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Avengers 2 Earns Nerdy Title THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Up until now, the follow up to The Avengers has been a largely unknown quality outside the fact that writer/director Joss Whedon would return but with the title treatment, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, legions of Marvel fans are taking to speculation as to what this next installment would entail.

 

 

Culled straight from the pages of Wikipedia Ultron is Marvel supervillian whose “common powers include superhuman levels of strength, speed, stamina, durability, and reflexes; flight at subsonic speeds; and various offensive weapons such as concussive blasts of energy fired from its optical sensors and hands, and an “encephalo-ray”, which places victims into a deathlike coma. The latter ray also allows Ultron to mesmerize and mind-control victims, or implant subliminal hypnotic commands within their minds to be enacted at a later time.”

The Ultron story arc is a limited comic series written by Brian Bendis but Whedon has insisted that this will be an original story and not adapted directly from the comic pages. Per Whedon,

“Well, because there was a book called ‘Age of Ultron’ quite recently, a lot of people have assumed that is what we’re doing, but that is not the case,” Whedon reportedly reveals in the interview. “We’re doing our own version of the origin story for Ultron. In the origin story, there was Hank Pym, so a lot of people assumed that he will be in the mix. He’s not. We’re basically taking the things from the comics for the movies that we need and can use. A lot of stuff has to fall by the wayside.”

“We’re crafting our own version of it where his origin comes more directly from The Avengers we already know about.” Whedon reportedly continues. “It’s a little bit darker than the other film because Ultron is in the house. There’s a science fiction theme that wasn’t there in the other one. Ultron is definitely something that evolves, so we’re going to get together a couple of different iterations. Nothing can be translated exactly as it was from the comics; particularly Ultron.”

As far as I’m concerned, I’ll trust the man but boy, oh boy is that a nerdy title.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron is directed by Joss Whedon and stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo and Samuel L. Jackson. It hits theaters May 1, 2015.

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Nifty Promo Teaser and First Look at Caesar in DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Roundup

Following up on the unexpected success of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, this second, or seventh (or eighth if you count the Tim Burton version) installment in the 45 year-old franchise, entitled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, goes 15 years into the future to see how well the apes and humans are getting along. Above, you see Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his ape tribe brought to life by the technical wizards over at WETA.

While director Rupert Wyatt stepped out, Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) has stepped in as director to tell the story of Caesar, the apes and the last stand of humanity.Serkisreturns as Caesar but otherwise the cast is entirely new with James Franco stepping out of the lead role that he filled in the first installment. Joining Serkis are newcomers Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Judy Greer, Jason Clarke and Kodi Smit-McPhee

Similar to the mid-credits sequence in the conclusion of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, this promo video takes the stance of a PSA, warning humans about the risks of Simian Flu. It’s a pretty nifty little piece of marketing and I appreciate the novel approach that they’re going after.

 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Matt Reeves and stars Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Judy Greer, Jason Clarke and Kodi Smit-McPhee. It hits theaters July 18, 2014.

First Posters for X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST Splices Old and New Characters

With an absolutely massive cast that takes actors from both Bryan Singer‘s original trilogy and Matthew Vaughn‘s X-Men: First Class, this first poster from X-Men: Days of Future Past splices together the old and new Professor X and Magneto.

With both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy playing Professor X and Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender playing Magneto, Days of Future Past involves a time-traveling plot where mutants from the future travel back in time to help past X-Men characters stop malevolent machines, known as Sentinels, bent on destroying mutants once and for all.

 


Patrick Stewart/James McAvoy as Professor X

Ian McKellen/Michael Fassbender as Magneto

X-Men: Days of Future Past is directed by Bryan Singer and stars Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, Anna Paquin, Shaun Ashmore, Omar Sy and Evan Peters. It hits theaters on May 23, 2014.

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Toronto International Film Festival Announces Lineup

This year’s TIFF certainly has a loaded playlist and I’m starting to consider just bucking up and attending, but we’ll see if those dreams actually come into fruition. The event will launch with their opening night film The Fifth Estate, the Wikileaks feature starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Also included in the Gala Presentations, there is the much anticipated August: Osage County with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, Kill Your Darlings which premiered at Sundance with Daniel Radcliffe and Dane Dehaan, Justin Chadwick‘s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom starring Idris Elba and Jonathan Teplitzky‘s The Railway Man starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.

 

In the Special Presentations department, we have Cannes Palme D’or winner Blue is the Warmest Color, Steve McQueen‘s 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club starring Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, Alfonso Cuarón‘s Gravity with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Glazer‘s Under the Skin with Scarlett Johansson Devil’s Knot with Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon, Dom Hemingway starring Jude Law, Jim Jarmusch‘s Only Lovers Left Alive and Asghar Farhadi‘s The Past.

Take a look at the full list below.

GALAS

  • American Dreams in China (dir. Peter Ho-Sun Chan) – Hong Kong/China
  • The Art of the Steal (dir. Jonathan Sobol) – Canada
  • August: Osage County (dir. John Wells) – USA
  • Cold Eyes (dir. Cho Ui-seok and Kim Byung-seo) – South Korea
  • The Fifth Estate (dir. Bill Condon) – USA [Opening Night Film]
  • The Grand Seduction (dir. Don McKellar) – Canada
  • Kill Your Darlings (dir. John Krokidas) – USA
  • Life of Crime (dir. Daniel Schechter) – USA [Closing Night Film]
  • The Love Punch (dir. Joel Hopkins) – France
  • The Lunchbox (dir. Ritesh Batra) – India/France/Germany
  • Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (dir. Justin Chadwick) – South Africa
  • Parkland (dir. Peter Landesman) – USA
  • The Railway Man (dir. Jonathan Teplitzky) – Australia/United Kingdom
  • The Right Kind of Wrong (dir. Jeremiah Chechik) – Canada
  • Shuddh Desi Romance (dir. Maneesh Sharma) – India
  • Supermensch The Legend of Shep Gordon (dir. Mike Myers) – USA

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

  • 12 Years a Slave (dir. Steve McQueen) – USA
  • All Is By My Side (dir. John Ridley) – United Kingdom
  • Attila Marcel (dir. Sylvain Chomet) – France
  • Bad Words (dir. Jason Bateman) – USA
  • Belle (dir. Amma Asante) – United Kingdom
  • Blue Is the Warmest Color (dir. Abdellatif Kechiche) – France
  • Burning Bush (dir. Agnieszka Holland) – Czech Republic
  • Can a Song Save Your Life? (dir. John Carney) – USA
  • Cannibal (Caníbal) (dir. Manuel Martín Cuenca) – Spain/Romania/Russia/France
  • Dallas Buyers Club (dir. Jean-Marc Vallée) – USA
  • Devil’s Knot (dir. Atom Egoyan) – USA
  • The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him and Her (dir. Ned Benson) – USA
  • Dom Hemingway (dir. Richard Shepard) – United Kingdom
  • Don Jon (dir. Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – USA
  • The Double (dir. Richard Ayoade) – United Kingdom
  • Enough Said (dir. Nicole Holofcener) – USA
  • Exit Marrakech (dir. Caroline Link) – Germany
  • Felony (dir. Matthew Saville) – Australia
  • Gloria (dir. Sebastián Lelio) – Chile/Spain
  • Going Away (Il est parti dimanche) (dir. Nicole Garcia) – France
  • Gravity (dir. Alfonso Cuarón) – USA/United Kingdom
  • The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) (dir. Paolo Sorrentino) – Italy
  • Hateship Loveship (dir. Liza Johnson) – USA
  • Ida (dir. Pawel Pawlikowski) – Poland
  • L’intrepido (dir. Gianni Amelio) – Italy
  • The Invisible Woman (dir. Ralph Fiennes) – United Kingdom
  • Joe (dir. David Gordon Green) – USA
  • Labor Day (dir. Jason Reitman) – USA
  • Like Father, Like Son (dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda) – Japan
  • MARY Queen of Scots Thomas (dir. Imbach) – France/Switzerland
  • Night Moves (dir. Kelly Reichardt) – USA
  • Omar (dir. Hany Abu-Assad) – Palestine
  • One Chance (dir. David Frankel) – USA
  • Only Lovers Left Alive (dir. Jim Jarmusch) – USA
  • The Past (Le Passé) (dir. Asghar Farhadi) – France/Italy
  • Philomena (dir. Stephen Frears) – United Kingdom
  • Pioneer (Pionér) (dir. Erik Skjoldbjærg) – Norway/Germany/Sweden/France/Finland
  • Prisoners (dir. Denis Villeneuve) – USA
  • Quai d’Orsay (dir. Bertrand Tavernier) – France
  • REAL (dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) – Japan
  • Starred Up (dir. David Mackenzie) – United Kingdom
  • Third Person (dir. Paul Haggis) – Belgium
  • Those Happy Years (Anni Felici) (dir. Daniele Luchetti) – Italy
  • Under the Skin (dir. Jonathan Glazer) – USA/United Kingdom
  • Violette (dir. Martin Provost) – France/Belgium
  • Visitors (dir. Godfrey Reggio) – USA
  • Walesa. Man of Hope. (Walesa. Czlowiek z nadziei.) (dir. Andrzej Wajda) – Poland
  • We are the Best! (Vi är bäst!) (dir. Lukas Moodysson) – Sweden
  • Le Week-End (dir. Roger Michell) – United Kingdom
  • You Are Here (dir. Matthew Weiner) – USA
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Comic Con's GAME OF THRONES "In Memorium" Video Honors the Many Dead

 

Over in San Diego, Comic Con is in full siege and has lead to a blogtastrophe. After earning a whopping 16 Emmy nominations a mere three days ago, beloved HBO series Game of Thrones has showed up to footnote the last season as well as tease what is to come in George R.R. Martin‘s Westeros epic.

In attendance were Michelle Fairley, Richard Madden, Peter Dinklage, John Bradley, Kit Harington, Rose Leslie, Richard Madden, Emilia Clarke, author George R.R. Martin, alongwith showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff. However, to introduce their roundtable appearances was this amusing but somber video that recounts the death of the characters in GoT.

From the minor characters to the host of Baratheon soldiers who lost their lives on the battle of Blackwater to the truly tragic losses of great, major characters, this three minute video has got it all. If you’re a fan of the series, and up to date with the show, give it a watch. Otherwise, avoid at all costs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo8L1TTVKqU

 

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Learn about the Quarter Quell in THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Trailer

On the heels of yesterday’s many, many character posters, Lionsgate has released a new Comic Con trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. While the first trailer just set the context of the story, this one takes a look at the eponymous Hunger Games and what is known as the Quarter Quell. While those who have not read the books were probably wondering how exactly the games would factor into this second installment, this trailer reveals how exactly Katniss will return to the arena in first ever death match between previous victors.

Take a look and see if you think this will match the standard set out by the first installment.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Jefferey Wright and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It hits theaters on November 22, 2013.

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Incredible Extensive Trailer for THE WALKING DEAD Season 4

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I’ve had a spotted past with AMC‘s adaptation of The Walking Dead but ultimately have been won over by the series. Although it deviates wildly from the comics on which it is based, it makes it all the more interesting when a seasoned reader like myself has no idea what will happen next. This four minute trailer for season four, however, is simply stunning.

From the practical effects to the acting to the set design, season four is in tip top shape to improve on the strong base the series now stands upon. Without attempting to spoil anything, the show has purged off the worst of its characters and will now be able to work solely with the elite class. This trailer shows all the best that the shows represents and seems to promise that season four may just be the best yet.

In this season, writer/producer Scott Gimple has taken the reins as the show runner for Glenn Mazzara. Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Scott Wilson, Danai Gurira and David Morrissey will all return.

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Check out the Trailer for The Calvin and Hobbes Documentary DEAR MR. WATTERSON

 

Calvin & Hobbes is a cultural cornerstone for our generation that speaks to both childlike wonder and aged wisdom all in stunningly drawn comics. We laughed at Calvin’s arcane snowmen sculptures as much as we had to rush to the dictionary to look up some of the words oh so eloquently coming from a kid who somehow barely ever managed to pass on Miss Wormwood’s exams. Not only did you have to read them all, you had to own them all and for good reason. The lessons learned and laughs enjoyed  in Calvin and Hobbes were simply mammoth and, in many ways, more responsible for shaping our tender little minds than many other works of fiction in existence.
 
The “Calvin & Hobbes” appreciation project is an ongoing work now churning its way through Kickstarter with this documentary Dear Mr. Watterson serving as a tribute to Calvin & Hobbes creator Bill Waterson, a notoriously recluse, and the legacy that he has left behind. Although Mr. Watterson retired after doing ten years of Calvin & Hobbes strips, he has still not licensed the characters for merchandising. Stop and think for a moment about the goldmine he’s sitting on, and curiously enough, choices not to pursue.

As a modern J.D. Salinger of sorts, Watterson is an undisputed genius who is too camera-shy to speak about his culture-shifting work. This documentary, directed by Joel Allen Scroeder, tries to understand the man beneath the comic pages.

Any fan of C&H should take a look themselves.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRnnGfuS4vU
 
Dear Mr. Watterson is directed by Joel Allen Schroeder and features Seth Green and Bill Amend. It comes to limited theaters and VOD on November 15.

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R. Scott's THE COUNSELOR Gets a More Legit Trailer

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Last month, I posted a little teaser trailer for Ridley Scott’s (director of Gladiator, Alien) new film The Counselor written by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men, The Road), but this is the first official domestic look at the Fox 2000 production. With a loaded cast that includes Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, The Counselor will be McCarthy’s first effort as a screenplay writer and will be Scott’s first legitimate shot at an Oscar nomination in a long time.

Following the story of a lawyer turned drug smuggler who gets too deep in a dirty business, The Counselor will hopefully be the caliber of film that’ll turn some heads. Take a look at the trailer and see if you think this could be worthy of awards or whether it’ll just be a good romp.

The Counselor is directed by Ridley Scott, written by Cormac McCartney and stars Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. It hits theaters October 25.

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A Deeper Look at Elba in Full Length MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM Trailer

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Less than a week ago, we got our first look at Justin Chadwick’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Where that promo featured some voice-over sentiment from Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela, this full length trailer shows some more substantial footage from the film.

Rather than a weeping biopic, this trailer seems to present the film as more of a thriller or an origin story to a hero. Chartering Mandela’s rise as an anti-apartheid leader to his eventual imprisonment, Chadwick’s film will run the course of Mandela’s entire lifetime. As for how Elba’s performance will be received, it’s a year of heavy competition so he’d really have to knock it out of the park to be a strong contender in the Best Actor category.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmm-aazQQKA

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is directed by Justin Chadwick and stars Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Mark Edlerkin, Robert Hobbs, Grant Swanby and Theo Landey.It opens in the US on November 29.


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