HBO Offers ‘First Look’ at Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Mystery, Religious, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases, Videos

We’re nearly a week away from the theatrical release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! Companies, including HBO, everywhere are cashing in on our want insatiable need for sneek peaks, and boy do we thank them for that avarice!

In the two-part behind-the-scenes look (catch the second video after the jump) of the sixth Harry Potter installment, we get a glimpse into the main plot as well as the relationships revolving around our three heroes.

Click to continue reading HBO Offers ‘First Look’ at Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Read More | Coming Soon.net

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Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Rises Above the Competition

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

It’s not very often when “loud” and “mindless” are deemed good qualities. But in Paramount’s case, it was a recipe for success.

Over the past five days, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did what most films have been attempting all year: It passed the $200 million mark. (Up just became the first 2009 film to hit $250 million.)

While the Michael Bay film is definitely on track to be one of the most successful entries this year (let’s not forget about Harry Potter), the sequel’s opening still takes second behind last year’s topper. During its opening run, The Dark Knight earned $203.8 million domestically.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Rises Above the Competition

Read More | Variety

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Review - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Posted by Todd Matthy Categories: DreamWorks, Paramount, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels

I’ve been waiting for this. I’ve always been a Transformers fan, the original movie from 1986 is one of my favorites. When Michael Bay was announced as the director for the first film, I was skeptical. Then I saw it and found it to be an enjoyable romp, but wanted something more. Revenge of the Fallen gives me that something more. As in more robots, more action, and of course more Megan Fox. I really liked how Bay and the writers picked and chose aspects from Classic G1, the Japanese “Masterforce” series, the Dreamwave comics, and Armada to flesh out the story as well as Easter eggs to search for. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is exactly what you expect it to be; a big, loud, action packed popcorn flick that takes itself seriously enough that it doesn’t treat the material as a joke, while at the same time not attempting to recreate “War and Peace” with giant robots.

Click to continue reading Review - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: June 23, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, New Line, Sony, Touchstone, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available today:

• The Code: DVD, Blu-ray
• Confessions of a Shopaholic: DVD, Blu-ray
• Inkheart: DVD, Blu-ray
• My Dinner with Andre: DVD
• Phoebe in Wonderland: DVD
• The Pianist: Blu-ray
• Pink Panther 2: DVD, Blu-ray
• Waltz with Bashir: DVD, Blu-ray

Click here to see the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Agree on The Proposal

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

It seems a little skin might just go a long way.

After weeks of talking to the media about their joint nude scene, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds saw their movie take the top spot. Was it a coincidence? Maybe. Whatever the reason, The Proposal became the actress’ biggest opener ever. Prior to this weekend, 2007’s Premonition - a horrible film, btw - had Bullock’s largest debut. (That movie grossed $17.6 million, almost 1/2 less than the romantic comedy.)

Meanwhile, Reynolds is this week’s Bradley Cooper. Sandra’s leading man, like The Hangover star, has just had his second #1 film of the year. (The first being Wolverine.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Agree on The Proposal

Read More | Variety

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The Colorful Characters from Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Technology, Upcoming Releases

No matter how you feel about Tim Burton‘s uneven work (Mars Attacks? Planet of the Apes?), there’s one thing that cannot be denied: His films are a visual treat.

Next year, the director will introduce Alice in Wonderland, an adaptation of the Lewis Carroll story. The movie, which uses live action and performance-capture technology, will be offered in 3-D.

Click to continue reading The Colorful Characters from Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

Read More | ScreenCrave

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Sequel News: Mission Impossible, Haunting in Connecticut and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Paramount, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Upcoming Releases

Here’s the latest scoop on the sequel buzz spreading across Hollywood:

Mission Impossible: Even though he could do just about anything he wants these days, Star Trek‘s J.J. Abrams will be returning to familiar territory. Three years after the debut of MI:3, the director has agreed to reteam with Tom Cruise on a fourth installment. (Apparently the actor wasn’t listening when I said he should stay away from this project.) Although they are both only listed as producers at this point, things could change for the busy men once a script is finalized. Paramount is currently aiming for a 2011 release.

Click to continue reading Sequel News: Mission Impossible, Haunting in Connecticut and More

Read More | Variety

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In Theaters This Weekend: June 19, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, IFC Films, Sony, Touchstone, Action, Adventure, Biopics, Documentary, Foreign, Horror, Period, Romance, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• The Proposal (PG-13): starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen (directed by Anne Fletcher)
• Year One (PG-13): starring Jack Black, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (directed by Harold Ramis)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: June 19, 2009

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Box Office Breakdown: Hangover Hangs on for Another Win

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Remakes, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

This is one hangover that’s taking a while to recover from.

For the second week in a row, the must-see comedy of the summer has taken the top spot at the charts. The Hangover, which already had a greenlighted sequel prior to its debut, raked in another $32.7 million over the weekend. The film has now earned over $100 million and given Bradley Cooper his second #1 entry of the year. (His first was February’s He’s Just Not That Into You.)

Sitting in third place this week (right behind Up), was The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, a remake of a 1974 version starring starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. The action thriller, which had Denzel Washington working with director Tony Scott for the fourth time, pulled in a respectable $23.3 million. Meanwhile, Imagine That, Eddie Murphy’s latest stinker, earned $5.5 million in wide release. That gross bests the premiere of Meet Dave by approximately $200,000.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Hangover Hangs on for Another Win

Read More | Variety

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Whedon Confirms Non-Involvement in Buffy Remake

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Action, Adventure, Classics, Drama, Horror, Remakes, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

We can all stop holding our breaths: Joss Whedon will not be involved with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer remake. In other words, do not pay money to support this film when it comes out.

Okay, so perhaps that’s a little mean of me; it’s hard not to be such a protective fan of the Whedonverse.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about Dollhouse, Joss confirmed what we were all dreading: “I believe [the producers] did ultimately reach out to my agent after the news broke. I think that’s something better left untouched by me. So, I wish them luck.”

I’m pretty sure that they’ll need lots of that, anyway.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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