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Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Online
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Monsters University Free Online : A rare blockbuster that could teach audiences something

One of the more understated strings in the bow of animation giant Pixar are the moral lessons that their films provide to audiences. In 2001 Monsters, Inc. introduced us to Mike and Sully, two monsters that were part of a corporation where monsters could travel through teleportation doors and into bedrooms of children to scare them so that their screams would power their operations. You can use this link for watching the movie. Children were also seen as dangerous outsiders until the business learnt that laughter is a more successful for increasing production. Overcoming our fears, risk taking and laughter are lessons that the animation studio itself taught us and embraced on its own.

Pixar have again upheld this optimistic, moral outlook because Monsters University is a celebration of diversity and learning your specialist skills. The film is a prequel to the 2001 film, with Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprising their roles as monsters Mike and Sully, who are not friends but college rivals learning the trade of scaring and hoping to be accepted into the Monsters, Inc.

The film will give parents an opportunity to talk to their children about the subject of college in a positive outlook. In American there has rarely been a more important time to have this conversation. The Huffington Post wrote in April that there had already been thirteen college shootings this year. In 2007 thirty-two people were shot dead at Virginia Tech. Though never short of funding, the American education system also still produces consistently subpar performances. Countering these pillars of fear and tension, Monsters University captures the emotions of college life and then gleefully subverts them.

The core of the film is the friendship of Mike and Sulley, who represent contrasting attitudes in college study life. Mike is hardworking, ambitious and by the book but also small, an outcast and a loner. He wants to be the sole leader. Sulley is unprepared, lazy and coasts off his family name as a Sullivan. He's bigger, more intimidating and popular than Mike and expects everything will come through his natural ability and that he doesn't need to study. After making a bet with Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren), they're thrown together into a Scare Games contest, where they reluctantly band together, along with other loners, to complete a series of challenges to stay enrolled in the college.

Each game played against the other rival fraternity houses gives the film a story structure that is not dissimilar to The Internship. Unlike that film though, you actually care dearly about the characters. This is one of Pixar's greatest strengthens, not just as animators but as filmmakers. Each of the hilarious characters, including a middle-aged student and a two-headed dancer, helps to understand each other's strengths and how to use these in the tasks.

http://images.thevine.com.au/resources/VAR/000/033/monsters-university-movie-review_h.jpg

It could be viewed as a generic 'be yourself' message but in the context of a college setting its thematically sensible because college should be a place where people learn their own skills and can take unexpected detours and still succeed. For those assuming this is a derivative underdog story, there is a huge point of conflict in this film, coupled with Pixar's trademark lump in the throat moments, as the story shifts into its darker unexpected final act.

The director of the film was Dan Scanlon, who worked as a storyboard artist for Pixar on Cars. He graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and in his first Pixar film as director he has used these visual skills exceptionally. The film is hysterically funny, partly due to the wit but also the number of sight gags on display.

Monsters University itself resembles a proper college, with lecture rooms, dorms and orientation stalls, and uses this detail to reference old college films and campus stereotypes. I liked the variety in the monster designs, like how one of the students had a moustache shaped like a vampire bat or the Gothic monster that had spikes coming out of the microphone she was holding. Dan Scanlon also controls the beats of the story so that there are breathing spaces between the challenges and that action sequences are brisk and never overlong.

Hollywood films now are bigger and louder, but with little to say. Monsters University is a rare blockbuster that could teach audiences something. The film is about learning to accept fear and failure, while remaining hopeful about change and growth through our different skills. Pixar's personal talent is that their films are still as simulating as they are funny and creative.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 11:58 AM EDT
Sunday, 14 July 2013
‘Pacific Rim’ #3 As ‘Grown-Ups 2′ Edged By #1 ‘Despicable Me 2′ For Domestic Weekend

The Top 3 order changed again this weekend. Holdover Despicable Me 2 is still #1 with around $44.7M beating newcomers Growns-Ups 2 ($42.5M for #2) and Pacific Rim ($38.3M for #3). Universal’s and Illumination Entertainment’s 3D toon is #1 worldwide passing $400M global gross and $200M from North America. Warner Bros’ and Legendary Pictures’ mecha anime-inspired scifi battle was  the only original newcomer fighting 2 sequels. Because of good reviews and CinemaScores, the hope is to “broaden out” the 3D film’s audience for the next four weeks of IMAX screenings. The $180-$220m costing pic’s worldwide cume is now $91.3M after opening in 50% of international territories this weekend. More later.
SATURDAY 10 AM, 8TH UPDATE: What a surprise Friday’s domestic box office turned out to be as Summer 2013 continues to sizzle. Total moviegoing this weekend is close to $200M which is a humongous +29% from last year. At first the three top films looked neck and neck throughout Friday. After predictions of possible disaster, Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures’ 3D Pacific Rim (3,275 theaters and 331 IMAX screens) seemed strong throughout the day but then “ran out of IMAX tix and pre-sales at last” according to an exec. It ended Friday #2 with $14.6M and an expected $37M weekend. With audiences giving it an ‘A-’ CinemaScore, the scifi winner-takes-all actioner may have an upside with word of mouth. Or else the hype just failed to hold. International is a big part of Pacific Rim‘s strategy day and date in 38 territories in a crowded marketplace with 9,700 screens including the Top 12 markets. But Sony Pictures/Happy Madison’s Growns-Ups 2 (3,491 theaters) wound up #1 Friday with a middle-of-the-road ‘B’ CinemaScore (same as the original) despite terrible reviews. Goes to show that this summer’s audiences are still starved for comedy. And that no one can count out Adam Sandler and his $80M ensemble or Jeff Blake’s strong marketing department. It made $16.3M for $42M, beating the first’s $14.4M/$40.5M. Internationally, Sony is releasing it day and date in just Spain and some small territories this weekend Germany next week, and then a wide rollout. But even though Universal’s and Illumination Entertainment’s global #1 holdover Despicable Me 2 placed #3 Friday, it must wait for the Saturday kiddie bump to see if it can land on top of the worldwide box office again. The 3D toon did $13.3M domestic Friday (-56%) and should end up $43M. Pic reached $404.6M at the worldwide box office today and crosses $200M later today after just one week in release. Film only cost a very reasonable $76M and has 18 more foreign territories to open over the next few months.
Here’s how it all went down: For Thursday late shows and Friday midnights, Pacific Rim overperformed for $3.6M with the 3D ratio a strong 52% “and the largest ratio of a wide release for a very long time” according to an exec. Grown-Ups 2 also started with bigger than expected $2.3M late shows even though it’s a PG-13 family, non-fanboy, non-IMAX movie. As of 9:00 AM PT Friday morning on Fandango, the three top films were selling neck and neck online and through mobile: 31% for Pacific Rim, 30% for Despicable Me 2, and 28% for Grown-Ups 2. According to Friday’s Rotten Tomatoes scores, Pacific Rim had 72% positive reviews, Grown-Ups 2 an astoundingly awful 5%. (Ouch!)
Few tentpoles this summer and even this year have prompted more uninformed box office forecasting and just amateurish speculation (but not on Deadline) than the mecha anime inspired Pacific Rim. Headlines like “It’ll tank!” or “It’ll triumph!” sometimes within 24 hours of one another, ignored the fact that tracking is unreliable. And it sure has been this May, June, and July. One reason for the extra attention on Pacific Rim is that it cost an expensive $180M-$220M due to its Industrial Light & Magic CGI. And also because it was fully developed and produced and majority financed by Legendary (with Warner Bros minority financing as well as distributing and marketing) without stars from a home-grown IP. That has focused all eyes on Legendary’s Thomas Tull, screenwriter Travis Beacham (who had the idea for the film), and co-scribe/director Guillermo del Toro. Tracking initially lagged but then domestic interest in Pacific Rim climbed once the full impact of Sue Kroll’s marketing campaign hit the market. But I fear it was front-loaded with scifi fanboys and failed to widen. It also seemed too derivative of Transformers, Godzilla, and, well, everything else audiences have seen before. While a major studio might be disappointed with Pacific Rim‘s domestic gross, mega-financier Tull has the luxury of mining this marginal outcome into a franchise – especially depending on how foreign performs.
Warner Bros says Pacific Rim continued to dominate Russia’s market at #1 with a 3-day cume of $4.1M. Korea had another great day with cume now $3.1M after 2 days, ranking #1 and taking 45% of the Top Five. Mexico started with $1.3M, and UK opening day was $1M ranking 2nd behind the other opener Monsters University. Australia’s cume is now $1.2M but only #4 for two straight days during the school holidays which is baffling, Italy is $585K, and New Zealand $221K. Pic launched in 25 markets on Thursday with a solid $7.8M on roughly 5,950 screens. Thursday’s top 7 markets included a strong opening day throughout Asia for #1. France and Germany follow next weekend, then China on July 31st, and Spain, Japan and Brazil on August 9th.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 11:25 PM EDT
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Don't Worry: 'The Lone Ranger' Hasn't Killed The Western

It's not hard to imagine that somewhere in the recesses of Hollywood, some development exec is pointing at the abysmal returns from Disney's failed attempt at a new Johnny Depp franchise, "The Lone Ranger," and saying that the western is dead because audiences don't care about cowboys.
That studio exec is very, very wrong.
The exec has some good evidence, though. "The Lone Ranger" may result in a loss for Disney totaling $150 million. One of last year's biggest flops, "John Carter," begins in a western setting. Even James Bond and Han Solo couldn't bring audience out to see "Cowboys & Aliens." Don't even mention "Wild Wild West."
But these aren't the movies that the exec should be looking at to gauge the vitals of the western. These are all perfectly good examples of why, of all genres, you don't mess with the western by adding crappy effects. If you really want to know if the western still has some power, these are the three movies you need to consider.

"True Grit"
The Coen Brothers' adaptation of Charles Portis' novel opened on Christmans Day 2010 and became one of the biggest surprise hits of the year. In all, the classic-style western made $171 million in the US alone, making it the 13th highest grossing film of the year behind "Tron Legacy." The Coens take on the classic western is almost subversive in how traditional it is. There are occasional moments of their signature humor, but for the most part this is a straight adaptation, and audiences ate it up.

"Django Unchained"
"Django Unchained" the perfect example of how a creative mind can shift the tropes of a traditional western, while still remaining true to what people love about the genre. Quentin Tarantino took the themes and characters he wanted to explore with his slavery era narrative and fit them into them perfectly into the style of a spaghetti western.

"Skyfall"
The bombastic finale to James Bonds' latest adventure borrowed more than a few moves from the classic "last stand" trope found in countless westerns. Over his 50 year history, Bond has played many roles, but we had never seen him before as the western hero. And he fit it oh-so well. "Skyfall" also proved that even if the hero isn't sporting a 10-gallon hat, the western can live on.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 12:02 AM EDT
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Vince Vaughn Is The Proud Father Of 533 In 'Delivery Man'

Vince Vaughn has had a rough few months. First, his reunion with fellow "Wedding Crasher" Owen Wilson, "The Internship," wasn't so hot, and now in the trailer for his newest comedy, "Delivery Man," he finds out that thanks to a clerical error, he is the father of 533 children, all of whom are suing to find out his identity.

The trailer is pretty standard fare. Vaughn is given a file that contains the identities of all his children that he isn't supposed to look at but uses to surreptitiously help them all out in various ways. It looks like it has some heart, which might be a nice change of pace.
What really has us excited is Chris Pratt in the role of Vaughn's lawyer buddy. On TV, Pratt is consistently one of the funniest elements of "Parks and Recreation," and now that we're seeing him cross over into film with movies like "Zero Dark Thirty" and next year's "Guardians of the Galaxy," we're hoping to see a lot more of Andy Dwyer.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 11:48 PM EDT
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Lives Up to the Title Perfectly
Topic: Movies
It's Fast! It's Furious! It's Number 6 in the franchise! It's dumber than a box of rocks, or maybe an avalanche of rocks on speed. It's pretty much a live-action remake of Cars II. Vin Diesel and The Rock are fun to watch, but you can only take so many physically impossible car stunts and physiologically impossible fights. Use this link to watch the film http://watchfastandfurious6onlinefreefullmovie.com/ .I picture this film being used as a cure for ADHD the way the character in A Clockwork Orange was cured of violence. "Oh, look, something shi- Nooo! Not the London street race scene again!" Supervillain Owen Stark is collecting the components for a superweapon that can black out a whole country. Why the components are scattered instead of assembled is never made clear. The last item is a computer chip which, instead of being hidden in a desk drawer or just smashed with a hammer, is transported to a new location in a heavy carrier containing, for some reason, a tank. Stark and his baddies steal the tank and smash a lot of cars. They are captured but it can't be that easy, can it? No, it's not. They've had other henchmen take the wife of one of Vin Diesel's guys hostage. So now we have another car chase, plus a plane chase, plus boarding the plane through the loading ramp, plus three or four simultaneous fights, followed by a plane crash. Oh, look for a Jason Statham crossover next time.

Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 10:47 PM EDT
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Sunshine Sachs Principals Ken Sunshine, Shawn Sachs Start Offshoot Production Shingle For Film, TV, Digital

I’ve seen PR companies become part of ad agencies, and I’ve seen management companies become generators of film and TV content. But here’s a new one on me — a publicity firm branching full scale into the production business. Sunshine Sachs’ principals Ken Sunshine and Shawn Sachs, who do PR for a great client list that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Jason Statham, Natalie Portman, Tommy Mottola and Tyler Perry, have launched Madica Productions. This is a sister company that aims to be a full-service development and production house. Madica will develop content for digital, TV and film platforms, with a slate that will include nonscripted and digital content stemming from the firm’s diverse lineup of clients. The managing director of the spinoff company will be Jeff Tahler, who joined the firm as a partner after a six-year run as FremantleMedia SVP Acquisitions and Development for its Global Content Division.
Tahler oversaw the creation of Fremantle’s scripted studio and acquired programming that included Project Runway, The Apprentice, Oprah’s Big Give, No Reservations With Anthony Bourdain and Bellator MMA. Tahler also developed, produced, and funded scripted television projects, working with producers to sell over 25 projects. FremantleMedia’s first scripted show, The Wedding Band, premiered on TBS in November 2012. Prior to Fremantle, Tahler worked for eight years at Miramax Films in New York in posts that included VP Acquisitions and founder of the Family & Kids division, which he ran for three years.The idea is that a diversified PR agency brings in clients that are feeders to potential programming. With so many outlets available, why not help generate the actual programming?
“Madica Productions will offer another avenue for our clients and colleagues to tell stories that entertain, inspire and innovate,” said Sachs, CEO of Sunshine Sachs. “Under Jeff’s guidance, we look forward to developing Madica into an incubator for cutting-edge, smart, exciting content – the type of substance that has always inspired us during our day-to-day work at Sunshine Sachs.”
Said Tahler: “I have known both Shawn and Ken for my entire career and greatly admire what they have built over the years. When the three of us started discussing the vision for Madica, I quickly realized that this was an extraordinary opportunity to work alongside a dynamic team. We are eager to develop and produce the type of content that reflects our wide range of passions and interests. Today that can be anything from a short form digital series to a big budget feature film, and we will be developing stories for all platforms.”


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 10:08 PM EDT
Monday, 24 June 2013
Nik Wallenda’s Historic Skywire Walk A Social Media Score For Discovery

Too bad social media wasn’t around in Evel Knievel’s day. Tightrope walker Nik Wallenda and his 1,400 foot “Skywire” scoot 1,500 feet over the Grand Canyon sans safety harness drew a flurry of online action for Discovery Channel Sunday night. During a post-walk Wallenda interview with the Today Show‘s Willie Geist and Natalie Morales, the network revealed that the feat, broadcast live in the US and 223 countries, generated 40,000 Tweets per minute, 700K Tweets in total, and 1.5M streams on Discovery.com. Even CNN‘s Piers Morgan was impressed. Tweeted @PiersMorgan: “Now THIS is cable news #skywire.”


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 12:10 AM EDT
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
2ND UPDATE: Charlie Sheen Fired Selma Blair From ‘Anger Management’ Via Text, Show To Continue Production As Scheduled

I’ve learned more details about Selma Blair‘s shocking dismissal from Anger Management. I hear Charlie Sheen “fired” her via text, in which he called the actress a “c–t”. And it was not the only abusive, expletives-filled text she had received from Sheen, who also serves as an executive producer on Anger Management. I also hear that Blair was not the only memCharlie Sheen Selma Blair Anger Management Feudber of the show’s cast and crew that was frustrated by Sheen’s work habits as I hear they would often sit and wait for hours for him to show up for work. Although it was Blair voicing her concerns that got Sheen to flip out and get her sacked. I hear Blair’s role as Charlie’s therapist will not be recast. Probably not coincidentally, I hear the series just sent out a notice about a new female regular who is expected to fill the void left by Blair. The producers likely will use Blair’s exit for another creative makeover following the recent tweaking following Anger Management‘s sagging ratings. But, while the show took an unplanned hiatus for the recent creative retool, it is now expected to stay in production as scheduled, with the writers making changes prompted by Blair’s departure on the fly. Anger Management is roughly halfway through its 100-episode order from FX. As for Blair, word is that she is being paid per her contract and no legal action is in the cards, at least not for now.
UPDATE TUESDAY 5:15 PM: What Charlie Sheen wants, he gets. After mounting a campaign to get his co-star on the FX comedy series Selma Blair fired over alleged comments questioning his work ethic, it’s mission accomplished for Sheen, who reportedly threatened to quit the show if Blair stayed. Anger Management producer Lionsgate just issued a statement, making Blair’s dismissal from the show official. “We are confirming that Selma Blair will not be returning to Anger Management, and we wish her the very best.”
PREVIOUS MONDAY PM:  The producers of FX‘s Anger Management and reps for Selma Blair are hunkered down today trying to patch things up following a scathing TMZ report posted in the middle of the night that series star and executive producer Charlie Sheen was dead set on firing his co-star over alleged complaints about Sheen she had made to other Anger Management producers. There is no official word on Blair’s status on the show with everyone involved keeping mum, but in a recent tweet posted on the show’s first day back from a monthlong hiatus for creative tweaking in light of the recent ratings slump, Blair was more than complimentary of Sheen: “Thanks for a great day back . You looked pretty darn handsome.“
This is a move brimming with irony, starting of course with the name of the show as the dismissal attempt reportedly stemmed from Sheen getting enraged over comments made by Blair that questioned his work ethic. Also, Sheen actually went to the mat for Blair in the original casting process. She was his choice, he spoke very highly of her in TV interviews and, despite FX not going with Blair in the role of the therapist after the final round of auditions, Sheen made a push and got her the part. Anger Management is roughly halfway through its 100-episode order. The show has been getting extra exposure on Fox to help boost its ratings on FX, which have dropped significantly since its original 10-epsiode run.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 11:22 PM EDT
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Latest 300: Rise Of An Empire Poster

With the new Hobbit poster quickly followed by the trailer this week, can we take today’s arrival of the new teaser image for 300: Rise Of An Empire as a sign that the first footage promo for the follow-up to the battle-happy epic will be marching online soon, even with the shifted release date? We’ll have to see, but for now take a look at the new image. {New 300: Rise Of An Empire Poster}Blood and water are very much the defining elements of this one, with Sullivan Stapleton’s general Themistokles looking pensive as a bloody sea rages behind him.Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel Xerxes and told in the same visual style as Zack Snyder’s original film, this new chapter of the saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield – on the sea – as Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. {Close Up Stapleton Still 300}That won’t be easy, as the effort pits him against against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemisia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.Noam Murro is in charge of the carnage for this one, which will arrive across the pond on March 7, 2014 and probably not long after that over here.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 10:51 PM EDT
Saturday, 8 June 2013
Movie Casting Round-Up: Ken Howard & David Krumholtz Join ‘The Judge’, Madisen Beaty In ‘Measure Of A Man,’ Max Ryan Added To ‘Tokarev’

Ken Howard has joined the cast of The Judge with Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall. The SAG-AFTRA National Co-President will play Judge Warren in the Warner Bros film. The heartland character presides over the murder trial of Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall) as he is defended by his cynical and estranged attorney son (Downey). Repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency, the Emmy-winning actor will also be seen in the upcoming Adult Children of Divorce.
David Krumholtz has also joined The Judge. The actor will play Kattan, a younger prosecutor who challenges the Downey’s character’s sense of right and wrong. Krumholtz can be seen in the upcoming This Is The End with Seth Rogan and James Franco. The independent film Teddy Bears, which he stars opposite Melanie Linsky, premieres this month at The Seattle International Film Festival. Krumholtz is repped by Silver Lining Entertainment and Gersh.
The Terry Loane-directed The Measure Of A Man has added Madisen Beaty to its cast. The actress, who appeared in The Master last year and has a recurring role on ABC Family’s The Fosters, will play the role of Michelle in the film. Measure of a Man examines the summer vacation when chubby and bullied Bobby Mark transforms into a confident young man. The Michelle character is his sister, a girl used to getting attention and her own way. Beaty recently wrapped production on the indie Jamie Marks Is Dead opposite Liv Tyler and Noah Silver. The actress is represented by UTA, Coast to Coast, Schiff Co. and attorney Harris Hartman
Max Ryan has landed the role of Kane in Tokarev with Nicolas Cage and Danny Glover. The actor’s character is a close friend to Cage’s Paul Maguire and aids the reformed crook in finding the Russian mobsters who kidnapped his daughter. Ryan, who had a supporting role in Sex And The City 2, is repped by KLWGN Entertainment.


Posted by harrypotter7fullonline at 2:26 AM EDT

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