A&E

15 movies I am (and you should be) most excited for in 2015

January 15, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Sean Morris

Staff Writer

With so many good looking films coming this year, lets take a look at the years most anticipated, and perhaps smaller known gems, hitting theaters soon

Jupiter Ascending

The previous Wachowski film; Cloud Atlas will always go down as one of my favorites, if not my #1 favorite film, so naturally I’m curious about their next picture, and boy it does not look like it will disappoint. With some truly breathtaking images and an all star cast, including Golden Globe winner Eddie Redmayne as the film’s villain, Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, this seems like a truly promising film. While the plot seems a little predictable at glance, it’s sure to be an entertaining ride all the way through and definitely worth seeing on the big screen, trust me.

Release date: February 6th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVZELMRXeYM

Bonus, the films visuals are enough to see the film alone, to get a closer look at the beautiful costuming, set design and artwork check out this website: http://lookbook.jupiterascending.com/

Seventh Son

While I suspect It won’t be the best rated nor successful film of the year, it definitely looks like one of the most fun. with thrilling fantasy visuals including dragons, magic, monsters, witches and more, paired with a cast including Oscar nominated actress Julianne Moore, playing a villainous witch, Jeff bridges as an ageing evil fighter, Ben Barnes as his apprentice and other like Kit Harington bring this to a promising roundout. The story centers around a young man named Thomas who, under the tutelage of aging Master Gregory, learns to fight off the evil spirits of the world, especially with the escape of the evil witch Mother Malkin. I’d recommend taking advantage of the big screen and this films effects and treat yourself to a little fantasy.

Release date: February 6th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXiNkOjM7oM

Kingsmen: The Secret Service

Nice suits, attractive people, action, a knife- on prosthetic legs assassin,british spies- what more is there to love? The director of X- Men: First Class, which was a surprising, action packed and even at times humorous treat; that looks as if will be continued here with Kingsmen, also based on a comic book of the same name. With a cast varying from the unexpected hero of colin firth, handsome newcomer Taron Edgerton, the always- a delight- Samuel L. Jackson as the villain along with Michael Caine, Mark Strong and even a cameo appearance from Mark Hamill (which is a joke relating to his appearance in the comic) A summer blockbuster for a winter blockbuster has a lot of promise, and looks like a whole ‘lotta fun.

Release date: February 13th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkX8jKeKUEA

The Avengers: Age of Ultron

With the surprising success of The Avengers and the massive media giant that is marvel, their upcoming blockbuster is sure to be . With a plethora of success and it’s previous installment breaking many box office’s and becoming eating the place of 3rd most successful movies in the world, It’s sure to be a talk of the summer. Part of the appeal is the new villain, and while some are good I’ve personally felt that the villains were not the MCU’s strongest suit, but this is a character I’ve found interesting and looks to be brought to life with chilling grace by the talented James Spader, leaving me with a hopeful promise of something wonderfully entertaining. But i’ll try to go in without too many reservations/ expectations, so that there are no strings on me…

Release date: May 1st

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmeOjFno6Do

Mad Max: Fury Road

A blood pumping action ride, with eye catching visuals and an all star cast, the reboot of the mad max franchise seems to have its teeth out for the new world (and a new potential audience at that). For anyone unfamiliar with the franchise; it takes place in a post apostolic future where humans are now practically savages who fight in the heat of the sun armed to the teeth with sharp devices and roaring engines. This installment features the talented Tom Hardy as the titular Max, including actors and actresses nearly unrecognizable in their roles like Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult. With some good actors and a pure escapism realm of overdone action, this looks to be an entertaining ride.

Release date: May 15th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdLl1GVjOrc

CHAPPiE

We see so often films and tv shows warning us of the dangers of technological progression. Whether it’s the Robot uprising, the media hungerness in us all we have seen many depictions of the warnings moving forward. This does not look like one of those films. Instead what CHAPPiE promises is instead, our ability as humans to create something so different, yet so human at the same time. In the film CHAPPiE is a robot and AI who, rather than being some ingenious stoic computer from the get-go learns about the world around him, like a child learning what words mean and how things work. Within his group of misfits CHAPPiE has found a home, but it doesn’t look too secure as he will face rejection from the world around him. While it doesn’t carry many A- listers, aside from Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver and even Dev Patel, it looks like it one of the strongest performers will be CHAPPiE himself, done through motion capture by Sharlto Copley. This film truly seems like it will be a thought provoking and heart warming/ shattering film that you might walk out of the theater more than a little changed.

Release date: March 6th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNshgSYF_M

Jurassic World

It’s been several years since we’ve seen the dinosaurs terrorize us within the jurassic franchise, but its latest and potentially one of its greatest, will give us something entirely new to fear. Set 22 years after the original film, the Dinosaur theme park “Jurassic world” has been running smoothly for about 10 years, however visitors are beginning to decline. So in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, as well as re-spark visitor’s interest, the Park’s scientists create a new attraction, a genetically engineered, original and looks to be terrifying dinosaur. However soon it escapes, and it’s getting hungry, with a whole park of innocents on the dinner menu… With some strong cast members like Parks and Rec/ Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Johnson Katie Mcgrath, Nick Robinson- this looks like a movie to ‘really get your teeth’ into.

Release date: June 12th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFinNxS5KN4

Terminator: Genisys

Past and present meet in another installment of the infamous Terminator franchise, that has Arnold Schwarzenegger return to the role that made him infamous. A new timeline has been created, in which Kyle Reese, a protagonist in the original film, comes to the past to save Sarah Connor (like in the original film) only to find her on quest to save the world from Skynet, with the ageing Schwarzenegger Terminator, and will face off against the menacing machines of the evil Skynet, including the infamous t-1000 and apparently multiple younger version of Schwarzenegger’s terminator. With an impressive ensemble including Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke as the infamous Sarah Connor, Jai Courtney, J.K Simmons, Doctor who’s matt smith, Jason Clarke and of course Mr. Schwarzenegger himself.

Release Date: July 1st

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8Y7QuepK20

Pan

From the trailer alone it looks to be a promising adventure filled tale of a new and unique take on the infamous world of Neverland. This land, It’s peter Pan himself who is whisked from 19th century London by villainous captain… Blackbeard. As you’ve probably guessed by this point, this story is essentially a prequel to the iconic peter pan story that shows how pan becomes the legend we all know of him as. It’s trailer shows a number of eye catching and imaginative scenes, costuming and sets that should be appealing to multiple audiences. It also includes a great cast, such as Hugh Jackman as the film’s villain Blackbeard, Garrett Hedlund as a younger, heroic Hook, Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily, Amanda Seyfried and newcomer Levi Miller as the titular hero. With enough for a wide number of people, it looks to be a good summer adventure.

Release date: July 24th

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjW1mKwNUSo

Legend

In the 1960’s London was terrorized by crime, especially from the violent Reggie and Ronnie Kray; twins who are almost synonymous with this time. Both twins will be acted by the talented Tom Hardy, who has been proving himself more and more capable of tackling a range of characters, which part of what makes me intrigued and interested in the film. It has also attached a wonderful cast like harry potter’s David Thewlis, Doctor who’s Christopher Eccleston as the police officer dedicated to taking down the Crays, Merlin’s Colin Morgan, Emily Browning as Ronald’s wife, Kingsmen’s Taron Edgerton as Reggie’s boyfriend and more. Along with some smart suits/ clothing and interesting period of time, this looks to be an interesting piece to watch.

Release date: (tentative) October 1st

Spectre

Coming from a family of James bond fans, and enjoying the recent films myself, I sometimes asked if they would ever be able to bring the iconic villains from the 60s that had been so parodied in the Austin Powers movies. That seems to be what they are doing here; and after the last film, which I fully enjoyed, and rounded by a stellar cast; including 2 time oscar winner Christoph Waltz (who was born to play a bond villain) supposedly playing the infamous blofield, this can’t come soon enough.

Release date: November 6th

The Hateful Eight

Quentin Tarantino is a filmmaker with a long history of successes and a following of many who appreciate his masterful craft. His new film tells the tale of 8 bounty hunters in post civil war america who meet while traveling during a blizzard and thus chaos ensues. With some interesting cast members like previous tarantino collaborators Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Roth it’s hard to imagine the next Tarantino will be without something to enjoy.

Release Date: November 13

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

After a long time spent in development hell “Pride Prejudice and Zombies” based off the book, which takes most of the text of Jane Austen’s classic but ads in scenes of slaying the undead; looks to finally be coming in it’s full wacky glory. With a stellar cast including Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey and Charles Dance, Doctor who’s Matt Smith, Douglas Booth, Jack Huston, Sam Riley and more shows a promising, sure to be funny film that will be applicable and treat to a very wide number of genres and fans.

Release date: Uncertain, later in the year/ fall probably

Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Pt. 2

Throughout the past few years, “The Hunger Games” trilogy has been keeping audiences hungry for more; and while it may be our last trip to the dark world of Panem, the final film looks already to be an exciting conclusion to a satisfying and entertaining series. As the rebellion against the corrupt Capital grows, it looks as if the “girl on fire” Katniss everdeen will feel the heat from both her enemies, and her allies. From what I know of the books and what I’ve gathered from the movies, the people that she’s been with will begin to become more divided with her as they start to overthrow the capitol; all of which will come down to a hopefully thrilling finale, worthy of the series fame and popularity.

Release date: November 20th

Star Wars Episode VII

While I have my own reservations on the film, I’d be a fool to deny it’s going to make a big impact around the world, and will probably generate enough money that J.J Abrams can swim scrooge mcduck style as his butler James Cameron waits on him. But aside from impact the movie has interesting promise and potential, with all the money and effort Disney has put into this film, and with the recent success of their other owned franchise, Marvel Comics, it seems very unlikely they are going to mess it up, and on a personal note, I can’t wait to indulge my inner child and return to the galaxy a galaxy far far away…

Release date: December 18th

Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE

Black Mirror: The Modern World’s Answer to the Twilight Zone

December 22, 2014 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Sean Morris

Staff Writer

The Prime Minister of England wakes up and his government has received a video from an untraceable YouTube account. National sweetheart Princess Suzanne has been kidnapped and will be killed unless one single ransom demand is made: the Prime Minister must have sex with a pig live on national television.

From the first 5 minutes or so of the very first episode of Black Mirror, you already know there’s nothing else like it on television. I had to watch it in several viewings, and my mind was literally blown as I went through all the possibilities and oddness such a scenario could bring between each viewing.

What’s ultimately fascinating about this shows is that it not only shows the darker side of not only humanity but technology as well. In each episode they introduce an entirely new scenario, none of them are connected but they all give a world in which has been described not as where technology has leaped, but just nudged a little and it’s terrifying.

It has several interesting concepts, one notable one being a world where humans can record and playback their memories (the episode has even caught the eye of famous actor Robert Downey Jr, who wants to turn it into a feature length film), a women with no recollection of who she is being hunted down while onlookers record with little remorse, a cartoon bear becoming a political candidate and so much more.

The show delves into aspects that we can see in world and even local events, like in an interview with the shows creator (which you can read more of HERE) in which the episode in which people filmed at the women’s terrible ordeal was influenced by how we see terrible or gruesome events being shot, like all the people that took pictures of Gaddafi’s dead body. Like I mentioned the ideas and thoughts presented to these worlds (as each of them are different) are not that far from where we as a society are today, as much as we might hate to admit it. But that’s what’s so fascinating about the series in addition to the interesting concepts it gives a ‘mirror’ or at the risk of sounding cliche; a ‘black mirror’ that reflects the darker side in us- both personally and as a society.

The first two seasons are currently on Netflix with a Christmas special appearing on Direct Tv, which stars Jon Hamm who is infamous for his leading role on “Mad Men”.

Recommended if you like:

Doctor Who: Imaginative science and storytelling.

American Horror story: Anathegolocial series with an exploration into the darker side of humanity.

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies Review

December 22, 2014 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Sean Morris

Staff Writer

For the better part of the 21st century, the fantasy genre has been ruled by Tolkien’s works. Visionary director Peter Jackson has created the infamous and highly popular film adaptations. Now that Jackson has maxed the extent of the studio’s rights to JRR Tolkien’s work (for now, at least) this might be last of Middle Earth, at least for a while. So how did it do? lets take a ‘journey’ below.

First off the visuals, as always, were astonishing. From the fire-breathing of Smaug the Terrible, to the individualized armor worn by dwarves, elves, orcs and others,and the incredible battle sequences, the movie was eye candy at its finest. The acting was well done, with strong performances being brought in from Martin Freeman, Ian Mckellen, Richard Armitage, Aiden Turner, Evangeline Lilly, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lee Pace, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett, Luke Evans, Ryan Gage and many more in this ensemble cast.

I also wanted to give a little applause for their inclusion of so many characters and, if mostly trying, giving them time on screen and even a few badass moments here and there. Particularly memorable is, while mostly through stunt doubles, is having 92- year old actor Christopher Lee in an action sequence fighting off evil spirits.

My main critique looks at the plot and thepacing. For a majority of the first hour or so, the characters are looking for an object that, while seemingly very important, does not get mentioned again throughout the film. Also, it was a little hard to tell who exactly were the titular ‘Five Armies” as I believe one of them was just a separate division of a larger one. They re-used the infamous eagles plot device (the giant eagles that seem to get anyone out of a mess) which made the ending a little cheaper. While I don’t know what exactly happened in the book, I felt some of the death scenes became overkill after a while. In the new Hobbit movies they had introduced several new characters that we never learned of their final fates, which seemed odd considering how invested we were with some of their storylines. They also missed an opportunity that since they had mentioned Bilbo growing a tree to remind him of his journey they should have had a scene with him planting it, or since they had a flash-forward showing the three fully grown.

However, I think one of their biggest mistakes was showing when Saruman the white was going after the weak spirit of Sauron, who we know he serves in the LOTR trilogy, they should have had a mid credits, or final scene where Saurman met with Sauron’s spirit and I’ dunno drank coffee with him or something that signified he was turning dark and thus hinted to the other trilogy.

Overall, I was still entertained and found it a mostly fitting farewell to Middle Earth, that I hope we can still see more off on the big screen. I wouldn’t recommend it though to someone who isn’t familiar with the previous movies or even books, but anyone who is a fan can find a lot to enjoy.

The Blacklist: James Spader at his Finest and the Mystery that Keeps you Guessing

December 18, 2014 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Sean Morris

Staff Writer

From the start, NBC’s hit series “The Blacklist” presents itself as an odd amalgam: a mixture of Silence of the Lambs, (criminal mentoring young new female FBI agent), Homeland (terrorism threats) and a procedural show (new threat each week) making it seem like a show that wouldn’t work, but it really does.

“The Blacklist” tells the story of Red Reddington –a suave, hilarious ex-CIA agent who mysteriously went rouge to become a master criminal who turns himself into the FBI for seemingly no reason–and Elizabeth Keen, the single, inexperienced FBI agent he wants to talk with, despite Elizabeth not knowing the man at all. He’s prepared to give the FBI the names and help capture some of the most dangerous criminals in the world, while dealing with a mysterious threat to his organization.

While admittedly its premise of ultra-dangerous criminals with wild modus operandi lends itself to the less believable side, it remains an ultimately enjoyable watch. It benefits from Megan Boone, Tom Eggold, Hisham Tawfiq, Harry Lennix and Amir Arison in its regular cast, as well as a talented plethora of wonderful guest actors including Peter Stormare, Alan Alda, Lance Riddik, Linus Roache, Isabella Rossellini, Ritchie Coster, Chin Han and many more.

However, the real shining star is the one pretty much everyone watches for, and for good reason: James Spader. Spader –who has been nominated for a Golden Globe, a Saturn award and another pending Golden Globe nom has brought life to a wonderfully complex, dark, humorous and overall just a fun enjoyable character to watch. A fine example of his work is the episode “Madeline Pratt (No.73).”Spader demonstrates skill at both great comedy and drama when he describes a hideous painting and tries to distract a guard and “tells” a story concerning the events of his disappearance with his family.

The show is currently midway through it’s second season (with a mind blowing mid season finale!) and the first season is available on Netflix and most of the first half of the second season on the official website (you might need to find the first few episodes) he rest of the second season will begin airing after the Superbowl on February the 1st.

From Screens to the Streets: When Movie Politics Become Real

December 11, 2014 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Leah Kelly

Staff Writer

After the release of Mockingjay Part 1, protesters in Thailand began flashing the popular “three finger salute” as a symbol of their own rebellion.

The Interview, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen and set to be released this fall, has caused anger among the citizen’s of North Korea and Kim Jong Un, the nation’s leader. The anger has gone as far as death threats against these American actors.

Who said that life can’t imitate art?

It is no secret that films can be powerful influences in people’s lives. However, some people view this as an issue. If one is pro-democracy, the spark that these movies light is a great one full of change. But on the other hand, if one is against democracy, these films pose a threat. There can be many causes for unrest among nations through films such as comical assassinations of leaders, signs of rebellion or other threats against another country.

Based off the the award-winning Hunger Games book series, director Francis Lawrence took up the task of producing the third book in the series, called Mockingjay. Katniss Everdeen, a bold female protagonist, is the face for a large revolution throughout the country. In the books and movies, a particular three-fingered salute becomes a symbol for the rebellion, and has also become a symbol for a revolution in Thailand.

Since May, citizens in Thailand have been protesting the military’s coup of the nation through a series of speeches, riots and other protests. Protesters have been flashing the three-fingered salute as a representation of their own revolution which causes the government unrest. Local police and officials have been ordered to arrest anyone who flashes this symbol, and his since banned the screening of Mockingjay nationwide for its radical and revolutionary ideas, dangerous to any sort of unstable government.

More recently, Sony is planning to release a comedy on Christmas Day entitled The Interview, a film focused on two TV newscasters, played by Seth Rogen and James Franco, who have an interview with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and are recruited by the CIA to assassinate him.

After hearing plans about this new film, Kim Jong Un called it an “act of war” and swore “merciless” retaliation on the United States if the film was released. Similarly, an official news spokesman from the Korean Central News Agency said, “The act of making and screening such a movie that portrays an attack on our top leadership… is a most wanton act of terror and act of war, and is absolutely intolerable.”

Thus far, those involved has not expressed concern towards these threats. In fact, co-lead actor Seth Rogen made a joke about it on Twitter saying, “Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!!”