By John C. There is a scene in the excellent Super 8, where young director Charles (Riley Griffiths) begs his best friend Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) to let him blow up his model train to provide the special effects for a low-budget zombie film that he is making on an old 8 millimeter video camera.… Read More Steven Spielberg, “Super 8” and the Art of the Summer Blockbuster
Super 8 – A Paramount Pictures’ Release http://www.super8-movie.com/ Release Date: June 10th, 2011 Rated PG for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and some drug use Running time: 112 minutes J.J. Abrams (dir.) J.J. Abrams (writer) Michael Giacchino (music) Joel Courtney as Joe Lamb Kyle Chandler as Jackson Lamb Elle Fanning as Alice Dainard… Read More Movie Review: Super 8
Released May 2011 Page count: 248 pages Size: 6” x 9” The Script-Selling Game: A Hollywood Insider’s Look at Getting Your Script Sold and Produced Kathie Fong Yoneda Published By Michael Wiese Publications http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ The Script-Selling Game Book Review By Erin V. A few years back when I started researching how to write for… Read More Book Review: The Script-Selling Game, 2nd ed.
Released April 2011 Page count: 168 pages Size: 6” x 9” My Story Can Beat Up Your Story: Ten Ways to Toughen Up Your Screenplay From Opening Hook to Knockout Punch Jeffrey Alan Schechter Published By Michael Wiese Publications http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ My Story Can Beat Up Your Story! Book Review By Erin V. Anyone can… Read More Book Review: My Story Can Beat Up Your Story
Coming to Blu-Ray for the first time from Warner Home Video, is the complete set of Superman films with superb quality video and sound (DTS-HD 5.1 master audio). Packaged nicely in a boxed set, this would make a great Father’s Day present. The deluxe 8-disc set includes Superman the Movie, Superman the Movie: Expanded Edition,… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Superman Motion Picture Anthology (1978-2006)
Just Go With It – A Sony Pictures’ Release http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/justgowithit/ DVD Release Date: June 7th, 2011 Rated PG for language may offend Running time: 116 minutes Dennis Dugan (dir.) Allan Loeb (screenplay) Timothy Dowling (screenplay) Rupert Gregson-Williams (music) Adam Sandler as Danny Maccabee Jennifer Aniston as Katherine Nick Swardsen as Eddie Brooklyn Decker as Palmer… Read More DVD Review: Just Go With It
Sanctum – A Universal Pictures’ Release http://www.sanctummovie.com/ DVD Release Date: June 7th, 2011 Rated 14A for disturbing content, violence and coarse language Running time: 108 minutes Alister Grierson (dir.) John Garvin (screenplay) Andrew Wight (screenplay & story) David Hirschfelder (music) Richard Roxburgh as Frank Ioan Gruffudd as Carl Rhys Wakefield as Josh Alice Parkinson as… Read More DVD Review: Sanctum
By John C. Please note: Aside from basic plot points in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” that we already discussed in our reviews of the film, there are no actual spoilers in this article for movies new or old. Enjoy! Woody Allen’s wonderful Midnight in Paris opened over the weekend, and it’s only the second movie… Read More Movie Spoilers: How Much Should be Revealed?
Midnight in Paris – A Sony Pictures Classics’ Release http://www.sonyclassics.com/midnightinparis/ Release Date: June 3rd, 2011 Rated PG for mature theme Running time: 94 minutes Woody Allen (dir.) Woody Allen (writer) Cole Porter (music) Owen Wilson as Gil Rachel McAdams as Inez Kurt Fuller as John Mimi Kennedy as Helen Michael Sheen as Paul Marion Cotillard as… Read More Movie Review: Midnight in Paris
Released June 2011 Page count: 176 pages Size: 6” x 9” Writing Subtext: What Lies Beneath Dr. Linda Seger Published By Michael Wiese Publications http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ Writing Subtext: What Lies Beneath Book Review By Erin V. I would definitely recommend writers – or anyone interested in storytelling from a sociological standpoint – reading this book. … Read More Book Review: Writing Subtext – What Lies Beneath
Released June 2011 Page count: 192 pages Size: 6” x 9” So You’re a Creative Genius… Now What? Carl King Published By Michael Wiese Publications http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ So You’re a Creative Genius… Now What? Book Review By Erin V. While it won’t be the right book for everyone, Carl King’s writing shows a fresh,… Read More Book Review: So You’re a Creative Genius… Now What?
On May 24th, Andrei Tarkovsky’s Russian sci-fi epic Solaris was released on DVD & Blu-ray, as part of the prestigious Criterion Collection. Originally released theatrically in 1972, the film follows the remaining residents of the Solaris space station who are experiencing a strange phenomena aboard their ship, that may be emanating from a mysterious planet.… Read More Criterion Release: Solaris
By John C. When all is said and done, there will be 27 sequels released this year, breaking the previous record of 24 in 2003. Even though they aren’t all directly following another film, that’s the number of movies coming out in 2011 that will be sold as part of a preexisting franchise or series. … Read More The Summer of Sequels
Released May 2011 Page count: 156 pages Size: 10” x 11” The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2 Written by Tracey Miller-Zarneke Foreword by Dustin Hoffman Published by Insight Editions http://www.insighteditions.com ___________________________________ The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2 Book Review By Erin V. Reading through this book, it dawned on me how Kung Fu… Read More Book Review: The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2
Kung Fu Panda 2 – A Paramount Pictures’ Release http://www.kungfupanda.com/ Release Date: May 26th, 2011 Rated PG for cartoon animation/action Running time: 90 minutes Jennifer Yuh Nelson (dir.) Jonathan Aibel (writer) Glenn Berger (writer) John Powell (music) Hans Zimmer (music) Jack Black as Po (voice) Angelina Jolie as Tigress (voice) Gary Oldman as Lord Shen (voice)… Read More Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 2
The Hangover Part II – A Warner Bros. Pictures’ Release http://hangoverpart2.warnerbros.com/ Release Date: May 26th, 2011 Rated 18A for pervasive language, strong sexual content including graphic nudity, drug use and brief violent images Running time: 102 minutes Todd Phillips (dir.) Craig Mazin (writer) Scot Armstrong (writer) Todd Phillips (writer) Christophe Beck (music) Bradley Cooper as Phil… Read More Movie Review: The Hangover Part II
Today, eOne Films is releasing the breakout animated hit Gnomeo & Juliet on Blu-ray & DVD. Filled with witty references to Shakespeare and beautifully animated right here in Toronto, this is a strangely appealing and surprisingly entertaining film, that provides a fun diversion for those of all ages. We reviewed the film when it opened… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Gnomeo & Juliet
Today, MGM Home Entertainment is releasing a 25th anniversary edition of Oliver Stone’s Platoon on Blu-ray. Starring Charlie Sheen in a “winning” performance as a young soldier fighting in the Vietnam war and rounded out by an excellent supporting cast, the film was inspired by Stone’s own experiences in the ‘nam. Brilliantly showing both the… Read More Blu-ray Release: Platoon
By John C. The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival came to a close over the weekend, with the jury headed by Robert De Niro awarding Terence Malick’s The Tree of Life the prestigious title of Palme d’Or. The Kid With a Bike and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia were in the midst of a two-way… Read More Cannes 2011: An Outside Look at this Year’s Film Festival
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – A Walt Disney Pictures’ Release http://disney.com/pirates/ Release Date: May 20th, 2011 Rated PG for frightening scenes and violence Running time: 137 minutes Rob Marshall (dir.) Ted Elliott (screenplay) Terry Rossio (screenplay) Hans Zimmer (music) Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow Penélope Cruz as Angelica Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa… Read More Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
The Joy of Movies 