B&B Wildwood Theatre is having their MARCH RETRO NIGHT on Thursday, April 2. They are showing the classic film, THE WIZARD OF OZ. Shows are at 4pm & 7pm.
This magical cinematic event finds Kansas farm girl Judy Garland (“A Star is Born,” “Meet Me in St. Louis”) caught in a tornado and magically transported to the Land of Oz. Needing help to return home, she is told to follow the Yellow Brick Road and find the powerful Wizard (Frank Morgan). On her perilous journey, she is befriended by the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who help her battle the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and her flying monkeys. Based on the classic book by Frank L. Baum, “The Wizard of Oz” is a dazzling motion picture achievement, featuring unforgettable songs (including Oscar-winner “Over the Rainbow”), scenery, and costumes.
Tickets are only $5!!! Get yours today at bbtheatres.com
WAMG is giving away free pass vouchers for the show to 5 lucky readers.
Answer the following:
The film had 5 Academy Award nominations. What Oscar(s) did it end up winning?
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SHOW.
WOMAN IN GOLD is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.
WOMAN IN GOLD opens April 1.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of WOMAN IN GOLD on Monday, March 30th at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
We will contact the winners by email.
Answer the following:
The film is directed by Simon Curtis. What was his feature debut?
In what year did Helen Mirren become a Dame of the British Empire?
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
UNBROKEN follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis “Louie” Zamperini who survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash during World War II—only to be caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a series of prisoner-of-war camps.
The inspirational biopic is on Digital HD now and on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand March 24, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Legendary Pictures. Directed by Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie, UNBROKEN chronicles the unbelievable true story about triumph over tribulation and the resilient power of the human spirit.
Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s acclaimed New York Times bestseller, UNBROKEN is packed with exclusive bonus content that dives deeper into the life of Louie Zamperini and the legacy he left behind. Exclusive to the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack are deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes interviews and a closer look at the life of the real Louie Zamperini after war and the inspiring themes of faith, resilience and the power of forgiveness.
Jolie follows up her acclaimed feature film-directing debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey, with the unbelievable true story of Zamperini, a working class kid from Torrance, California, who transformed himself from juvenile delinquent to a 1936 Olympian by channeling his defiant energy into a shocking talent for running. Louie’s unfaltering determination and ferocious will then carried him through monumental tribulations during his military service and he became a true American hero.
Selected as one of American Film Institute’s 2014 “Movie of the Year,” UNBROKEN stars Jack O’Connell (’71, Starred Up) plays Louie Zamperini, heading up an international cast that includes Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter series), Finn Wittrock (HBO’s “The Normal Heart”), Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy), Jai Courtney (Divergent), John Magaro (The Box), Luke Treadaway (Clash of the Titans), Ross Anderson (The Silent Storm) and Japanese singer-songwriter Miyavi in his American acting debut.
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED
WAMG is giving away copies of the film to celebrate the film’s Blu-ray/DVD release.
ENTER YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE A WINNER.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.
The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray™, DVD and DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™.
Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
Bonus Features Exclusively onBlu-ray™
Deleted Scenes
Inside Unbroken – A behind-the-scenes look at the film – including The Fight of a Storyteller, The Hardiest Generation, and Fifty Years in the Making.
Cast and Crew Concert Featuring Miyavi – Cast-member and Japanese rock star Miyavi performing a concert for the cast and crew.
Prison Camp Theater: Cinderella – Watch the Omori prisoners perform their version of
Louis’ Path to Forgiveness – Learn about Louis’ life after the war and his journey from recovery to forgiveness.
Bonus Features on Blu-ray™ and DVD
The Real Louis Zamperini – Behind the scenes interviews with the late Louis Zamperini and the cast and crew.
FILMMAKERS Cast: Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Miyavi, Finn Wittrock, Jai Courtney, Luke Treadaway, John Magaro, Ross Anderson Directed By: Angelina Jolie Written By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Richard Lagravenese, William Nicholson Based on the Book By: Laura Hillenbrand Produced By: Angelina Jolie, Clayton Townsend, Matthew Baer, Erwin Stoff Executive Produced By: Mick Garris, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni Director of Photography: Roger Deakins Production Designer: Jon Hutman Edited By: William Goldenberg, Tim Squyres Costume Designer: Louise Frogley Music By: Alexandre Desplat
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – Blu-ray™: Street Date: March 24, 2015 Copyright: 2015 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Selection Numbers: 61131444 / 61153044 (Canada) Running Time: 2 hours 18 minutes Layers: BD-50 Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Rating: PG-13 for war violence including intense sequences of brutality, and for brief language Technical Info: English Dolby Atmos (7.1 Dolby TrueHD compatible), Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD: Street Date: March 24, 2015 Copyright: 2015 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Selection Numbers: 61131443 / 61153043 (Canada) Running Time: 2 hours 18 minutes Layers: Dual Layer Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Rating: PG-13 for war violence including intense sequences of brutality, and for brief language Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles
An Islamic extremist group (not verbally identified as ISIL, but the flag is unmistakable) has taken control of a small town in Timbuktu. A group is arrested for playing music, now outlawed in the town. While receiving her punishment of 80 lashes, the woman in the group sings. If this isn’t the most powerful moment in TIMBUKTU, it’s definitely the most indicative of what makes it a great film. The primary story of the cattle herder and the killing of his favorite cow has sincerely moving moments, but the town and the occupying extremists’ interaction are what carry the film. Some try to reason with them, to varying degrees of success. Others argue, one woman laughs as she stands in front of their car, blocking their way. The herder’s family is outright dismissive; they live outside of the town, spared their wrath until the herder accidentally kills a man in a fight.
For a film where the antagonists are a worldwide hot button topic, there’s no mention of the larger political landscape. The only mention of the world outside of TIMBUKTU, in fact, is a debate about football players. The film wisely keeps things very much at ground level, looking only at how the people having to live with them are dealing with ISIL. They’re portrayed here as hypocritical bullies, forcing absurd rules, ridiculous punishments, and unwanted marriages (we see one, but during its protest there is mention that it has happened with disquieting frequency) on a town that wants absolutely no part of them.
If this were the entire film, I honestly think I’d like it even more. The story of the herder is interesting in its own right, and maybe also could’ve supported its own film, but the relationship between the town and ISIL had me fascinated from beginning to end. The herder’s story is redeemed, however, in a moment near its conclusion that is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, all based on which direction he chooses to bow in prayer.
The structure of the film will turn some viewers off. There’s no real arc for the town’s story, and the herder’s story is spread very thin over the run time. There are segments that could almost feel aimless, and if you’re accustomed to something with a more straightforward structure, this won’t be the easiest film to get into. But once it sets in, it is great, and it’s absolutely worth getting into. Even in the stretches where the story feels thin or even nonexistent, there are some beautifully shot scenes.
All in all, TIMBUKTU is a great film. That the main story doesn’t quite live up to the scattered subplots says more about the subplots’ greatness than anything lackluster about the main story. It’s definitely worth checking out once it hits theaters.
4 1/2 of 5 Stars
TIMBUKTU opens in St. Louis March 20th exclusively at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Theater
Watch Will Ferrell on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison.
Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other.
Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart join forces in the feature comedy GET HARD, also starring Tip “T.I.” Harris, Alison Brie, and Craig T. Nelson.
The film is rated R for “pervasive crude and sexual content and language, some graphic nudity, and drug material”
Continuing the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of Furious 7.
James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series that also welcomes back favorites Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black. They are joined by international action stars new to the franchise including Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Ronda Rousey, Nathalie Emmanuel and Kurt Russell. Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel and Michael Fottrell return to produce the film written by Chris Morgan.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of FURIOUS 7 on March 31st at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
Answer the following:
In the original 2001 film, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, what cars did the TEAM own?
A. Maxima, 240sx, Skyline, Jetta, Rx7 B. Civic, 240sx, Integra, S2000, Eclipse C. Maxima, Rx7, Supra, Jetta, Skyline D. RsX, Eclipse, RX7, CRX, Skyline
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
We will contact the winners by email.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
3. No purchase necessary.
The film is rated PG 13 for prolonged frenetic sequences of violence, action and mayhem, suggestive content and brief strong language.
RealD Inc., Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label and Cinemark announced today that guests purchasing tickets in advance to see THE DIVERGENT: INSURGENT in RealD 3D at over 100 participating Cinemark XD Theatre locations will receive a free The Divergent: Insurgent limited edition collectible movie poster, while supplies last, beginning March 19th.
THE DIVERGENT: INSURGENT raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the powerhungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.
The film stars Golden Globe-nominee Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Academy Award-winners Kate Winslet and Octavia Spencer, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q and Mekhi Phifer, is based on author Veronica Roth’s New York Times best-seller of the same name.
The film is directed by Robert Schwentke from a screenplay by Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman and Mark Bomback and produced by Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher through their Red Wagon Entertainment banner, along with Pouya Shahbazian. Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman are executive producing through their Mandeville Films banner along with Neil Burger and Barry Waldman.
The first Divergent film grossed nearly $300 million at the global box office, and Veronica Roth’s Divergent book series has already sold nearly 30 million copies around the world. The third and fourth installments in the franchise, Allegiant – Parts 1 & 2, are slated for release on March 18, 2016 and March 24, 2017, respectively
Want to see the advance screening of HOME with the family in St. Louis? Get your tickets now!
When Oh, a lovable misfit from another planet, lands on Earth and finds himself on the run from his own people, he forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl named Tip who is on a quest of her own. Through a series of comic adventures with Tip, Oh comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human, and together they discover the true meaning of the word HOME.
From DreamWorks Animation, HOME opens in Real D 3D and Digital 3D theaters on March 27th.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 4) to the advance screening of HOME on Tuesday, March 24th at 7PM.
We will contact the winners by email.
Answer the following:
Welcome to what HOME director Tim Johnson calls the first “alien invasion buddy comedy, road trip, animated movie.”
What other animated film from DreamWorks Animation featured a blue super-villain/alien trying to conquer Metro City?
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
The film has been rated PG for mild action and some rude humor.
When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison.
Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other.
Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart join forces in the feature comedy GET HARD, also starring Tip “T.I.” Harris, Alison Brie, and Craig T. Nelson.
GET HARD hits theaters on March 27th.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of GET HARD on March 23RD at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
We will contact the winners by email.
Answer the following:
Kevin Hart’s role in this movie was “No. 17”. Name the movie.
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
3. No purchase necessary.
This film is rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content and language, some graphic nudity, and drug material.
Science fiction, by its very nature, seeks to innovate in storytelling. Restricted only by the boundaries of their imaginations and the limits inherent to their craft, filmmakers of this genre use complex cinematic effects and fantastical plotlines to create worlds outside time. These films are notable for their craftsmanship as well as their embedded social and political messages, which later serve as reflections of the time periods during which they were produced. For enthusiasts of film, culture, and recent American history, classic science fiction movies provide a window into the past while predicting the course of society’s future
1. Metropolis (1927)
At date of its release this was the most expensive silent film ever made. Unfortunately, in the time since its initial debut in Weimar Germany, nearly a quarter of the original film has been lost. Legendary German director Fritz Lang, a notorious control freak, used inventive practical effects to evoke a Utopian city with decay at its core. The result is one of most visually innovative sci-fi movies of all time. The oft-replicated scene of Maria’s transformation stands alone as one of the first and only depictions of a female robotic imagery in early science fiction.
2. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
This philosophical parable starring Oscar winner Patricia Neal tells the story of a visitor from another world who lands unexpectedly at the White House. Klaatu bears a prophetic message for all international leaders, but the state of world politics being what they were in 1951, is ignored. He then poses as a human named John Carpenter, and is resurrected after being wounded. Sound like anyone you know?
3. Forbidden Planet (1956)
Surprisingly intelligent for a 50’s B movie – and starring a dashing young Leslie Nielsen! – Forbidden Planet was also the first film to feature a self-aware robot or human interplanetary travel. This cinema landmark also snagged an Oscar nod for best special effects, and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry cited it as a major influence. Indeed, the film has come to be known as a major sci-fi masterwork, as well as a cautionary tale of the role human error plays in technological innovation.
4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
You know a film is influential when it’s been remade three times. The concept of alien beings that can replicate our bodies is frightening enough, but not being able to tell who is real was true horror for an audience still reeling from McCarthyism and the Red Scare. The phrase “pod people”, used in the film to describe those who had been brainwashed, became a part of American popular slang by the late 20th century.
5. Les Yeux Sans Visage (1962)
This edgy, macabre French horror gem had film-goers fainting in their seats at its Edinburgh premiere. Then again, the story of a lonely doctor cutting the faces off of young girls to graft them onto his disfigured daughter is sufficiently disturbing in any time period. His attempts at radical plastic surgery are no longer contained to fiction, but the film’s audacious, gothic beauty is something that has never been replicated.
6. The Time Machine (1960)
Based on a novel penned by sci-fi master H.G. Wells, and winning a special effects Oscar for its ingenious time-lapse photography, this classic depicts the dystopian future of a world laid to waste by nuclear war. Fast-paced and thrilling, with an overt anti-war message, it set the standard for time-travel films in the modern era, and was remade in a 2002 film directed by Wells’ great-grandson Simon.
7. Planet of the Apes (1968)
Screen icon Charlton Heston headlines this timeless adventure with an adapted screenplay by Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. Astronaut Taylor crash lands on an unknown planet where chimpanzees run the world and humans are enslaved mutes. Fascinated by Taylor’s ability to speak, the apes keep him captive and form a tribunal to discover his origins. Desperate to find answers, Taylor fights for his freedom and the truth- but he will be shocked by what he finds.
8. Soylent Green (1973)
Another great Charlton Heston thriller, this time with our stoic hero playing a futuristic detective trying to get to the bottom of a suspicious murder of one of the city’s elite. In a world that has become heavily polluted and overcrowded, government-funded Soylent Corporation produces rations essential to the survival of the human race. The government boasts that their scientists have discovered the miraculous nutritional value of the ocean’s plankton and can create healthy foodstuffs for all. Set in the year 2022, today the race to find alternative energy sources and solutions to overpopulation is already on. But why is Soylent’s sleuth being pressured to lay off the case? The answer lies in one of the most famous twist endings of all time.
Today, it’s easy to marvel at how far filmmakers have come in their creation of futuristic worlds. Yet the appeal of these classic pictures remains undeniable, and their prescience eerily remarkable.
