Support Leroy on Patreon:
MY REVIEW OF "GEMINI MAN" IS here.
MY REVIEW OF "JOKER" IS here.
POLITICS - From YahooLifestyle: "You wouldn't know a joke if one raised you," Senator Kamala Harris tells Donald Trump, Jr. a.k.a. "Dumb, Jr."
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MUSIC - From YahooMusic: Tina Turn called Elton John "fat."
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Bob Weinstein is trying to recover from the crap storm that is his brother, Harvey Weinstein, and all his sexual abuse allegations. Bob has launched a boutique production label, "Watch This Entertainment." First project is the animated film, "Endangered," which Bob is producing with actress Tea Leoni.
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman") and her husband, Jason Varsano, have formed a production company, Pilot Wave. Their first film project will be the fact-based historical thriller, "Irene Sendler."
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TELEVISION - From Variety: A judge has rejected AMC's claim that it is not responsible for the death of stuntman John Bernecker on the set of "The Walking Dead" in 2017. Bernecker's family filed suit in 2018, and a trial is scheduled to begin December 9th, 2019. AMC has made several claims of immunity from the lawsuit and about not being responsible for the accident that took Bernecker's life.
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DISNEY - From Variety: Emmy-winner Billy Porter will play the "fairy godmother" in a re-imagined musical version of "Cinderella" that Sony is producing.
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TELEVISION - From TVLine: Actress Drew Barrymore's syndicated daytime talk show gets a green light from CBS Television Distribution. A pilot for the show has already been shot.
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Kerry Washington is join super-producer Ryan Murphy's "The Prom," which already includes actors like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.
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SPORTS-POLITICS - From CNN: Here is a timeline of the ongoing controversy involving the National Basketball Association, China, the Hong Kong protests, the NBA's Houston Rockets, and a tweet.
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MOVIES - From ScreenDaily: Will Smith, "Gemini Man," Ang Lee and the viability of high fps (frames-per-second) film - also known as HFR (high frame rate) films. 24 fps is the usual rate.
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MOVIES-STREAMING - From Movieweb: The new "Masters of the Universe" movie is due to hit theaters in March 2021. However, Sony may sell the expensive project to Netflix reportedly to minimize financial risk.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has landed one of the lead roles in "The Matrix 4," which is being directed by one of the franchise's creators, Lana Wachowski.
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TELEVISION-AWARDS - From Deadline: Actress, writer, and producer, Mindy Kaling, talks about the Emmy vetting process done by the Television Academy, which led to her being "singled out," as she describes it.
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SCANDAL - From Variety: Ronan Farrow, whose work revealed Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual abuse, makes a shocking allegation in his new book, "Catch and Kill. Farrow alleges that former NBC "Today" co-anchor, Matt Lauer, raped a colleague.
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DISNEY - From Variety: Daveed Diggs, who won both a Tony Award and a Grammy for his work on the Broadway musical, "Hamilton," will play "Sebastian the Jamaican crab" in Disney's live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid."
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Len Wiseman ("Underworld") is set to direct "Ballerina," a female-centric spinoff of the "John Wick" film franchise."
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TELEVISION - From Deadline: "Prodigal Son" becomes the first series of the new Fall TV season to get a full-season pickup from Fox. Fox had ordered 13 episodes of the the serial killer/family drama, and has upped that to a full 22-episode season.
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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 10/5 to 10/7/2019 weekend box office is "Joker" with an estimated take of 93.5 million dollars.
From Variety: "Joker" is the biggest October launch in domestic box office history. It's 93.5 million dollars surpasses the previous record holder, "Venom" which made 80 million dollars in its October 2018 opening weekend.
From Variety: "Joker" dominates international box office with 140.5 million in overseas box office.
From Variety: Todd Phillips' "Joker," starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, sets an October opening day record with an estimated 39.9 million dollar opening on Friday, October 5, 2019
From Patreon: A review of "Joker."
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CELEBRITY - From ABCNews: Tyler Perry christened his new 250 million dollar movie studio Sat., Oct, 5th with a star-studded opening gala, complete with red carpet. The property has once served as a Confederate army base.
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Taika Waititi talks about playing Adolf Hitler in his film, "Jojo Rabbit."
OBITS:
From Variety: The actor Robert Forster has died at the age of 78, Friday, October 11, 2019. Forster was a prolific character actor who had almost 200 acting credits. He received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his role of "Max Cherry" in Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown." He appeared in TV series such as "Last Man Standing" and "Twin Peaks," and he died the same day as the debut of one of his last projects, "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie."
From Deadline: The actor and comedian, Rip Taylor, has died at the age of 84, Sunday, October 6, 2019. Taylor was known for his exuberant and flamboyant personality and for showering himself and others in confetti. He was an a voice actor on animated series, including voicing "Uncle Fester" on the 1992 "Addams Family" animated series. Taylor appeared on talk and variety shows and was a panelist on several game shows, including Hollywood squares.
Showing posts with label Len Wiseman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Len Wiseman. Show all posts
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 1st to 8th, 2018 - Update #25
Support Leroy on Patreon:
MOVIES - From Variety: At the 2018 Venice Film Festival, Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma" wins the top prize, the "Golden Lion."
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SCANDAL-MUSIC - From YahooHuffPost: Les Moonves, CBS CEO and chairman, was obsessed with ruining Janet Jackson’s career, sources say.
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TELEVISION - From YahooEntertainment: The is a "GoFundMe" campaign for Dawn Wells, the actress who played "Mary Ann" on the classic 1960s TV series, "Gilligan's Island."
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MOVIES - From Variety: Hollywood remembers the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actor, Burt Reynolds, who died today, Thursday, Sept. 6th.
From YahooEntertainment: According to Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds hated "Boogie Nights," the film for which he earned an Oscar nomination.
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MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment: Olivia Munn discovered that one of the actors who appears in the new film, "The Predator," is a registered sex offender... and a friend of the film's director, Shane Black. Fox has edited his scene from the film.
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CULTURE-MOVIES - From BleedingCool: WarnerMedia and Michael B. Jordan Announce Company-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Policy
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MUSIC - From YahooMusic: The so-unusual story of how 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' went from bad-boy party song to feminist anthem, 35 years after its made Cyndi Lauper an MTV icon.
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TELEVISION - From Deadline: NBC orders 13 episodes of "Law & Order: Hate Crimes," from franchise creator Dick Wolf and one of his top lieutenants, Warren Leight.
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COMICS-STREAMING - From JoBlo: Len Wiseman, one of the people behind the "Underworld" film franchise, has been tapped to executive produce a series based on DC Comics' "Swamp Thing" for the "DC Universe" streaming platform. Wiseman would also direct the first episode.
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TELEVISION - From Deadline: Tyler Perry has offered actor Geoffrey Owens a job on his TV series for OWN, "The Haves and the Have Nots." Ownes, an alumnus of "The Cosby Show," was recently photographed working at Trader Joe's.
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TELEVISION - From TheVerge: The Big Bang Theory is better at portraying geekdom than haters admit.
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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 8/31 to 9/2/2018 three-day, Labor Day, holiday weekend box office is "Crazy Rich Asians" with an estimated take of $22.2 million.
From Variety: "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" tops the international box office thanks to $77 million grossed in China.
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MOVIES - From THR: Actor Steve Guttenberg said in a Twitter post that a new "Police Academy" movie "is coming." Guttenberg. There are seven films in the franchise, beginning with the first in 1984 and the last in 1994. Guttenberg appeared in the first four films. [Yes, I am a big fan of the franchise. - Ed.]
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Vince Vaughn talks about re-teaming with Mel Gibson in "Dragged Across Concrete."
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POLITICS - From WashPost: Ken Burns writes "How to Honor John McCain's memory."
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CULTURE - From THR: What happens when fandom does not grow up.
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: The memorial service of Senator John McCain, the former Vietnam prisoner of war, is marked by an impassioned and emotional eulogy from his dauther, Meghan McCain, a powerful eulogy frpm President Barack Obama, a former rival of McCain's, and a eulogy of strong and comforting words from President George W. Bush, another former rival.
From TheAtlantic: This article has the full text of President Barack Obama's eulogy of Sen. John McCain.
From TheAtlantic: This article has the full text of President George W. Bush's eulogy of Sen. John McCain.
----------
STREAMING - From TVSeriesFinale: Jennifer Esposito has reportedly joined Amazon Studio's "The Boys." This is an adaptation of the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
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STREAMING - From SlashFilm: Netflix plans to shifts the focus of its original movies to films that are Marvel-like blockbusters.
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CULTURE-BLM - From Truthout: “Sorry to Bother You” Exposes the Danger of Bourgeois Integration
OBITS:
From Variety: The actor and comedian, Bill Daily, died at the age of 91, Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Daily was best known for playing the comic foil on two classic television series. On "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965-70), he was astronaut Major Roger Healey. On the "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-78), he was airline pilot and Bob Newhart's Dr. Robert Hartley's daffy neighbor, Howard Borden.
From Variety: The actor Burt Reynolds has died at the age of 82, Thursday, September 6, 2018. One of the most popular leading men of the 1970s and 1980s, Reynolds appeared in a number of films that are legendary or are iconic, including "Deliverance," "The Longest Yard," and "Smokey and the Bandit." He received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Nights," and he won an Emmy for his lead role in the late CBS series, "Evening Shade." Reynolds was scheduled to appear in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
From RollingStone: The rapper and recording artist, Mac Miller, has died at the age of 26, Friday, September 7, 2018.
MOVIES - From Variety: At the 2018 Venice Film Festival, Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma" wins the top prize, the "Golden Lion."
----------
SCANDAL-MUSIC - From YahooHuffPost: Les Moonves, CBS CEO and chairman, was obsessed with ruining Janet Jackson’s career, sources say.
----------
TELEVISION - From YahooEntertainment: The is a "GoFundMe" campaign for Dawn Wells, the actress who played "Mary Ann" on the classic 1960s TV series, "Gilligan's Island."
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Hollywood remembers the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actor, Burt Reynolds, who died today, Thursday, Sept. 6th.
From YahooEntertainment: According to Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds hated "Boogie Nights," the film for which he earned an Oscar nomination.
-----------
MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment: Olivia Munn discovered that one of the actors who appears in the new film, "The Predator," is a registered sex offender... and a friend of the film's director, Shane Black. Fox has edited his scene from the film.
----------
CULTURE-MOVIES - From BleedingCool: WarnerMedia and Michael B. Jordan Announce Company-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Policy
----------
MUSIC - From YahooMusic: The so-unusual story of how 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' went from bad-boy party song to feminist anthem, 35 years after its made Cyndi Lauper an MTV icon.
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: NBC orders 13 episodes of "Law & Order: Hate Crimes," from franchise creator Dick Wolf and one of his top lieutenants, Warren Leight.
----------
COMICS-STREAMING - From JoBlo: Len Wiseman, one of the people behind the "Underworld" film franchise, has been tapped to executive produce a series based on DC Comics' "Swamp Thing" for the "DC Universe" streaming platform. Wiseman would also direct the first episode.
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Tyler Perry has offered actor Geoffrey Owens a job on his TV series for OWN, "The Haves and the Have Nots." Ownes, an alumnus of "The Cosby Show," was recently photographed working at Trader Joe's.
----------
TELEVISION - From TheVerge: The Big Bang Theory is better at portraying geekdom than haters admit.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 8/31 to 9/2/2018 three-day, Labor Day, holiday weekend box office is "Crazy Rich Asians" with an estimated take of $22.2 million.
From Variety: "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" tops the international box office thanks to $77 million grossed in China.
----------
MOVIES - From THR: Actor Steve Guttenberg said in a Twitter post that a new "Police Academy" movie "is coming." Guttenberg. There are seven films in the franchise, beginning with the first in 1984 and the last in 1994. Guttenberg appeared in the first four films. [Yes, I am a big fan of the franchise. - Ed.]
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Vince Vaughn talks about re-teaming with Mel Gibson in "Dragged Across Concrete."
----------
POLITICS - From WashPost: Ken Burns writes "How to Honor John McCain's memory."
----------
CULTURE - From THR: What happens when fandom does not grow up.
----------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: The memorial service of Senator John McCain, the former Vietnam prisoner of war, is marked by an impassioned and emotional eulogy from his dauther, Meghan McCain, a powerful eulogy frpm President Barack Obama, a former rival of McCain's, and a eulogy of strong and comforting words from President George W. Bush, another former rival.
From TheAtlantic: This article has the full text of President Barack Obama's eulogy of Sen. John McCain.
From TheAtlantic: This article has the full text of President George W. Bush's eulogy of Sen. John McCain.
----------
STREAMING - From TVSeriesFinale: Jennifer Esposito has reportedly joined Amazon Studio's "The Boys." This is an adaptation of the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
----------
STREAMING - From SlashFilm: Netflix plans to shifts the focus of its original movies to films that are Marvel-like blockbusters.
----------
CULTURE-BLM - From Truthout: “Sorry to Bother You” Exposes the Danger of Bourgeois Integration
OBITS:
From Variety: The actor and comedian, Bill Daily, died at the age of 91, Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Daily was best known for playing the comic foil on two classic television series. On "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965-70), he was astronaut Major Roger Healey. On the "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-78), he was airline pilot and Bob Newhart's Dr. Robert Hartley's daffy neighbor, Howard Borden.
From Variety: The actor Burt Reynolds has died at the age of 82, Thursday, September 6, 2018. One of the most popular leading men of the 1970s and 1980s, Reynolds appeared in a number of films that are legendary or are iconic, including "Deliverance," "The Longest Yard," and "Smokey and the Bandit." He received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Nights," and he won an Emmy for his lead role in the late CBS series, "Evening Shade." Reynolds was scheduled to appear in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
From RollingStone: The rapper and recording artist, Mac Miller, has died at the age of 26, Friday, September 7, 2018.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 1st to 11th, 2018 - Update #30
Support Leroy on Patreon:
STAR TREK - From THR: Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth have walked away from contract negotiations for the fourth installment of Paramount's "Star Trek" reboot series.
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STREAMING - From TheWrap: Ava DuVernay has completed casting for his Netflix limited series, "Central Park Five."
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STAR TREK - From YahooEntertainment: Nichelle Nichols, who played "Uhura" on the original "Star Trek" series, is reportedly suffering from dementia.
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COMICS-FILM - From WeGotThisCovered: Sony owns the films rights to "roughly 900 characters" of Marvel Comics' characters, including Spider-Man and characters associated with him. Sony is creating their own cinematic universe of Marvel Comics characters. They are calling it the "SUMC."
----------
MOVIES - From People: In this first photographic image of Tom Hardy as real-life gangster, Al Capone, Hardy is non-recognizable. Hardy will play Capone in the director Josh Trank's film, "Fonzo."
STAR TREK - From WeGotThisCovered: A few more details leak about Patrick Stewart's return to "Star Trek" as Jean-Luc Picard.
----------
OSCARS - From THR: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced sweeping changes to the Academy Awards/Oscars, including announcing a new category, "Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film."
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Showtime boss and CEO David Nevins says that this upcoming eighth season of its hit show, "Homeland," will be its last.
----------
STAR TREK - From BleedingCool: The CBS All Access series, "Star Trek: Discovery," is coming to Blu-ray and DVD, with all 15 episodes from the first season and bonus content. Release date is set for November 13th, 2018.
----------
STREAMING - From BleedingCool: "The Disney Streaming Service" will offer original movies and remakes of older Disney films.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" is the winner of the 8/3 to 8/5/2018 weekend box office with an estimated take of $35 million.
From ShadowandAct: It is official. "Black Panther" is just the third film to gross $700 million in the United States.
-----------
STREAMING - From ShadowandAct: Storm Reid ("A Wrinkle in Time") and Niecy Nash (TNT's "Claws") are among five actresses taking supporting roles in Ava DuVernay's Netflix series, "Central Park Five."
----------
MOVIES - From TheGuardian: In an interview about his new film, "BlacKkKlansman," director Spike Lee says, "This guy in the White House has given the green light for the Klan."
----------
MOVIES - From Movieweb: "Halloween" franchise producer, Malek Akkad, wants William Shatner to make a cameo in a future "Halloween" film. Find out why... if you don't already know.
----------
STREAMING-STAR TREK - From TheWrap: Actor Patrick Stewart will reprise his role as "Captain Jean-Luc Picard" in a new "Star Trek" series for CBS All Access, the CBS streaming service. Stewart played Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generations (1987 to 1994) and in "Next Generation" spinoff films.
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COMICS-ANIMATION - From IndieWire: FX CEO John Landgraf says "we would have done that show" about Donald Glover and his brother Stephen Glover's proposed "Deadpool" animated series, which Marvel, the rights holder of the Deadpool character, nixed
----------
MOVIES - From YahooNews: The Foreign Ministry of Russia has appointed action movie star, Steven Seagal, a "special envoy for humanitarian ties" with the United States.
----------
TELEVISION - From TVLine: FX has approved a tenth season of "American Horror Story."
From Variety: Oscar-winner, Emmy-winner, and Tony Award-winner Jessica Lange will appear in "American Horror Story" Season 8.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Chris Rock to star in FX's "Fargo" Season 4.
----------
MOVIES - From JoBlo: Len Wiseman ("Underworld") says "Die Hard: Year One," the franchise reboot is happening "fairly soon."
----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: The "Metal Gear Sold" movie will keep the weird stuff from the games.
----------
OSCARS - From IndieWire: Oscars 2019: The 31 Movies You Need to Keep an Eye On During Fall Film Festival Season.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From Deadline: Writer-director Matt Reeves provides a few updates on his "Batman" stand-alone film.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: "Spin the Wheel," a game show from executive producer Justin Timberlake, ordered by FOX.
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TELEVISION - From CBR: After his abuse accusations nearly derailed his career, Chris Hardwick has been reinstated as host of NBC's primetime game show, "The Wall," and will return this fall. Hardwick was also reinstated as host of AMC's "Talking Dead."
----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: Carl Lumbly and Alex Essoe join Warner Bros. "Doctor Sleep" film. Based on the 2013 Stephen King novel, "Doctor Sleep" is a sequel to "The Shining."
----------
COMICS-STREAMING - From Variety: Diane Guerrero ("Orange in the New Black") joins "Doom Patrol," based on the DC Comics series. The "Doom Patrol" series is headed for the "DC Universe" streaming service.
OBITS:
From Variety: The actress Charlotte Rae died at the age of 92, Sunday, August 5, 2018. Rae was best known as the housemother, Mrs. (Edna) Garrett, on the long-running NBC sitcom, "The Facts of Life" (1979-1988). She also appeared on the short-lived, 1960s sitcom, "Car 54 Where Are You?" (which is one of my favorite TV shows - Ed.)
From THR: The actress Mary Carlisle has died at the age of 104, died at the age of Wednesday, August 1, 2018. She was Bing Crosby's co-star in three delightful musicals of the 1930s, including 1937's "Double or Nothing." She co-starred with several big names of the "Golden Age" of Hollywood films, including Jack Benny in "It's in the Air" and John Barrymore in "Should Ladies Behave." Carlisle retired from acting after appearing in the 1943 horror film, "Dead Men Walk."
STAR TREK - From THR: Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth have walked away from contract negotiations for the fourth installment of Paramount's "Star Trek" reboot series.
----------
STREAMING - From TheWrap: Ava DuVernay has completed casting for his Netflix limited series, "Central Park Five."
----------
STAR TREK - From YahooEntertainment: Nichelle Nichols, who played "Uhura" on the original "Star Trek" series, is reportedly suffering from dementia.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From WeGotThisCovered: Sony owns the films rights to "roughly 900 characters" of Marvel Comics' characters, including Spider-Man and characters associated with him. Sony is creating their own cinematic universe of Marvel Comics characters. They are calling it the "SUMC."
----------
MOVIES - From People: In this first photographic image of Tom Hardy as real-life gangster, Al Capone, Hardy is non-recognizable. Hardy will play Capone in the director Josh Trank's film, "Fonzo."
STAR TREK - From WeGotThisCovered: A few more details leak about Patrick Stewart's return to "Star Trek" as Jean-Luc Picard.
----------
OSCARS - From THR: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced sweeping changes to the Academy Awards/Oscars, including announcing a new category, "Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film."
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Showtime boss and CEO David Nevins says that this upcoming eighth season of its hit show, "Homeland," will be its last.
----------
STAR TREK - From BleedingCool: The CBS All Access series, "Star Trek: Discovery," is coming to Blu-ray and DVD, with all 15 episodes from the first season and bonus content. Release date is set for November 13th, 2018.
----------
STREAMING - From BleedingCool: "The Disney Streaming Service" will offer original movies and remakes of older Disney films.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" is the winner of the 8/3 to 8/5/2018 weekend box office with an estimated take of $35 million.
From ShadowandAct: It is official. "Black Panther" is just the third film to gross $700 million in the United States.
-----------
STREAMING - From ShadowandAct: Storm Reid ("A Wrinkle in Time") and Niecy Nash (TNT's "Claws") are among five actresses taking supporting roles in Ava DuVernay's Netflix series, "Central Park Five."
----------
MOVIES - From TheGuardian: In an interview about his new film, "BlacKkKlansman," director Spike Lee says, "This guy in the White House has given the green light for the Klan."
----------
MOVIES - From Movieweb: "Halloween" franchise producer, Malek Akkad, wants William Shatner to make a cameo in a future "Halloween" film. Find out why... if you don't already know.
----------
STREAMING-STAR TREK - From TheWrap: Actor Patrick Stewart will reprise his role as "Captain Jean-Luc Picard" in a new "Star Trek" series for CBS All Access, the CBS streaming service. Stewart played Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generations (1987 to 1994) and in "Next Generation" spinoff films.
----------
COMICS-ANIMATION - From IndieWire: FX CEO John Landgraf says "we would have done that show" about Donald Glover and his brother Stephen Glover's proposed "Deadpool" animated series, which Marvel, the rights holder of the Deadpool character, nixed
----------
MOVIES - From YahooNews: The Foreign Ministry of Russia has appointed action movie star, Steven Seagal, a "special envoy for humanitarian ties" with the United States.
----------
TELEVISION - From TVLine: FX has approved a tenth season of "American Horror Story."
From Variety: Oscar-winner, Emmy-winner, and Tony Award-winner Jessica Lange will appear in "American Horror Story" Season 8.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Chris Rock to star in FX's "Fargo" Season 4.
----------
MOVIES - From JoBlo: Len Wiseman ("Underworld") says "Die Hard: Year One," the franchise reboot is happening "fairly soon."
----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: The "Metal Gear Sold" movie will keep the weird stuff from the games.
----------
OSCARS - From IndieWire: Oscars 2019: The 31 Movies You Need to Keep an Eye On During Fall Film Festival Season.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From Deadline: Writer-director Matt Reeves provides a few updates on his "Batman" stand-alone film.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: "Spin the Wheel," a game show from executive producer Justin Timberlake, ordered by FOX.
----------
TELEVISION - From CBR: After his abuse accusations nearly derailed his career, Chris Hardwick has been reinstated as host of NBC's primetime game show, "The Wall," and will return this fall. Hardwick was also reinstated as host of AMC's "Talking Dead."
----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: Carl Lumbly and Alex Essoe join Warner Bros. "Doctor Sleep" film. Based on the 2013 Stephen King novel, "Doctor Sleep" is a sequel to "The Shining."
----------
COMICS-STREAMING - From Variety: Diane Guerrero ("Orange in the New Black") joins "Doom Patrol," based on the DC Comics series. The "Doom Patrol" series is headed for the "DC Universe" streaming service.
OBITS:
From Variety: The actress Charlotte Rae died at the age of 92, Sunday, August 5, 2018. Rae was best known as the housemother, Mrs. (Edna) Garrett, on the long-running NBC sitcom, "The Facts of Life" (1979-1988). She also appeared on the short-lived, 1960s sitcom, "Car 54 Where Are You?" (which is one of my favorite TV shows - Ed.)
From THR: The actress Mary Carlisle has died at the age of 104, died at the age of Wednesday, August 1, 2018. She was Bing Crosby's co-star in three delightful musicals of the 1930s, including 1937's "Double or Nothing." She co-starred with several big names of the "Golden Age" of Hollywood films, including Jack Benny in "It's in the Air" and John Barrymore in "Should Ladies Behave." Carlisle retired from acting after appearing in the 1943 horror film, "Dead Men Walk."
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Review: "Underworld: Blood Wars" is Fresh Blood for the Franchise
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
Underworld: Blood Wars (2017)
Running time: 91 minutes (1 hour, 41 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong bloody violence, and some sexuality
DIRECTOR: Anna Foerster
WRITERS: Cory Goodman and Kyle Ward; from a story by Cory Goodman (based upon characters created by Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride and Len Wiseman)
PRODUCERS: David Kern, Len Wiseman, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
EDITOR: Peter Amundson
COMPOSER: Michael Wandmacher
FANTASY/ACTION with elements of sci-fi and horror
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Charles Dance, James Faulkner, Peter Andersson, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James, Daisy Head, Oliver Stark, and Sveta Driga
Underworld: Blood Wars is a 2016 action horror film from director Anna Foerster. It is the fifth installment in the Underworld film franchise, which began with the 2003 film, Underworld. Released in the United States in 2017, Blood Wars is a direct sequel to the fourth installment, Underworld: Awakening (2012). In the new film, a legendary and reviled vampire Death Dealer tries to end the seemingly eternal war between the Lycans (werewolves) and the vampires.
As Underworld: Blood Wars begins, the remaining vampire covens are on the verge of being wiped out by the Lycans. Selene (Kate Beckinsale), the legendary vampire Death Dealer, is trying to end the 1500-year-old war between the species. The Lycans are led by Marius (Tobias Menzies), who is seeking Selene. He plans to force Selene to reveal the whereabouts of her daughter, Eve, whose blood Marius believes holds the key to building an army of vampire-werewolf hybrids.
David (Theo James), the younger vampire who befriended Selene (in Underworld: Awakening), and his father, Thomas (Charles Dance), approach the Eastern Coven, the last major vampire coven still standing, to convince its leaders that they need Selene if they are going to defeat Marius.
Semira (Lara Pulver), a council member of the Eastern Coven, seeks to leverage more power for herself in the coven, and she wants Selene to be granted clemency so that she can train the Eastern Coven's neophyte Death Dealers. However, Selene and David soon find themselves on the run to a mysterious coven where David will discover his true legacy and where Selene will find transformation.
Underworld: Blood Wars is the best Underworld film since the second film, Underworld: Evolution (2006). It is a shame that it has taken a decade for the franchise to get anywhere near Evolution in terms of quality. Blood Wars mostly ignores Underworld: Awakening's plot, but does carry over three of the characters from the latter film: Theo, David, and Eve (mostly talked about rather than seen, except for appearances via flashbacks and a cameo).
Of course, this is an action horror movie, so there is much vampire-werewolf conflict and some vampire-on-vampire violence. In fact, the two fights here are relatively large scale battles between Lycans and vampires that are similar to the ones found in the third film, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, a prequel story that recounts the beginnings of the Lycan-vampire blood feud.
The writers of Underworld: Blood Wars also use this film to push the series beyond just being an action-horror franchise. The series has always treated the origins of the Lycans and vampires as being scientific and medical – viruses and mutations, and the present day war between the two species has been fought with increasingly advanced technological weapons of war, making the series somewhat science fiction. Now, fantasy elements emerge: spirits, ghostly realms, dreams, and mysticism. That is a good thing because I thought Underworld had clearly stagnated with Awakening, so bringing in supernatural fantasy in Blood Wars adds a new dimension to the franchise.
Beyond that, there is no point in me discussing the acting or the character development, as the characters are just pieces to be moved around as this franchise's decision makers give it a new orientation. Because we get a good movie out of it, the best in a while, I see no reason to complain about acting and character.
6 of 10
B
Sunday, September 3, 2017
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site or blog for syndication rights and fees.
-----------------------------
Friday, October 16, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 11th to 17th, 2015 - Update #24
Support Leroy on Patreon.
NEWS:
From WeGotThisCovered: Rosario Dawson will voice Batgirl in the LEGO Batman movie.
---------------
From IndieWire: John Carpenter wins a plagiarism lawsuit in France against Luc Besson. It involved the film "Lockout" starring Guy Pearce being a rip off of Carpenter's films, "Escape from New York" and "Escape from LA."
---------------
From CinemaBlend: More on "Die Hard" prequel.
---------------
From TheWrap: New Die Hard movie being developed. It would feature both a young John McClane and an older one (Bruce Willis). Len Wiseman developing...
---------------
From TheWrap: "Godzilla vs. Kong" in 2020.
---------------
From Variety: James Cameron's name has long been attached to a film adaptation of the manga, "Battle Angel Alita." Now, word is that Cameron will produce and Robert Rodriguez will direct.
---------------
From IndieWire: Johnny Depp does not want to win an Oscar... he says. He has been nominated three times, and he says being nominated is enough.
---------------
From DigitalSpy: The creator of the popular British television series, "Luther," is writing the remake to Escape From New York.
---------------
From InContention: Quentin Tarantino has cut two version of "The Hateful Eight."
---------------
From Variety: M. Night Shyamalan's low-budget career rival continues with a new thriller featuring James McAvoy.
---------------
From Deadline: John Ridley to write and direct a film about the L.A. riots of 1992.
---------------
From IndieWire: Guillermo del Toro's next film could be about a Mexican wrestler fighting vampire politicians. I'm in!
---------------
From THR: "The Martian" wins the 10/9 to 10/11/2015 weekend box office with an estimated take of $37 million. Warner Bros.' "Pan" bombs with an estimated haul of $15.5 (against a production that cost $150 million).
---------------
From Vulture: A "Firefly" reunion at New York Comic Con 2015.
---------------
From IMDb: Ahead of the Season 6 debut of "The Walking Dead," a Norman Reedus exclusive.
HARD NEWS:
From TheRoot: Two white men argue over who owes whom for gentrification.
---------------
From the AP via YahooNews: Two reports say incompetent rookie Cleveland cop, Timothy Loehmann, was justified in killing 12-year-old, Tamir Rice.
From TheRoot: "Reasonable..."
---------------
COMICS:
From ComicBookMovie: Mark Ruffalo to appear as Hulk in "Thor Ragnarok."
---------------
From HitFix: Drew McWeeny says FF to Marvel rumors are nonsense and explains why.
From DenofGeek: Updates on the news that Marvel may have gotten the rights to the Fantastic Four back from FOX, in relation to the X-Men TV deal.
---------------
From BleedingCool: FOX announces to television series based on the X-Men comic book franchise - one about the Hellfire Club (seen in "X-Men: First Class") and one about "Legion" (Charles Xavier's son).
---------------
From Vulture: Paul Reubens (aka "Pee-Wee" Herman) will play the father of Oswald's "Penguin" Cobblepot on FOX's "Gotham." Reubens also played the elder Cobblepot in Tim Burton's film, Batman Returns (1992).
---------------
From Variety: Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" wants to be a Marvel baddie.
MISC:
From YahooNews: Photos seems to be only the second photographic image of Billy the Kid.
NEWS:
From WeGotThisCovered: Rosario Dawson will voice Batgirl in the LEGO Batman movie.
---------------
From IndieWire: John Carpenter wins a plagiarism lawsuit in France against Luc Besson. It involved the film "Lockout" starring Guy Pearce being a rip off of Carpenter's films, "Escape from New York" and "Escape from LA."
---------------
From CinemaBlend: More on "Die Hard" prequel.
---------------
From TheWrap: New Die Hard movie being developed. It would feature both a young John McClane and an older one (Bruce Willis). Len Wiseman developing...
---------------
From TheWrap: "Godzilla vs. Kong" in 2020.
---------------
From Variety: James Cameron's name has long been attached to a film adaptation of the manga, "Battle Angel Alita." Now, word is that Cameron will produce and Robert Rodriguez will direct.
---------------
From IndieWire: Johnny Depp does not want to win an Oscar... he says. He has been nominated three times, and he says being nominated is enough.
---------------
From DigitalSpy: The creator of the popular British television series, "Luther," is writing the remake to Escape From New York.
---------------
From InContention: Quentin Tarantino has cut two version of "The Hateful Eight."
---------------
From Variety: M. Night Shyamalan's low-budget career rival continues with a new thriller featuring James McAvoy.
---------------
From Deadline: John Ridley to write and direct a film about the L.A. riots of 1992.
---------------
From IndieWire: Guillermo del Toro's next film could be about a Mexican wrestler fighting vampire politicians. I'm in!
---------------
From THR: "The Martian" wins the 10/9 to 10/11/2015 weekend box office with an estimated take of $37 million. Warner Bros.' "Pan" bombs with an estimated haul of $15.5 (against a production that cost $150 million).
---------------
From Vulture: A "Firefly" reunion at New York Comic Con 2015.
---------------
From IMDb: Ahead of the Season 6 debut of "The Walking Dead," a Norman Reedus exclusive.
HARD NEWS:
From TheRoot: Two white men argue over who owes whom for gentrification.
---------------
From the AP via YahooNews: Two reports say incompetent rookie Cleveland cop, Timothy Loehmann, was justified in killing 12-year-old, Tamir Rice.
From TheRoot: "Reasonable..."
---------------
COMICS:
From ComicBookMovie: Mark Ruffalo to appear as Hulk in "Thor Ragnarok."
---------------
From HitFix: Drew McWeeny says FF to Marvel rumors are nonsense and explains why.
From DenofGeek: Updates on the news that Marvel may have gotten the rights to the Fantastic Four back from FOX, in relation to the X-Men TV deal.
---------------
From BleedingCool: FOX announces to television series based on the X-Men comic book franchise - one about the Hellfire Club (seen in "X-Men: First Class") and one about "Legion" (Charles Xavier's son).
---------------
From Vulture: Paul Reubens (aka "Pee-Wee" Herman) will play the father of Oswald's "Penguin" Cobblepot on FOX's "Gotham." Reubens also played the elder Cobblepot in Tim Burton's film, Batman Returns (1992).
---------------
From Variety: Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" wants to be a Marvel baddie.
MISC:
From YahooNews: Photos seems to be only the second photographic image of Billy the Kid.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Review: "Live Free or Die Hard" - I Really Liked It, Didn't I?
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language, and a brief sexual situation
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Mark Bomback; from a story by Bomback and David Marconi (based upon the article “A Farewell to Arms” by John Carlin and certain original characters by Roderick Thorp)
PRODUCERS: Michael Fottrell, John McTiernan, Arnold Rifkin, and Bruce Willis
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Simon Duggan (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Nicolas de Toth
COMPOSER: Marco Beltrami
ACTION/THRILLER/SCI-FI
Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Maggie Q, Cliff Curtis, Jonathan Sadowski, Andrew Friedman, Tim Russ, and Kevin Smith
The subject of this movie review is Live Free or Die Hard, the fourth film in the Die Hard movie franchise. Bruce Willis returns as John McClane, a character created by the late novelist, Roderick Thorp, for his 1979 novel, Nothing Lasts Forever.
According to pop culture magazine Entertainment Weekly, after watching Underworld: Evolution with his daughters, Bruce Willis knew that’d he found in Underworld franchise director, Len Wiseman, the man to helm the long in gestation fourth Die Hard film. Willis’ Die Hard character John McClane is perhaps the actor’s signature role, and in the new film, Live Free or Die Hard, Willis proves that he and McClane are great in these movies. Meanwhile, Wiseman doesn’t just make a good movie. He makes damn great movie.
On the July 4th holiday, a mysterious figure attacks the United States digital infrastructure, and he’s figured out every angle, except old school, tough guy cop, John McClane (Bruce Willis). When’s he’s asked to escort Matt Farrell (Justin Long), a talented young hacker, into FBI custody, New York Police Detective McClane thinks of it as just another pain-in-the-butt favor keeping him enjoying his time off. When heavily armed and highly-trained killers come gunning for Matt and literally obliterate the young man’s apartment with gunfire, McClane knows Matt is part of something really big. Soon, McClane is dragging Matt across Washington DC, simultaneously trying to save his life and hunt down the cyber-terrorist who has brought America to a standstill.
Live Free or Die Hard practically hits the ground running, giving the viewer very little time to take a deep breath before diving into this smorgasbord of chase scenes, gun fights, and hand-to-hand combat that is a buffet of international fighting techniques. Of course, this is pretty much the way Underworld: Evolution opened – throw gasoline on the fire and then, throw that in the viewer’s face. Wiseman, however, does stay true to Die Hard’s roots. This is the kind of macho, big budget, special effects laden action filmmaking that thrived from the late 1980’s and into the 90’s. The 1988 Die Hard helped to give birth not only to sequels but to films that relied on gargantuan sound and complicated stunts like Bad Boys, Con Air, Face/Off, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and The Rock among others.
Willis is so good here that I hope he not only gives us more Die Hard flicks, but I also hope that he makes more action films just like this. Here, he certainly satisfied even the die-hardest Die Hard fan, but he does this with a good supporting cast. Justin Long is the perfect tag-along as Matt Farrell, who is basically a hand-held device – giving macho, blue collar McClane the lay of the geek-techie land, and Long seems perfectly happy to play that part. Timothy Olyphant’s brilliant smart bad guy, Thomas Gabriel, is the perfect foil for Willis’ comin’-to-kick-your-ass hero. Mary Elizabeth Winstead hits the right note as Lucy McClane, the fruit of John McClane’s loins.
Live Free or Die Hard may not seem like a great work of film art, but when McClane uses a car to “kill” a helicopter, you know that this is more than just another action movie. When a fighter jet takes on an 18-wheeler with McClane behind the wheel, you know Live Free or Die Hard is extra-special, and that’s not even the climax.
9 of 10
A+
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Review: "Underworld: Awakening" is Not Quite Awake
Underworld: Awakening (2012)
Running time: 88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong violence and gore, and for some language
DIRECTOR: Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein
WRITERS: Len Wiseman, John Hlavin, J. Michael Straczynski, and Allison Burnett; from a story by Len Wiseman (based upon characters created by Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride and Len Wiseman)
PRODUCERS: Len Wiseman, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Scott Kevan
EDITOR: Jeff McEvoy
COMPOSER: Paul Haslinger
FANTASY/ACTION/HORROR with elements of sci-fi
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, Stephen Rea, Theo James, India Eisley, Sandrine Holt, Charles Dance, and Kris Holden-Reid with Wes Bentley
Underworld: Awakening is a 2012 action horror film and is the fourth movie in the Underworld film franchise. Awakening is a direct sequel to the second installment, Underworld: Evolution (2006).
Six months after the events depicted in Evolution, humans discovered the existence of vampires and Lycans and began a war to eradicate the two races. Selene (Kate Beckinsale), the vampire Death Dealer, was captured and imprisoned in cryogenic suspension (put on ice, so to speak) during this war. She awakens 12 years later and manages to escape from Antigen, the facility where she was imprisoned. Selene has returned to a world that believes that vampires and Lycans are no more, but is this true?
Selene discovers that another test subject escaped from Antigen, a girl named Eve (India Eisley) who has a shocking connection to Selene. Now, the Death Dealer must protect Eve from the head scientist at Antigen, Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), who wants to experiment on Eve. Selene allies with a young vampire named David (Theo James), but his father, Thomas (Charles Dance), considers Selene and Eve a danger to his coven. Meanwhile, Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy), a human, has inadvertently discovered a conspiracy that threatens both humans and vampires.
First, I must admit that Underworld: Awakening is now the least of the four Underworld films. I say “least” instead of “worst” because I like this franchise, and the movie isn’t that bad. Truthfully, though, the first half of Awakening is a disaster; it’s as if a director had a big budget and still produced a cheesy, sci-fi horror flick destined for a Saturday night premiere on the Syfy channel. In the second half, when the screenplay unleashes Selene and allows her to be the ass-kicking Death Dealer we all know and love, then, the film comes to life and manages a decent finish.
Two other things of note: Awakening takes the mayhem and violence of this series to new heights, even for a franchise about werewolves and vampires. There is a level of gore here that will make even some hardened veterans of science fiction/fantasy/horror violence catch their breath. Secondly, the supporting characters are entirely wasted. What is the point of even having Michael Ealy’s Detective Sebastian in the movie; did the producers/studio just want a black guy in the movie? The character is actually good and has potential, but like the others, he is under-utilized.
Underworld: Awakening is actually something of a rebirth of the franchise, as it essentially starts the story on a fresh path. That’s not why this movie is a misfire. Underworld: Awakening is simply half a decent movie that has to drag along a really bad other half.
5 of 10
C+
Sunday, January 22, 2012
-----------------------------
Friday, January 20, 2012
"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" Rises on Its Own
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – R for bloody violence and some sexuality
DIRECTOR: Patrick Tatopoulos
WRITERS: Danny McBride, Dirk Blackman, and Howard McCain; from a story by Len Wiseman, Robert Orr, and Danny McBride (based on characters created by Kevin Grevioux, and Len Wiseman, and Danny McBride)
PRODUCERS: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Skip Williamson, Len Wiseman, and Richard S. Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ross Emery
EDITORS: Peter Amundson and Eric Potter
COMPOSER: Paul Haslinger
HORROR/FANTASY/ACTION/ROMANCE
Starring: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux, David Aston, and Elizabeth Hawthorne
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a 2009 American vampire/werewolf fantasy film. It is the third film in the Underworld film series and is also a prequel to the first two films, Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006). Rise of the Lycans is part origin story and also depicts how the Vampire-Lycan war (the centerpiece of the original film) began.
Rise of the Lycans opens in the Dark Ages of Europe. Viktor (Bill Nighy) is the ruthless elder lord of a vampire coven. Human nobles pay him to protect them from the ravenous, uncontrollable werewolves that are unable to return to their original human form. One day, a female werewolf gives birth to human child who grows up to be Lucian (Michael Sheen), the first werewolf able to take human form. Viktor uses Lucian to create a new breed of werewolf that can keep guard over the coven during the daylight hours, a breed Viktor calls “Lycans.”
Lucian and Viktor’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), are in a relationship that they struggle to keep hidden. Lucian also begins to struggle with the way Viktor and the other vampires treat his werewolf brothers. After he encounters Raze (Kevin Grevioux), a brave human destined to be turned into a werewolf, Lucian is inspired to plot a revolution. Love and revolution, however, may cost Lucian and Sonja everything.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is essentially a stand alone film. One need not have seen the first two films in order to enjoy Rise of the Lycans. In a way, this film’s story is like an aristocratic melodrama in which a noble lord’s precious daughter has a forbidden romance with the help or, in this case, a werewolf slave. This movie is as much about its themes of mixed race romance, racism, discrimination, and exploitation as it is about the tropes of modern vampire versus werewolf fiction. That makes Rise of the Lycans different from the other Underworld films, but not necessarily inferior, although I do think that it is the least of the three in terms of quality.
As a big fan of the series, I can say that I liked Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and Michael Sheen’s vigorous and physical performance gives the film much dramatic credibility. Rhona Mitra and the reliable Bill Nighy also deliver sturdy performances. Director Patrick Tatopoulos is straight-forward, seeming to care more about the film than showing off to prove what a hotshot fantasy film director he is.
6 of 10
B
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
"Underworld: Evolution" Also Slick, Sexy and Cool
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Running time: 105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive strong violence and gore, some sexuality/nudity, and language
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Danny McBride; based upon a story by Danny McBride and Len Wiseman (based upon characters created by Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride and Len Wiseman)
PRODUCERS: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Simon Duggan
EDITOR: Nicolas De Toth
FANTASY/ACTION/HORROR with elements of sci-fi
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Bill Nighy, Derek Jacobi, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, and Steven Mackintosh
After the chaos at the end of Underworld, the war between the vampires and the lycans (werewolves) has taken a backseat to unlocking the secrets to the beginnings of the ancient feud. Vampire heroine, Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a Death Dealer (one who hunts lycans), and Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), the human who became a lycan/vampire hybrid, have found their quest to unlock the secrets of their bloodlines hampered by the reawakening of Marcus (Tony Curran), the first vampire – also a powerful hybrid.
Marcus is hunting for the crypt where his brother William, the first werewolf, has been imprisoned for eight centuries. That also means Marcus must uncover the machinations of Viktor (Bill Nighy), the vampire lord who imprisoned William and who was killed at the end of the first film. [Viktor only appears in this film via flashbacks). Marcus is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way, including Selene, Michael… and Alexander Corvinus (Derek Jacobi), who is Marcus and William’s father and the man who was the first immortal.
Underworld: Evolution, as a sequel, is like Superman II to Superman and Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Kahn to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, more kick-ass than the original. I would call Evolution better than its predecessor. Although this film is even more of an action flick than the first, the two films are different. Whereas the first could be seen as some kind of riff on the Blade films with a twist of Goth style and music video cool, Underworld: Evolution has the explosiveness of a Lethal Weapon movie or a Michael Bay film (say, The Rock or Bad Boys II). It’s a fantasy mini-epic, but more video game fantasy than Tolkien.
The acting is as good as before. Kate Beckinsale is as magnetic and as alluring as the sexist action babe or femme fatale, and she can give a beat down that would make Charles Bronson proud. Scott Speedman is a solid leading man, and he plays second fiddle to Ms. Beckinsale without disappearing; he actually makes us miss him when he’s off screen. The music is better, and there is a nice addition to the costumes in the form of the vampire war armor. The film’s hues are warmer than in the first film – the better to fit Evolution’s hot passions and blood feuds.
But the architects of the film’s success remain director Len Wiseman and screenwriter Danny McBride; they seem to hit all the right notes. Here, it’s the fabulous and intricate back-story of the vampires and lycans that engages the viewer as much as the visual pyrotechnics and theatrics that Wiseman pumps into the film. If there is any reason for this franchise to continue, it’s certainly to see the twists, turns, and surprises that McBride and Wiseman may have in store. In the meantime, Underworld: Evolution simultaneously satisfies and whets the appetite. It will only take a few minutes of this excellent entertainment to make the viewer want to invest himself in the wild ride.
8 of 10
A
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
"Underworld" Still Slick, Sexy and Cool
Underworld (2003)
Running time: 121 minutes (2 hours, 1 minute)
MPAA – R for strong violence/gore and some language
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Danny McBride, from a story by Kevin Grevioux, Danny McBride, and Len Wiseman
PRODUCERS: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tony Pierce-Roberts
EDITOR: Martin Hunter
COMPOSER: Paul Haslinger
HORROR/FANTASY/ACTION
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Erwin Leder, Sophia Myles, Danny McBride, and Kevin Grevioux
Underworld is a 2003 action/fantasy film about a war between vampires and werewolves (called Lycans). I believe that this film exists in a fantasy world that looks so good and convincing on screen because of modern cinematic technology.
Quite a few people have come to believe that computers generated special effects have elevated what was once traditional Hollywood B-movie material (science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.) to A-list status. Once upon a time quality story telling was king because even the best that special effects could do no more than make an obviously fake flying saucer look like an obviously fake flying saucer. Now, special effects can convincingly create fantastic worlds, outlandish creatures, and bizarre scenarios. A plain old movie drama pales next to some two-and-a-half hour vampire, car chase, kung fu, and alien invasion action movie.
I’d like to believe that Underworld, with its straight-forward tale about a centuries-long blood feud between werewolves and vampires, could still be very entertaining without the aid of computer generated effects (CGI) or any kind of SFX, for that matter. There’s no doubt that the movie proudly wears its B-movie heritage on its sleeve, and the creators sold the studio on the movie by pitching the idea, “Romeo and Juliet with vampires and werewolves.” Truthfully, very little about Underworld vampire/werewolf conflict makes much sense. The feud only seems a reason for Vampires to walk around in fancy and expensive leather gear and shoot hundreds of rounds of ammunitions. For the werewolves, or Lycans as they called in this film, the conflict gives them a reason to hide in the city’s underbelly, crawling around like low-rent thugs and thieves and engage in homoerotic intra clan feuds, as there are apparently no female Lycans.
Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a death dealer, a Vampire warrior who hunts the Lycans. The Lycans were supposed to be on the run ever since their great leader Lucian (Michael Sheen) was killed six centuries prior, but the war never ended. Selene’s people are clan of secretive, modern sophisticates, as much dilettantes as they are vampires, and she alone seems to hold a hard line against the Lycans. Now, Selene has found the werewolves tracking a handsome young human man named Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), and she is determined to discover why, even as she suspects her clan leader Kraven (Shane Brolly) is involved in a great conspiracy that could endanger all of her kind.
Visually, Underworld resembles The Matrix films, and stylistically the story is quite similar to the Blade films (maybe even a bit of The Crow), but director Len Wiseman and his cohorts create their own crazy dish from the various sources they raided to concoct Underworld. It’s by no means a great movie, and the acting is as much unintentionally funny as it is dreadfully serious. It’s oh-so-dark and oh-so-seriously gothic and Goth, and the dialogue is so stiff and formal that I can almost swear that no character spoke one word of contraction.
Still, though this film is ponderous and painfully derivative, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I found Underworld to be quite good, and I’ll see it again. I can’t imagine that many fans of genre films would not see it, though many may actually not like it. For me, it’s one of those “ultimate” popcorn flicks – horror, fantasy, and action all put together and filmed as if it were a very, very, very long music video. It’s gloriously and hilariously dark eye candy for the comic book and sci-fi geeks. The nitpicker in me might sneer, but the film geek in me wants more. I’ll take it warts and all.
7 of 10
B+
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Review: "Underworld: Unrated Extended Cut" is For Hardcore Fans (Happy B'day, Kate Beckinsale)
Underworld (2003)
2 Disc Unrated Extended Cut – May 25, 2004
Running time: 134 minutes (2 hours,14 minutes)
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Danny McBride; from a story by Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride Len Wiseman
PRODUCERS: Tom Rosenburg, Gary Lucchesi, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tony Pierce-Roberts, BSC
EDITOR: Martin Hunter
ACTION/DRAMA/FANTASY/HORROR/THRILLER
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Bill Nighy, Erwin Leder, Sophia Myles, Robby Gee, Wentworth Miller, and Kevin Grevioux
In the 2003 film, Underworld, there has been a war between the Vampire and Lycan (Werewolf) clans for about 1000 years. The film focuses on Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a young vampire warrior known as a Death Dealer. The Death Dealers are the ones who hunt, track, and kill Lycans. During a hunt at the beginning of the film, she discovers two Lycans following a young American medical intern, Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman). Michael is the key to the Lycan leader, Lucian’s (Michael Sheen), plot to unite the two warring species, but Selene discovers that Michael is also advertently a link to a centuries-old conspiracy between Lucian and the Vampire’s current leader, Kraven (Shane Brolly). As the web of conspiracy broadens, Selene must use her resourcefulness and martial skills to save her clan and Michael.
Underworld (2 Disc Unrated Extended Cut) contains 12 minutes of extra footage, which amounts to more backstory on Michael Corvin and the Lycans, a new battle scene at the end, and a subplot involving the sexy and catty, Erika (Sophia Myles). There is also 11 minutes of recut or “replacement footage.” According to Wiseman’s commentary, this is not a “director’s cut,” because he cut the 12 minutes in the original film for pacing, and as he says, you’ll hardly notice the difference, as I didn’t.
I liked the film the first time I saw it and I like it even more the second time. The movie is a blend of Blade, The Crow, and The Matrix. Conceptually, it borrows from the Blade franchise, but visually, it’s takes from The Crow and absolutely leans on and loots The Matrix. However, it is a superbly made bit of fluff that is divinely tasty eye candy. Although the concept and script are full of holes, it’s kind of like a gorgeous looking high-concept music video with much more story than music video normally have. By the way, “unrated” doesn’t mean we get to see skin from Ms. Beckinsale. This is a must-have for hardcore fans of the film, even if it means dumping the first DVD edition.
7 of 10
A-
NOTES:
DVD includes a 48-page Underworld comic book and a 16-page production sketch booklet, which contains several storyboard-to-screen comparisons. Disc 1 contains the extended cut of the film with (1) director and cast (Ms. Beckinsale and Speedman) commentaries; (2) outtakes; (3) the American Movie Classic (AMC) television special “Fang vs. Fiction”; (4) two TV spots; (4) and previews of four (then) upcoming movies distributed by Sony Pictures. Disc 2 has several features including a music video by the band Finch (“Worms of the Earth”) and several looks at designing the look and sounds of the film.
-------------------------
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