Review: "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" is Still a Classic

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 39 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Running time:  119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR:   Leonard Nimoy
WRITER:  Steve Meerson & Peter Krikes and Harve Bennett & Nicholas Meyer from a story by Leonard Nimoy and Harve Bennett (based upon the TV series “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry)
PRODUCER:  Harve Bennett
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Don Peterman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Peter E. Berger
COMPOSER:  Leonard Rosenman
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE

Starring:  William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Catherine Hicks, Mark Leonard, Jane Wyatt, Robin Curtis, Robert Ellenstein, Brock Peters, Scott DeVenney, Alex Henteloff, JaneWiedlin, and Majel Barrett with Madge Sinclair

The subject of this movie review is Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, a 1986 science fiction and action-adventure movie.  It is the fourth movie in the Star Trek film franchise, which is based on “Star Trek,” a science fiction television series originally broadcast on NBC from September 1966 to June 1969.  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home finds the former crew of the USS Enterprise traveling back in time to Earth’s past in order to retrieve the only beings that can save the Earth from a destructive alien probe.

The Voyage Home opens in the year 2286.  A large cylindrical probe of unknown alien origin moves through space.  The probe emits an indecipherable signal that disables the power of every starship and space station it passes.  After taking up orbit over Earth, the probe not only sends out a signal that disables the global power grid, but also generates planetary storms and clouds that cover the Earth.

Meanwhile, the former crew members of the USS Enterprise prepare to leave Vulcan, where they have been living in exile following the events of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.  Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his bridge crew:  Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), must return to earth to face charges related to their rescue of the now-revived Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy).

Kirk and company are approaching Earth in the Klingon Bird of Prey starship they confiscated when they receive Starfleet Command’s planetary distress call concerning the probe.  Spock discovers that an animal that is extinct in their time can save the Earth from the probe.  To find the animal, Kirk and company must travel back in time to Earth of the late 20th century, specifically 1986.  Once there, Kirk and his companions must navigate a world that might be as alien to them as anything they’ve encountered in their travels through the galaxy during their own time.

Of the 12 Star Trek feature films released to date, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is my favorite.  I have seen it many times; in fact, I thought that I had already reviewed it before now, but apparently I had not.  One of the reasons that I am so enamored with The Voyage Home is that it involves time travel.  Two of my favorite episodes of the original “Star Trek” involve time travel, “Tomorrow is Yesterday” (Episode #19 of Season One) and “The City on the Edge of Forever” (Episode #28 of Season One).

I am especially enamored with “Tomorrow is Yesterday” because the USS Enterprise and her crew travel back in time to 1969, in what was then the present decade at the time of this episode’s first airing.  As a child, I wondered what it would be like to meet the crew of the Enterprise in “my time.”  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home touches upon that same sense of wonder, the sense that Star Trek is real and now and that I could meet the crew of the Enterprise.

The Voyage Home is also the end of a three-story arc that began with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn and continued through The Search for Spock.  This movie was a voyage home in several ways.  Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and their friends were returning home to Earth, but they get sidetracked to Earth’s past which brought them to San Francisco.  This city would one day be the home of the United Federation of Planets.  In the real world, 1986 was Star Trek’s 20th anniversary.

When I saw this movie, I felt that, in a way, the characters were almost really visiting me.  Crazy?  Silly?  Yes, but the joy that Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home gave me is emblematic of the joy “Star Trek” the television series has always given me.

9 of 10
A+

NOTES:
1987 Academy Awards, USA:  4 nominations: “Best Cinematography” (Donald Peterman), “Best Sound” (Terry Porter, David J. Hudson, Mel Metcalfe, and Gene S. Cantamessa), “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Mark A. Mangini), and “Best Music, Original Score” (Leonard Rosenman)

Sunday, August 03, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: Being Remastered Made "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" Better

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 38 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Running time:  105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR:   Leonard Nimoy
WRITER:  Harve Bennett (based upon the TV series “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry)
PRODUCER:  Harve Bennett
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Charles Correll
EDITOR:  Robert F. Shugrue
COMPOSER:  James Horner

SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE

Starring:  William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Mark Leonard, Robin Curtis, Merritt Butrick, Christopher Lloyd, and Leonard Nimoy and Robert Hooks, Phil Morris, Phillip Richard Allen, Miguel Ferrer, and Carl Steven

The subject of this movie review is Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, a 1984 science fiction action-adventure film.  It is the third movie in the Star Trek film franchise, which is based on “Star Trek,” the science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry and originally broadcast on NBC from September 1966 to June 1969.  In The Search for Spock, the crew of USS Enterprise goes on a mission to recover the body of friend and crew mate, Spock, and finds more danger than they expected.

The Search for Spock follows the events depicted in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.  Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) won the battle against his ghost-from-the-past, Khan Noonien Singh, but it was a hollow victory.  The USS Enterprise limps back to Earth.  Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) is going insane.  And Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is dead… or is he?

Spock’s father, Sarek (Mark Leonard), confronts Kirk about leaving Spock’s body in a casket on the “Genesis planet” which was created by the “Genesis device.”  Sarek tells Kirk that there might be hope for Spock.  Kirk and his bridge crew:  Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), risk their careers by stealing the decommissioned Enterprise to return to the now-restricted Genesis planet to recover Spock’s body.

Meanwhile, Kirk’s son, David (Merritt Butrick), one of the creators of Genesis, returns to the Genesis planet with the Vulcan, Lieutenant Saavik (Robin Curtis), to investigate strange sensor readings emanating from the planet.  Neither realizes that an ambitious and murderous Klingon commander named Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) is also interested in the Genesis device.  Kruge is leading his Klingon ship, the Bird of Prey, to the Genesis planet, determined to obtain the secrets of Genesis.

2014 is the 30th anniversary (specifically June 1, 1984) of the original theatrical release of Star Trek III:  The Search for Spock.  It was the first Star Trek film that I saw in a movie theatre.  Before I saw it, all I knew of the film’s plot was that it involved Spock, who was dead, and that the Enterprise was destroyed in the film.  From news media reports and through word-of-mouth, I heard that some Star Trek fans (“Trekkies” or “Trekkers”) were furious about the destruction of the ship.

When I finally saw the movie, I did not find myself particularly upset about the Enterprise’s destruction.  It was done.  What could I do about it?  What did upset me was (Spoiler!) the brutal stabbing death of Kirk’s son, David, at the hands of a Klingon.  For years, I thought Kruge had actually done the stabbing, but he only gave the order to kill a prisoner.  For years, also, I avoided The Search for Spock because I found David’s death upsetting and troubling in a way I could not explain then and cannot explain now.

This recent viewing of The Search for Spock is the first time that I have seen the film in its entirety since watching it a second time on VHS in either 1984 or 1985.  I don’t remember how much I liked the film then, but I now find myself quite fond of it.

I won’t lie and say that The Search for Spock is great; it is not.  Some of scenes have blatantly bad acting.  The last ten minutes of the film is somewhat marred by tedious mysticism.  Still, Christopher Lloyd’s turn as Kruge is both brilliant and unique.  His is one of the best and most memorable performances of a villain in a Star Trek film.

Besides Lloyd, two other things about The Search for Spock grabbed me.  First, the race to recover Spock against the ticking clock of the doomed Genesis planet coupled with the Klingon threat is a captivating hook.  Secondly, the theme of camaraderie, as exemplified by the crew of the Enterprise and measured against the blood-thirsty Kruge, makes me forget this film’s blemishes.  I know my feelings about Star Trek III: The Search for Spock are about me being nostalgic for “Star Trek classic,” but I would choose it over many other films, including many Oscar-winners, any old time of day.

7 of 10
B+

Saturday, July 26, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Tickets for Disney's D23 Expo 2015 on Sale August 14, 2014

Tickets for D23 Expo 2015: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Go on Sale Thursday, August 14, 2014

Early Bird Discounted Tickets Available for a Limited Time

D23 Members Enjoy Additional Savings and Member-Only Benefits

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next D23 Expo, which will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, the D23 Expo celebrates all the wonderful worlds of Disney entertainment, uniting all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios (including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm); Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products; Media Networks (including ABC, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney) and Disney Interactive. D23 Expo 2015 marks the fourth bi-annual event held in Anaheim.

More than 65,000 Disney fans from around the world gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2013 for the third D23 Expo. Once again, the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with live events, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences. D23 Expo 2015 marks the return of fan favorites including the Disney Legends Awards, honoring the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; and Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, which spotlights costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history.

As in previous Expos, D23 Expo 2015 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2013, celebrity appearances included Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Billy Crystal, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston, with performances by Idina Menzel, R5 featuring Ross Lynch, and a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Disney Legends Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken. Additionally, Disney executives and creative talent came together to deliver special presentations, announcements, and experiences to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.

Tickets for D23 Expo 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. From August 14–December 31, 2014, tickets are $61 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $52 for a one-day adult admission and $37 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $268 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visit D23Expo.com.

In addition to these special advance-purchase savings, an extremely limited number of D23 VIP Sorcerer Packages will once again be available. Based on fan feedback, even more benefits have been added this year including exclusive opportunities in the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion and Mickey’s of Glendale.

The SORCERER PACKAGE includes:

•     Three-day admission ticket and commemorative Sorcerer credential
•     Reserved seating at all presentations in the main hall, Stage 23, and Stage 28
•     Limited-edition D23 American Tourister boarding bag
•     Pre-Expo tour of the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit
•     Special tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering Pavilion
•     Exclusive shopping time in the D23 Expo Dream Store, Disney Store, and Mickey’s of Glendale
•     Tour of the D23 Expo show floor the day before the Expo is open to the public
•     Welcome Reception on Thursday evening
•     Exclusive entrance to the Expo each morning
•     A voucher for an appointment with an on-site massage therapist
•     Exclusive D23 Expo gift pack including gifts from D23 and the rest of The Walt Disney Company
•     Saturday morning Meet and Greet Coffee with a special Disney guest
•     “Fond Farewell” reception on final day of Expo
•     Plus, access to the Sorcerer Member Lounge and other benefits

Sorcerer Package tickets are available exclusively to both Gold and Silver D23 Members at $2,000 per ticket. Members have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets. Additional details and benefits are highlighted at D23Expo.com.

D23 Gold and Silver Members are entitled to early admission to the Expo show floor and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge.

Visit D23Expo.com to relive some of the extraordinary experiences from the first three Expo events and get a peek at what’s to come in 2015.

About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts, and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold, Silver, and Free Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us @DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Negromancer News Bits and Bies for the Week of August 3rd to July 9th 2014 Update #20

NEWS:

From EntertainmentWeekly:  Marvel won the May 6, 2014 showdown, when Warner Bros. moved "Batman Vs. Superman" to March 25, 2016, giving Captain America 3 the May release date.  EW says everyone is a winner.

----------------
From THR:  Universal Pictures and Image Entertainment have acquired the rights to Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicle books, which includes Interview with a Vampire.  The deal will reportedly encompass future books in the series.

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From YahooSingapore: Julia Roberts once felt prettier than Halle Berry.

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From ChristianScienceMonitor:  A nice piece on Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek's Uhura) and "micro-mentoring."

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From YahooMovies:  Guardians of the Galaxy helps to take Disney over $1 billion in domestice box office.

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From YahooMovies:  A nice article about the surprise hit franchise, Step Up.

--------------
From YahooMovies:  80s rock star, Rick Springfield, to join Meryl Streep in new Jonathan Demme film.

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From DenofGeek:  "Avengers: Age of Ultron" has wrapped up production.  So have two other Summer 2015 potential blockbusters.

-----------------
From TheWeek:  Yeah, that is a bad title for "Terminator 5.

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From Inquisitr:  Vince Vaughn may replace Woody Harrelson in "True Detective" Season 2.

-------------------
From THR:  Entire cast of "The Big Bang Theory" gets raises.  Everybody got PAID!

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From DeadlineHollywood:  2015 (72nd) Golden Globe nominations will be announced Thursday, December 11, 2014.  Winners will be announced, Sunday, January 11, 2015.

-----------------
From TheHollywoodReporter:  Before there was the American version of "The Office," with Steve Carrell, there was the original U.K. version starring the excellent Ricky Gervais.  Now, Gervais is apparently making a film featuring his character from "The Office," David Brent.  The title is announced as "Life on the Road."

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From EOnline:  Tim Burton provides a look at Amy Adams in Big Eyes, his upcoming biopic about American artists, Margaret Keane.


COMIC BOOKS: Movies and Books:

From YahooTV:  Kyle MacLachlan joins "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for this upcoming season. [Article contains spoiler.]

----------------
From HitFix via YahooTV:  A list a dates for which superhero movies are scheduled to be released.

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From Variety:  Superhero movie overload in 2017?

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From Variety:  Warner Bros. has announced release dates for nine superhero movies from DC Entertainment (DC Comics).  They have blinked on the May 6th 2016 showdown with Marvel Comics (the planned release date for a third Captain America movie.  "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" now moves to March 25, 2016.

From Forbes:  What price did Sony pay to reboot Spider-Man?  Scott Mendelson tells us.

----------------
From Forbes:  More on Spider-Man spinoffs.

----------------
From Deadline:  Sony's Spider-Man franchise to include a movie headlined by a female superhero, due in 2017.  Sinister Six movie due November 2016.

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From IGN:  Marvel's Kevin Feige talks about the questions that "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" will answer, including who is Peter Quill/Star-Lord's father.

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From CBR's Robot6:  How Captain America: The Winter Soldier should have ended.

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From ScreenRant:  "Batman Vs. Superman" may indeed be an adaptation of some sort of Frank Miller's seminal Batman comic book, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.  A photo from the set of the film, shows Ben Affleck with gray temples (included in this article) is adding new fuel to the rumors.  Elements from Kingdom Come make also be used in the film, including Batman's use of an army of fighting "Bat" drones.  I'll let the article and its links tell you more.

-------------
From ScreenRant:  Test footage for a "Deadpool" movie, produced a few years ago.

--------------
From Variety:  Why Guardians of the Galaxy might be the most important Marvel movie ever. The author of that article once dismissed Walt Disney's purchase of Marvel.

----------------
From HitFix:  Guardians of the Galaxy wins the August 1st to 3rd 2014 weekend box office.  With an estimated take of $94 million, the is the largest opening weekend in the month of August, beating out previous champ, The Bourne Ultimatum ($74).  Guardians grossed $160.4 million worldwide.

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From TheWrap:  Guardians of the Galaxy has a big and surprising opening day on Friday, August 1st, 2014.

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From Stack:  GotG director James Gunn says that there will be a sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy.

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From Inquisitr:  How 'bout an Avengers/Guardians of the Galaxy team-up?  It could happen.


STAR WARS:

From ScreenRant:  A 7-minutes preview of the Fall-debuting, "Star Wars Rebels."

------------------
From Yahoo:  A photo of an IMAX camera at work on the set of Episode VII.  Plus, a funny story about the Georgia Bulldogs' Star War-themed video.


TRAILERS:

From 20thCenturyFox:  Official Trailer #2 for DreamWorks' Penguins of Madagascar.  Film is due November 2014.


OBITS:

From TheWrap:  A friend of mine once said that when he saw a movie, certain names told him that the movie was going to be awful.  Two of them were Golan-Globus and Cannon Pictures.  Menahem Golan, the man behind those names, died Friday, August 8, 2014 at the age of 85.

From DeadlineHollywood:  Marilyn Burns, the star of the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, has died at the age of 65.  Burns played "Sally Hardesty," the only one of five friends to survive an unfortunate meeting with a family of cannibals, that includes "Leatherface."  Negromancer sends condolences to Burns' family and friends.


MISC.:

From RSN and AlterNet:  Right-wing militias are thriving...

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From Yahoo:  "Impossible" space engine could make space flight cheaper and speedier.

DreamWorks Animation Sued!

[If I understand this press release correctly, the suit has to do with the writedown (or write off) DreamWorks took because of the 2013 film, Turbo, which was a box office disappointment. - Leroy/Editor]

Investor Alert: Holzer & Holzer Announces Class Action Filed on Behalf of Investors in Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc.
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Holzer & Holzer, LLC announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of investors who purchased Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. (“Dreamworks” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DWA) securities between October 29, 2013 and July 29, 2014. The complaint alleges that during the relevant time period, Dreamworks issued false and misleading statements regarding its income during the relevant period. On July 29, 2014, Dreamworks revealed that it was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a $13.5 million dollar writedown taken in connection with its movie, Turbo. The price of Dreamworks stock fell dramatically following the announcement.

If you purchased Dreamworks securities between October 29, 2013 and July 29, 2014 and suffered substantial losses on those transactions, you are encouraged to contact Marshall P. Dees, Esq. via email at mdees@holzerlaw.com, or via toll-free telephone at (888) 508-6832, regarding your legal rights. There is a deadline of September 30, 2014 for interested investors to ask the court to be appointed as lead plaintiff for the case.

Holzer & Holzer, LLC is an Atlanta, Georgia law firm that dedicates its practice to vigorous representation of shareholders and investors in litigation nationwide, including shareholder class action and derivative litigation. More information about the firm is available through its website, www.holzerlaw.com and upon request from the firm. Holzer & Holzer, LLC has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Corey D. Holzer is the attorney responsible for its content.

Warner Bros. Pictures Over the Billion-Dollar Mark in Domestic Box Office... Again

Warner Bros. Pictures Crosses Billion-Dollar Mark at the Domestic Box Office

WB Remains the Only Studio in History to Surpass $1 Billion Domestically for 14 Consecutive Years

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Monday, August 4, Warner Bros. Pictures became the only film studio in history to earn more than $1 billion at the domestic box office for 14 years in a row. In fact, the division has crossed the billion-dollar mark for 15 of the past 16 years. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures’ President of Domestic Distribution.

The studio passed the billion-dollar threshold thanks to a huge first quarter, featuring the box office success of New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second in Peter Jackson’s Trilogy, which opened in late 2013 but which enjoyed substantial returns in the first quarter of this year. 2014 continued to build with Warner Bros. Pictures’, Village Roadshow Pictures’ and LEGO® System A/S’s blockbuster animated feature “The LEGO Movie”—which was the #1 movie for the first half of 2014—and “300: Rise of an Empire,” the heavy-hitting follow up to Zack Snyder’s groundbreaking “300,” from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Summer started with a bang thanks to the monster hit “Godzilla,” from Warner Bros. and Legendary, IMAX®’s largest opening this year, followed by Doug Liman’s action thriller from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow, “Edge of Tomorrow,” starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, and one-of-a-kind comedy from Melissa McCarthy as New Line’s “Tammy.”

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “This is a proud day for our studio. To cross such an extraordinary milestone once again is a direct reflection of the high standards and incredible efforts of the dedicated and creative individuals at work here, both on and off the screen. We still have an exciting roster of films yet to open this calendar year and, together with the talented teams bringing them to the theater, we look forward to continued success.”

Still to come in 2014 from Warner Bros. Pictures are: New Line Cinema’s and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Into the Storm,” opening this week; New Line’s and MGM’s “If I Stay”; Alcon Entertainment’s “Dolphin Tale 2”; the dramatic comedy ensemble of “This Is Where I Leave You,” starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda; “Annabelle,” another chapter in New Line’s highly successful “The Conjuring”; Alcon’s, Imagine Entertainment’s and Black Label Media’s tale of the Lost Boys of the Sudan, “The Good Lie,” starring Reese Witherspoon; David Dobkin’s “The Judge,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall in tour-de-force performances, from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow; New Line’s sequel to the hit comedy “Horrible Bosses,” “Horrible Bosses 2,” reuniting the stars from the original, including Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day; “Inherent Vice,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “surf noir” adaptation of author Thomas Pynchon’s cult favorite novel; and from New Line and MGM, the much-anticipated finale to Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” Trilogy, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

Richard Linklater's "School of Rock" to Become Nickelodeon TV Series

Nickelodeon and Paramount Television Team up on New Live-Action, Musical Comedy Series School of Rock

Network Orders 13 Episodes of Series Based on 2003 Hit Film

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viacom Inc.’s (NASDAQ:VIAB and VIA) Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, and Paramount Television divisions are teaming up for the first time to produce the new live-action, musical-comedy series School of Rock, based on the 2003 hit film from Paramount Pictures.

    “With Dewey’s outrageous personality and rock star sensibilities taking center stage, School of Rock will be an irresistibly fun show for the whole family.”

Nickelodeon has ordered 13 episodes of the series, which is scheduled to begin production this fall and premiere in the spring of 2015. Casting for the series will be announced shortly. School of Rock will follow the adventures and misadventures of Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck rocker who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school as he teaches his eccentric, unconventional and overachieving students to play and love rock ‘n’ roll.

“We are thrilled our first foray into kids programming will be a straight-to-series order with our Viacom partners at Nickelodeon,” said Amy Powell, President, Paramount Television. “With Dewey’s outrageous personality and rock star sensibilities taking center stage, School of Rock will be an irresistibly fun show for the whole family.”

“School of Rock is one of those great movies that always felt quintessentially Nickelodeon in its tone and humor, and we jumped at the opportunity to partner with Paramount Television and bring it to life as a TV series,” said Russell Hicks, President, Content and Development, Nickelodeon. “Once again, kids will be able to laugh and rock!”

School of Rock will be written by Jim and Steve Armogida (Crash & Bernstein, My Family), who will also serve as executive producers and show runners. The movie’s director Richard Linklater and producer Scott Rudin will executive produce the television series.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA).

About Paramount Television
Paramount Television develops and finances a wide range of creative television programming across all media platforms. Paramount Television is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a division of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a global content company with premier television, film and digital entertainment brands.

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Review: "SON OF BATMAN" Has a Star in Batman's Son

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 37 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Son of Batman (2013) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 74 minutes (1 hour, 14 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for stylized violence including bloody images, and some suggestive material |
DIRECTOR:  Ethan Spaulding
WRITERS:  Joe R. Lansdale; from a story by James Robinson (based on the comic books written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Andy Kubert; and based on Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger)
EDITOR:  Christopher D. Lozinski
COMPOSER:  Frederik Weidmann
ANIMATION STUDIO:  The AnswerStudio

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION

Starring:  (voices) Jason O’Mara, Stuart Allen, Thomas Gibson, Morena Baccarin, Dee Bradley Baker, Xander Berkeley, Giancarlo Esposito, Sean Maher, David McCallum, Diane Michelle, Fred Tatasciore, Bruce Thomas, Kari Wahlgren, and Andrea Romano

Son of Batman is a 2014 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation.  Starring DC Comics’ favorite dark knight detective, Batman, this is also the 19th feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.

Son of Batman is based on the 2006 comic book story arc, “Batman and Son,” by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert (published in Batman #655 to 658).  In Son of Batman the movie, Batman learns that he has fathered a child who is now an unruly pre-teen boy with a strong desire to ruthlessly kill his enemies.

Son of Batman opens in the secret mountain fortress of The League of Assassins.  There, Ra’s al Ghul (Giancarlo Esposito) and his daughter, Talia (Morena Baccarin), train the members of the league (who seem to be mostly ninja) in the art of terrorism and killing.  Without warning, Slade Wilson a/k/a Deathstroke (Thomas Gibson) leads an attack on the fortress.  Deathstroke, Ra’s al Ghul’s once chosen successor, has returned for revenge, and he succeeds in killing Ra’s.

Talia realizes that Deathstroke’s next target is her son, Damian (Stuart Allen), so she spirits the boy away to Gotham City.  There, she introduces him to his father, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Jason O’Mara), and leaves the boy in Bruce’s care.  However, Bruce Wayne and his loyal friend/butler, Alfred Pennyworth (David McCallum), soon learn that Damian is violent, disobedient, and unmanageable.

Damian is determined to find Deathstroke in order to avenge his grandfather, Ra’s, so it is up to Batman to help his son before he makes things worse or gets himself killed.  Dick Grayson/Nightwing (Sean Maher), who was once Batman’s original sidekick, Robin, returns to help Batman control his kid.

I find Son of Batman to be rather entertaining, mostly because of the character of Damian Wayne.  He’s a delightful, lovable brat, and his penchant for killing and maiming is scandalous in an appealing way rather than being edgy in a troubling way (although I guess that even a murderous fictional child should be troubling).  I wish Son of Batman had even more of the son of Batman; in fact, I wouldn’t mind watching a movie built around Damian Wayne.

The other characters are good, but, other than Batman, there aren’t enough of them.  Deathstroke, a most excellent villain, really exists at the periphery of the film’s story.  There also should have been more scenes depicting the obvious rivalry between Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Batman’s first “son,” and Damian, Batman’s “blood” son.  And Talia is a seriously messed up bitch; the movie needed more of her.

It is obvious that 74 minutes of runtime is not long enough for all the characters and subplots in Son of Batman.  This movie would be better if it were longer and little uncut.

7 of 10
B+

Wednesday, July 30, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for July 27 to August 2, 2014 - Update #14

NEWS:

From RadarOnline:  Friends are supposedly warning Charlize Theron against marrying fellow actor, Sean Penn.

------------------
From BusinessInsider:  Woody Allen won't cast black actors in his movies?  The famed actor responds.

-------------------
From UPI:  Emma Stone joins Joaquin Phoenix for Woody Allen's next film, an untitled murder mystery set on a college campus.

--------------------
From TheVillageVoice:  A review of the James Brown biopic, Get on Up.

----------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" gets a teaser poster; plus, more info on the film.

----------------------
From Yahoo:  7 new Avengers photos from the "Age of Ultron."

-----------------------
From Deadline:  Quentin Tarantino is moving ahead with his planned Western film, "The Hateful Eight."

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From YahooGMA:  Freddie Prinze, Jr. on working with Kiefer Sutherland.  The former thinks the latter is unprofessional.

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From THR:  Lucy, starring Scarlett Johannson, leads the July 25th to 27th, 2014 weekend box office.


COMIC BOOKS - Movies, TV, and Comics:

From BusinessInsider:  Tom Hiddleston's email to Joss Whedon about Whedon's script for Marvel's The Avengers.

-----------------------
From TheVillageVoice:  A "slight praise" review of Guardians of the Galaxy.

-----------------------
From YahooFinance:  Guardians of the Galaxy's end-credits scene leaked; it apparently features Howard the Duck and The Collector (Benecio del Toro).

-----------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Stereotyping almost derailed "Guardians of the Galaxy."

------------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Wesley Snipes wants "Blade 4."

LEROY SAYS: Although the original films were produced by New Line Cinema, the rights have reverted to Marvel.  I don't know if Blade is even on Marvel's radar.  I think if they relaunch that they will go with a new actor playing the character.  I want Snipes, of course, but I just have this feeling that Marvel will go in a different direction.

------------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Purported photos from set of "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice."

-------------------------
From Stack:  "Avengers 2's" Quicksilver will be different from X-Men: Days of Future Past's Quicksilver.

-------------------------
From THR:  Here are the details about Marvel Comics' new Star Wars comic books, as the company takes over the license.  Dark Horse Comics previously held the license for about 23 years or so.


TRAILERS:

Official trailer for new Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

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Official trailer for new SpongeBob SquarePants movie.

---------
New trailer for Chris Nolan's Interstellar.

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New trailer for The Maze Runner.


OBITS:

From Variety:  Make-up maestro, Dick Smith, has died at the age of 92.  He won an Oscar (with Paul LeBlanc) for his work on Best Picture winner, Amadeus (1984).  His other work includes The Godfather, The Exorcist, Scanners, and Death Becomes Her.  If you wonder why Smith only won one Oscar, the Academy Award for Makeup was not created until 1981.  Rick Baker, who has won an Oscar seven of the 11 times he has been nominated, was a protege of Smith's.  Negromancer sends condolences to Smith's family and friends.


MISC.

From Politico:  Nick Hanauer says the pitchforks are coming.  Remember, he had an insane economic plan?

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An August (2014 Negromancer) Event

Welcome to August 2014!  Welcome to Negromancer 2.0.  This is the rebirth of Negromancer, the former movie review website as a new movie review and movie news site.  Thanks for stopping by.

All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademark their respective owners.

Oscar-Winning "Forest Gump" Celebrates 20th Anniversary in IMAX

FORREST GUMP CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH EXCLUSIVE ONE-WEEK IMAX® RELEASE ON SEPT. 5

IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX), Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB), and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment today announced that Robert Zemeckis’ Academy Award® Best Picture-winning Forrest Gump will get an exclusive one-week IMAX® re-release, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the film’s original theatrical release in 1994. The film will be digitally re-mastered for the immersive IMAX® format and released domestically by Paramount Pictures in IMAX® theatres starting September 5.

Forrest Gump, which won six Academy Awards including Best Actor (Tom Hanks) and Best Director, will also receive a special Diamond Luxe Blu-ray release from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment September 30. The Diamond Luxe edition features a new sleek and durable collector-style packaging, with a state-of-the-art sophisticated design.

“As a ground-breaking achievement in both cinematography and visual effects for its time, Forrest Gump has become a modern American movie classic,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to once again collaborate with our longtime friends and partners Bob Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Paramount. This film deserves a platform like The IMAX Experience® to help make its 20th anniversary one to remember.”

“On behalf of the entire Forrest Gump family, it is with great pleasure and pride that we bring Forrest Gump back to the big screen using the latest technology for the ultimate IMAX experience,” said producer Wendy Finerman.

Originally released in theaters by Paramount Pictures, Forrest Gump stars Hanks in the title role, a man who — despite his sub-normal IQ — led an extraordinary life, with a ringside seat to many of the most memorable events of the second half of the 20th century. The award-winning film went on to gross more than $675 million at the global box office, of which nearly $330 million came from North America, making it the highest-grossing film of all time when it was released in 1994.

The film also stars Robin Wright, Sally Field and Gary Sinise in his Oscar-nominated role as the cantankerous Lieutenant Dan.

The IMAX release of Forrest Gump will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WBUltra.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices
in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of March 31, 2014, there were 840 IMAX theatres (707 commercial multiplexes, 18 commercial destinations and 115 institutions) in 57 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience®, IMAX Is Believing® and IMAX nXos® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

----------------------------------------

First Poster for Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" Debuts

This poster, according to sources online, is supposed to debut in Empire magazine.  The film is due late 2015.  Tarantino will shoot it in 70-millimeter Super CinemaScope, which I think was used for films like Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia.   Negromancer will keep you updated.

Review: Sharks Rule "Open Water"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 159 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Open Water (2004)
Running time:  79 minutes (1 hour, 19 minutes)
MPAA: Rated R for language and some nudity
EDITOR/WRITER/DIRECTOR: Chris Kentis
PRODUCER: Laura Lau
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Laura Lau and Chris Kentis
COMPOSER:  Graeme Revell

THRILLER/HORROR

Starring:  Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau, Michael E. Williamson, and John Charles

The subject of this movie review is Open Water, a 2003 thriller and psychological horror film from director Chris Kentis and producer Laura Lau.  The film is loosely based on the story of an American couple who were accidentally left behind on a scuba diving excursion in 1998.  Open Water follows two scuba divers, from the beginning of their vacation to their ordeal after their tour boat accidentally leaves them behind, stranding the couple in shark infested waters.

With its estimated $130,000 budget and its little-engine-that-could spirit, Open Water has become a summer movie critical darling, one of those films that acts like counter programming in a time of the year when films are loud, dumb, and fast and aimed at boys and twenty something men still in a mental state of boyhood.  But is Open Water the scariest movie of the summer?  No, it isn’t.  Jaws does a way better job selling a similar subject matter, and Open Water’s other claim to fame, that it’s shot with digital cameras, is also not impressive, but this is still an entertaining little thriller.

In the film, upwardly mobile young couple, Susan (Blanchard Ryan) and Daniel (Daniel Travis), take a much-needed vacation that includes a scuba diving excursion.  However, during the dive, their tour boat leaves early after one of the tour guides miscounts the number of divers returning to the boat.  Susan and Daniel surface to find themselves stranded in open water and soon learn that they are also in shark-infested waters.  As the hours pass, the couples comes to the grim conclusion that no one realizes that they were left behind, and as darkness falls danger looms under each wave.

Open Water is based upon the real life events from 1998 when American tourists Tom and Eileen Lonergan were left behind by their diving boat off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  This incident became a stunning and horrifying news headline, and the tale does make great fodder for film.  Open Water does indeed payoff in thrills, dread, and scares.  However, the film has a major flaw in that the leads, Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis, are good but not strong actors and both them and their characters are not endearing or very likeable for that matter.

From the early moments in this film, Ms. Ryan and Travis seem like the kind of average actors for which low budget usually settle.  Early on, they don’t come across as being at all acceptable as actors, but as the film goes on, their performances markedly improve.  But as frightening as the film scenario is (and the idea of being stranded out in open water, let alone open shark-infested water is both hair-raising and spine-tingling), the best the duo can do is make you feel sorry for the couple.  There is a distance about the actors’ personalities, and maybe that carries over to the characters, as well as explaining why the boat left the film couple stranded.  Susan and Daniel are standoffish and don’t make themselves part of the diving group, so no one missed them when they didn’t return to the boat.

Still, I imagine how great this film would have been with two Hollywood movie stars chewing up the scenery and making a very good scary movie into a great, memorable scary movie.  That’s what Open Water is – not memorable.  It’s fun and scary, but as unremarkable as most film product.  It’s good enough to be seen in a theatre, but anyone who waits for home video won’t be missing out on a cinematic experience in the theatre.  Like a lot of good horror movies and thrillers, Open Water is out of your mind by the time you walk out of the theatre.  That’s a shame because what happened to the real life Lonergans and their fictional counterparts is sad and tragic.  Too bad Open Water is only a mild version of that tragedy.

6 of 10
B

Updated:  Monday, July 28, 2014

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

"If I Stay" Soundtrack Arrives August 19th, 2014

If I Stay: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Due August 19th from WaterTower Music

Standard and Deluxe Albums Feature Songs as Performed in the Film

Includes Music by Beck, Ben Howard, Tom Odell, Sonic Youth, Willamette Stone, and More

Fan-Voted ‘Heart Like Yours’ Available with Album Preorder

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music today announced the August 19, 2014 release of the soundtrack to New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ drama “If I Stay,” based on Gayle Forman’s New York Times best-selling novel. The film will be released three days later on August 22.

    “One of the best things about the movie is getting to hear all the great music you don’t get to hear when you read the book. The way they brought the music to life gives the story a whole new dimension.”

Music is an integral part of the If I Stay storyline, be it Mia’s (Chloë Grace Moretz) practicing cello to get into the prestigious Juilliard music school, her father’s (Joshua Leonard) punk rock past, or Adam (Jamie Blackley) performing as singer/ guitarist of buzz band Willamette Stone. The film’s director, R.J. Cutler, stated, “It was immediately clear to me that If I Stay needed to feature a soundtrack assembled from a wide variety of styles and genres and would meld together to form an emotional, symphonic whole. The songs would reflect Adam’s roots in punk music and his contemporary sensibility, as well as the classical canon that Mia would master to apply to Juilliard. As I would often tell the cast and crew, in the world of If I Stay, music is the air that people breathe.”

After viewing the film, author Gayle Forman, who also served as an executive producer, commented, “One of the best things about the movie is getting to hear all the great music you don’t get to hear when you read the book. The way they brought the music to life gives the story a whole new dimension.”

Through social media outreach, If I Stay fans were given the opportunity to vote on the Willamette Stone song they most wanted to see released early, and they chose “Heart Like Yours.” The track is now available at iTunes, and will be delivered immediately to fans that pre-order the soundtrack.

WaterTower Music will be releasing two versions of the soundtrack: a fourteen song CD and digital release, as well as a digital deluxe configuration that contains eighteen tracks. Both albums feature multiple songs as performed in the film by Willamette Stone, while the digital deluxe version features an additional Willamette Stone track, along with several solo cello pieces performed in the film by Mia.

Due out August 19, the soundtrack for If I Stay is now available for pre-order at iTunes and Amazon.

1. "Who Needs You" – The Orwells
2. "Until We Get There" – Lucius
3. "I Want What You Have" – Willamette Stone
4. "All of Me" – Tanlines
5. "Promise" – Ben Howard
6. "Never Coming Down" – Willamette Stone
7. "Halo" – Ane Brun & Linnéa Olsson
8. "I Will Be There" – Odessa
9. "Mind" – Willamette Stone
10. “Morning” - Beck
11. “I Never Wanted To Go” (Bonus Track) – Willamette Stone **
12. “Karen Revisited” – Sonic Youth
13. "Today" – Willamette Stone
14. "Heart Like Yours" – Willamette Stone
15. "Heal (If I Stay Version)" – Tom Odell
16. ““Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007: Prelude” (Bonus Track) – If I Stay
17. “Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 33” (Bonus Track) – If I Stay **
18. “Sonata in B Minor for Solo Cello, Op. 8” (Bonus Track) – Alisa Weilerstein **

** Available on the digital deluxe album

About “If I Stay”
Gayle Forman’s best-selling novel comes to the screen in New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ drama “If I Stay,” starring Chloë Grace Moretz (“Carrie,” the “Kick-Ass” films), Mireille Enos (TV’s “The Killing,” “World War Z”); Joshua Leonard (“Higher Ground”); Jamie Blackley (“Snow White and the Huntsmen”); and Stacy Keach (“Nebraska”).

Mia Hall (Moretz) thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam (Blackley). But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate. Also starring are Mireille Enos and Joshua Leonard as Mia’s parents, Kat and Denny, and Stacy Keach as Gramps. Rounding out the main cast are Jakob Davies as Mia’s little brother, Liana Liberato as her best friend, Gabrielle Rose as Grandma, and Aisha Hinds as Nurse Ramirez.

R.J. Cutler directed the film from a screenplay by Shauna Cross based on Forman’s novel. “If I Stay” was produced by Alison Greenspan, with Denise Di Novi, Forman and Brad Van Arragon serving as executive producers. Cutler’s behind-the-scenes team included cinematographer John de Borman, production designer Brent Thomas, editor Keith Henderson, costume designer Monique Prudhomme and composer Heitor Pereira.

New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures present a Denise Di Novi production, “If I Stay.” Opening August 22, 2014, the film has been rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some sexual material and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. ifistaymovie.com

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites: San Diego Comic-Con International 2014 Edition Update #20

I will be posting links to pages with breaking news, announcements, activities, etc from Comic-Con International 2014 on this page from today, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 to sometimes next week or as long as there is relevant news:

The Comic Book Resources (CBR) Comic-Con page is here.

The IMDb Comic-Con page is here.

---------------
From Deadline:  Guillermo del Toro talked about his gothic romance, "Crimson Peak" and asked fans to help him get "Hellboy 3" and "At the Mountains of Madness" made.

---------------
From Deadline:  There is a planned "Django Unchained-Zorro" crossover comic book, Tarantino told fans at a Comic-Con panel.

---------------
From Previewsworld:  Actor Orlando Jones talks to the website of Diamond Distributors (of comics and related merchandise) about his career, which includes a voice acting gig on the "Black Dynamite" animated series on Adult Swim.

---------------
From Variety via Yahoo:  Evangeline Lilly and Corey Stoll join "Ant-Man." Stoll will apparently play the villain, Yellowjacket.

---------------
From Hitfix via Yahoo:  A detailed description of the "Avengers 2" footage shown during the Comic-Con panel, including the appearance of Ultron and Iron Man's "Hulkbuster" armor.

----------------
From HuffingtonPost:  "Avengers 2" footage at Comic-Con.

---------------
From BusinessInsider:  For as long as it is online, here is "Batman Vs. Superman" online teaser trailer.

-----------------
From the AP via Yahoo:  Sexual harassment at Comic-Con.

-----------------
From CBR:  IDW Entertainment and BOOM! Studios is producing a comic book that will bring the Star Trek and Planet of the Apes franchises together.

-----------------
From CBR:  Sam Raimi teases that he is writing a television series version of his classic horror film, Evil Dead.  Other than naming his collaborators, which include Bruce Campbell, Raimi said nothing else about the series.

---------------
From Hitfix:  Paul Rudd on Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man" exit.

----------------
From TheComicsReporter:  Your 2014 Will Eisner Award winner.

----------------
From HitFix:  Daniel Radcliffe makes Comic-Con debut.

----------------
From Deadline via Yahoo:  Three actors exit "Ant-Man."

---------------- 
From Variety:  New image of Ben Affleck as Batman.

-----------------
From Variety:  Chris Nolan and Matthew McConaughey surprise fans at Comic-Con and talk about "Interstellar."

------------------
From Facebook:  Clive Barker art exhibition at SDCC.

-------------------
From CBR:  "Avengers: Age of Ultron" posters.

-------------------
From CBR:  "The Walking Dead" panel.

-------------------
From CBR:  Concept art for Marvel's Ant-Man revealed.

-----------------
From TheWrap via Yahoo:  Ben Affleck's Bat-suit - well, at least the cape and cowl - for "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" revealed.

-------------------
From CBR:  David and Meredith Finch become the creative team on Wonder Woman with issue #36.  CBR provides a first look at David's art for the series.

--------------------
From Deadline:  Warren Ellis joins Gale Anne Hurd, the executive producer of "The Walking Dead," on an unnamed television series.

---------------------
From CBR:  Big changes for Spawn in the next year and a half.

----------------------
From CBR:  Image Expo Keynote announces plenty of new series including new comics from Warren Ellis, Rick Remender, Jeff Lemire, and many more.

-----------------------
From CBR:  Cameron Stewart talks about working on the Fight Club comic book.  Yes, there will be a sequel to the novel, Fight Club, which was adapted into a film in 1999.  But it will be a 10-issue comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics.  The novel's author, Chuck Palahniuk will write the series and Cameron Stewart will draw.  "Fight Club 2" is due April 2015.

Review: McConaughey Super Sells "Dallas Buyers Club"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 36 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Running time:  117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use
DIRECTOR:  Jean-Marc Vallée
WRITERS:  Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack
PRODUCERS:  Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Yves Bélanger (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Martin Pensa and John Mac McMurphy (Jean-Marc Vallée)
Academy Award winner

DRAMA/BIOPIC with elements of a historical

Starring:  Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Denis O’Hare, Steve Zahn, Michael O’Neill, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin, Donna Duplantier, Deneen D. Tyler, J.D. Evermore, and Bradford Cox

Dallas Buyers Club is a 2013 biographical drama from director Jean-Marc Vallée.  The film is a dramatization about real-life AIDS patient, Ron Woodroof.  He discovered unapproved pharmaceutical drugs that would help his disease symptoms and then, later smuggled those drugs into Texas to help fellow AIDS patients.  The film was critically acclaimed and won three Oscars, including a best actor win for Matthew McConaughey and a best supporting actor win for Jared Leto.

Dallas Buyers Club opens in 1985 in Dallas.  Electrician, hustler, and rodeo cowboy, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) falls ill and is diagnosed with HIV.  He is given 30 days to live.  Ron initially refuses to accept the diagnosis, but quickly finds himself ostracized by friends and coworkers.  Ron learns from the kindly Dr. Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner) about the experimental drug AZT, which is supposed to help with symptoms of AIDS.  Ron is able to obtain some without having a prescription.  However, he not only abuses AZT, but he also continues to abuse illegal narcotics.

Ron develops full-blown AIDS.  As he fights to live, he begins to study and research AIDS and learns that outside the United States there are pharmaceutical drugs used to fight the symptoms of AIDS.  However, they are unapproved for use in the U.S. by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).  Ron begins to smuggle large quantities of these drugs into Dallas.  With the help of Rayon (Jared Leto), a sassy cross-dressing man/transgender, Ron opens the “Dallas Buyers Club” to sell these unapproved drugs to HIV-positive and AIDS patients, but Ron’s efforts draw the attention of people who want to shut him down.

I have seen many films that are elevated by a great performance.  Raging Bull is memorable for Robert De Niro’s legendary turn as boxer Jake La Motta.  Russell Crowe gives the most nuanced performance of his career in A Beautiful Mind.  Helen Mirren rules The Queen.  In fact, all three of these movies would be little more than made-for-television films without the celebrated performances given by their respective lead actors.

Dallas Buyers Club tells a story that needed to be told and needs to be remembered, but without Matthew McConaughey’s performance, this film would be a well-meaning TV movie or an indie film that would have been lost in the art film ghetto.  McConaughey risked his health in order to lose weight to play the emaciated Ron Woodroof, but what really makes his performance so distinguished is that McConaughey takes on Woodruff’s cause and suffering as if his own life depended upon it.

McConaughey is a good actor and has given some excellent performance.  However, in recent years, he has finally showcased his talent and skill in character study films that require putting out the effort to create fully-realized fictional characters.  Anyone who is a fan of McConaughey or has seen some of his films must see Dallas Buyers Club.

Both Jared Leto’s transformation into Rayon and his performance are impressive.  Leto was indeed Oscar worthy, but Rayon is mostly unnecessary to this story.  Although Rayon was not a real-life figure and was created specifically for this movie, he could have been replaced with just about any other character.  Leto is magnificent in a film in which the filmmakers didn’t seem to know what to do with his character other than to play him as a stereotype – the tragic mulatto version of drag queen.  Jennifer Garner’s Dr. Saks is also wasted, although not nearly as badly as Rayon is.

However, Matthew McConaughey is so good that he makes you overlook Dallas Buyers Club’s warts.  His character, Ron Woodroof, is a charming rogue with electrifying swagger.  It is as if McConaughey and Woodroof are two separate beings occupying the same space, and they are why Dallas Buyers Club earned a best picture Oscar nomination.  And that best picture Oscar nod made what would have been just an AIDS movie into something special.

8 of 10
A

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

NOTES:
2014 Academy Awards, USA:  3 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Matthew McConaughey), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Jared Leto), “Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling” (Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews); 3 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter), “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Jean-Marc Vallée and Martin Pensa), “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack)

2014 Golden Globes, USA:  2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Matthew McConaughey) and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Jared Leto)

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

---------------------------

Marvel Reveals "Ant-Man" Poster at Comic-Con International 2014

The above poster was made available to San Diego Comic-Con International 2014 attendees.  The art is by Andy Park.  "Ant-Man," due Summer 2015 stars Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas.

Dark Horse Comics Reveals "Tywin Lannister" Game of Thrones Collectible Figure

DARK HORSE REVEALS AN ALL-NEW GAME OF THRONES® FIGURE AT COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL

SAN DIEGO, CA – The doors were open at the pop culture event of the year! To celebrate, Dark Horse kicked things off with the reveal of the latest figure to join the growing line of figures based on characters from the smash hit HBO® series, Game of Thrones!

Tywin Lannister, father of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion and known as the wealthiest man in the seven kingdoms and Hand of the King, is a perfect addition to the upcoming group of detailed collectible Game of Thrones figures produced by Dark Horse Comics.

“We just couldn’t say no to Tywin,” said Dark Horse VP of product development David Scroggy. “It didn’t seem like a smart idea to deny him.”

Exclusively revealed on social media by HBO earlier, the figure prototype could be viewed throughout the show as a key item in Dark Horse’s upcoming products display at booth #2615!

The Tywin Lannister figure joins an ongoing series of non-articulated figures based on characters from the popular series. Debuting in January 2014, the ongoing range will continue through 2015.

The Tywin Lannister figure measures approximately 8” tall on his base. It will be packaged in a full-color window-box package.

Scheduled on-sale date is March 2015, making this figure available in-store just ahead of the season five premiere of Game of Thrones.

About HBO Global Licensing
HBO Global Licensing officially licenses the HBO® brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network's award-winning programming. With products created around hit series like Game of Thrones® and True Blood® as well as classic series like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, and Entourage, items include fashion apparel, figures, jewelry, digital and CD soundtracks, prop and costume replicas, games, books, and beverages, as well as exclusive, premium collections in partnership with upscale, designer brands. Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop®, located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City. HBO Global Licensing products are also sold internationally across Europe (www.hboshopeu.com), Asia and Australia.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for July 20 to July 26, 2014 Update #11

NEWS:

From THR:  The Hollywood Reporter has an excellent article about how Marvel became a Hollywood juggernaut, with an emphasis on Ike Perlmutter.

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From Variety via Yahoo:  A copy of The Expendables 3 has been leaked online, and it is supposedly "DVD-quality."

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From Variety:  Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play Stephen Strange in Marvel's "Doctor Strange" movie.

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From TheWrap  "Beetlejuice 2?"  It could really, finally happen.

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From Yahoo via TheWrap:  There is an unfinished documentary about the planned and then abandoned "Superman Lives" film, which was to star Nicolas Cage as Superman!

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From YouTube:  First "50 Shades of Grey" official trailer.

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From TheWrap via Yahoo:  Marvel adds a sixth movie mystery date, May 4, 2018.

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From Yahoo:  A great interview with Zoe Saldana from The Hollywood Reporter, in which discusses being in sci-fi franchises, race and skin color in Hollywood, and Avatar.

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From TheWrap:  Adam McKay and Will Ferrell are producing a remake of "Manimal."  This was an action-adventure television series that originally aired on NBC for a few months back in the second half of 1983.

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From EW InsideMovies:  Steven Spielberg is working on a Cold War thriller starring Tom Hanks.  Amy Ryan is joining the cast, and Alan Alda may also join.  Joel and Ethan Coen have also worked on the untitled film's script.

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From LATimes:  "Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions" will NOT reveal the fate of Ahsoka Tano... or so we're told.

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From Variety:  "Star Trek 3" goes into "deep space," and will be more like the original TV series, says director Roberto Orci.

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From LATimes:  JJ Abrams reveals new X-wing fighter.

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From Variety:  Christina Chong reportedly cast in Star Wars Episode VII.

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From TheWrap:  Idris Elba in talks to star in Guy Ritchie's King Arthur flick.

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From Yahoo:  Details about Philip Seymour Hoffman's money and will.
 
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From Variety:  Variety announces "Artisans," a new regular feature that will focus on the "below-the-line" community in Hollywood.  That would be everyone from cinematographers and editor to propmasters and grips.  It will be featured in the weekly magazine and on Variety.com.  I will link to these features as I find them.

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From IMDb and Yahoo: The American actor, James Garner, has died at the age of 86.  He was best known for his roles on the television series, "Maverick" and "The Rockford Files."  In 1977, he won the Emmy Award for Best Actor for "The Rockford Files." In 2004, he received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was also nominated for a best actor Oscar for his role in Murphy's Romance.

Garner died Saturday evening, June 19, 2014 in Los Angeles.  Garner was born on April 7, 1928 in Oklahoma.  He served in the Korean War where he earned two Purple Hearts.

I first saw Garner on "The Rockford Files," which my father watched religiously.  For some reason, I had been thinking about him recently.  I send my condolences to his family and friends.  R.I.P. Mr. Garner.

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From YahooFinance:  This is a small article about how Joss Whedon junked the script for The Avengers that predated his involvement in the film and wrote his own.

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From Variety:  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes tops the July 18-20, 2014 weekend box office.


COMIC BOOK NEWS: Movies, TV, and Books:

From TheWrap:   Dates for mystery movies?  Which Marvel movies will be released on these dates:

July 28, 2017
Nov. 3, 2017
May 4, 2018 UPDATED
July 6, 2018
Nov. 2, 2018
May 3, 2019
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MISC:

From TheVillageVoice:  Baphomet and the Satanic Temple - prank or not?

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From Inquisitr:  Woman uses Trayvon Martin's name as a threat against two eight-year-old boys.