories Behind Crimes Films appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

California, U.S.A. – Lionsgate a leading diversified global entertainment company, announced that The Hunger Games, which has already grossed nearly $620 million at the worldwide box office, has been approved for release in China in the first half of June.

The film will be released nationwide in China with both dubbed and subtitled prints by The China Film Group in conjunction with Lionsgate’s promotional partner, Talent International.  The Hunger Games will be one of the first Hollywood studio films to be released in China under the new blockbuster revenue sharing agreement announced in February that allows Western distributors to collect up to 25% of a film’s receipts in China.

“The Hunger Games juggernaut continues to gain momentum around the world, and we’re thrilled that we can now share the exciting first installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise with Chinese moviegoers in June,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.  “China is already one of the leading territories at the international box office, and the launch of The Hunger Games in this key market is another sign of the franchise’s continuing emergence as a truly global phenomenon.”

The Hunger Games has already grossed more than $380 million at the North American box office where it ranks 13th among the highest-grossing films of all time.  It has grossed nearly $620 million worldwide with upcoming launches in China and Japan.

“We view China as an increasingly important market for our content in Asia,” said Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President of Content Sales & Distribution for Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), Lionsgate’s venture with Saban Capital Group and Astro’s Celestial Pictures in Asia.  “The Chinese box office grew by more than 30% last year to over $2 billion, and The Hunger Games’ approval for nationwide release in China is a major step in translating the enormous commercial potential of this huge market into reality.”

The article The Hunger Games Approved for Early June Release in China appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

LOS ANGELES, U.S.A. – IMAX Corporation, in partnership with Indomina Releasing (Indomina), has announced the release of Bona Film Group’s blockbuster ‘Flying Swords of Dragon Gate’, starring Jet Li, for an exclusive, limited engagement across North America in September in the immersive IMAX 3D format.

Acquired for North American release by Indomina, the motion picture distribution arm of The Indomina Group, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate is the first Chinese-language film to be released in the IMAX 3D format and the fourth-highest grossing Chinese-language film of all time.

“We’re delighted to be working again with Bona and Tsui Hark and to release their newest film, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate,” said Indomina Group Vice Chairman and CEO, Jasbinder Singh Mann. “It’s an ideal fit for Indomina – just as IMAX is the ideal movie-going experience for the film. Audiences are in for a real treat when they see this Chinese martial arts masterpiece on the IMAX screen.”

“We are honored that IMAX is a platform to showcase the best in locally-produced Chinese films to audiences around the world,” said Greg Foster, IMAX Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment. “Together with The Indomina Group and Bona Film Group, we are offering North American fans of Chinese martial arts films this rare opportunity to experience one of the biggest Chinese blockbusters of all time in the most immersive format available – IMAX.”

“We’re thrilled to have partnered with director Tsui Hark and IMAX in producing the first-ever IMAX 3D Chinese-language film,” said Dong Yu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bona Film Group. “The success of the film in China has proven once again the huge potential of the China market, and has also demonstrated the sophistication of Chinese filmmakers in mastering the latest filmmaking technologies and techniques.

We’re absolutely excited that this unprecedented experience of Chinese cinema will soon be brought to North American audiences through The Indomina Group with their passion and marketing clout for Asian cinema, and the support of IMAX.”

Since the film’s December release in China, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate has earned approximately$86.5 million at the box office, of which approximately $10.6 million was generated in 61 digital IMAX theatres across China.

The film set a new record for a Chinese-produced movie released in the IMAX format and became the fourth-highest grossing IMAX DMR title in China behind Avatar, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Titanic 3D.  The film also won five awards at the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards held on April 15, including Best Action Choreography, Art Direction, Editing, Visual Effects and Sound Effects.

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate: An IMAX 3D Experience reunites renowned director Tsui Hark with his Once Upon a Time in China leading man, Jet Li, and also stars Zhou Xun, Aloys Chen Kun, Gwei Lun-Mei, Li Yuchun and Mavis Fan. It also reunites Tsui Hark with Indomina after their successful collaboration on last year’s Detective Dee and The Mystery of the Phantom Flame.

The article ‘Flying Swords of Dragon Gate’ Soon in IMAX 3D Theatres appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Jersey City, N.J., U.S.A. – Things went viral, with a mass media frenzy and blogger mega-attacks, after the film festival worldwide premieres of THE LIFE ZONE and O.B.A.M. NUDE, two highly inflammatory movies from the mind of best-selling author/acclaimed filmmaker, Kenneth Del Vecchio.

The writer/director/producer of nearly 20 star-filled movies and chairman of one of the world’s largest film festivals, Del Vecchio is also a former New Jersey judge (one of the youngest in state history). He’s clearly no fan of the current president, as O.B.A.M. NUDE is the first-ever satire about Barack Obama.

And THE LIFE ZONE – described by the Los Angeles Times as “a psychological thriller bringing an emphatically anti-abortion slant to the hot button issue” – doesn’t reflect the normal Hollywood pro-choice stance. Both films open theatrically on June 1 at Hudson Cinemas in Jersey City, New Jersey. The following week, they are released in over 15 cities nationwide. DVDs can already be purchased via pre-orders.

Starring Academy Award nominee Robert Loggia (Scarface, Big), Lindsey Haun (“True Blood”; Broken Bridges), Blanche Baker (Emmy winner; Sixteen Candles), and Martin Kove (The Karate Kid), THE LIFE ZONE chronicles the kidnapping of three women from abortion clinics – who are held for seven months until they all give birth.

The controversial fictional movie cuts right down the middle, examining the topic of abortion from both sides. However, as stated by “The Colbert Report” – “Just like all great horror films, Del Vecchio’s movie has a shocking twist” – the ending sends a definitively pro-life message.

O.B.A.M. NUDE weaves a satirical tale that mirrors much of Barack Obama’s history. A loner, O.B.A.M. (played by Del Vecchio) snorts cocaine, secretly hoping to one day become someone important. His dream comes true when Satan appears, promising the world.

Satan and his new protege scheme an agenda that ends with the United States presidency, transforming the world’s greatest democracy into a communist fiefdom, ruled by an enigmatic dictator. O.B.A.M., no doubt, will trick the masses with the Satan-created mantra of “hope and change.”

For more information, visit www.JusticeForAllProductions.com.

The article ‘The Life Zone’ & ‘O.B.A.M. Nude’ Most Controversial Movies appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Sometimes, fans of series get seriously annoyed when a movie adaption of their favorite book or comic stray too far from the original material.  In the case of ‘The Hunger Games,‘ though, it’s actually the opposite.

When reading, people usually create their own mental images of what characters look like, and when the movie does not accurately represent how they imagined the characters to look, they complain.  A number of fans did not think of some of the characters in the novel as being black, and are now angry with author Suzanna Collins and the producers of the film for casting black actors in important roles.  African-American actors Lenny Kravitz and Dayo Okeniyi play Cinna and Thresh, respectively, while actress Amandla Stenberg takes up the role of Rue.

“Im still pissed that rue is black. Like you think se might have mentioned that…?” @LexieBrowning tweeted.  But Suzanne Collins did bring it up in The Hunger Games. Rue is mentioned having “dark brown skin and eyes.”

The character Thresh is also described as having darker skin, but Cinna’s race was not mentioned in the trilogy.

Lexie is far from being the only person mad about the colored cast.  The Tumblr Hunger Games Tweets has collected an ensemble of racist tweets directed toward Kravitz, Okeniyi and Stenberg.

Some comments were less offensive than others, with tweets ranging from the relatively innocent “Awkward moment when Rue is some black girl and not the innocent blonde girl you picture,” to more distasteful tweets.  @Joe_Longley wrote, “EWW rue is black? I’m not watching.”  Several others made use of the “N word” in their tweets.  @maggie_mcd11 tweeted, “why does rue have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined the movie.”  The original user has since given up the account and a comedian is now at the helm of it, posting tweets making fun of the offensive tweet, such as, “Why does Herman Cain have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined pizza.”

Some twitter account holders have at least shown some disappointment in themselves for their feelings towards the actors, “Kk call me racist but when i found out rue was black her death wasn’t as sad #ihatemyself,” wrote @Jashperparas.

Stenberg revealed in a statement given to Us Weekly the she would not let the tweets get her down.

“As a fan of the books, I feel fortunate to be part of ‘The Hunger Games’ family.  It was an amazing experience. I am proud of the film and my performance. I want to thank all of my fans and the entire ‘Hunger Games’ community for their support and loyalty.”

Despite the outrage and disappointment of racist fans, The Hunger Games did spectacularly at the box office, raking in $155 million from the opening weekend, managing to have the third highest opening weekend after “The Dark Knight” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.”

The article Racist ‘Hunger Games’ Fans Protest Casting appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

With movies so plentiful these days, it is easy for small gems to slip between the cracks at the box office. To remedy that, we have prepared a list of ten niche films that you should see. Rev up your Netflix queues and let’s dive right in.

10. ‘ ‘Snatch’ is a crime action comedy about a group of characters all related to a stolen 86-carat diamond. The cast of characters includes two underground boxing managers, a four-fingered thief with a gambling problem, a mob boss who feeds his enemies to pigs, a Gypsy bare knuckle boxing champion, a New York crime boss, a borderline immortal bounty hunter, an Uzbekistan assassin, and three idiotic small time crooks. Sound interesting? If that didn’t pull you in, the casting will. The film employs Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, Dennis Farina, Stephen Graham, Jason Flemyng, and Alan Ford.

The brilliance of the film stems from its multiple plot threads that are engaging, funny, brutal, and action-packed, and the way they tie into each other is nothing short of genius. Many Guy Ritchie fans consider this to be his Magnum Opus, but the film is largely unknown due to it being one of his earlier works. Its sharp dialogue, gritty environments, and diverse characters will easily pull you into the story and leave you breathless by the end of it.

9. ‘Stick It’ (2006)

‘Stick It’ is an American teen comedy about Haley Graham (Missy Peregym), a disgruntled former gymnast champion who is unceremoniously thrown back into the world of gymnastics after a stint with the law. She is universally hated by all other gymnast for walking out on the Worlds’ competition years earlier and thus causing the team to be disqualified. However, as she gets back in shape and softens up around her fellow gymnasts, she realizes that she may be able to succeed in changing the harsh rules and regulations associated with the gymnastics world for the better.

The film is on par with teen classics such as ‘Mean Girls’ (2004) and ’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999) because of its realistic characters, witty dialogue, and unforgiving irreverence. Unfortunately, it was not advertised well when it came out and most people thought it was aimed at too narrow a demographic. In reality, the film does not have a learning curve and can be enjoyed by anyone who has quick wits and likes a sarcastic female lead.

8. ‘Waitress’ (2007)

‘Waitress’ is a dramedy about a “pie baking genius” named Jenna (Keri Russell) who is stuck in a small town diner and gets knocked up by her abusive man-child of a husband. Jenna does not want to be a mother but she reluctantly keeps the baby out of motherly duty. This leads her to Dr. Jim Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), her new gynecologist, and the two enter a steamy affair that makes her slowly regain her zest for life and eventually grow to care for her baby.

The film takes care in examining how adultery, while morally wrong, can often have interesting side effects on the downtrodden. It also deconstructs the typical thoughts of how motherhood is supposed to be a beautiful thing when in reality there are many women who feel alone, victimized, and trapped by their unwanted children. The careful writing, excellent casting, and beautiful cinematography create a unique experience with plenty of laughs, tears, and surprises at every turn.

7. ‘I Think I Love My Wife’ (2006)

‘I Think I Love My Wife’ is a comedy about the pitfalls of marriage, single life, and sex in one man’s life. Richard Cooper (Chris Rock) is married with two children but his wife (Gina Torres) suddenly stops having sex with him and refuses to explain why. In the midst of struggling with this issue, one of Richard’s old friends, Nikki True (Kerry Washington), saunters back into his life and starts a flirtatious friendship with him. He begins grappling with the secret attraction shared between them and starts down the slippery slope towards adultery.

The movie makes an uncanny portrayal of a husband trying his best to do right when he is given every opportunity to do wrong by his wife. Chris Rock is known for his stand up material addressing the boring routines in a long marriage and he uses his knowledge to its best effect in the dialogue and the realistic problems that occur between married men and their single women friends. While it keeps a comedic tone throughout, there are some excellent dramatic moments caused by the sexual tension and Richard’s desire to remain devoted to his difficult but loving wife.

6. ‘Idlewild’ (2006)

‘Idlewild’ is a musical drama about a small town called Idlewild in Georgia, 1935. It tells the tale of a repressed musician, Percival Jenkins (Andre Benjamin), his popular but irresponsible best friend Rooster (Antwan Patton), a dangerous crime boss who oversees their club named Trumpy (Terrence Howard), and a beautiful singer, Angel Davenport (Paula Patton), who starts singing at the club and changes their lives. Angel and Percy fall in love while Rooster gets in trouble with Trumpy as he tries to extort the club due to a failed deal between he and the club’s former owner, whom he murdered.

The biggest attraction advertised for this movie was the music, which features songs from Outkast’s albums ‘The Love Below’ and ‘Speakerboxxx’, but the true brilliance of the film comes from the stand out performances of Andre 3000 and Paula Patton. The love story is built up carefully and has a classic feel to it while keeping a tragic undertone.

Furthermore, the supporting cast features plenty of familiar faces like Ben Vereen, Ving Rhames, Faizon Love, Paula Jai Parker, Macy Gray, and Cicely Tyson. Fans of Outkast’s music will be thrilled but fans of musicals in general will also be enraptured in the vibrant dance sequences and the powerful love story.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

The article Ten Movies You Never Watched But Should (Part 1) appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Lionsgate family of companies earned six Academy Award nominations from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences as Summit Entertainment’s ‘A Better Life’ earned a Best Actor nomination for Demian Bichir, Lionsgate’s ‘Warrior’ earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Nick Nolte, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions’ ‘Margin Call’ earned a Best Original Screenplay nomination, and Roadside Attractions’ ‘Albert Nobbs’ received three nominations for Glenn Close as Best Actress, Janet McTeer for Best Supporting Actress, and an Oscar nod for Best Makeup.

Legendary actor, Nick Nolte, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his heart wrenching performance in ‘Warrior’, the inspirational action/drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (‘Miracle’). The film also stars Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy as brothers facing the fight of a lifetime.

Summit Entertainment’s ‘A Better Life’, from filmmaker Chris Weitz, received a nomination for Best Actor for Demian Bichir. The film is a poignant, multi-generational story about a father’s love and everything a parent will sacrifice to build a better life for his child.

‘Margin Call’ is a Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions film that was released in theaters with its VOD premiere. The taut financial industry thriller, which stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, and Zachary Quinto, struck a resonant chord in the popular zeitgeist and is considered a game-changer in the world of release strategies after its success in each of its release formats. Writer-director, J.C. Chandor, was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for his film.

“We are thrilled that the Academy has acknowledged these four incredible films within the Lionsgate family,” said Co-Chairs of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, adding, “Congratulations to the filmmakers.  We are incredibly proud of the respective teams at Lionsgate, Summit, and Roadside who made this happen.”

Glenn Close received a Best Actress nod for her performance as the titular character in ‘Albert Nobbs’, a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19^th-century Ireland.  Janet McTeer was also acknowledged for her performance in the Best Supporting Actress category, with the film’s makeup also receiving a nomination.

“We couldn’t be prouder of ‘Albert Nobbs’ or happier that it was recognized by the Academy with its three well-deserved honors,” said Roadside Attractions co-presidents, Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, continuing, “We were thrilled to collaborate with Lionsgate on the timely ‘Margin Call’, which clearly resonated with Academy voters like it did with theatrical and VOD audiences.”

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

The article Six Oscar Nominations For Lionsgate appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Just one year after its launch, JustFilms, the Ford Foundation’s documentary film fund, is providing major support to five independent films selected for competition and premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the world’s leading showcase for independent filmmaking.

Each of the five embodies JustFilms’ vision of the power of independent film to illuminate the world in which we live and inspire people to engage in pressing social challenges, from the untold story of bravery and activism that opened access to AIDS drugs in the United States to a poignant account of Detroit residents reimagining their city.

“We’re extremely pleased that five projects receiving major support from JustFilms have been selected to premiere at Sundance,” said Darren Walker, vice president of Ford’s Education, Creativity and Free Expression Program. “This is exactly what our initiative is all about– ensuring that talented filmmakers who are tackling tough social issues can break through to large new audiences in a timely way.”

JustFilms was launched one year ago, a day before the start of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In its inaugural year, the initiative has made more than $10 million in grants to support more than 100 filmmakers and mediamakers around the world.

“We believe that Sundance is just the beginning of an opportunity for these filmmakers, and many others like them, to reach a new audience of engaged people who are hungry for stories about issues shaping our future,” added Walker.

JustFilms focuses on film, video and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure, and sustainable world. Through 2016, it will invest $10 million every year to support and expand the community of filmmakers and mediamakers around the world focused on creating documentaries with passion and purpose, but who often lack funding to realize their visions or reach audiences.

“While focusing on issues as diverse as human rights, poverty, cultural expression, and sustainable development, every project supported by JustFilms has one thing in common– the power of good storytelling,” said Orlando Bagwell, director of the JustFilms initiative at Ford. “These films make complex and often difficult issues accessible and entertaining, opening up whole new opportunities for audiences to engage on topics that may have once felt overwhelming or simply out of reach.”

With the explosion of digital media production over the past decade, there is far more film and video content available from which audiences can choose. However, it remains a challenge for most documentary filmmakers to find support– and audiences– for works that address social issues in meaningful and compelling ways. JustFilms seeks to support courageous filmmakers to complete their important works and to help them reach a growing audience of engaged and socially conscious viewers.

The Ford Foundation’s JustFilms initiative builds on the foundation’s longtime support for scores of documentaries, including such landmark productions as “Eyes on the Prize,” “State of Fear,” and “Why Democracy.” It also leverages the foundation’s global network of 10 regional offices to identify and lift new talent from around the world and to strengthen emerging communities of documentary filmmakers.

Ben Haslam / Haslam Photography / Shutterstock.com

The article World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

In the upcoming graphic and violent, post-apocalyptic thriller ‘The Divide’, nine strangers — all tenants of a New York high rise apartment — escape a nuclear attack by hiding out in the building’s bunker-like basement. Trapped for days underground with no hope for rescue, and only unspeakable horrors awaiting them on the other side of the bunker door, the group begins to descend into madness, each turning on one another with physical and psychotic torment.

As supplies dwindle, and tensions flare, and they grow increasingly unhinged by their close quarters and hopelessness, each act against one another becomes more depraved than the next. While everyone in the bunker allows themselves to be overcome by desperation and lose their humanity, one survivor holds onto a thin chance for escape even with no promise of salvation on the outside.

The director, French Xavier Gens, who directed the feature version of the game ‘Hitman’, explained his choice to direct ‘The Divide’, starring Michael Biehn, Lauren German and TV ‘Heroes’ ‘s Milo Ventimiglia.

What originally drew you to the project? 

I received the script (previously named Shelter) written by Karl Mueller and the concept of the basement shelter really attracted me. I spoke with producers, Ross M. Dinerstein and Darryn Welch about giving the movie a larger scope by opening the film with a nuclear explosion as the catalyst. We hired Eron Sheean to help rewrite the script and weave in that element throughout the film.

How do you the feel the film fits in with your previous work? 

For me, The Divide is like my first real feature. Frontier(s) was a film with a lot of influence and Hitman was a studio movie. The Divide was a true indie film with a crew and cast of passionate people working on the film. It was a dream to do that film in that environment and made it easy for me to give the best I had to make the film. Filming The Divide has been my best experience as a filmmaker and I have met great friends on that set. From the crew to the producers and Anchor Bay Films, everyone has been really amazing and really supportive.

Were there any other films or filmmakers you drew inspiration from while making the film? 

Not really, but there is a subtle tribute to John Carpenter in The Divide. One of the characters is named Sam Carpenter and there is a piece of music by Jean Pierre Taieb, which was inspired by the score of Ennio Morricone for The Thing.

Can you tell us how you assembled such a diverse cast? 

It was a long casting process, but once we found everyone, it was fantastic working with such an amazing cast. It was very important to find actors who were ready to take risks and willing to embrace the extreme situations and also ready to improvise.

Sometimes there was some tension between the actors because they were all on diets to lose weight for their roles and there are several scenes in the film showing the escalating conflict. Instead of calming down the tension, it was very interesting to play with the natural emotions to push the performances and to catch that tension on camera instead.

How do you feel the film speaks about human nature? 

The film is speaking about the end of humanity and shows how you can easily lose your humanity in extreme situations. I don’t want the film to give a lesson but just show the audience what happens when a small group of people are trapped in an extreme situation; like seeing a laboratory experiment with white mice.

How was the experience of making the film independently different from your studio work? 

It was the best experience, I had total freedom. The version that is being released in theaters this January is the director’s cut and I want to thank my producers and Anchor Bay Films again for supporting me in that adventure. I’ve had a situation where I lost control of a film with the studio and it was very tough for me, and I almost decided to stop making movies. With The Divide, it’s like a rebirth for me. There is a place where you can express yourself and work with total freedom, and I want to work only in that environment.

What do you hope audiences take away from the film? 

I hope the audience will leave the theater reminded that life is beautiful. I feel the last scene of the film is like Baudelaire poetry, it’s dark, bleak and a little depressing, but beautiful.

The Divide will be in theaters this January 13.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/TheDivideMovie

The article The Divide: ‘Hell Is Other People’ appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Brad Pitt has been voted the Top Money-Making Star of 2011 in Quigley Publishing Company’s 80th Annual Poll of Motion Picture Exhibitors. This is Pitt’s sixth appearance in the Poll, but his first win. Exhibitors felt Pitt was responsible for more traffic to theatres than any other Hollywood star based on his performances this year in “Moneyball,” “The Tree of Life,” and “Happy Feet Two.”

The Quigley Poll, conducted each year since 1932, is an annual survey of motion picture theatre owners and film buyers, which asks them to vote for the ten stars that they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theatres during the year. It has been long regarded as one of the most reliable indicators of a star’s real box office draw because the selections are made by professionals whose livelihood depends on choosing the films and actors that will bring audiences to their theatres. The Quigley Poll lists the results of all the Polls since Marie Dressler, Janet Gaynor, and Joan Crawford took the top three places in 1932.

George Clooney placed second this year based on “The Ides of March,” where he was also the director, producer, and co-writer, and “The Descendants.” Johnny Depp, last year’s winner, made it to number three this year with 2011 roles in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “The Rum Diary.”  Depp has placed in the poll seven times, as has this year’s number four, Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in “J. Edgar.” Matt Damon, number five, had a very busy year with “Contagion,” “The Adjustment Bureau,” “Margaret,” and “We Bought a Zoo.”

Sandra Bullock, winner of 2009, placed number six, which marks her fifth appearance in the poll. She first placed in the survey in 1995. There were two first-timers this year, Bradley Cooper number seven and Ben Stiller number ten. Bradley Cooper was in “The Hangover Part II,” and Ben Stiller was in “Tower Heist.” Robert Downey, Jr. was number eight on the strength of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” and Meryl Streep was number nine as ‘The Iron Lady” and is in the Top Ten for the fourth time.

Tom Cruise has not placed in the Poll since 2006, but he has been in the Top Ten 20 times since 1983 and has been voted number one the most of any actor – seven times. Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds, and Bing Crosby have all won five times. Clint Eastwood has been in the poll 21 times starting in 1968. Currently, exhibitors appreciate him more as a director that brings audiences to their theatres. John Wayne, Doris Day, and Shirley Temple each finished first four times, but John Wayne was voted one of the Top Ten Money-Making Stars an astounding 25 times from 1949 to 1974.

Exhibitors were also asked to name the Stars of Tomorrow for 2011, one actor and one actress who they feel will be Top Money-Makers in the years to come. The 2011 winners are Rooney Mara, who played Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and Jonah Hill, who had a breakthrough performance in “Moneyball” and starred in “The Sitter.”

Top Ten Money-Making Stars of 2011

1. Brad Pitt
2. George Clooney
3. Johnny Depp
4. Leonardo Di Caprio
5. Matt Damon
6. Sandra Bullock
7. Bradley Cooper
8. Robert Downey, Jr.
9. Meryl Streep
10. Ben Stiller

Stars of Tomorrow:

Rooney Mara
Jonah Hill

The article Brad Pitt, Top Money-Making Movie Star of 2011 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

As of November, Netflix’s shares closed at $64.92, a gaping fall from a high of $304.79 in July. The jaw-dropping descent of the popular American DVD-rental and online video streaming service, is attributed to a number of egregious errors committed by the company this year.

With 24.59 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix is an Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows online. It also offers a DVD rental service for an additional $2 on top of its basic online streaming plan for $7.99.

According to Tech Crunch, Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, said in May that, “Streaming is the core of our business and it is growing rapidly. Streaming is much bigger than DVD for us in terms of hours of viewing, growth, and focus. We are seeing massive consumer adoption of streaming.”

To capitalise on its streaming business, Netflix introduced a new pricing system in July which separated the two services, with the streaming plan costing $7.99 and the DVD plan also at $7.99. Selecting both options would cost $16, effectively raising the subscription price by 60% for subscribers.

The announcement, however, was met with an unforeseeable backlash as more than 800, 000 irate subscribers defected in protest of the ludicrous price-hike. In attempt to appease customers, Hastings then announced a scheme to spin-off 2 companies for Netflix’s DVD-by-mail rental and on-line streaming services. However, the announcement was promptly retracted when violent objections arose from all sides.

For a company that began its meteoric rise with effortless access to video entertainment, the move was perceived by many as complicating the rental process.Since then, stock prices have continued to careen.

Last week, the company took steps toward raising $400 million from investors to shore up its balance sheet, selling $200 million of common stock to T. Rowe Price funds, and placing $200 million of convertible debt with the investment fund Technology Crossover Ventures. The purpose of raising capital is to finance Netflix’s expansion plans into the UK and Ireland in the first quarter of 2012.

While financially logical, investors saw the move as underlying the foolishness of the company’s stock repurchases earlier in the year at much higher prices, reports Forbes.

With escalating costs in content investment, Netflix has warned that it expects to lose money in 2012. High-cost ventures into UK and Ireland are also likely to cause the company to incur losses on a global basis in the upcoming year. Barron’s reported on Saturday, November 26th, that it looks as if the company will end up making $4.08 this year and might, at best, make a profit of 75 cents in 2012.

In their letter to shareholders dated October 24, 2011, Hastings and CFO, David Wells, defended their new pricing strategy. “We think that the $7.99 for unlimited streaming and $7.99 for DVD are both very aggressively low prices, relative to competition and to the value of the services, and they are right place for Netflix to be in the long term. What we misjudged was how quickly to move there. We compounded the problem with the lack of explanation about the rising cost of expansion of streaming content, and steady DVD costs, so that absent that explanation, many perceived us as greedy,” Wells said.

In the midst of the immediate bleak outlook, however, there is a silver lining. For one, Hastings is right in that the future of video-watching will be digital.

This has significant financial implications for Netflix. Getting rid of the DVD-by-mail business would allow Netflix to eliminate an array of costs associated with infrastructure and focus instead on investing in content. Moreover, with the amount of money that Netflix has invested in acquiring content, the current valuation makes Netflix an attractive acquisition for competitors such as Amazon and Google.

Netflix remains positive that it will bounce back into a profit-reaping cycle, and is planning to recuperate from domestic losses after launching in the UK and Ireland.

The article Bleak Year Ahead for Netflix appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Netflix announced it was planning to split its DVD/Blu-Ray rent by mail and online streaming services back in early September. The mail delivery service was branded as Qwikster and video games would be made available for rent as well. Since then the plan was called off and entry into the video game rental market was put on hold as many customers opposed the split.

Subscribers did not like the idea of having to visit a different website and mange a second account to rent movies or video games. Netflix’s stock price has been steadily dropping since the 60% price hike in July and loss of 800,000 subscribers in the last quarter despite the firm’s profits.

Shareholders were also not happy as Netflix would have to spend millions to launch Qwikster when consumers have already established Netflix as a rent by mail service under the Netflix brand. With Netflix’s missteps that leaves one begging the question, is there a legitimate alternative to Netflix?

Angry Netflix users have been on the lookout for something new and there might just be a replacement depending on their viewing habits. Online streaming services like iTunes and VUDU have no monthly fee but the bill will quickly add up from just a few purchases as each rental will cost around $0.99 to $5.99 depending on what it is.

The content per dollar ratio is probably not what Netflix users are looking for. Amazon Prime Instant video and Hulu Plus are much more viable alternatives as they allow unlimited streaming for a monthly fee.

Amazon Prime has the smallest selection but also has the lowest price at $79 a year, and offered a discounted price for college students that subscribed earlier this year, but Amazon has not stated if it will offer that deal year after year. Amazon Prime also has content for rental much like VUDU and iTunes.

Hulu concentrates more on what is current on television offering a free option that allows users to see five episodes of a show’s current season, movies, and in standard definition. Hulu Plus gives access to full seasons, a better selection of movies, and in high definition for $7.99 a month. Hulu uploads episodes a day after it airs on television giving it an edge over Netflix’s usual 28 day wait.

There really is no widely accepted alternative to Netflix at the moment. For $7.99 a month Netflix offers the biggest online streaming selection in movies and television. Hulu Plus is definitely better than Netflix for television fans but it is the other way around for movie buffs.

As much as people argue which is better to have Hulu Plus or Netflix (even though they have some of the same content available) at the moment they should be considered compliments and not substitutes of each other.

The article Is There an Alternative to Netflix? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Half of the miners involved with the accident at the San Jose mine are still unemployed, one year later. Those who have jobs are only part-time as mechanics, odd-job men or greengrocers. When the miners were trapped underground in Chile, great things were predicted for them. They thought nothing would be the same in their lives.

They would be rich; cinema producers would make films about them and journalists would pay fortunes for their stories. Therefore, they thought they would never have to work again. Jean Romagnoli was the miners’ physical trainer while they were below ground. He helped them to stay in shape so they could fit into the capsule used for their rescue.

“The promises that were made to them when they reached the surface, like for example that they were going to all have a job in the national mining industry; they’ve all vanished,” Romagnoli said. The reality has been quite different. Some of them are dealing with the psychological impact of what they went through.

Only a couple of the 33 men trapped for two months at San Jose have ventured back down the mines. Raul Bustos, a miner who works as a guest speaker for a telephone company said, “I’ve dealt with those problems, but there are two or three of the miners who still have problems. They haven’t been able to get over it, and they’re still on sick leave.”

He believes every miner deals with psychological impacts in their own different ways. Last July, 31 of  33 men launched legal action against the Chilean state, accusing them of failing to do their job properly by allowing the San Jose mine to remain open in the year before the accident. They are claiming a compensation of $500,000 per man.

Meanwhile, the state is claiming the mine owners’ money back for the millions of dollars spent on the miners’ rescue.  Jean Romagnoli said to BBC News  that any mining company is avoiding giving them jobs because they think of them as damaged goods. “They think they’re psychologically unbalanced still, and there’s a risk in contracting them,” he said.Despite their recent frustrations, there is still some hope that they are going to become rich men very soon.

Mike Medavov, the Hollywood producer who grew up in Chile has bought the rights to make a movie about the miners. He seems to have affinity with the accident. Jose Rivera has been hired to write the script. He wrote the screenplay for the Che Gevara film. As well,Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Hector Tobar is working on a book about the miners.

The book will be based on the diary that Victor Segovia, a miner among the 33 kept writing below ground. The profits from the sales will be split between the miners.

The article Chile Miners’ Hopes are Still on Hold appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

An actor smoking a cigarette in a movie may soon be considered as racey as explicit sex scenes. A number of health organizations argue that smoking on camera should make a film “R” rated. Drug use, obscene language and nudity are the common characteristics moviegoers expect of an “R” rated film. In the future, film watchers may need to add “lighting up” to that list.

Research conducted by Department of Primary Care and Public Health at The Imperial College in London, found that approximately one in five teenagers worldwide, ages 13 to 15, is a regular smoker, with nearly 100,000 children taking up the habit every day. The study concluded that “exposure to smoking in movies is a potent stimulus for youth smoking.”

<pAn article published by the Public Library of Science stated similar findings. It pointed to the connection between tobacco imagery in films and the likelihood of youth to experiment with smoking. “Essentially eliminating smoking and other tobacco imagery from youth-rated films would substantially reduce the total exposure of onscreen smoking images delivered to youth,” explained the article.

The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, suggest that all future films that include scenes with smoking be given the adult content rating.

The movie industry is aware of health organizations’ concerns with smoking on screen. According to the CDC, Hollywood is less likely to show actors lighting up on in movie scenes than they were five years ago. However, health groups are still determined to view the smoking scenes that are still being included in films with a more critical eye.

Not all researches are on board with the notion of rating smoking in films more harshly. In an article, also published by the Public Library of Science, a study at the University of Sydney argued against the idea of giving smoking an adult rating in films. The article pointed out that youth are likely being exposed to smoking, to a greater degree, outside the context of the movie theatre. The researchers also expressed an overall concern with the notion of regulating cultural expression.

While no new standard has been passed, anti-smoking advocates continue to push for a more serious rating of movies that choose to include the addictive habit.

The article Smoking Scenes in Movies Requires an “R” Rating, Some Argue appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

As the new Superman movie’s release date was announced for December 2012, the pre-production began. Man of Steel, the movie has its fair share of rumors spreading around about who shall be cast.  Rumors have been floating around that Christopher Meloni is in talks with Warner Brothers and Zack Sydner, the director.

There are no details about whom he will play if he accepts the offer except that he will play a general. I know what you’re thinking.  But no, Michael Shannon will play Zod. The real wildcard was who will play Superman’s mother, Lara Lor-Van?

At first, there were rumors of Connie Nielson taking the part, but it was confirmed to be false, as Synder chose Julia Ormond as his first pick.  The offer was officially given out June 22, 2011 and accepted some time later.

Julia Ormond’s most recent and well-known movies include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Che. She won an Emmy for her supporting role in Temple Grandin, in 2010. She also appeared on many other television shows such as Law and Order and Nurse Jackie. Right now she is finishing up her most recent movie My Week with Marilyn, starring Emma Watson, and Michelle Williams.

She will be playing opposite of Russell Crowe as Jor-El. The rest of the cast, that is certain to appear consists of Henry Cavill playing Superman, Amy Adams playing Lois Lane, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, and Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent.

The plot of the movie is kept under lock and key. Diane Lane said this on Jay Leno Show, “Of course, there is a lot of secrecy these days, with the Internet and everything and rumors get started, so I had to read the script under lock and key in a room. You go to the offices, and it is a locked door and the curtains are drawn, and, so that was the time I had.” The only leaked details about the plot was that Synder wanted to make the movie as if the other Superman movies do not exist. In other terms, he wants to start at square one.

He said to contactmusic.com, “[l]iterally, the one thing that everyone can start to think about is that we’re making a movie that finally goes with the approach that there have been no other Superman movies. If you look at ‘Batman Begins’ there’s that structure: there’s the canon that we know about and respect, but, on the other hand, there’s this approach that pre-supposes that there have not been any other movies. That is what we’re going with.”

Many fans of the movies are bitter about Synder’s idea because they feel the story should be pushed along and not rebooted.

With many spots on the cast still not filled, there is still a lot of work for the filmmakers to do. With extremely little information about the plot and many offers given out, rumors have spread like wildfire. Julia Ormond has been officially named the mother of Superman but her shooting dates are unclear as of yet.

DFree / Shutterstock.com

The article Julia Ormond to Play Superman’s Mother appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

After seeing the Hangover II, I thought it was not possible to laugh that much at a movie. From the beginning to the ending, there was not a sour moment of humor but to some, the Hangover II did not even compare to the first one. Yes, fans were excited to see Americas three best friends back in action; Stu, Phil, and Alan. Even though the new movie took place in Thailand instead of Las Vegas, it seems that they were basically the same. Although part II was very funny, it mimicked a lot of the first movies timeline… same jokes, same setup, and the same ending. It was expected to be a crazy hangover experience like the first one, but fans were expecting something different to look forward too. Part I created some of the most quotable movie moments in Hollywood history, such as the wolfpack speech and stealing a cop car. The second part did not have any of those moments, except for the ones that were mimicked to be like the ones in the first part.

It is hard to top an epic movie like the first part of the Hangover, but with a different story line it might of came close. In the Hangover I there was a lot of funny moments that just hit you and came out of no where. Part II, you knew those moments were coming because of having the same setup as the first one. In the second part, the movie was set up so that you knew that there would be something wrong with Stu’s face, someone would go missing, a weird animal would pop out of no where, and that they would all eventually live happily ever after.

But still the movie made over 30 million in box office sales on the first day, making it the second largest opening for an action comedy. Still, days after, the movie continued to sell out. Do not get me wrong, the movie was hysterical, but it defiantly could have been improved. The second part was designed to create another epic story, but from the looks of it, a year later, Hangover I still is better. Now, everyone is asking, will there be a third movie?  Movies, like Transformers, have had sequels that have blown viewers away. So, will there be a third hangover movie to make up for the second one? According to Warner Brothers, there will be a third movie with a completely different plot. The rumor is that part III will be Alan trying to escape from a mental ward. Even though there is no script set or dates to start, there are defiantly plans for a third one.

Producer Todd Phillips said that if there is a part III, the movie’s beginning and ending will be nothing like the hangovers before it. This will be a good change from Part II, which seemed to disappoint and let down fans. The wolfpack has become an American sensation and we know, even though the second one was not as great, there is still the three best friends that everyone can count on for a good laugh. In the long run here are not many sequels hat ever have topped the first initial movie so if you havent seen the Hangover I or II go out and see it and decide for yourself.

The article Did The Hangover II Live Up to it’s Expectations? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Based on Allan Stratton’s internationally acclaimed novel, “Chanda’s Secrets,” the film, “Life Above All,” is a story of courage, love, and the intolerance housed by one modern South African community.

The film centers on the vivacious and intelligent twelve-year-old Chanda (played by Khomotso Manyaka) who fights for her family under troubling circumstances. She is forced into a confusing adult’s world when her sister passes away and her mother, Lillian, (played by Lerato Mvelase) is plagued with AIDS, which to Chanda is just a mysterious sickness. However, the community is convinced that the illness is a divine punishment. Rumors start to circulate referring to her mother’s condition as “the disease,” and Chanda quickly becomes angry and confused. She refuses to believe that her mother, her only support system, is the cause of her own illness.

To make matters worse, she receives no help from her alcoholic stepfather who is usually missing, or Ester (played by Keaobaka Makanyane), her closest friend who has recently become a prostitute at the local truck stop. Chanda is soon given a world of responsibilities when she is left to single-handedly run her household, including her younger sister and brother, as well as take care of her ailing mother. Ultimately, a village elder, Mrs. Tafa (played by Harriet Lebabe, who also appeared in Hotel Rwanda), decides that it is best for the family and the town if her mother is sent away.

Devastated by the news, Chanda ignores everyone’s ignorant beliefs and sets out to find her mother and bring her home. Unfortunately, she must now leave her younger siblings and her schooling behind. Despite the immeasurable amount of pressure that is forced onto this young child, Chanda remains hopeful and brave. Along the way, she is tested and learns to overcome her past, and the superstitious beliefs of her neighbors in order to discover the truth about her community and more importantly, her mother.

This coming of age story is both tear jerking and heart warming at the same time. It addresses such issues as the ignorance of AIDS because of pride and denial, and even child prostitution. Manyaka keeps the storyline from becoming too dark with her bubbly attitude. “Life Above All” is socially informative and illuminates many key aspects to the AIDS epidemic in modern day South Africa, including denial that often occurs within small communities.

An official selection at the 2010 Cannes film festival, “Life Above All” is directed by Oliver Schmitz, a South African native of German descent. His past projects include “Mapantsula,” and “Paris, je t’aime,” It received a 10-minute standing ovation and left critics in tears. The film was released in the UK on May 27 and will be released in the US on July 5.

The article Life Above All, Cannes Film Leaves Critics in Tears appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is rolling out in theatres on June 29, 2011, but will it live up to the hype? The first Transformers movie was an enormous hit. Even people who do not like Michael Bay’s blow’em up action style had a pretty enjoyable time watching the first movie. It was clear and had a straightforward story that had nice, subtle comedic tones to it. The following movie did well in the box office, but did not have the story to back up the numbers. Recycling the plot with the Allspark and lacking depth in the characters led to many people feeling angry and unsatisfied when coming out of the theatre. With two Transformers movies finished, and with polarizing outcomes for both, the third and final film will be the wild card of the three.

Michael Bay has had his fair share of criticisms. Some say he is all explosions and no talk. Some say he cuts shots too quickly. No matter what the criticisms he receives, he sticks by his style. Complete with robot monstrosities, big explosions, and a beautiful damsel in distress, it feels like a Michael Bay flick. So, if you hated the last two Transformers, or any other Michael Bay movie, then this movie is not for you.

Speaking of damsels in distress the movie franchise has a new romantic interest replacing Megan Fox. Playing the new female lead is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, a Victorian Secret’s model turned actor. This is her first movie she has acted in, and it seems like a gamble. Will she have the necessary expertise or feel for acting in movies? In an interview with Access Hollywood, Huntington-Whiteley said she did not know much about Transformers, but Shia LaBeouf had held her hand  through the whole process, answering her various acting and transformer questions.

With the rise of 3D movies, Paramount/DreamWorks wanted Transformers to jump on the bandwagon. Although, Bay believes that 3D movies are gimmicks, he reluctantly agreed. He shot the majority of the movie on James Cameron’s 3D camera (the PACE) on the set of Transformers 3. This is a marvelous thing for 3D fans. When shot on a 3D camera, the images have a better quality to them than when converted to 3D during post-production. This is mainly because when converting to 3D in post-production, it is harder to get a visual for the left eye. So there is a picture for your right eye, but not for your left. Doing this is difficult, so the image quality usually suffers. Shooting with the PACE is an excellent camera to capture 3D. In fact, it is the same camera that James Cameron used to shoot Avatar, so the 3D images will look phenomenal on the big screen.

With many people bashing Micheal Bay’s film style and the risk with having a rookie film actor, Transformers 3 raises a lot of questions. The movie seems to be walking a very fine line between landing flat on its face or its feet. The pros and the cons seem to balance each other out. Having a rookie film actor on set can be a challenge, but with a veteran on set like Shia LaBoeuf helping Huntington-Whiteley every step of the way it may turn out well. This goes for the visuals as well. Even with Bay’s over the top explosions and effects, the 3D will look extremely crisp if done right. What it comes down to is that the movie will have exciting energy and enticing effects, but will the story be powerful enough to pluck the audience’s heartstrings?

The article Transformers 3, Autobots to Roll Out Once More appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Green Lantern is part of the DC Comic world coming to the big screen.  The movie follows Hal Jordan, a human who is chosen by a ring of infinite power to save Earth, from Parallax, a parasite attacking Earth.  Hal Jordan, a test pilot, is called forth to protect Earth by joining the Green Lantern Corps. —an intergalactic embassy that harnesses green energy through rings to protect the universe.

To those who have read the comics, there have been some changes in the transition from comic to movie.   The movie seems like it will follow the later series, as having Hal Jordan fight off the Parallax.  Hector Hammond is also in the movie and will have run-ins with not only Hal but with the fear monger, Parallax.  It seems like the movie will incorporate different areas and villains of Green Lantern from all different eras of the Comic, but will ultimately focus on the origins of Hal Jordan.

Directing the movie is the well-known action director Martin Campbell who created such titles like: 007 Goldeneye, Casino Royale, and The Mask of Zorro.  Having done these movies, it feels like he will be right at home with the action sequences of Green Lantern.  Nevertheless, it seems like Martin Campbell didn’t know the story of Green Lantern that well before he was put on the project, so the movie might not necessarily follow the story line of the comics religiously.  However, they did have Ozzy Iguanzo, a comic book expert, so they could set the record straight on some details.  Mister Campbell  had stated in The Telegraph that, “It was an extraordinary learning curve, conceptualizing the characters, going to another planet, deciding what the planet looks like and keeping a sort of reality, if you can call it that.”  However, despite the difficulties and differences from the comics, the producer/writer of Green Lantern is none other than Greg Berlanti, whom has worked on Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, an animated movie based around Hal Jordan, Kilowog and other Green Lanterns.

The cast has its fair share of stars like Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan/ Green Lantern.  Martin had picked Reynolds based upon his physical acting in “Buried”, and has been quoted saying in his production notes that, “he also physically looks the part, is charming, funny, and has a great sense of decency.“  Ryan Reynolds isn’t the only star in the movie.  Blake Lively (The Town) is taking on the role opposite of Reynolds as Carol Ferris, a fellow test pilot and lifelong friend of Hal Jordan.  Lively has this to say in the production notes about Green Lantern, ”… I love that the movie also has a great sense of fun and a hint of romance about it.”  Voices of Geoffrey Rush (King’s Speech) and Micheal Clarke Duncan (Green Mile) are used for Tomar-Re and Kilowog respectively.   Tim Robbins (Shawshank Redemption) also makes an appearance as Hector Hammond’s pushy father.

One thing that will make or break this movie is the special effects.  Spending about 50,000,000 dollars on them alone they should be pretty impressive.  Why spend so much?  Not only is making Parallax, Tomar-Re, and Kilowog entirely in CGI a task in itself, but trying to make an entire alien planet in less than a year is a daunting task.  Oa, the Green Lantern Corps. planet is all CGI, so creating an entire planet that looks realistic and pleasing to look at will take some serious skill.  What also is all CGI is the famous Green Lantern suit.  To do this, Reynolds is wearing a motion tracking suit.  Kind of like a leotard but soupped-up with motion tracking modules so that the artists can paste Green Lantern’s suit on Ryan Reynolds’s body. For such a daunting task there is good news.  People like Karen Goulekas (Spiderman) and  John DesJardin (Watchmen) are both overseers of the effects teams, and to top it all off Grant Major who worked on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will be the production designer.  Green Lantern may have a lot of daunting effects in over 1,300 of their shots, but they have chosen the right people in order to get the effects done well.

The article A Look at The Green Lantern appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox are reportedly competing for the leading role in a possible remake of “Carrie.”

There is some good and bad news that’s coming with this whole ordeal.

First of all, “Carrie” was a classic. It had a few Oscar nominations, which is rare for a horror movie. Plus, this movie is still creepy after three decades. So why would anyone want to remake something that was so memorable the first time?

To start, the good news that comes with this is that not everyone agrees on the classic part. Some might think that this film had potential to be amazing, but had a so-so result.

Now here’s the real deal- Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox being in consideration to take the part? Now that would result in some interesting outcomes.

Lindsay Lohan might have a chance considering that she does portray the teen-Sissy Spacek look. Lindsay’s sandy-blonde hair and freckles match Sissy’s look. Also, Lindsay isn’t really the pretty type…although others may disagree on that too. But either way, her look can easily present the poor victim that the mean girls pick on. And with all of Lindsay’s trouble she’s been into, she could probably act out her tantrums that Carrie’s religious mother causes her pretty well. And the prom scene would be pretty fitting too.

The downfall on Lindsay taking on this role is the fact that it’s Lindsay Lohan and not someone who didn’t blow her big chance on becoming a seriously taken actress, but who rather chose to take on a different spotlight- the spotlight that shines down on drinking and driving, frequent trips to rehab, court, jail sentences, allegedly stealing jewelry, etc. The public is seeing Lindsay as just a joke who continues to screw herself over. So to have Lindsay take on a role that was a memorable classic thirty years ago? That would just bring the troubled actress some extra haters.

As for Megan Fox taking on the role, there are some pros and cons with that one as well. Megan would definitely portray the lead of a horror movie well. She has the mysterious, eerie look that would fit for a creepy movie. Also, her character in “Jennifer’s Body” would show a guaranteed exciting prom scene. Megan is also doing splendidly in her career. Although she’s not taken seriously, who can help but experience a guilty pleasure when she gives the look of sultry charm?

However, the scale does boost low for Megan. Can an audience really believe sultry charm as a victim? Can anyone really imagine a gorgeous starlet getting picked on by the nasty girls? Especially during the “Plug it up!” scene?

“Carrie” may not need to be remade, but if that’s what it comes down to, then maybe they can find an actress who won’t be too busy in court to film…and also someone who isn’t a 25 on a 1-10 beauty scale.

The article Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox Competing For a “Carrie” Remake? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

There was an organization that became synomomous with the idea of the ‘happily ever after’. And that organization is Disney.

Since Disney’s beginnings, from short 5-6 minute films bringing to life old folk stories, to the multi-million dollar business which has given us Disneyland, Hannah Montana, Academy Awards and fodder for many late-night SingStar sessions.

The story behind Disney’s rise to its current superpower status begins, strangely enough, with the story of the Three Little Pigs. This was Disney’s first real surprise hit, with the theme song ‘Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf’ proving extremely popular with movie going public, so much so that Walt Disney was able to get funding to put forward his, and the world’s, first full-length animated film.

The film was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, which has extremely popular since its release in 1937. On re-watching I think most of its appeal (for me at the least) lies in the almost ridiculously adorable woodland critters who worshipfully follow Snow White and assist her in her day-to-day life. I challenge anyone to watch the critters clean the Dwarves house and not want to race into the forest and kidnap squirrels to clean out the attic.

The film undoubtedly looks dated now, particularly with the CGI assistance given to the newest film, Tangled. However what Snow White does possess in the actual quality of the animation is a gentle blurring of the edges – which gives the whole film this beautifully wonderland look to it. Everything seems magical and fantastic in Snow White – she is unbelievably good and loving, the dwarves are hurtfully cute, the animals had me clawing at the screen in a desperate attempt to take them home with me and the evil step-mother seems to have been booted from Hell for being too horrible.

Disney moved onto a variety of others films after Snow White, with Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and the Little Mermaid all being hugely successful for the company. But it wasn’t until Beauty and the Beast that Disney really received major critical accolades.

Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. On re-watching it’s easy to see why. The film is breathtaking, both in terms of beauty of design – from the opening strains of music beginning the film, that features those images of stained glass to illustrate the story, to the joyful concluding waltz every image looks warm, real and appealing.

But it’s not just the design and the amusement afforded by this film that makes it so lasting – there are moments of profoundness that you don’t expect in a child’s film. For example during an assault upon the Beasts castle the marching villagers sing ‘We don’t like what we don’t understand, in fact it scares us and this castle is mysterious at least’.

There’s some exposition of the deep fears of the human psyche in a song, set in a magical movie about love beyond the physical appearance. This movie fell into what is referred to as the ‘Disney Renaissance’ and after watching it it’s easy to see why. The film is beautiful, moving, touching, funny, sad and sometimes enraging. And worth watching time and time again.

And how far we’ve come since then! After the end of the so-called Disney Renaissance (which ended with the Lion King) Disney released slightly less successful films like Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, The Emperor’s New Groove, Lilo & Stitch and the Princess and the Frog.

There were also Pixar films (which is owned by Disney) at the same time – Toy Story, Wall-E and Up to name a few of the best. Pixar seemed to be taking over Disney’s territory of magical films filled with wonder and delight, and somehow adult and clever enough that adults and children alike sit through them again and again.

For a while it did seem that we would turn to Pixar for our Disney caliber films, for all those magical things which are conjured by the appearance of that magical castle at the beginning of a film. But then came Disney’s 50^th animated film – Tangled.

Tangled is a CGI film, but it manages to capture that same sense of a magical wonderland that Disney is known for. However the use of CGI, and changing social values, do mean that Disney has had to change. Today’s audiences can appreciate Snow White, we can enjoy it and see it’s value, but it does not have the same relation to us now as it did back in 1937.

Tangled is Disney’s best meshing of our desire for magical fairytales and our changing expectations for some form of realism. There are still magical creatures, that don’t help with the housework this time, but manage to be achingly funny despite it.

Tangled is the story of Rapunzel – but it makes it much more complex then the original. As Disney does best. There’s a magical flower from the sun, a wicked old woman, a swashbuckling adventurer who turns out to be lying about his name and a man the size of a brick wall who turns out to love making ceramic unicorns.

This film brings out the same childish joy in me as the Disney Renaissance films do, a sense of amusements, wonder and magic and the safe resolution of everyone living happily ever after.

Cliched? Yes. But it’s a welcome cliché.

The article Disney’s Empire, Once Upon a Time… appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.