More Dopeness!! - Another Great, Gritty TV Spot for David Fincher's 'Dragon Tattoo'((tag: xavierpop, film, pop-culture, nerdiness, tumblrize,Daniel Craig,David Fincher,Fincher,Girl With A Dragon Tattoo,Joely Richardson,Rooney Mara,Steven Berkoff,Televisio

The last film that everyone is waiting for before the year-end Best Of lists are compiled is David Fincher's Girl With A Dragon Tattoo. The 8 minute extended trailer was fantastic and to put to rest a lot of the fears around how this movie was going to turn out.

The easy and lazy thing to do is to compare this to the Swedish versions that have already been released. That would be a disservice to Fincher and his crew as well as the story itself.  It is definitely going to be a different and, in my opinion, a much better film experience.

To further prove my point, another really great TV spot was just dropped and it is pretty awesome. I really like the different feel it is giving. If the film is like this, then we are in for quite a ride.

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Louis' Review of Immortals - And he really digs it

"Long before man roamed these lands, there was a War in Heaven"

Thus begins Tarsem Singh's 'Immortals.'

Set in Ancient Greece, the Gods having retreated to the Heavens to allow Man to flourish. King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) is in search of the one thing that will give him the power to conquer the world, release the Titans and destroy humanity with the legendary Epirus Bow. While observing the progress Hyperion is making, the King of the Gods, Zeus (Luke Evans) reminds all the other Gods (who want to lend a helping hand to the humans) that they cannot interfere in human affairs.

While Hyperion has been doing what he has been doing, Theseus (Henry Cavill), a fatherless peasant has been quietly trained by an old man (John Hurt) to become a warrior.  After a series of events that rip Theseus from the life he knows to the life, as the fates would have it he was destined for, Theseus is put on a journey that will eventually collide with King Hyperion and his ambitions of destruction. Along the way we meet Phaedra (Freida Pinto), an Oracle whom along with thief Stavros (Stephen Dorf, ) and a Monk (Greg Br yk) join with Theseus, in varying degrees of loyalty, to stop the King's mad quest.

The story is heroic in both its narrative and it's majestic visuals.  This is a tale of good versus evil and at no time is one left confused as to which side a character is on.  Sides have been chosen, a fight is coming. It will be brutish and it will be harsh.  One man hates the Gods, one is their chosen defender.  The fights are frequent, the violence unflinching, however never without purpose.

This is a beautiful film to watch. With an amazing eye for details, Tarsem has taken Charley and Vlas Parlapanides screenplay and made a vibrant, living world in which the characters passions and the violence that surrounds them unfolds in a proper manner.  The sound effects add an unexpected yet stunning layer that highlights the visual aspect of the film.  While there is a long held tradition of using sound and music to help set the tone for a scene, with Immortals, Tarsem implements this in a unique way by which both subtle and overt sounds combine in unexpected ways to highlight the action on screen. This is some of the best use of audio to be found.  As much thought and detail went into the sound as did the visual.

Henry Cavill is excellently cast as the hero, having both the physique and acting talents the role calls for.  His character develops from trained peasant warrior fighting for his family to savior of humanity. It his performance that allows us to become swept up in his fight.  The stunning Freida Pinto does more than just add physical beauty to her scenes, she brings a depth and emotion to a role that is usually pretty and not much else.  In other films Oracles tend to be untouchable, aloof and only there as a plot device.  Not so here. She is a woman who has visions, but a woman first. Her conflict is the passions and desire beyond what her role as Oracle demand of her and that is what makes her character that much more interesting.

I cannot think of a role better suited for Mickey Rourke at this point in his career  Nor can I imagine any other actor playing this part.  King Hyperion is a man who has lived a hard, difficult life for a very, very long time. He hates the world and uses violence to show everyone just how much he hates it. His harsh, gravelly voice and scarred face are great outward representations of a dead soul.

This is an action film.  Fantasy action, but action none the less.  Based loosely on Greek mythology, it takes liberties with both names and events.  This should not deter anyone except Greek scholars from enjoying the narrative.  The scenes themselves are quite well done, the action being the highlight and real star of the film.  The violence comes hard and fast, unrelenting in its intensity and unflinching in its brutality.  The film does show every gory detail and there are plenty as there are numerous killings throughout.  The use of slow-motion gives a heightened sense of the actors movements.  This is not a film for the timid.   The Gods do eventually get involved (how could they not?), and it provides some of the more interesting sequences.  You understand why they are Gods when they seek retribution.

While comparisons to '300' would be on the surface legitimate, I would consider this a much broader story, a mini epic.  Each scene has purpose, adding elements to the whole without either being gratuitous nor boring.  There are no lagging moments, the pace is well timed.  The dialogue is a bit strained at times and some scenes do not quite add as much to the whole as expected.

This can be all be overlooked as the visual and audio will more than make up for shortcomings of the plot.  In the end, this is a highly stylized, violent fantasy film that will appeal mainly to male audiences.

One I highly recommend.

Filed under  //  Freida Pinto   Henry Cavill   Luke Evans   Mickey Rourke   Oracle   Stephen Dorff   Tarsem Singh   Theseus   film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
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The Xavierpop 10 Days of Muppets - There Will Be Attitude! : Very Cool Muppets Movie Character Posters

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last year, you are very well aware that the Muppets movie is opening November 23rd, which is quite literally around the corner. To mark the occasion, we here at Xavierpop have decided to give you ten days of great content that you may have not seen. The folks running the marketing campaign for this movie have done a fabulous job touching the many multitude of media that we now get to play with.

It also just so happens that we are also giving passes for TWO screenings. All of the info can be found here.

For this round, we have some fun character posters featuring (my favourite) Stadler and Waldorf, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Animal, Gonzo and the Chef.

Enjoy.

 

 


 

 

 

Filed under  //  Fozzie Bear   Gonzo   Jason Segel   Kermit   Miss Piggy   Muppet   Piggy   animal   film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
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Here it is ...Check out the first Hunger Games trailer

So kids, the moment you Hunger Games fans have been waiting for is here. The first full trailer for the highly anticipated movie has dropped and it doesn't suck. Actually it's not bad. It's not great, however with it being so early in its development, it doesn't look bad at all.

There is a stil a lot to add because the story is quite a bit longer than just the start, however I love how Lenny Kravitz looks in this and Woody Harrelson seems like a great fit.

Everything and everyone I'm still on the fence on.

For now, I am cautiously optimistic.
(Head over to the Apple trailers site for an HD version)

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Dreamworks Pictures Invites Canadian Veterans To A Special Screening of Spielberg's 'War Horse'((tag: xavierpop, film, pop-culture, nerdiness, tumblrize,Benedict Cumberbatch,DreamWorks,Michael Morpurgo,Remembrance Day,Royal Canadian Legion,Steven Spielber

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this.

In fact, this is one of the most impressive things I have seen a studio do since I have started this film site.

I've been tracking War Horse for awhile now. Ever since it was announced that the first film that Steven Spielberg was going to direct since that craptastic third Indiana Jones movie was going to be War Horse, all details about it have held a special interest for me. The movie is based on the Julie Taymor directed/Tony Award winning play which is in turn based on the best-selling novel. It is a very interesting and well-told story spanning World War I -- all from the point of view of a horse.

As its opening approaches, we will be posting more and more about this film, however I just wanted to draw your attention to a press release that just came across my inbox.

The good folks at Dreamworks are hosting a special screening for Canadian Veterans of War Horse on November 16th.

I love everything about this.

Given the backdrop being World War I. Given that Remembrance Day is around the corner. This just works.

All of that is great, however, I love anything that draws attention to and celebrates the courage and valour that Veterans who fought and sacrificed their lives so that I could do the mundane things in life - like being able to write about film.

Well done Dreamworks.

Oh Look! A Press Release:

 

DREAMWORKS PICTURES INVITES CANADIAN VETERANS TO A SPECIAL SCREENING OF STEVEN SPIELBERG’S “WAR HORSE”

Screenings Will Take Place on November 16, 2011 in Seven Markets Across Canada

 TORONTO (November 10, 2011) â€" In honour of Remembrance Day, DreamWorks Pictures is proud to extend a special invitation to veterans across Canada to attend with a guest an advance screening of Steven Spielberg's epic adventure "War Horse."  The feature film, which opens in theatres across Canada on December 25th, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.  Based on the best-selling book by Michael Morpurgo and the Tony Award-winning stage play by Nick Sta fford, “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war, brought to the screen by one of the great directors in film history.

 The screenings will take place on Wednesday, November 16th in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.  Veterans are invited to contact their local Royal Canadian Legion branch in one of the aforementioned markets for complete details, including information on how to RSVP, as well as screening times and theatre locations. Veterans may also call 1-800-263-2853 ext. 4163398 or visit Facebook.com/WarHorseMovieCanada for more information.

 DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meetsâ€"British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughterâ€"before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.  The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horseâ€"an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure.

 “War Horse” stars Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch and Toby Kebbell.  It is produced by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, and executive producers are Frank Marshall and Revel Guest.  The screenplay was written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis and is based on the book by Michael Morpurgo and the international hit stage play by Nick Stafford, originally produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain and directed by Tom Morris and Marianne Elliot.  The Toronto production of “War Horse” will open at the Princess of W ales Theatre in February 2012.

 www.warhorsemovie.com

-30-

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Monegasque Princely Family to Open TIFF's Grace Kelly Exhibition((tag: xavierpop, film, pop-culture, nerdiness, tumblrize,Academy Award,Country Girl,FashionTelevision,Grace Kelly,Kelly,Monaco,Prince Albert II of Monaco,Toronto,Toronto International Film F

I like how the Toronto International Film Festival rolls. Not only are they showcasing the most extensive collection of Princess Grace of Monaco memorabilia (who was the stunningly talented Grace Kelly before she was married), they have just announced that members of the Monegasque Princely family will be attending the grand opening festivities.

OK, that is pretty damn cool.

Oh Look! A Press Release:

MONEGASQUE PRINCELY FAMILY TO OPEN TIFF’S

GRACE KELLY EXHIBITION

Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène of Monaco scheduled to attend grand opening event on November 2

 

Toronto â€" Piers Handling, Director and CEO, TIFF, and Noah Cowan, Artistic Director, TIFF Bell Lightbox, announced today that members of the Monegasque Princely family will join in the grand opening festivities for Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess. On November 2, 2011, Their Serene Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Monaco will visit TIFF Bell Lightbox to officially open the exhibition and attend a private reception. The exhibition opens to the public on November 4, 2011.

“It is an honour to welcome members of The Monegasque Princely family to TIFF Bell Lightbox. Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess is a tribute to the life and style of one of the world's most beloved stars and to have Prince Albert and Princess Charlène open the exhibition is a great privilege,” said Handling.

 

Additional information on the event will be available in the coming weeks.

Exhibition Information
Running to January 22, 2012, Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess features rarely-displayed items and artifacts ranging from Grace Kelly’s days as a leading lady in Hollywood to a princess of one of Europe's oldest royal families. The exhibition features many of her original dresses, a special exhibit around an exact replica of her iconic wedding gown, her signature “Kelly bag” and tiara, along with photos from her childhood scrapbooks and high school yearbooks, letters signed "Affectionately, Hitch," telegrams from Prince Rainier and her Academy Award® statuette for The Country Girl. Kelly’s personal home moviesâ€"shot on Super 8, and featuring her famous friends and familyâ€"provide visitors with an extremely rare glimpse into her personal life. Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess is based on the Grimaldi Forum’s “The Grace Kelly Years ” exhibition in Monaco, and the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “Grace Kelly: Style Icon” exhibition in London. TIFF Bell Lightbox is the only venue in North America to host elements from these landmark shows and to complement the exhibition with dedicated film programmes.

 

Launching in conjunction with the exhibition on November 4, TIFF Cinematheques’s film series Icy Fire: The Hitchcock Blonde is a fascinating exploration of the great director’s obsession with the cool, regal blonde goddesses that Kelly played for him in Dial M for Murder, To Catch a Thief and Rear Window, and December brings a Grace on Screen programme which surveys Kelly’s brief but spectacularly successful screen career from her first small appearances to her most famous starring roles.

 

Tickets for the exhibition and film programmes are on sale now. TIFF Members get free access to Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess and can purchase additional tickets at non-member prices in person, by phone and online. Non-member tickets are $15 plus tax (child/student/senior discounts available). Combo exhibition / film discounts are offered on the phone and in person only. Tickets for the exhibition are timed-entry. Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday â€" 10 am to 6 pm, Thursday to Saturday â€" 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday â€" 12 pm to 6 pm, Monday â€" closed.

 

Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess, Icy Fire: The Hitchcock Blonde and Grace on Screen are made possible by Presenting Partner, the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess Media Partners are FashionTelevision and The Toronto Star. World MasterCard® is the Opening Night Sponsor.

TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC and BlackBerry, and Major Supporters the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.

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#awyeeah : Who Ya Gonna Call?? - Cineplex and Sony Pictures bring you a Halloween screening of Ghostbusters!!

Halloween and Cineplex's Most Wanted Monday's series happens to fall on the same day. So of course this gives a great opportunity to screen a great spooky spectacular. hehe

Well, do we have a great choice for you today. The good folks at Cineplex and Sony Pictures have joined together to bring us a screening of Ghostbusters in its full big-screen print.

I love Ghostbusters!

It was the first movie I ever saw in the big screen and started my love for movies. I will definitely be there because...I ain't afraid of no ghosts!

Apologies, had to do it. :)

Head over to the official Cineplex page for Most Wanted Mondays to find out where it is screening near you.

Oh Look! A Press Release!

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Sony Pictures Entertainment Brings Its Classic Film “Ghostbusters” Back to Theatres

Culver City, CA (September 22, 2011) â€" Get ready for mass hysteria!  This October, Sony Pictures Repertory celebrates the original movie Ghostbusters, its franchise, and its fans by bringing the quintessential modern classic back to theatres for a special limited engagement of one showtime one night a week.  Starting on Thursday, October 13, 2011 and continuing every following Thursday in October 2011, fans together will be able to see their favorite paranormal psychologists back on the big screen as they save the world from ghosts, ghouls, and Mr. Stay Puft.

Ghostbusters will show in approximately 500 theatres across the US on October 13th, 20th, and 27th, one showtime each day, in 2K digital with 5.1 surround sound.  Please check local listings for showtimes.  Ghostbusters will also be showing in select theatres in Canada and in various international markets; for more information on international locations and dates, please visit www.parkcircus.com.

Fans who follow Ghostbusters on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ghostbusters) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/StayPuft4Eva) or visit www.ghostbusters.com will be the first to know information about the release and will be able to participate in the fan conversation leading up to this unique theatrical experience.

Commenting on the announcement, Rory Bruer, president, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures, said, “We’re delighted to be bringing Ghostbusters back to the big screen â€" this is a special celebration of the movie, giving the fans a chance to see it on the big screen in perfect digital presentation.  As we head towards Halloween, we ain’t afraid of no ghosts, but just the same, we’re glad that everyone’s favorite paranormal eliminators are on the case.”

The film was directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, with the screenplay written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis.  The executive producer was Bernie Brillstein.

In Ghostbusters, University parapsychologists Dr. Peter Venkman (Murray), Dr. Raymond Stanz (Aykroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Ramis) lose a research grant when their experiment methodology is proven to be bogus. The team decides to go into business for themselves and open ‘Ghostbusters,’ a ghost removal service. After struggling to get on their feet, they are summoned to investigate the strange happenings in Dana Barrett’s (Weaver) Central Park West apartment. What they discover is that all Manhattan is being besieged by ghosts and other worldly demons through a portal in her building.

 Ghostbusters is available on Blu-rayâ"¢ and DVD.

Filed under  //  film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
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The Xavierpop Ye Old Hallow's Eve TrailerFest - The People Under The Stairs (1991)

In honour of ye Old Hallow's Eve, Xavierpop is revisiting the trailers of some of the most proper scary movies of modern film.

Behold..

The trailer for The People Under the Stairs:

Filed under  //  Arts   Games   Halloween   Massive Multiplayer Online   Shopping   Trick-or-treating   Video game   film   movie   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
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The Xavierpop Ye Old Hallow's Eve TrailerFest - Children of the Corn (1984)

In honour of ye Old Hallow's Eve, Xavierpop is revisiting the trailers of some of the most proper scary movies of modern film.

Behold..

The trailer for The Children of the Corn:

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