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1-20 of 560 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
Avatar's Best Moment (Hint - It Has Nothing to Do With 3D Special Effects)
12 hours ago
| Huffington Post
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As expected, as James Cameron's Avatar continues to hammer the box office, blockbuster backlash has settled in almost before the ink on those rave reviews has dried. While blockbuster backlash is a common thing (quick... find anyone who still admits to loving Independence Day or even Return of the King), the speed in which the 'oh, it's just about effects' talk has become mainstreamed is a little surprising. The standard line is now 'oh, the story is bland and the character development is non-existent'. But, as we all know, the mega hits, the ones like Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight, or Spider-Man, made their money on the strength of everything but the effects. With the arguable exception of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (a $400 million-grossing anomaly that no one particularly liked), you
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- Scott Mendelson
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Vancouver-Lensed 2012 Breaks Chinese Bo Record
15 hours ago
| HollywoodNorthReport.com
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Vancouver-lensed 2012, directed by Roland "Independence Day" Emmerich, has become the top movie hit of all time in China, earning 460 million yuan ($67.3 million), according to the state film body, China Film Group.
Opening November 13 on 1,900 screens, Chinese audiences reacted positively to the pro-China subplot in which the Chinese build arks to save a portion of humanity.
With 4,500 screens available, China enforces a quota of 20 foreign movies allowed each year on a revenue-sharing basis, rather than a flat-rate that the Hollywood studios prefer.
2012, in which every available performer in Vancouver worked on in some capacity, (including yours truly as an 'Ark Boarding Officer'), uses 'end-of-days' prophecies to depict the world's demise after a solar meltdown.
The ensemble cast includes actors John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Woody Harrelson, following the aftermath of a global cataclysm in the Year 2012, leading to the 'end of the world', with survivors struggling for their lives.
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Kaleidoscope 2009: Important Movie Events (Part 3/4)
30 December 2009 2:06 AM, PST
| Aceshowbiz
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The third quarter of 2009 kaleidoscope continues to put summer of the year under the spotlight. As the recap enters the second half of the busiest movie seasons of the year for the movie industry, AceShowbiz presents the events happening in the months leading to the Fall season. A nearly tie for the top slot at the box office, a thumb up for Michael Jackson's movie "This Is It" and a settlement for "Lord of the Rings" lawsuit were all taking place during this term.
July
The month of July nearly saw a rare tie for the #1 at the North American box office. Over the U.S. Independence Day holiday weekend, "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" presented a neck-to-neck battle to the top, which led to a $42.5 million weekend tally each when studio estimates were issued on Sunday, July 5. But, when the final figures were announced on Monday,
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- AceShowbiz.com
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DVD Review: Glee Season 1: The Road To Sectionals (DVD)
29 December 2009 2:12 PM, PST
| FusedFilm
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Our top show of 2009 has just released its first 13 episodes on DVD today and we are excited to talk about it, you may say that we are full of Glee. Okay serious pun there but you get the picture. A truly unique vision, Glee, takes us into the lives of High School Glee club that was once filled with pride only to be forgotten. Former Glee star now Spanish teacher Will Schuester(Matthew Morrison), takes it upon himself to resurrect the program and bring Glee back. This is a well to do metaphor the show brings showing that you can take some of those beloved things in your life and the things that make you happy and bring them back instead of meandering through your existence bored and depressed.
In the high school Schuester encounters problems relating to lack of interest in the club to his nagging wife. Perhaps the
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- Kevin Coll
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"2012" Breaks Chinese Box Office Record
29 December 2009 5:15 AM, PST
| SneakPeek
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Vancouver-lensed "2012", directed by Roland "Independence Day" Emmerich, has become the top movie hit of all time in China, earning 460 million yuan ($67.3 million), according to the state film body, China Film Group.
Opening November 13 on 1,900 screens, audiences reacted positively to the pro-China subplot in which the Chinese build arks to save a portion of humanity.
With 4,500 screens available, China enforces a quota of 20 foreign movies allowed each year on a revenue-sharing basis, rather than a flat-rate that the Hollywood studios prefer.
"2012", in which every available performer in Vancouver worked on in some capacity, (including yours truly as an 'Ark Boarding Officer'), uses 'end-of-days' prophecies to depict the world's demise after a solar meltdown.
The ensemble cast includes actors John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Woody Harrelson, following the aftermath of a global cataclysm in the Year 2012, leading to the 'end of the world', with survivors struggling for their lives.
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- Michael Stevens
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Photos from the Set of Battle: Los Angeles Appear
23 December 2009 3:30 PM, PST
| HeyUGuys.co.uk
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Battle: Los Angeles is a real-time alien invasion thriller staring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez and Bridget Moynahan, directed by Jonathan Liebesman, who previously took charge of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and The Killing Room. It deals with a platoon meeting an invading alien army and two set photos have sprung up and point to an Independence Day for the 21st century.
I was a fan of The Killing Room, and Liebesman is certainly moving from the minimalist to the massive with his take on an alien invasion of Los Angeles (the title is kind of unambiguous) and I’m hoping writers Scott Silver and Christopher Bertolini can find something new in this road most travelled by. Eckhart looks suitably disgruntled and I’m hoping the real-time angle will bring a momentum to the film.
Check out the images below.
The image of Aaron Eckhart was taken by Jonathan
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- Jon Lyus
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Battle: Los Angeles Set Photos
23 December 2009 2:12 PM, PST
| Slash Film
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A batch of photos from the Louisiana set of Jonathan Liebesman's Battle: Los Angeles have been discovered online. The photo features Aaron Eckhart as a Marine staff sergeant, and was taken on base in Camp Horno in the 53 area of Camp Pendleton on December 17th 2009 by Jonathan Hoffon. For those of you who don't know, Battle: La is an alien invasion story, which is presented as an intense real-time war movie from the perspective of a group of Marines. It has been described by some as "Blackhawk Down" meets "Independence Day". See more from these photos after the jump.
The photo below was taken by manwithscaryspouse (via io9), who said that the "Mushroom cloud of fire" was caused by a bus explosion. The sequence was shot in Shrevesport, La (the other L.A.) in September, before production switched to "more pyrotechnics in Baton Rouge neighborhoods in October, including areas
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- Peter Sciretta
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‘Avatar’ Showing It Might Have Some Legs
23 December 2009 9:00 AM, PST
| The Flickcast
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Box Office Mojo has reported that Avatar added another $16 million to it’s box office on Monday. Considering the soft opening that the movie had over the weekend ($77 Million), due to sold out shows and a snow storm that hit most of the east coast, this might just be the beginning of some staying power for James Cameron’s latest project. Titanic, the previous Cameron film released 12 years ago, managed to stay in theaters for almost 11 months, which helped to make it one of the top box office earners in history.
Compared with one of this year’s other financial heavy-hitters, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which opened to around $102 Million in June but only made $14 Million on the Monday following it’s opening weekend. They’re slightly comparable in that both were released during a time when families and younger fans have more free-time, with Independence Day being the following weekend for Transformers 2,
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- John Muth
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French Trailer for Christopher Nolan's 'Inception'
23 December 2009 1:07 AM, PST
| GetTheBigPicture.net
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Two points about the French trailer for Inception before we begin. Of course, it's the Christopher Nolan sci-fi thing coming out next July, and if expectations for this are in any way similar to what James Cameron is experiencing for Avatar, then we'll start hearing how this will beat The Dark Knight at the box office around Independence Day.
That's not the first or second point, though. First point: Since it's cloaked in mystery anyway, doesn't presenting a trailer in a foreign language make the film an even bigger enigma? I don't think they should give us one in English now, just to add to the confusion. Point deux: She's not in this trailer, but do you think they'd overdub Marion Cotillard if she were?
On with the show:
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- Colin Boyd
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Randy Quaid and Wife Actually Show Up in Court, Plead Innocent to Hotel Scam
22 December 2009 1:20 PM, PST
| E! Online
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This Vacation is over.
After plenty of prodding from authorities (can you say arrest warrants and forfeited bail?), Randy and Evi Quaid have finally gotten the hint. The on-the-lam twosome turned up in a Santa Barbara courtroom today and pleaded not guilty to charges of skipping out on a $10,000 tab at a local resort earlier this year.
Days after they were arrrested as felony fugitives in their native Texas and forced to post $40,000 bond apiece, the Independence Day star and his missus finally decided to make the trip out to the Golden State.
They were arraigned on misdemeanor charges of burglary, conspiracy and defrauding an innkeeper, and allowed to leave after posting an additional $20,000
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Randy Quaid and Wife Actually Show Up in Court, Plead Innocent to Hotel Scam
22 December 2009 1:20 PM, PST
| E! Online
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This Vacation is over.
After plenty of prodding from authorities (can you say arrest warrants and forfeited bail?), Randy and Evi Quaid have finally gotten the hint. The on-the-lam twosome turned up in a Santa Barbara courtroom today and pleaded not guilty to charges of skipping out on a $10,000 tab at a local resort earlier this year.
Days after they were arrrested as felony fugitives in their native Texas and forced to post $40,000 bond apiece, the Independence Day star and his missus finally decided to make the trip out to the Golden State.
They were arraigned on misdemeanor charges of burglary, conspiracy and defrauding an innkeeper, and allowed to leave after posting an additional $20,000
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Quaid Arrested Day After Wife
21 December 2009 12:11 AM, PST
| WENN
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Randy Quaid was arrested by cops in Texas on Sunday after failing to show up to court for a fifth time - the day after his wife was taken into custody.
The couple has ignored numerous requests to appear before a judge in connection to an unsettled hotel bill of $10,000 (£6,250) from the luxury San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
The pair refused to turn up for another hearing on Tuesday, and a presiding judge decided to put out warrants for their arrests when they failed to show for a fifth court date.
Quaid's wife Evi was taken in for processing on Saturday after cops swooped on her in the Texan town of Marfa. She was released on $40,000 (£25,000) bail - double the amount she paid after her initial arrest in September.
Cops couldn't find an active warrant for the Independence Day actor, and had to allow him his freedom. But after arranging a new warrant, police officers returned to take Quaid in to nearby Hudspeth County jail.
It is expected Quaid will pay the same bail bond.
The couple faces charges of burglary, defrauding an innkeeper, and conspiracy.
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Fugitive Evi Quaid Arrested In Texas
20 December 2009 3:01 PM, PST
| WENN
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Randy Quaid's fugitive wife Evi was arrested in Texas on Saturday after skipping a fifth court date stemming from an unpaid hotel bill.
The Independence Day star and his spouse were due to appear before a judge on Tuesday to answer charges relating to an unsettled $10,000 (£6,250) bill from the luxury San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
But they failed to turn up to court again - the fifth time they have ignored court orders - and became felony fugitives after the presiding judge issued warrants for their arrest. The couple's bail was set at $40,000 (£25,000) each - double the amount of their last bond.
However, authorities in the Texas town of Marfa caught up with Evi, who was arrested and taken into custody at nearby Hudspeth County Jail.
Police could not find an active warrant for Randy Quaid, and could not arrest the actor, reports RadarOnline.com.
Sergeant Virginia Anaya of the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Department says, “Evi was booked in at 3:08 am in Hudspeth County Jail for the outstanding warrant out of Santa Barbara County. She (was) bailed out at 7 am by Freedom Bail Bonds."
The Quaids posted $20,000 (£12,500) each in September following their arrest in Marfa, and they paid the same amount in California in November after missing their fourth court date.
The couple was due to be arraigned on charges of burglary, defrauding an innkeeper and conspiracy during Tuesday's planned hearing.
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Views: The Best Movies Never Made
17 December 2009 5:33 AM, PST
| doorQ.com
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Each year, Hollywood executives name the best screenplays of the year that have yet to be made. In previous years, their list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Some of this year’s crop have moved into production; others are stuck in development hell. See what you think.
It’s called the Black List — film executives' favorite scripts written in, or somehow uniquely associated with, this year but not be released in theaters during this calendar year.
In previous years, the list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Diablo Cody's Juno, Nancy Oliver's Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader's and Michael Weber's 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the scripts that were made after appearing on the list.
Ninety-seven screenplays appear on the just-released version, according to Deadline Hollywood. Here are the Top
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'Spaceballs' Asks You To Use The Schwartz In Today's Sick Day Stash
16 December 2009 12:00 PM, PST
| MTV Movies Blog
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Call them "cult classics." "Guilty pleasures." "Comfort movies." We all have a mental rolodex of flicks that may not be terribly popular but, for one reason or another, they resonate in a very special way. Maybe you saw it at the right moment. Maybe you just see gold where everyone else sees feces. Whatever the case, these are the special favorites that you keep stashed away for sick days. Here are some of ours.
With the last name of Schwartz, it's no doubt that my Sick Day Stash preference happens to be "Spaceballs." After having "May the Schwartz be with you!" screamed at me by seven year olds on my school bus for weeks on end, I knew it was time to send my mother to the video store and get my first taste of Mel Brooks. And yes, I was young enough to still be single digits in the 90s.
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- Terri Schwartz
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The 2009 Black List Revealed
11 December 2009 10:04 AM, PST
| Collider.com
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Since 2004, Franklin Leonard releases The Black List every December. It’s a list of best read scripts that’s complied from the suggestions of agents assistants, managers, film executives, and whoever else he gets to contribute. While last year had 260 people contribute, this year’s had 97 scripts from 311 contributors. Most of the scripts on the list are in some stage of development in the studio system, and it’s been said that a high listing can help move your project forward. What I’m trying to say is, the list is very important in Hollywood and many people try extremely hard to land in the top ten.
So now that you’re curious, hit the jump to check out the top ten on the 2009 Black List:
Of course big thanks to Entertainment Weekly for posting the list. If you can, hit the link to show some appreciation. And for more on The Black List,
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- Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub
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Exclusive: 'The Black List' -- Top 11 unproduced screenplays of 2009
11 December 2009 8:30 AM, PST
| EW - Hollywood Insider.com
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Last December, we introduced you to Franklin Leonard and The Black List, the list of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Since then, Leonard has been named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 35 executives under 35 working in Hollywood and his list has gained even more prominence. This year's list consists of 97 scripts with 311 people contributing to the ranking -- up from 260 in 2008. The top 10 (actually, 11, thanks to a tie in 10th place) is filled with mostly up-and-comers, with the exception of Aaron Sorkin and David Scarpa. All of the scripts are in some stage of development around Hollywood,
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- Nicole Sperling
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Roland Emmerich Has Way More Money Than You
9 December 2009 8:18 AM, PST
| Cinematical
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Director Roland Emmerich better hope and pray his apocalyptic thrill-ride 2012 doesn't come true. That would only leave him two years to spend the reported $100 million dollars he'll be seeing as part of his directing deal (according to The Wrap). Emmerich signed a $20 million advance against 20% of the film's gross profits, which basically means he's now reached Scrooge McDuck levels of wealth. Time to move to Duckburg, Roland, and invest in a diving board so you can jump off and swim around in all your loot. He's not just rich, he's EmmeRICH.
While 2012 did well in the Us (not great, but very good with $149 million and counting), the toppling of buildings and exploding of cities apparently knows no language barrier, causing the film to rack up a staggering $450 million dollars in its current theatrical run overseas. While the movie hardly seems sequel-ready, Emmerich has made some noise about continuing the 2012 adventures-in-running-away-from-stuff-blowing-up as a television series.
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- John Gholson
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A Green Christmas for Roland Emmerich
9 December 2009 8:00 AM, PST
| The Flickcast
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It’s going to be a very green (as in $) for Roland Emmerich. For a long time Michael Bay seemed to be the go-to mega director in Hollywood. Well, it seems Emmerich, director of the recent disaster movie 2012, is set to change all that. At least in the sense of enormous paydays that is.
2012, which has gone onto make nearly $700 million worldwide (much of that coming from international audiences) since its November release is reported to pay out $100 million to Emmerich alone:
“According to several executives who saw the deal as it was being shopped and signed last year, Emmerich got a traditional $20 million advance against 20 percent of the first-dollar gross profits.
Based on where the box office stands today and the first-dollar gross deal, Emmerich will take home $100 million, all the executives agreed.”
While the dollar figure seems enormous it should be noted that Emmerich is well known for micro-producing his own projects.
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- Bob Starr
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Top 5 Best/Worst Films - 2009
9 December 2009 6:51 AM, PST
| t5m.com
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Well its that time of year (again!) and that means more countdown lists and the inevitable debates/arguments which follow. Having figured out I have made around 20 trips to the cinema this year (I dread to think how much that amounts to financially) I thought I would look back on the last 12 months and give my top 5 favourite films as well as my top 5 disappointments. Maybe its a sign of my youthful ignorance but I cannot remember a previous year in which films featuring the elderly have made such an impact on me.
Films of the year:
1. Gran Torino – Clint Eastwood (in what he claims to be his last film) is superb as Walt Kowalski, the grumpy Oap who has to protect his home from local gangs as well as mentor the lost young Hmong neighbour. Themes of mortality, redemption and isolation are powerful throughout.
2. Up – Pixar's latest offering is
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- Uprising
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