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Review: Fast & Furious 6

May 23, 2013

fast_and_furious_six_ver3Fast & Furious 6

  • Starring: Vin Diesel (Pitch Black), Paul Walker (Into The Blue), Dwayne Johnson (GI Joe: Retaliation) and more.
  • Directed by: Justin Lin (Fast Five)
  • Synopsis: “Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe.  But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez).  The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London.  Payment?  Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again.”
  • Rated: Rated PG-13 for language, violence, sensuality and intense action.
  • Must-Watch Trailer:
  • Review:

At the same time the Wolfpack returns (The Hangover Part III) to theaters, another crew returns to the big screen in the sixth film of the franchise that never stops being fast and furious. Following the highly successful 2011 chapter Fast Five that practically revitalized the franchise and allowed it to surge forward with continuations, Fast & Furious 6 reunites actors Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson and many others in another high-octane thriller that also includes newcomers such as MMA fighter Gina Carano (Haywire), Luke Evans (Immortals) and more. I was so impressed by Fast Five and hoped that this next installment would continue on the road of success found through the engine of Justin Lin’s direction. Hit the jump to see my thoughts on this action-packed sequel.fast-furious-6-tank-slice Read more…

“Trailer Time Thursday!” 5.23.13

May 23, 2013

Today is THURSDAY!!! And you know what that means!! :) It is officially time for another fun-filled edition of “Trailer Time Thursday!”

Here is your weekly fix of “Triple-T” (aka: “Trailer Time Thursday!”)!!

In case this is your first visit to “Triple-T,” here’s what it’s all about:

Seeing as how everyone loves movie previews, “Trailer Time Thursday!” was created to bring all of the trending trailers that you may have missed in theaters, or just need to see, all in one convenient place! It makes Thursdays so great! Get ready! Your Preview Pandemonium awaits!

Check them out and ENJOY!!! :)

Trailers:

The Wolverine. Check out this newest trailer with even more footage for the upcoming  July 26 Marvel release that finds Logan (Wolverine) crossing paths with a person from his past who is not all that he appears. There may be no silver lining in his future (see what I did there?). Watch this newest trailer with more action and excitement. Any guesses on what Stan Lee’s cameo will be in this one?

Don Jon. This directorial debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s stars him and Scarlett Johansson. Focusing on a young man thinking he knows what is important to him in life (listing several things, including an addiction to sex), this Don Juan story finds that young man unexpectedly in love with the most beautiful woman in the world (fittingly, that just so happens to be the most gorgeous Scarlett Johansson!) :D Will he make a change in the name of love and life? Find out on October 18, 2013.

Byzantium. A vampire story of a mother who has sacrificed much for her daughter over centuries and now will fight more in order to protect her. From the people that brought us Interview with a Vampire comes this timeless story of secrets and love starring Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Caleb Landry Jones and more and is set to release on June 28.

We’re The Millers. A group of misfits (Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudekis and more) are put together and hired by a wealthy businessman (Ed Helms) to pose as a happy family in order to smuggle a shipment of drugs over the border. Perhaps another predictable comedy in which people, pretending to be something else, find that their desires are too far off from what they are pretending to be. Will the trip be worth it? You be the judge. But, some may not be too bothered by this predictable and silly story when Jennifer Aniston appears on stage…as a stripper. Look to meet the Millers on August 9th.

Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Here is the most recent teaser trailer for the upcoming sequel to Anchorman. Plenty of familiar faces are expected to show up in this anticipated comedy. The headlines will hit the theaters on December 20, 2013. Are you ready to stay classy?

Europa Report. International astronauts team up on a mission to one of Jupiter’s moons and things take a turn for the worse when the encounter situations unfamiliar and…alien. Starring Sharlito Copley (District 9, A-Team), this one looks to carry some terrifying moments and hopes to entertain on June 27th. For an in-depth look at this trailer, don’t miss Tim’s thoughts on it at Tim’s Film Reviews HERE.

Man of Steel. Don’t miss the newest and action-packed trailer for June 14th’s release of Man of Steel. It looks great! Check it out HERE.man of steel

Additional Trailers of the Week:

Sometimes, there are just too many trailers to put on one post, so today I have a few extras if you are interested. Below you will find a series of pictures of movies that have a new trailer. Click on the TITLE to watch the respective trailer if you wish! Enjoy.

The_World_s_End_teaser_trailer_article_story_mainThe World’s End

the-delivery-man-vince-vaughn

The Delivery Man

turbo

Turbo

lastvegas

Last Vegas

grown_ups_21

Grown Ups 2

Spotlight Video of the Week:

Featurette for Pacific Rimpacific-rim-trailer-630x420

I can’t wait for July 12th. This looks to be a giant load of fun as giant monsters fight mechanic monsters in a fight over the right to rule the world! Man, this just looks like soooo much great fun. Did I say I can’t wait? Well, I Can’t Wait. Check out this new featurette introduced by the film’s director Guillermo del Toro.

What do you think of Pacific Rim? Are you ready for July 12?!

Well, that’s it for this round of ‘Triple-T’!

My favorite trailers from today: Byzantium, The Wolverine, Europa Report and I must toss in the Scarlett Johansson-starring Don Jon. Which ones are your favorites??

This Weekend’s Theatrical Releases:

Are you ready for the weekend in theaters? Here’s what releases this weekend, May 24, 2013:

  • Wide Release: Fast & Furious 6, Epic, The Hangover Part III (my review) 
  • Limited Release: Before Midnight, Fill the Void and more.

Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!

-T, The Focused Filmographer

up next: Reviews for Fast & Furious 6.and New Posters of the Week. Stay Tuned.

Review: The Hangover Part III

May 23, 2013

hangover_part_iii_ver7The Hangover Part III

  • Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and more.
  • Directed by: Todd Phillips (Old School)
  • Synopsis: “It’s been two years.  Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) are happily living uneventful lives at home.The only member of the Wolfpack who’s not content is Alan (Zach Galifianakis).  Still lacking a sense of purpose, the group’s black sheep has ditched his meds and given in to his natural impulses in a big way—which, for Alan, means no boundaries, no filters and no judgment—until a personal crisis forces him to finally seek the help he needs.And who better than his three best friends to make sure he takes the first step. This time, there’s no bachelor party.  No wedding.  What could possibly go wrong?   But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.“The Hangover Part III” is the epic conclusion to an incomparable odyssey of mayhem and bad decisions, in which the guys must finish what they started by going back to where it all began: Las Vegas.One way or another…it all ends here.”
  • Rated: Rated R for strong language, violence, drug usage, nudity, sexual content and more.
  • Must-Watch Trailer:
  • Review:

The Hangover Part III reunites the infamous Wolf Pack for another unintended adventure expected to be full of debauchery, drunkenness and danger (see the synopsis above for plot details). And, while the third of this series continues with some of the same laughs, plots and characters, this is one reviewer that thankfully welcomes its end. Hit the jump to read more on my thoughts on The Hangover Part III and see if the third time truly is the charm.THE HANGOVER PART III Read more…

CinematiCaptions #17 (Special SUPERMAN edition)

May 22, 2013

Here comes another installment of a fun segment entitled: CinematiCaptions!

Have you ever played the television game of watching a program with the volume muted and then coming up with your own silly dialogue for the people in the scene at that moment? Well, the CinematiCaptions segments enable you to take part in a fun similar game of sorts. Only, with pictures and captions.

For example:caption

So! F.Y.E. (For Your Entertainment), below are 2 pictures from 2 movies you may recognize. What the picture is about now is completely up to you and your remix mastery!

  • Create a CinematiCaption of dialogue or a general statement about the scene, actor, film, etc. for each picture.
  • Leave your captions in the comment section.

Please keep the CinematiCaptions you create clean and respectful, yet fun, inventive, and unexpectedly hilarious! :D  As the comments come in, I will update this post and place them under the picture in the order which they are received.

***With Man of Steel just around the corner and with the new action-packed trailer launching yesterday (See it HERE), today’s edition of CinematiCaptions features FOUR pictures…all Superman-themed. Have fun with this “Super” edition!

Enjoy! :)

(I will start it off with the first CinematiCaptions for the pictures.)

Picture #1-Superman-II-superman-the-movie-20437777-1000-808

CinematiCaption 1: Lois, the microwave is broken. Countdown from 5 and our dinner will be done! (-T)

CinematiCaption 2: Why do we have to have our hands like this? (-Tim)

CinematiCaption 3: Ok, the blackbirds should be coming out any second now, get ready! (-Bubbawheat)

CinematiCaption 4: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 5: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 6: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 7: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)


Picture #2-Superman_II

CinematiCaption 1: The triple tie-breaker from Krypton’s Hula-hoop championship! Zod is not impressed.(-T)

CinematiCaption 2: We shall be bigger than ABBA.(-Tim)

CinematiCaption 3: There are only three contestants left on Kryptonian Idol, who will go home tonight?! (-Bubbawheat)

CinematiCaption 4: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 5: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 6: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 7: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

Picture #3-superman-ii-1980-05-g

CinematiCaption 1: Super powers must also mean super fast digestive system. Hurry up Pepto Bismol…I hate bean burritos! (-T)

CinematiCaption 2: Slipping on a banana at super speed. (-Tim)

CinematiCaption 3: Moving at the speed of blur. (-Bubbawheat)

CinematiCaption 4: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 5: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 6: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 7: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

Picture #4-Superman-ii-zod-superman-chris-reeves-ursa-lois

CinematiCaption 1: All along, Superman was chasing Zod to propose! Who knew?! (-T)

CinematiCaption 2: It’s been 40 seconds…can I have my hand back now? (-Tim)

CinematiCaption 3: One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war. (-Bubbawheat)

CinematiCaption 4: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 5: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 6: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

CinematiCaption 7: Put yours in the comment section (-Your Name Here)

——–

Alright, now. Put on your imagination caps and get to typing. Enjoy!

Thanks for playing. Happy “CinematiCaptioning“!

You can visit the previous installments and still submit yours if you want by clicking HERE.

-T, The Focused Filmographer

up next: “Trailer Time Thursday!”

Man of Steel (New Trailer & Poster)

May 21, 2013

Hello all.

No, it is not “Trailer Time Thursday!” yet, however, this newest trailer for June 14th’s Man of Steel just released and must be shown!man_of_steel_ver12

Check it out:

Official synopsis:

In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Cavill) is a young twentysomething journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond anyone’s imagination. Transported to Earth years ago from Krypton, an advanced alien planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question – Why am I here? Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Costner), Clark soon discovers that having super abilities means making very difficult decisions. But when the world needs stability the most, it comes under attack. Will his abilities be used to maintain peace or ultimately used to divide and conquer? Clark must become the hero known as “Superman,” not only to shine as the world’s last beacon of hope but to protect the ones he loves.

Man of Steel hits theaters on June 14 and fans around the world cannot wait. This is the first time we get to see the Last Son of Krypton on the big screen since the disappointing Superman Returns…and it looks good! Do not miss Flixchatter‘s wonderfully written tribute in an article entitled “Superman and Me” that begins her Countdown to Man of Steel (click HERE).manofsteelcountdown

What do you think of the new trailer? Are you ready for June 14?

-T, The Focused Filmographer

It’s “Time to Vote Tuesday!” 150

May 21, 2013

Today is Tuesday! and if you’ve been coming here for any length of time, you know that, for most people Tuesday is just the day after Monday, but for you it means that “Time to Vote Tuesday” is here!! YES!!!

What is “Time to Vote Tuesday”?:

“Time to Vote Tuesday” is the session of fun weekly polls which spark thought, debate, and intrigue! Each poll closes in a week with results posted on the following ‘TVT’!

Last week’s poll: “Director Redirects” has officially closed and the results are in with 38 total votes. Asking which directors you would’ve picked for a trilogy brought out some interesting thoughts and results. Was Quentin Tarantino directing The Godfather trilogy one of the top 2 choices? You’ll have to check out the winners of the poll HERE!Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy Poster

Thanks to all that voted and made last week’s poll fun!

—————–

This week’s edition of ‘TVT’ entitled “Casting Close Calls” brings a bit of Hollywood trivia to you along with your regular exercising of your freedom to vote!ballot

Last week we looked at directors. And while the choice of director can make a big impact and difference on a film’s overall completion and reception, some would argue that the chosen cast plays a bigger part. (Think Iron Man‘s Robert Downey, Jr. as opposed to director Jon Favreau).jon-favreau-and-robert-downey-jr

Casting does play a big part. Sometimes, the actors cast in our favorite roles weren’t the initial choices, but ended up being the seemingly best choices. Some of the revealed original/alternate choices below are quite surprising, but also quite impossible to visualize now having seen and loved the final cut with the chosen actor playing the part.

For example:

Did you know…

  • Harrison Ford took the role of Indiana Jones only after Tom Selleck turned it down? Ford also took the role of Han Solo AFTER it was turned down by Burt Reynolds!
  • …one of Will Smith‘s regrets was turning down the role of Neo in The Matrix?Will-Smith-Neo-Matrix-Movie
  • Henry Cavill (star of next month’s Man of Steel) actually missed out on being Superman in Superman Returns…and was turned down as James Bond in Casino Royale?
  • Lindsay Lohan turned down the role of the stripper Jade (played by Heather Graham) in The Hangover because the part “had no potential”?the-hangover-lindsay-lohan
  • Sean Connery declined to play the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings because 18 months of filming was “too much”?
  • …apparently both Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale were strong considerations for the part of Jack in Titanic before James Cameron insisted on Leonardo DiCaprio?
  • Hugh Jackman signed up to be Wolverine just two weeks before filming X-Men after two other considerations didn’t commit to the role…one of whom was Russell Crowe?
  • Patrick Swayze‘s role in Ghost was first offered to Demi Moore’s then-husband Bruce Willis…and also Al Pacino, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon?ghost-1990-03-g

Those are some interesting bits of “Casting Close Calls” that are, perhaps, a little bit more well known than others. Can you imagine Sean Connery yelling “You Shall Not Pass!” as Gandalf?sean-connery-gandalf

:D

Below you will find today’s poll with some “Casting Close Calls” that you may NOT have been aware of. And, admittedly, several of them are ones that I am glad did not work out. Today’s poll asks you to pick the “worst 3″ in your opinion that you are really glad did NOT finalize. Have fun learning these “Casting Close Calls” and breathing those sighs of relief…or screaming a tirade of disappointment.bale__oPt

Today I ask you:

——–

Thanks for joining me today! Which Casting Close Call was the most surprising to you?

Can’t wait to see the results next week. Be sure to vote before the polls close on 5-28-13. The results will post on next week’s “Time to Vote Tuesday!”

Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!

-T, The Focused Filmographer

***Don’t forget: For regular updates on movie news, rumors, pictures, posters, and more, FOLLOW ME on Twitter and Facebook.

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Movie News Monday for May 20, 2013.

May 20, 2013


Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)!!

What is ‘MNM’ all about?

In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit every Monday for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!monday

This Just In!!…

#1- “The Weekend Winner.”  Last weekend, only 1 wide new release that entered the box office arena to battle against the likes of Iron Man 3 and The Great Gatsby. J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness started its theatrical run with a smaller than anticipated opening, but still strong enough to take first! Iron Man 3 may have taken a back seat, but it did pass the $1 Billion mark in worldwide earnings! Wow.

Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, May 17-Sun, May 19:

  1. Star Trek Into Darkness ~$70.6M
  2. Iron Man 3 ~$35.2M
  3. The Great Gatsby ~$23.4M
  4. Pain & Gain ~$3.1M
  5. The Croods ~$2.75M
  6. 42 ~$2.73M
  7. Oblivion ~$2.2M
  8. Mud ~$2.1M
  9. Tyler Perry Presents Peeples ~$2.1M
  10. The Big Wedding ~$1.1M

*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.

Congratulations to Star Trek Into Darkness.Star Trek

What did YOU watch this weekend?

#2- “Butler turns into a Bird.” Gerard Butler is replacing Liam Hemsworth in an upcoming full length feature entitled The Raven that spawned from the mind of director Ricardo de Montreuil who directed the 6-min short that inspired the upcoming production. No, The Raven is not a rehashing of the life of Edgar Allan Poe. We already saw that horrible film that starred John Cusack and Alice Eve (see my review). Thankfully, this takes a turn towards the science fiction as it is follows a young man, known as The Raven, who is pursued by the autonomous authorities in a near future. His crime? Well, it appears to be that of having special telekinesis powers.

Watch the impressive 6 minute short here:

Apparently, Thor’s younger brother, Liam Hemsworth was attached to star, but has since been replaced with Olympus Has Fallen star Gerard Butler. (Thankfully, he seems to be returning to some more action titles as opposed to his dreaded rom-coms.)Gerard Butler Gamer

Look for more on this as it develops. But know that the project seems to be moving along as funding and distribution appear to already have been settled.

What do you think of THIS Raven?

#3- “Nolan-Bonding? The rumors right now are swirling as to who will sit in the director’s chair for Bond 24. Sadly for many fans of Skyfall, director Sam Mendes will not be returning for the next Bond installment due to prior obligations in theater productions (although, executives have emphatically declared that Mendes will be returning for a future one), so…enter the search for a new director.daniel-craig-james-bond-contract

It was reported this past weekend that director Christopher Nolan has been approached and informally asked to be involved in the next project. The Inception and Dark Knight director is in high demand and also has his next project Interstellar coming up. He may not have the time to work on Bond, but the prospect being more than a rumor is definitely intriguing.dark-knight-rises-image-christopher-nolan

But, let’s just dream for a moment! Christopher Nolan moving from Batman to Bond! Oh yes. I think I even heard Sean Connery yell with excitement!

For more on this story, check out Daily Mail’s report HERE.

What do you think about the possibility of Christopher Nolan directing Bond 24?

#4- “Jumping Tiger, Found Dragon.” The beautiful Academy Award winning martial arts film of 2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has been found by the sequel committee as a part 2 has been announced. Now, while the news of the sequel has been circling the web since earlier this year, The Hollywood Reporter has now stated that director Woo-ping Yuen (Iron Monkey, True Legend) will be directing the planned 2014 sequel currently titled Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II: The Green Destiny.crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon

In addition to the news of the sequel coming, Michelle Yeoh is set to reprise her role and star alongside martial arts specialist Donnie Yen who will join her in the second installment.Crouching_Tiger_Hidden_Dragon_37584

It will be interesting to see how this develops. The first film saw such great success. Look for more on this as time goes on.

Thoughts on this sequel? 

#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:

The Last Stand- Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fun action filled movie starring him as the sheriff of a border town who is the last hope to keep a fugitive drug lord from leaving the country. He and a rag-tag group of law enforcers work to stop him and the laughs, along with the bullets, just don’t stop. Check out my full thoughts in my review for this action-comedy HERE.last_stand_bluray

Several other films also release this week. Check it out!

Also releasing: Beautiful Creatures, Side Effects, Parker, Stand Up Guys, and more.

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Well, that’s it for this round of “Movie News Monday!”

Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!

-T, The Focused Filmographer

up next: ”Time to Vote Tuesday!”

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