Where can you follow The Focused Filmographer?
Twitter: @FilmsWith_T
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheFocusedFilmographer
Email: Subscribe by entering your email in the subscribe box in the righthand margin of the page. >
Never miss a post! Stay in the know!
“Trailer Time Thursday!” 4.17.14
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 of the Week: (all synopses are directly from IMDB.com)
1. Third Person.
- Starring: James Franco, Liam Neeson, Maria Bello, Mila Kunis, Kim Basinger, Olivia Wilde, Adrien Brody and more.
- Releasing: April 24, 2014.
- Director: Paul Haggis
- Synopsis: “Three interlocking love stories involving three couples in three cities: Rome, Paris, and New York.”
- Thoughts: I like movies that have interweaving stories to tell that end up connecting. This one look intriguing and doesn’t have Liam Neeson trying to reclaim his daughter. I was surprised by how many people were actually in this movie. I’m ready to watch it. -T
—
2. The Green Inferno.
- Starring: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Daryl Sabara and more.
- Releasing: September 5, 2014
- Director: Eli Roth
- Synopsis: “A group of student activists travel from New York City to the Amazon to save a dying tribe. Unfortunately, they crash in the jungle and are taken hostage by the very natives they protected.”
- Thoughts: I’m not a huge horror fan and the Hostel movies were rather deplorable, but this one trailer definitely adds that creep factor in a major way. I cringed just watching. Definitely hook for horror-seekers who like this sort of thing. I’m not too hungry for this type.-T
—
3. If I Stay.
- Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Liana Liberato , Jamie Blackley and more.
- Releasing: August 22, 2014
- Director: R.J. Cutler
- Synopsis: “Mia Hall 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. 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.”
- Thoughts: This one is so beautiful. It makes me want to actually read the book BEFORE watching the movie (which is the reverse order of how I normally do it!) Chloe looks to be perfectly cast in this film that is sure to bring tears of heart warmth and wrench. -T
—
4. X-Men: Days of Future Past. (final trailer)
- Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and more.
- Releasing: May 23, 2014
- Director: Bryan Singer
- Synopsis: “The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.”
- Thoughts: All I can say is that May can’t get here fast enough! Who needs April? haha -T
—
5. Gone Girl
- Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Missi Pyle and more.
- Releasing: October 3, 2014
- Director: David Fincher
- Synopsis: “On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?”
- Thoughts: When I first watched this trailer from David Fincher’s adaptation of the best-selling book I wasn’t sold on it. But then I watched it again and found it to be rather brilliant. I am looking forward to this film and wait for the time that more people learn about it and join me in my anticipation. -T
—
6. The Homesman.
- Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, Hailee Steinfeld, James Spader, William Fichtner, Tim Blake Nelson and more.
- Releasing: 2014
- Director: Tommy Lee Jones
- Synopsis: “A claim jumper and a pioneer woman team up to escort three insane women from Nebraska to Iowa.”
- Thoughts: This one surprised me as I knew NOTHING about it until today. What a cast and this is the 2nd full-length feature that Tommy Lee Jones has directed. It looks good and it’s nice to see Hilary Swank in something like this again.-T
—
7. A Most Wanted Man.
- Starring: Robin Wright, Rachel McAdams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe, Daniel Brühl and more.
- Releasing: July 25, 2014
- Director: Anton Corbijn
- Synopsis: “A Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror.”
- Thoughts: One of two movie trailers that came out last week featuring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. This espionage-type thriller looks to be full of strong performances although I fear it will get about as much attention as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and most will miss it. -T
—
8. Annie. (int’l trailer)
- Starring: Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis, Rose Byrne, Cameron Diaz and more.
- Releasing: December 19, 2014.
- Director: Will Gluck
- Synopsis: “Business tycoon and mayoral candidate Benjamin Stacks launches a campaign to take in Annie, a young girl who has been living with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan since her parents left her as a baby.”
- Thoughts: I wasn’t excited about this remake that is produced by Jay-Z and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, but the music sounds good in the trailer. I felt that the young actress Quvenzhané Wallis may have been a one-trick pony with Beasts of the Southern Wild so this will be her chance to show off her acting skills. We’ll see. My eyebrow is still raised but we’ll find out in a future “tomorrow.” -T
—
Spotlight Video of the Week:
Trailer for The Rover
Check out this trailer for The Rover that is written and directed by David Michôd (Animal Kingdom). Starring Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson and more and takes place 10 years after all law and order has ceased in society. Here is the synopsis:
A loner tracks the gang who stole his car from a desolate town in the Australian outback with the forced assistance of a wounded guy left behind in the wake of the theft.
Enjoy this trailer.
The Rover releases on June 13, 2014.
—
Well, that’s it for this round of ‘Triple-T’!
My favorite trailers from today:
- Gone Girl
- If I Stay
- The Homesman
Which ones are your favorites??
—
This Weekend’s Theatrical Releases:
Are you ready for the weekend in theaters? Here’s what releases this weekend, April 18, 2013:
- Wide Release: A Haunted House 2, Transcendence, Heaven is for Real and Bears.
- Limited Release: Fading Gigolo, The Final Member, Tasting Menu and more.
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
“Trailer Time Thursday!” 4.10.14
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 of the Week: (all synopses are directly from IMDB.com)
1. Chef.
- Starring: Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara and more.
- Releasing: May 9, 2014.
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Synopsis: “A chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.”
- Thoughts: Looks fun, but not spectacular. Not sure what Scarlett’s role really is here. Favreau appears the same as he is in all his films. May not stir up tons of emotions, but may serve a few laughs. -T
—
2. The Expendables 3. (“Roll Call”)
- Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson and more.
- Releasing: August 15, 2014
- Director: Patrick Hughes
- Synopsis: “Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables — but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.”
- Thoughts: Wesley Snipes! Yes! This one stars some more people who I know NOTHING about. I just hope there are plenty of good one-liners like in the previous two. Maybe we’ll get an Assassins fight scene with Antonio Banderas and Sylvester Stallone. A lot to digest! -T
—
3. Wish I Was Here.
- Starring: Zach Braff, Josh Gad, Joey King, Kate Hudson, Jim Parsons, James Avery and more.
- Releasing: July 25, 2014
- Director: Zach Braff
- Synopsis: “‘Wish I Was Here’ is the story of Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband, who at 35 is still trying to find his identity; a purpose for his life. He winds up trying to home school his two children when his father can no longer afford to pay for private education and the only available public school is on its last legs. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn’t find.”
- Thoughts: I like Zach Braff’s work and this one really has my attention. Joey King (We Bought a Zoo) is a great addition here. So glad that this Kickstarter project got funded. I can’t wait to see this imaginative tale. I wish it was here already. -T
—
4. Planes: Fire & Rescue.
- Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris and more.
- Releasing: July 18, 2014
- Director: Roberts Gannaway
- Synopsis: “When world-famous air racer Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his team, a bunch of all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.”
- Thoughts: Does anyone want to see this? I mean, really? Well, I won’t stop you, but if you were fooled into giving money to watch the first one and are willing to be fooled a second time for the sequel…well, “Fool me once…” -T
—
5. Blended
- Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Terry Crews, Bella Thorne and more.
- Releasing: May 23, 2014
- Director: Frank Coraci
- Synopsis: “After a bad blind date, a man and woman find themselves stuck together at a resort for families, where their attraction grows as their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship.”
- Thoughts: Why didn’t they make this the first trailer? This looks much better now. Sandler may not win several people over with his recent films, but this one looks to be decent family fun. I’ll be watching it as it looks to be a well-blended comedy. -T
—
6. The Angriest Man in Brooklyn.
- Starring: Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, Melissa Leo and more.
- Releasing: May 23, 2014
- Director: Phil Alden Robinson
- Synopsis: “A foul-tempered Brooklyner is told he has ninety minutes to live, sending him rushing all over New York to make amends.”
- Thoughts: It’s been a while since we’ve seen Robin Williams and this one looks fun. Given 90 minutes to live, I figured the film would be 90 minutes long as well. 83 minutes isn’t too bad. Looks to be plenty of laughs and I’m glad to see Melissa Leo! -T
———————————————————–
I HAVE to mention that FINALLY there is a poster here that doesn’t list the actors’ names in a completely different order than how their pictures appear! Bravo! BRAVO to The Angriest Man in Brooklyn!
Observe this horrid Hollywood tradition here:
———————————————————–
—
7. How to Train Your Dragon 2.
- Starring: Jay Baruchel, Kristen Wiig, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill and more.
- Releasing: June 13, 2014
- Director: Dean DeBlois
- Synopsis: “It’s been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons”
- Thoughts: Toothless, Hiccup…need I say more? While the trailers have been more forthcoming with the plot than I would’ve preferred, I am still really looking forward to it. The beautiful animation, the characters and more. It’s been too long. I think DreamWorks has been trying to train audiences in patience. (It’s not working!) -T
—
8. Deliver Us From Evil.
- Starring: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn and more.
- Releasing: July 2, 2014.
- Director: Scott Derrickson
- Synopsis: “NY police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana), investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramirez), schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.”
- Thoughts: “Ho-hum.” Another one of these “based on actual events” films that delves into the supernatural horrors as described by one person. I have no doubt something happened, but these films are a dime a dozen and I just want to be delivered from them. -T
—
Spotlight Video of the Week:
Extended Look at: GODZILLA
Check out this extended look at Godzilla. Each of the trailers have increasingly looked promising and many are hoping this will be a monstrous success. Starring Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins and more. Directed by Gareth Edwards (Monsters), here is the synopsis:
The world’s most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.
Enjoy this spectacular look.
Godzilla stomps into theaters on May 16, 2014.
—
Well, that’s it for this round of ‘Triple-T’!
My favorite trailers from today:
- Wish I Was Here
- Godzilla
- How to Train Your Dragon 2
Which ones are your favorites??
—
This Weekend’s Theatrical Releases:
Are you ready for the weekend in theaters? Here’s what releases this weekend, April 11, 2013:
- Wide Release: Rio 2, Draft Day and Oculus.
- Limited Release: Only Lovers Left Alive, Joe, Hateship Loveship, The Railway Man and more.
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
“It’s Time to Vote Tuesday” 169!
Today is Tuesday! And you know what that means! It is time for TIME TO VOTE TUESDAY!
For most people Tuesday is just the day after Monday, but for you it means that “Time to Vote Tuesday” is here!!
“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’!
The last TVT poll from March 25 has now closed (see it HERE). Entitled “In Your World…” it asked which Hollywood actor would you want to narrate YOUR life. The votes are in and the winner (by ONE vote) is:
Thanks to all who voted in the previous “Time to Vote Tuesday!”
—————–
This week’s edition of ‘TVT’ entitled “Hollywood Houdinis” takes the time to consider those who have disappeared from the big screen. Every so often we hear of an actor and ask “Whatever happened to him or her?” after realizing we haven’t seen them in anything (or anything GOOD) in years! For example: When was the last time anyone saw Freddie Prinze Jr. in anything?
Sometimes actors take breaks because they retire (i.e. Gene Hackman, Sean Connery, etc), some take breaks because they seek out other ventures such as music or fashion or simply embarrassing themselves regularly in the nightscene of Hollywood (i.e. Lindsay Lohan), some take breaks because they need a vacation or other personal reasons, and sometimes, certain actors SHOULD take breaks! haha.
Today’s poll focuses not on those actors that have disappeared due to retirement, nor does it focus on some of the major celebrities such as Jack Nicholson (who has disappeared to a degree but is currently seeking his next role). Today’s poll asks about some disappeared actors who we really haven’t seen or heard from for quite some time.
Who from the poll below would you like to see return to the big screen? Pick two (2) from the following actors! :)
As an additional question: What type of movie/role would you like to see your pick(s) in? Leave your choice in the comment section and share. Or perhaps you prefer to see NONE of the options above return…tell us your reasons! :)
—————–
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.
———-
Movie News Monday for April 7, 2014.
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 on Mondays 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!
This Just In!!…
#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, Captain America: The Winter Soldier entered the box office arena as the sole new wide release to battle for top honors. Cap vs. Noah…and Cap won by a landslide and broke a record for an April box office opening (beating out Fast Five‘s record of $86.2 million). In additional box office news, Mr. Peabody & Sherman passed the $100 million mark for total gross but still falls short (domestically) of its $145 million budget. All 3 releases from the previous week (Noah, Sabotage, Cesar Chavez) fell by over 61% in their earnings in their second weekend, while 300: Rise of an Empire got booted out of the Top Ten.
Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, Apr 4-Sun, Apr 6:
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier ~$96.2M
- Noah ~$17M
- Divergent ~$13M
- God’s Not Dead ~$7.7M
- The Grand Budapest Hotel ~$6.3M
- Muppets Most Wanted ~$6.28M
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman ~$5.3M
- Sabotage (2014) ~$1.9M
- Need for Speed ~$1.8M
- Non-Stop ~$1.8M
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations to Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. (My review)
What did YOU watch this weekend?
#2- “Goodbye, Mickey Rooney.” Sadly, the world lost a Hollywood icon yesterday as actor Mickey Rooney passed away at the age of 93. Having reportedly been ill for a lengthy period, Rooney succumbed to his ailments and, while specific cause of death has not been 100% verified, it is being reported as “natural causes.”
Known for his great skill in comedic delivery, Rooney received four Academy Award nominations, an honorary award in 1983 for his 50 years of memorable variety of film performances, and was the first teenager to win the Juvenile Academy Award (1939) shared with Deanna Durbin for his part in a silent film entitled Not to be Trusted.
Through the decades, Rooney made generations laugh and enjoy his movies from films such as Night at the Museum (2006) to It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) to Boys Town (1938) and more. Here are a few of my favorites of Rooney’s great career:
- Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
- Captains Courageous (1937)
- Boys Town (1938)
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939)
- National Velvet (1944)
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
- Pete’s Dragon (1977)
- The Black Stallion (1979)
- The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- Night at the Museum (2006)
This legendary actor is survived by his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin, and a wonderful amount of family. RIP, Mickey Rooney.
What are some of your favorite roles of Mickey Rooney?
#3- “Goonies won’t die…they ‘Never Say Die.’“ Last week the news hit the web that director of the classic, The Goonies, Richard Donner stated that The Goonies II may finally be happening. TMZ caught up with Donner and he solicited the information himself. Check it out:
The story of The Goonies (1985) was written by Steven Spielberg and the film starred Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman and more. It will be interesting to see what they pull together for the sequel…30 years later.
The Goonies trailer:
Richard Donner also directed Superman (and a cut of Superman II), Lethal Weapon, Scrooged, The Omen, Maverick, Conspiracy Theory, Timeline and more. Look for more news on The Goonies II as time continues.
Do you want a this sequel? Who is your favorite of the Goonies?
#4- “Bond 24 Eyes Ejiofor.” With Bond 24 slated to begin production shortly, expect to see a ton of rumors and announcements over the next several months. The latest being that Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is being considered for the role of the villain in the next Bond flick. To follow in the footsteps of Javier Bardem’s amazing performance as the memorable villain of Skyfall is no lighthearted thing, but the acceptance of this idea on the web has been overwhelmingly positive.
Fan art. Click photo for source…and MORE!
The addition of Ejiofor brings another solid actor to the franchise. Ejiofor’s experience includes 12 Years a Slave, American Gangster, Children of Men, The Inside Man, the STARZ original series Dancing on the Edge, Serenity, Amistad and more.
No word, yet, on the official plot or additional casting for the film (i.e. the Bond girls), but director Sam Mendes did a great job with Skyfall and will do so with the next one that is scheduled to release on November 5, 2015 and star Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and more.
Thoughts on the strong casting consideration?
#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug- The continuation of Jackson’s telling of J.R.R. Tolkein’s beloved The Hobbit finally hits blu ray. This sequel, which I referred to as the “Empire Strikes Back of the trilogy” was very well done visually and entertainingly and was a welcome improvement upon the first installment. Starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Sir Ian McKellen and more, don’t miss this journey’s continuation. (My full review HERE)
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing:
- August Osage County
- Grudge Match
- Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
- Nurse 3D
- …and more.
Which will you pick up?
——-
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!”
Review- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Starring: Chris Evans (The Avengers), Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2), Anthony Mackie (The Adjustment Bureau), Sebastian Stan (Black Swan) and more.
- Directed by: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo
- Synopsis: “After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” finds Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.”
- Rating: PG-13 for intense fighting violence.
- Must-Watch Trailer:
- Review:
Marvel keeps out-doing itself. Every time I watch one of these Marvel cinematic universe films, I think, “Man, how can they make the next film just as good, if not better?”…and then the next film does exactly that! Such is the case, once again, with Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Continuing their impressive streak, Marvel brings the second Captain America film with class, conviction, conscience and cool cinematography. A smart decision on Marvel’s part to bring one of the darker storylines from the pages of Cap’s comic books to the big screen, The Winter Soldier story assuredly meet fans with delight and satisfaction. Being darker definitely helps shed more light on the characters and makes this sequel both exciting and intriguing.
One of the major benefits that Marvel has in its pockets is the cast continuation as Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Cobie Smulders and more have been afforded the opportunity to grow into and with their characters. Each of them are understood more, believed more and cared for more. This is a Captain America movie, but there is also ample time for attention to Nick Fury, Black Widow and others (a challenge that The Avengers faced and arguably succeeded in).
Hey! This isn’t a Black Widow movie!
The newcomers to the Cap/Marvel line are also equally impressive and seem as if they’ve been a part of the Marvel cinematic universe for a while too as they naturally fit in. Robert Redford, Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) and also Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier). Casting continues to be a strong suit for Marvel and it has THIS fanboy excited for future films.
So much makes this film a standout (and stand alone) Marvel movie. The acting, the action…complete with plenty of heart-pulsing fighting sequences that are just superb…, the characters, the socio-political commentary and more all make this one solid film that is leaps and bounds above other superhero movies of recent (i.e. Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, X-Men 3, etc) and enables it to be another superhero movie made relatable to real life.
While I praise this film quite highly for its acting, special effects and character development, there are a few minor things that do hold it back from perfection that Marvel still has, as of yet, to tackle satisfactorily. Such as:
1. It is a difficult to ignore the fact that, since The Avengers, other superheroes exist and can help each other. They keep Thor: The Dark World out of this conundrum by setting most of the film off of Earth, but viewers may watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier and ask “If they mentioned Iron Man or The Hulk or fought alongside Hawkeye then what’s keeping them from simply making a phone call to them for some help?” It’s a tricky thing to work around to be sure and it seems that Marvel hasn’t yet found the right way to have all these heroes exist in the same universe but not be around to help each other.
2. It can’t escape overall predictability. BUT, it does pull a few small shocks that please.
3. Some elements and characters end up not really understood or known by those who are not BIG fans of the Marvel universe –A minor complaint as most people who are watching it tend to know/recognize the characters overall. (This is not talking about the bonus credit scenes -of which there are two- since they are, indeed, bonus.) But I suspect that some of the minor-played characters will undoubtedly serve a purpose in future Marvel films (a.k.a. Agent 13, a senator that may not be remembered as also being in Iron Man 2 and a few others).
Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes audiences into the battle with Cap as the levels of trust (and distrust), reacclimation, fighting intensity, discovery, deception and loyalty increase continually throughout the film. Utilizing the foundation laid in not only the first Captain America film (including some great “flashback” sequences that add to the flavor of the film), but also in the additional Marvel films, this sequel is a strong assembly of characters, plots and excitement and does NOT disappoint.
Captain America has always been one of Marvel’s morality gauges with a sure sense of what is right and wrong. Let me impart some similar knowledge of the “Cap” persuasion upon you:
- What is right? To see Captain America: The Winter Soldier and expect it to be a great.
- What is wrong? To NOT see Captain America: The Winter Soldier. (or leaving before BOTH credits scenes…but you should know that by now!)
Take off to go see it! NOW!!
Entertaining, exemplary, explosive and engaging, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of Marvel’s best and in terms of sequels is Marvel Studios’ best to date. With the rumored report being that Marvel has planned their films all the way to 2028 it looks as if we have tons more of similar quality to look forward to.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars for Captain America: The Winter Soldier
———-
(Remember, to read this review of mine and over 250 more, check out THE ARCHIVE of movies I have reviewed anytime. Know before you go…or rent…or buy!)
———-
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
“Trailer Time Thursday!” 4.3.14
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 of the Week: (all synopses are directly from IMDB.com)
1. The Drop.
- Starring: Tom Hardy, James Gandolfini, Noomi Rapace and more.
- Releasing: September 19, 2014.
- Director: Michael R. Roskam
- Synopsis: “Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood’s past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living – no matter the cost.”
—
2. Words And Pictures.
- Starring: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche, Keegan Connor and more.
- Releasing: May 23, 2014
- Director: Fred Shepisi
- Synopsis: “An art instructor and an English teacher form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school in which students decide whether words or pictures are more important.”
—
3. The Purge: Anarchy.
- Starring: Frank Grillo, Zach Gilford, Michael K. Williams and more.
- Releasing: July 18, 2014
- Director: James DeMonaco
- Synopsis: “A young couple works to survive on the streets after their car breaks down right as the annual purge commences.”
—
4. Night Moves.
- Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, Peter Sarsgaard and more.
- Releasing: May 30, 2014
- Director: Kelly Reichardt
- Synopsis: “A drama centered on three environmentalists who plot to blow up a dam.”
—
5. Begin Again
- Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Hailee Steinfeld and more.
- Releasing: July 4, 2014
- Director: John Carney
- Synopsis: “A dejected music business executive forms a bond with a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan.”
—
6. Palo Alto.
- Starring: James Franco, Emma Roberts, Val Kilmer and more.
- Releasing: May 9, 2014
- Director: Gia Coppola
- Synopsis: “A dark drama centered on a group of teens with a penchant for finding trouble.”
—
7. Lucy.
- Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Analeigh Tipton and more.
- Releasing: August 8, 2014
- Director: Luc Besson (The Fifth Element)
- Synopsis: “An involuntary drug mule, with a surgically implanted cargo, is assaulted causing the package to leak. This leads to her slowly ramping up the percentage of her brain she can use, resulting in abilities people dream about.”
—
8. Shaun the Sheep.
- Starring: —–
- Releasing: 2015.
- Director: Mark Burton
- Synopsis: “When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.”
—
Spotlight Video of the Week:
Alternate deleted scene for GRAVITY…starring SUPERMAN[funny]
Check out this funny “deleted” scene for Academy Award winner, Gravity. Definitely would’ve given the film a completely different feel altogether! haha. Enjoy.
Perhaps those that didn’t like Gravity would’ve preferred this scene! :)
—
Well, that’s it for this round of ‘Triple-T’!
My favorite trailers from today:
- The Drop
- Night Moves
- Lucy
Which ones are your favorites??
—
This Weekend’s Theatrical Releases:
Are you ready for the weekend in theaters? Here’s what releases this weekend, April 4, 2013:
- Wide Release: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (review will post next), Island of Lemurs: Madagascar and Dom Hemingway.
- Limited Release: Under the Skin, Nymphomaniac, Vol. II., The Unknown Known and more.
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
Movie News Monday for March 31, 2014.
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 on Mondays 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!
This Just In!!…
#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, 2 wide new releases entered the box office arena and audiences flooded theaters to watch Noah while Sabotage fell victim to its title. The previous first place winner, Divergent, dropped 51% while The Grand Budapest Hotel moved up 30%. Notably, 300: Rise of an Empire fell from 5th to 9th place but it did cross the total gross mark of $100M over the weekend.
Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, Mar 28-Sun, Mar 30:
- Noah ~$44M
- Divergent ~$26.5M
- Muppets Most Wanted ~$11.4M
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman ~$9.5M
- God’s Not Dead ~$9.1M
- The Grand Budapest Hotel ~$8.8M
- Sabotage ~$5.3M
- Need for Speed ~$4.33M
- 300: Rise of an Empire ~$4.3M
- Non-Stop ~$4.1M
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations to Noah. (My review)
What did YOU watch this weekend?
#2- “Magic Returns.” The director’s chair has been filled for the upcoming sequel recently rumored to be entitled Magic Mike XXL. Channing Tatum’s 2012 box office hit will see a sequel come to the big screen under the direction of Gregory Jacobs who often occupied the role of first assistant director to director Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike).
This expected sequel is no surprise as the first film was a fan favorite and earned well over $165 million (on a reported budget of $7 million). Currently, the list of actors attached to this project still remain in the “rumored” category, but I expect Warner Bros to move forward quickly in order to secure another film that fans will be eager to throw their money at. They may dance around the issue of pay with the actors for a while, but fans should expect to see news of cast members returning for more magic soon.
Will the sequel be equally magical for the studios?
#3- “Rolling Out More Details About Rowling’s Beasts“ Back in September (here), I reported about author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros partnering up again to take magic/movie fans back to the world of Harry Potter with plans for a series of films based on the Harry Potter semi-spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 
This past week, in an interview with the New York Times, Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Kevin Tsujihara spoke in further detail about the project and revealed that current plans are to make the magical experience a trilogy. Set in New York and centering around the adventures of a “magizoologist” by the name of Newt Scarmander, the three “megamovies” will let fans experience the stories referenced in the Harry Potter films themselves. Author J.K. Rowling is currently penning the first movie and is expected to write the following two sequels.
Are you ready for the Future to be the Present?
#4- “See More Skin & Sin.” Here are a few production stills from the highly anticipated sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For: (click photo to enlarge and scroll using arrow keys)
Official synopsis:
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR weaves together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales in which the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more repulsive inhabitants.
Releasing in theaters on August 22, 2014, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars Eva Green, Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson and more. Check out the trailer.
Are you ready for this sequel to finally arrive in theaters?
#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues- The news anchor of infamy is kind of a big deal, but his movie was kind of a big dud. This sequel finds the San Diego news anchor in New York City and more craziness and conniving continues. With Ron Burgundy things always escalate quickly. Get this comedy if you must, but I recommend avoiding it…and all the other new releases this week as well. This April 1st, the joke will be on those who buy it expecting it to be great like the first.
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing:
- 47 Ronin (one of THE worst movies of last year)
- Knights of Bada$$dom
- …and more.
Which will you pick up?
——-
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!”
