Trailer for Luc Besson's The Lady starring a very stunningly regal Michelle Yeoh((tag: xavierpop, film, pop-culture, nerdiness, tumblrize,Asia,Aung San Suu Kyi,Burma,Luc Besson,Michael Aris,Michelle Yeoh,Myanmar,The Lady: Aung San Suu Kyi Nobel Laureate a

Anything by Luc Besson gets my automatic attention. From The Professonial to Taken, the man knows how to tell a tale.

The same goes for Michelle Yeoh. Mind you the main reason I love to watch her on the big screen is not only for the fact that she is one of the most stunning in the world, she brings a grace to movies that is sorely lacking today.

The trailer for Besson's latest, The Lady starring Yeoh has just dropped and while it doesn't look like his normal fare of filmmaking, the glimpse we get of it is stunning, epic and definitely has my attention.

Here is the official synopsis:

The Lady is the extraordinary story of Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband, Michael Aris. It is also the story of the peaceful quest of the woman who is at the core of Burma’s democracy movement. Despite distance, long separations, and a dangerously hostile regime, their love endures until the very end. It’s a story of devotion and human understanding set against a backdrop of political turmoil that continues today. The Lady was written over a period of three years by Rebecca Frayn. Interviews with key fig ures in Aung San Suu Kyi’s entourage enabled her to reconstruct for the first time the true story of Burma’s national heroine.

source : Collider

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Listen to the full Muppets Tribute Album - Muppets:The Green Album on NPR

In advance of the Muppets movie coming out this fall, an album has been put together where artists from today cover some of the most beloved songs that have played over the years on the show and the movies.

Some of the covers are pretty interesting and some are just weird. Weezer does a pretty good job with 'Rainbow Connection' and the Fray do Mahna Mahna very well. OK GO's version of the Muppet theme is a bit wonky for me however it is still a bit of a thrill to heard these songs re-interpreted for youth today.

Head over to NPR where you can stream the whole album. It is definitely worth the time and is a great listen.

thanks to @randeepk for the heads-up.

Filed under  //  Andrew Bird   Arts   Muppet Show   Muppets   NPR   OK Go   Rainbow Connection   Weezer   film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
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Panels Announced for D23 which will include The Avengers, The Muppets, John Carter, Brave, Frankenweenie, Oz the Great and Powerful & more((tag: xavierpop, film, pop-culture, nerdiness, tumblrize,Burbank California,D23,D23 Expo,Dan Scanlon,John Lasseter,M

Yeah Disney is done with Comic-Con.

Not to say that I am surprised or saddened. The San Diego Comic-Con showed studios that us nerds were worth marketing to directly and Disney is now smart enough to take heed of this insight and start their own convention.

Considering they own Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, DisneyToons and the newly acquired Marvel Studios, I don't think there will be a problem with content for the convention.

The aptly named D23 Expo is happening next week and they just dropped a press release announcing the panels. They have some fantastic ones and ones I am eagerly waiting to see what they show (The Avengers anyone?).  Panels will include the aforementioned The Avengers, The Muppets, John Carter, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, Frankenweenie, Oz the Great and Powerful and many more.

There will also be a special presentation by the folks at Pixar showcasing a behind the scenes look at the upcoming Monsters University as well as an advanced screening for Lion King 3D.

All of a sudden I want to head to Anaheim next week...

Oh look! A Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS TAKES FANS BEHIND THE SCENES AT DISNEY’S D23 EXPO, AUGUST 19-21

 

BURBANK, Calif. â€" August 9, 2011 â€" Exclusively at Disney’s D23 Expo August 19-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Disney film fans will go behind the scenes to explore the exciting roster of projects on the horizon at The Walt Disney Studios, with a variety of panel discussions, sneak peeks and exhibits.

On Saturday, August 20, Rich Ross, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios; Sean Bailey, president, production, The Walt Disney Studios; John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios; and Kevin Feige, producer and president, Marvel Studios, will present a not-to-be-missed look at The Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming film slate, which includes Disney’s The Muppets, John Carter, Disney•Pixar’s Brave, Marvel’s The Avengers, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, Oz The Great and Powerful and more.

With projects from Disney, Pixar Animation Studios and Marvel Studios, this special presentation will feature never-before-seen footage and all-star appearances by Jason Segel, Kermit and Miss Piggy (Disney’s The Muppets), Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe (John Carter), Kelly Macdonald and Kevin McKidd (Brave), Jennifer Garner (The Odd Life of Timothy Green), Jack McBrayer and Sarah Silverman (Wreck-It Ralph), cast members from Marvel’s The Avengers and other surprise guests.

In celebration of 25 years of moviemaking magic, five sessions will be devoted to the artistry and technical wizardry of Pixar:

* A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team â€" Enjoy a rare opportunity to spend some time with the key figures responsible for Pixar’s unprecedented success, including John Lasseter (chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), Jim Morris (general manager, Pixar Animation Studios), Pete Docter (director, Monsters, Inc., Up), Andrew Stanton (director, Finding Nemo, WALL-E), Bob Peterson (co-director, Up), Lee Unkrich (director, Toy Story 3), Mark Andrews (director, Brave) and Dan Scanlon (director, Monsters University).

* The Characters of Monsters University â€" Director Dan Scanlon and Production Designer Ricky Nierva discuss how they combine hair, horns and a lot of heart to bring the wonderful Monsters University characters to life.

* Michael Giacchino’s Music of Pixar â€" In this musical presentation, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino explores his early influences through the creation of modern-day classic scores from Ratatouille, Up and Cars 2.

* The Art of Brave â€" Production Designer Steve Pilcher and Shading Art Director Tia Kratter show how they and their team put paint to canvas and fingers to computer keys to create the stunning visuals of Scotland for Disney•Pixar’s upcoming film Brave.

* Pixar Shorts â€" This retrospective screening of the animation studio’s legendary short films will be followed by a panel discussion with several of the filmmakers, including Ralph Eggleston (director, For the Birds), Andy Jimenez (director, One Man Band), Angus MacLane (director, BURN-E), Pete Sohn (director, Partly Cloudy), Teddy Newton (director, Day & Night), and Enrico Casarosa (director, La Luna).

Expo attendees will also have access to advance screenings of an all-new 3D version of The Lion King, presented by RealD 3D, coming to theatres and homes this fall, and the upcoming ABC holiday special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Out on the Expo floor, fans can explore the world of The Walt Disney Studios at their leisure with comprehensive exhibits, including:

* Walt Disney Studios Animation Pavilion â€" Experience the art, technology, culture and legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios with filmmaker demonstrations, drawing classes, book signings, meet-and-greets and art exhibits.

* Walt Disney Studios In-Home Entertainment Pavilion â€" Dive into cutting-edge home entertainment technology and learn what the future holds for Disney movie fans, with sneak peeks of upcoming films in breathtaking high-definition Blu-ray 3Dâ"¢ and more.

* Inside Tides: Pirates of the Caribbean Film Prop Collection â€" Get an up-close look at an exclusive collection of detailed set pieces, props and costumes from the billion-dollar blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

 Tickets to the D23 Expo are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo, including the Disney Legends Ceremony, and can be purchased for single days or for the full three days of festivities. Admission is $47 for a one-day adult ticket and $37 for children 3-12. Three-day passes are $136 for adults and $106 for children. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will receive a discount for up to four admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests.

 About D23 Expo 2011

The D23 Expoâ€"The Ultimate Disney Event for Fans and Familiesâ€"brings the entire world of Disney under one roof at the Anaheim Convention Center, providing guests with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks.

 About D23

The name "D23" pays homage to the wonder and excitement that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official community for fans in Disney's 88-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication Disney twenty-three; a rich website at www.Disney.com/D23; a collectibles line, The Walt Disney Archives Collection; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year, highlighted by the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, August 19-21, 2011.

Fans can join D23 at www.Disney.com/D23, select shops at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort and www.DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us "DisneyD23" on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

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Melanie's Review of Fright Night

I’m a little torn about the Fright Night remake.

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for the original, so I went into the remake a little skeptical. There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with the 2011 version, but it just wasn’t as good as the 1985 film.

Putting that aside, director Craig Gillespie and cast tried very hard to live up to the original. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it as campy as I would have liked, and it lacked some of the back-story that I remember from the first Fright Night. I was also a little worried about the 3-D aspect of the film, but have to admit that I liked the subtlety of it and liked that it wasn’t overdone.

Craig Gillespie has only directed a couple of movies, but made a very smart move not straying too far from the original storyline. It’s the standard formula: teen leaves behind geeky past, scores hot popular chick, tries to deal with dad ditching him and his mom, new neighbour moves in next door who’s a vampire, then teen has to save mom, girlfriend, and the world from vampire.

I’ll be honest: Colin Farrell (Miami Vice, Horrible Bosses) is hot. He is really, really hot.

Yet can ‘hot’ carry a movie? Sadly, not really. It worked for a little while, but Farrell didn’t really say much during the film and after a time it became really noticeable. I also found that he didn’t have as much charisma as Chris Sarandon the first Jerry.

One thing I really appreciated about this film is they cast the two main teenage leads well. I enjoyed Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Alpha Dog) as Charlie Brewster in this version. He was relatable and strong enough to help carry the movie.

Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later, V for Vendetta) was also excellent as the cool popular girlfriend, who’s different from the other teenagers her age. She gave the movie some of its depth. Yelchin and Poots were far better than their original counterparts in the first film.

I also really enjoyed David Tennant (Harry Potter, TV’s Doctor Who) as Peter Vincent. His interaction with my favourite character, Ginger, played by Sandra Vergara, was definitely the best part of the movie. The two of them together were hilarious! She was dead sexy too!

inally. McLovin.  Oh, McLovin. I’m thinking that Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s time is nearly over in the movie world. He’s been playing the same role in every film since Superbad, and personally I’m getting a little tired of him. He definitely had the ‘nerd’ part of Charlie’s ex-best-friend Ed down, but didn’t offer up much beyond that. Personally I found his entire performance flat. The original “Evil Ed” played by Stephen Geoffreys, was such an amazingly played character, that I’m not sure that anyone could have lived up to it.

I found Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine) who played Charlie’s mom, to be wasted in the film. She’s such a strong actress, and didn’t have much in the script to latch on to.

The cameo by Chris Sarandon was priceless. Although, I wish he’d been in the film a lot longer. He is a fantastic actor, and his part was too fast. I actually would have loved to have seen him play Peter Vincent. I think that would have been a fun twist.

If I were to sum up my feelings on this movie, I would say that people who haven ‘t seen the original will totally enjoy the ride. I think anyone who has seen the original will have a more tepid take on it.

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