Here’s a first look at Annapurna Pictures’ WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE.
The film stars Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Emma Nelson, James Urbaniak, Judy Greer, Troian Bellisario, Zoe Chao and Laurence Fishburne.
WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE is based on the runaway bestseller about Bernadette Fox, a Seattle woman who had it all – a loving husband and a brilliant daughter. When she unexpectedly disappears, her family sets off on an exciting adventure to solve the mystery of where she might have gone.
Directed by Richard Linklater with a screenplay by Richard Linklater & Holly Gent & Vince Palmo, the film is based on the novel written by Maria Semple.
Linklater has directed such films as DAZED AND CONFUSED, A SCANNER DARKLY, BERNIE, the Oscar-nominated BOYHOOD and most recently LAST FLAG FLYING starring Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne, and Steve Carell.
WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE opens in theaters on March 22, 2019.
As the year draws to a close, the march of live-action “re-imaginings” of classic kids’ animated feature films marches on. Well, technically it’s mostly CGI (or motion-capture) mixed with a bit of “live” reality. For the last few weeks the internet has been doing somersaults over the teaser/trailer for the “live” new version of THE LION KING (again, all in the computer since no baboon is going to lift a lion cub over a cliff). Disney Studios got the ball rolling a few years ago with CINDERELLA and THE JUNGLE BOOK, though they nixed most of the songs made famous in the 1950 and 1967 cartoons. What most film fans forgot was that the Rudyard Kipling classic was first a true live action flick in 1940 making its young star Sabu a fantasy adventure film icon. Since that book has long been in the public domain it’s natural that other studios and filmmakers would want to retell the tale. Waiting two years after the Jon Favreau helmed box office smash, Warner Brothers and Netflix have decided that Andy Serkis should present his take on the lad growing up amongst the beasts. And since Serkis is a celebrated motion capture actor (Gollum in the LORD OF THE RINGS and HOBBIT trilogies along with Caesar, the super-smart chimp in the recent PLANET OF THE APES trilogy), the SFX animals would have a very distinctive look and style of movement. So, just how will these “untamed” supporting players work alongside the “real-life” human lad known as MOWGLI: LEGEND OF THE JUNGLE?
The breathy hissing of the giant immortal snake Kaa (voice of Cate Blanchett), establishes the setting of the story, deep in the jungles of India. It’s a tragic beginning as a human couple are mercilessly slaughtered by the savage tiger Shere Kahn (vo: Benedict Cumberbatch) as their infant son watches just out of sight. Luckily an ebony-hued panther named Bagheera (vo: Christian Bale) scoops up the baby and delivers him to a nearby wolf pack. The wolf mother Nisha (vo: Naomie Harris) and father Akela (vo: Peter Mullan)agree to raise the boy as one of their own. Unfortunately one of Khan’s lackeys, a hyena named Tabaqui (Tom Hollander) sniffs the “man scent” and reports to his master. Khan tells the wolf family that he will shred and devour the lad soon when he’s away from the pack. But he somehow evades the tiger and quickly matures into a young pre-teen boy, now named Mowgli (Rohan Chand) who is able to keep up with his wolf “brothers”.He’ll need to if he wishes to be part of the “hunters”. To that end, he’s trained by Bagheera and the lumbering taskmaster bear Baloo (vo: Andy Serkis). But the menace of Shere Kahn still lurks, now aided by a swarm of monkeys, though much of Mowgli’s thoughts are now occupied by the strange sight just beyond the trees and foliage, a “man village”. But even more dangers arise there, since the frightened residents, including the lovely Messua (Freida Pinto), have hired a “great white hunter” named Lockwood (Matthew Rhys) to track down and kill a “man-eating” tiger. Will Mowgli be able to hide from him while protecting his family and friends (and avoid Khan)?
Leading the main trio of “on camera” talent is the engaging expressive Chand as the “boy raised by wolves”. His take on Mowgli is more concerned with staying alive (and two steps ahead of Khan) than with frolicking with new jungle pals, although he does make a real ally with a traumatized elephant. Plus he seems more torn between his animal instincts and his human traits, wanting to keep up with the pack by racing on all fours rather than running on his two feet (which would be much faster). And much like Christopher Lambert’s take on Tarzan, he shows the price for living his “double life” with a multitude of scratches, scars and scrapes. In the film’s final act, Mowgli meets his deadly adversary in Rhys as the sinister, cold-hearted “hired gun” Lockwood who would decimate the boy’s home just for a few coins and trophies of his “skill”. Rhys is a dead-eyed menace while Pinto embodies the more caring side of humanity via her gentle kindness, tempting Mowgli to leave his pack. As for his CGI co-stars, Bale is a stern fatherly mentor as Bagheera, who won’t allow his affection for the boy to get in the way of his strict training. And, in a switch from the more famous versions of the tale, Baloo is just as tough on Mowgli (there’s no lazy river floating or singing of the “bare necessities” with this old furry fellow). Serkis makes him a grumpy old drill sergeant with no patience for the boy’s frivolity, a true master of “tough love”. That toughness is essential when Khan “comes a’ calling”. Cumberbatch makes the tiger a true sadistic thug, a feline kingpin ruling the land with tooth and oh so sharp nail, eager to avenge his old wounds (we see several shots of a closed, lame paw). It’s easy to see why so many, like the hyena and the monkeys, serve him. But he can’t intimate the serpent sublime Kaa who is sinister and seductive thanks to the subtle vocal stylings of Blanchett, who’s both playful and unpredictable with Mowgli.
Director Sekis, thanks to the screenplay from Callie Kloves, delivers a much darker take on the classic story, one better suited for the grade school crowd (maybe 10 or so) than the toddler set. There’s little time for skipping and dancing in this often deadly world (and in a big departure there’s no massive orangutan King Louie to tempt the boy with any ape antics). The tone is established early since our first images of the title hero are as a baby literally covered in his mother’s blood (and there’s more of that flowing throughout the flick). Unfortunately the lighter films do loom large over the film, though Sekis does move the story through those familiar beats with a confident pace. What often distracts is the design choice for the lad’s jungle cohorts. They’re close to the real thing until the unusual shape of their heads (perhaps to make them more expressive) and the human-like eyes, showing so much white they have an other-worldly “vibe”. Maybe the thought was to show us more emotion, but it’s off-putting along with their “bouncy’ movement that gives them a weightlessness. The look of Baloo works, with his hairless exposed forehead showing off his many “worry” wrinkles. Still, the color palette of the backdrops really works, going from lush cool green to the blazing yellows bouncing off the rocks, recalling the terrific abstract designs from 1976 “Mowgli’s Brothers” TV special from the great Chuck Jones. You won’t forget that free-wheeling 67 animated lark (reportedly the last one supervised by Walt himself), but the family (aside from the wee ones) should find lots of thrills and spills with the new spin on MOWGLI: LEGEND OF THE JUNGLE.
3.5 Out of 5
MOWGLI: LEGEND OF THE JUNGLE opens in select theatres and is now streaming on Netflix
Having director Eli Roth, the modern architect of ‘Torture Porn’ helm a child-friendly, PG-rated horror-comedy, seems like a head-scratcher. And while Roth, best known for GREEN INFERNO, HOSTEL, and CABIN FEVER (not to mention this year’s outstanding DEATH WISH remake) fails to bring much vision or personality to THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, his adaptation of a Young Adult novel by John Bellairs is still just enough fun to recommend. Owen Vacarro stars as 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt, who travels to New Zebedee, Michigan in 1955 to live with his eccentric Uncle Jonathan Barnavelt (Jack Black) after having recently been orphaned. As soon as he arrives, things get a bit weird. Uncle Jonathan goes about at night banging at the walls with an axe. Turns out he’s a warlock and when he bought the house years ago, he was told there’s a clock t that he won’t be able to find ticking within its walls. Jonathan, along with nutty neighbor Florence. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), a witch, take Lewis under their wing, teaching him the fine art of sorcery just in time to face off with a variety of otherworldly beasts and the malevolent ghost of Isacc Izard (Kyle MacLachlan) the house’s previous tenant.
I won’t try to argue there’s much more depth here than the average YA adaption, but within that simple formula, THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS finds a lot of room for humanity and laughs, embracing the over-the-top combo of kid-size creep-outs and cheeky humor. Though never excessively scary, the monsters aren’t wimpy creations either. Some highlights include a battle with vomiting jack-o-lanterns, a farting topiary lion, a bedroom full of sinister dolls, and the disturbing sight of Jack Black’s head on a rubbery baby’s body.
Young Owen Vacarro deserves special praise as Lewis. He brings the right combo of awkwardness and charm that turns an otherwise bland lead character into someone I found myself cheering for. Black’s performance as Jonathan Barnavelt hits the perfect tone, switching from protective Uncle to manic Jack on a dime without ever overstepping the bounds of the character. Blanchett is less successful in an underwritten part while MacLachlan makes for an impressively ghoulish specter.
Roth is clearly going to for a Tim Burton-style fantasy with plenty of wonderfully detailed steampunk-style production and costume design (and Nathan Barr’s Elfman-eque score), but it all seems visually over-familiar and the director fails to ratchet up much tension. THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS is unlikely to stick with the viewer for long but fortunately, at 104 minutes, it breezes by and doesn’t overstay its welcome. 3 of 5 Stars
From the creator of Gollum (LOTR series) and Caesar (PLANET OF THE PAES) comes a new telling of the story of MOWGLI. See Andy Serkis and an incredible cast bring the jungle to new life October 19, 2018 in theaters.
Motion capture and live action are blended for MOWGLI, a new, big screen, 3D adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book.
Walt Disney Studios released the animated musical classic in 1967 and a retelling of it with a live version in 2016.
This version follows the upbringing of the human child Mowgli, raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle, under the tutelage of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals of the jungle as one of their own. All but one: the fearsome tiger Shere Khan. But there may be greater dangers lurking in the jungle, as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.
The actors performing the roles of the story’s central animal characters are: Oscar winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter,” the “Dark Knight” Trilogy) as the cunning panther, Bagheera; Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine,” “The Aviator”) as the sinister snake, Kaa; Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game,” “Avengers: Infinity War”) as the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan; Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (“Moonlight,” “Skyfall”) as Nisha, the female wolf, who adopts the baby Mowgli as one of her cubs; and Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”) as the wise bear, Baloo. On the human side, Matthew Rhys (“The Post”) is Lockwood; Freida Pinto (“Knight of Cups”) is Messua; and young actor Rohan Chand (“The Hundred-Foot Journey,” “Bad Words”) will play Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves.
Rounding out the cast are Peter Mullan (“Tommy’s Honour”), as the leader of the wolf pack, Akela; Jack Reynor (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”), as Mowgli’s brother Wolf; Eddie Marsan (TV’s “Ray Donovan”), as Nisha’s mate, Vihaan; and Tom Hollander (“Breathe”) as the scavenging hyena, Tabaqui.
“Mowgli” is produced by Steve Kloves (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), Jonathan Cavendish (“Breathe,” performance capture producer on “Godzilla”), and David Barron (the “Harry Potter” films), with Nikki Penny serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Kloves’ daughter, Callie Kloves.
Serkis’s creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Michael Seresin (“War for the Planet of the Apes”), production designer Gary Freeman (“Tomb Raider”) and editors Mark Sanger (Oscar winner, “Gravity”), Alex Marquez (“Snowden”) and Jeremiah O’Driscoll (“Flight”). The music is composed by Nitin Sawhney (“Breathe”).
In the tradition of Amblin classics where fantastical events occur in the most unexpected places, Jack Black and two-time Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett star in The House with a Clock in Its Walls, from Amblin Entertainment. The magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead.
The film hits theaters September 21.
Based on the beloved children’s classic written by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is directed by master frightener Eli Roth and written by Eric Kripke (creator of TV’s Supernatural). Co-starring Kyle MacLachlan, Colleen Camp, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Vanessa Anne Williams, Lorenza Izzo and Sunny Suljic, it is produced by Mythology Entertainment’s Brad Fischer (Shutter Island) and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), as well as Kripke.
Executive produced by William Sherak, Tracey Nyberg, Laeta Kalogridis and Mark McNair, The House with a Clock in Its Walls will be released by Universal Pictures.
In celebration of next week’s Blu-ray & 4K release of THOR: RAGNAROK, Marvel Studios has some great behind-the-scenes videos featuring Valkyrie & Hela, as well as some select concept art from the film:
Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK, the God of Thunder’s third installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, electrified both audiences and critics alike reaching over $845M at the global box office. Now the colorful cosmic adventure, loaded with action, humor, drama and spectacle, bursts into homes Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™, and Movies Anywhere, on Feb. 20 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on March 6.
In Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – and grapple with his silver-tongued adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the fierce warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the eccentric Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum).
Fans who bring home the Ultimate Cinematic Universe Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital) of THOR: RAGNAROK will experience all the thunderous action and lightning-fast wit in stunning 4K Ultra HD with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features include deleted scenes; hilarious outtakes; an exclusive short: part three of the mockumentary “Team Thor,” retitled “Team Darryl” and featuring an eccentric new roommate; the evolution of MCU’s heroes culminating in “Avengers: Infinity War;” numerous making-of featurettes which explore the unique vision of director Taika Waititi; the story’s unstoppable women; the effortlessly charismatic Korg; the tyrannical leader of Sakaar, the Grandmaster; and the film’s comic-book origins; audio commentary by Waititi; and more.
BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Blu-ray:
Director’s Introduction
Deleted/Extended Scenes – Deleted Scenes: The Sorcerer Supreme, Skurge Finds Heimdall & Hulk Chases Thor Through Sakaar and Extended Scenes: Thor Meets the Grandmaster, Stupid Avenger vs. Tiny Avenger & Grandmaster and Topaz
Gag Reel – Watch a collection of goofs, gaffes and pratfalls starring the cast
Exclusive Short/Team Darryl – Fresh off being unseated as the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster makes his way to Earth to start a new life. It’s been over a year since Thor left Australia and Darryl has been struggling to pay his rent. Now Darryl needs a new roommate to help make the monthly payments. Unfortunately for Darryl, the Grandmaster was the only one who answered Darryl’s “Roommate Needed” ad and with no viable options, the Grandmaster moves in.
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years – The Evolution of Heroes – Marvel’s universe is vast and transcends both time and space. We’ll examine the Cinematic Universe as a whole and revisit each of our heroes’ current location and their place in the current MCU timeline, as it all leads up to the one culminating event: “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Getting in Touch with Your Inner Thor – “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi has brought his unique sensibility and sense of humor to the film in a great many ways but it is the evolution of Thor’s own sense of humor, which stands out the most in the new film. This piece explores the impact Chris Hemsworth has made on the development of his widely-loved character and celebrates the mighty cast and crew who reveal the fun and hard work that went into assembling Thor’s eccentric counterparts.
Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie – This piece explores the strong female characters in “Thor: Ragnarok,” their importance in the MCU, their incredible casting and their epic comic origins.
Finding Korg – A tongue-in-cheek interview with Taika on casting Korg. He describes the difficult search for just the right evolution of the character design, and the nuances of this instantly classic character in the MCU. This conversation will also delve into all the extraordinary visual effects that brought Korg, Sakaar and the worlds of “Thor: Ragnarok” to life.
Sakaar: On the Edge of the Known and Unknown – Sakaar is the collection point for all lost and unloved things. This documentary will answer all known and unknown questions while also exploring the hard work and creativity that went into creating the look and feel of Sakaar. From design inspired by Jack Kirby’s classic artwork to the dedication of the visual development team to the awe-inspiring physical and digital production, you will see this distant world come alive.
Journey into Mystery – A deep dive story piece with the writers, director and producer Kevin Feige about the inspirations for “Thor: Ragnarok” within the comics. Most notably, the contest of champions limited series where the Grandmaster pitted our favorite heroes against one another as he does in the film. This piece also further explores Thor’s comic book origins and classic arcs through interviews with some of the most important comic creators, such as Walt Simonson and Jack Kirby.
8bit Scenes – Final Bridge Battle + Sakaar Spaceship Battle. Dive into these climactic sequences presented in retro video-game format.
Directors Commentary
Digital Exclusives:
Evolution of Thor and Hulk’s Bromance – We’ll examine this Super Hero friendship, which has spanned through several Marvel films. From their original Helicarrier fight match to the now iconic Hulk punch from Avengers 1, see how Marvel’s most powerful Super Heroes become the most extraordinary Super Hero buddies.
Additional Deleted Scenes – Travel to Asgard & Race To The Wormhole
Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” the God of Thunder’s third installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, electrified both audiences and critics alike reaching over $845M at the global box office. Now the colorful cosmic adventure, loaded with action, humor, drama and spectacle, bursts into homes Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™, and Movies Anywhere, on Feb. 20 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on March 6.
In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – and grapple with his silver-tongued adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the fierce warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the eccentric Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum).
Fans who bring home the Ultimate Cinematic Universe Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital) of “Thor: Ragnarok” will experience all the thunderous action and lightning-fast wit in stunning 4K Ultra HD with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features include deleted scenes; hilarious outtakes; an exclusive short: part three of the mockumentary “Team Thor,” retitled “Team Darryl” and featuring an eccentric new roommate; the evolution of MCU’s heroes culminating in “Avengers: Infinity War;” numerous making-of featurettes which explore the unique vision of director Taika Waititi; the story’s unstoppable women; the effortlessly charismatic Korg; the tyrannical leader of Sakaar, the Grandmaster; and the film’s comic-book origins; audio commentary by Waititi; and more.
BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Blu-ray:
Director’s Introduction
Deleted/Extended Scenes – Deleted Scenes: The Sorcerer Supreme, Skurge Finds Heimdall & Hulk Chases Thor Through Sakaar and Extended Scenes: Thor Meets the Grandmaster, Stupid Avenger vs. Tiny Avenger & Grandmaster and Topaz
Gag Reel – Watch a collection of goofs, gaffes and pratfalls starring the cast
Exclusive Short/Team Darryl – Fresh off being unseated as the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster makes his way to Earth to start a new life. It’s been over a year since Thor left Australia and Darryl has been struggling to pay his rent. Now Darryl needs a new roommate to help make the monthly payments. Unfortunately for Darryl, the Grandmaster was the only one who answered Darryl’s “Roommate Needed” ad and with no viable options, the Grandmaster moves in.
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years – The Evolution of Heroes – Marvel’s universe is vast and transcends both time and space. We’ll examine the Cinematic Universe as a whole and revisit each of our heroes’ current location and their place in the current MCU timeline, as it all leads up to the one culminating event: “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Getting in Touch with Your Inner Thor – “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi has brought his unique sensibility and sense of humor to the film in a great many ways but it is the evolution of Thor’s own sense of humor, which stands out the most in the new film. This piece explores the impact Chris Hemsworth has made on the development of his widely-loved character and celebrates the mighty cast and crew who reveal the fun and hard work that went into assembling Thor’s eccentric counterparts.
Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie – This piece explores the strong female characters in “Thor: Ragnarok,” their importance in the MCU, their incredible casting and their epic comic origins.
Finding Korg – A tongue-in-cheek interview with Taika on casting Korg. He describes the difficult search for just the right evolution of the character design, and the nuances of this instantly classic character in the MCU. This conversation will also delve into all the extraordinary visual effects that brought Korg, Sakaar and the worlds of “Thor: Ragnarok” to life.
Sakaar: On the Edge of the Known and Unknown – Sakaar is the collection point for all lost and unloved things. This documentary will answer all known and unknown questions while also exploring the hard work and creativity that went into creating the look and feel of Sakaar. From design inspired by Jack Kirby’s classic artwork to the dedication of the visual development team to the awe-inspiring physical and digital production, you will see this distant world come alive.
Journey into Mystery – A deep dive story piece with the writers, director and producer Kevin Feige about the inspirations for “Thor: Ragnarok” within the comics. Most notably, the contest of champions limited series where the Grandmaster pitted our favorite heroes against one another as he does in the film. This piece also further explores Thor’s comic book origins and classic arcs through interviews with some of the most important comic creators, such as Walt Simonson and Jack Kirby.
8bit Scenes – Final Bridge Battle + Sakaar Spaceship Battle. Dive into these climactic sequences presented in retro video-game format.
Directors Commentary
Digital Exclusives:
Evolution of Thor and Hulk’s Bromance – We’ll examine this Super Hero friendship, which has spanned through several Marvel films. From their original Helicarrier fight match to the now iconic Hulk punch from Avengers 1, see how Marvel’s most powerful Super Heroes become the most extraordinary Super Hero buddies.
Additional Deleted Scenes – Travel to Asgard & Race To The Wormhole
DISC SPECIFICATIONS (applies to film content only):
Product SKUs: Cinematic Universe Edition (4K UHD+Blu-ray+Digital),Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital), Digital HD/SD/4K UHD, DVD and On-Demand Feature Run Time: Approximately 130 minutes Rating: PG-13 Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Audio:UHD BD: English Dolby Atmos 7.1.4, English & Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital DVD: English, Spanish & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital Digital UHD: English Dolby Atmos 7.1.4, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital Digital HD: English & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital Languages/Subtitles: UHD BD: English SDH, Spanish, French Canadian Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish, French Canadian DVD: English SDH & CC, Spanish, French Canadian Digital UHD: English CC, Spanish, French Canadian Digital HD: English CC, Spanish, French Canadian
“Thor: Ragnarok” features a star-studded cast that includes Chris Hemsworth (“Rush,” “In the Heart of the Sea”) who returns to the title role of the hammer-wielding hero of Asgard. He is joined by Golden Globe® winner Tom Hiddleston (“The Night Manager,” “Kong: Skull Island”) as Thor’s duplicitous adopted brother, Loki; two-time Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine,” “Carol”) as the villainous Hela; Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe winner Idris Elba (“Luther,” “Pacific Rim”) as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; Jeff Goldblum (“Jurassic Park,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”) as the eccentric dictator, Grandmaster, ruler of Sakaar; Tessa Thompson (“Creed,” “Selma”) as the fierce warrior, Valkyrie; Karl Urban (“Star Trek” trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”) as Skurge, one of Asgard’s strongest warriors; three-time Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo (“Spotlight,” “The Kids Are All Right”), reprising his role of Bruce Banner/The Hulk from “The Avengers” and “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”; and Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “Nixon” ) again portraying Odin, King of Asgard.
“Thor: Ragnarok” is directed by Taika Waititi and is from a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Craig Kyle & Christopher L. Yost. Kevin Feige produces and is joined by executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee.
Waititi assembled a talented team behind the camera that included Oscar®-winning production designer Dan Hennah (“The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies) and production designer Ra Vincent (“What We Do in the Shadows”); six-time Goya Award-winning, BAFTA-nominated cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe, ASC (“Secretos del corazón,” “The Others”); film editor Joel Negron (“The Nice Guys,” “Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon”) award-winning costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Avatar,” “Apocalypto”); VFX supervisor Jake Morrison (Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man,” “Thor: The Dark World”) and composer Mark Mothersbaugh (“21 Jump Street,” “The Lego Movie”).
“These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.” In 1966 Nancy Sinatra sang the iconic song and a version is featured in a snappy first trailer for the upcoming all-female heist film, OCEAN’S 8.
Check it out now. This is going to be a fun ride!
The tide has turned and it’s a whole new “Ocean’s” when eight women plan and execute a heist in New York.
Oscar winner Sandra Bullock stars in the title role, alongside Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, with Rihanna and Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gary Ross is directing. Ross directs from a screenplay he wrote with Olivia Milch (upcoming “Dude”), with Steven Soderbergh.
From Warner Bros. Pictures, OCEAN’S 8 opens in theaters June 8th, 2018.
Don’t go into hibernation yet, all you Marvel movie maniacs! Face front, because for the first time we’ll take another trip into the multi-connected film universe begun way back in 2008 (can it really be a decade next May). Now, this past spring we took another joyride through the cosmos in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. Then, just a couple of months later, the web-slinger headlined his first solo (he did get some mentoring from Iron Man) outing (a team-up between Marvel Studios and Sony) in the entertaining SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. So, is this new flick another big many-hero slugfest? Yes, a bit, as was with CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, but just one hero’s name precedes the colon, the mighty Thor. He’s overdue since it’s been over four years since THOR: THE DARK WORLD. During that time he helped saved the Earth once more as a big part of AVENGERS: THE AGE OF ULTRON, and almost a year ago he paid a visit to a certain NYC-based doctor. In this new adventure he’s needed back on his home world to prevent Asgard’s prophesied demise in THOR: RAGNAROK.
As we revisit that golden-haired thunder-god, the massive molten demon Surtur is ready to hasten that feared apocalypse once he’s eliminated his chained-up prisoner. Ah, but the son of Odin is not so quickly dispatched, especially when he regains his enchanted Uru hammer. After many loud requests, the Rainbow Bridge portal finally opens, sending Thor back to very different Asgard. For one thing, Heimdall (Idris Elba) is missing, and manning the big sword that unlocks the entrance is the slow-witted Skurge (Karl Urban). Arriving at the royal palace, Thor is stunned to see his widowed father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) surrounded by maidens during a celebration of …Loki? Sensing a deception, Thor forces his father to reveal his true form, that of his scheming half-brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Thor demands to know where their father is, so the thwarted Loki opens a gateway to New York City. With the help of another Marvel hero, the two locate the “all-father”. As the clock ticks down on the aged patriarch’s life he warns them of the coming of an older, unknown to the sons, sister. Odin then passes to another plane of existence just before the arrival of the lady in question, Hela, Queen of the Dead (Cate Blanchett). The men are little match for her awesome power (Thor’s hammer is her first casualty). Hela announces her intent to rule Asgard, and as she enters the portal to the realm, the duo try to hitch a ride. But they are easily tossed aside mid-flight by Hela,and Thor lands in a trash heap on the planet Sakaar. When a group of scavengers overwhelm him, a glider lands, piloted by the warrior/mercenary Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). She claims Thor as her property and, after attaching an electrical device to his throat, drags him away to be purchased by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), who runs a battle contest in a massive arena, much like the emperors of ancient Rome, to placate the oppressed citizenry. After Thor dispatches several warriors, the GM decides that he must face his “champion”. Much to the Asgardian’s delight, he finds himself facing off against a very hostile Hulk. Perhaps if he can revert back to Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Thor can convince him to help find a way off the planet and return to his home world before Hela destroys it.
As with the previous films, Hemsworth plays the title role with an affable bravado, though now it’s more of a cocky comic confidence. This time there seems to be more brain along with the brawn, tinged with a charming self-mocking tone. During “hammer-time”, Hemsworth shows us a hero more man than god, as he faces a really formidable foe. That worthy adversary is his older sis, played by a very sultry Blanchett, the Marvel “movie-verse’s” first female super-villain (ess). As she sashay’s towards her prey, Hela may be the most alluring “bad girl” since Julie Newmar toyed with the Caped Crusader on TV over 50 years ago. There’s a regal air to her, demanded to be worshiped or else. She’s a worthy evil successor to Hiddleston’s Loki, who’s got a bit more of the mischief than murder in him. Plus there’s more of his scathing sarcastic wit here as he becomes a very reluctant hero. One great new hero introduced is the Valkyrie, played by the talented Thompson as the queen of hard-drinking, bad a*# biker babes (though I wouldn’t call her that). There’s a touch of sadness to her as she guzzles down a bottle like a weary Western gunfighter (Gene Wilder’s the Waco Kid comes immediately to mind). When Thor finally convinces her to return home, her spirit emerges from a fog, revitalized. Ruffalo gets to emote a lot more as the big green guy, actually conversing with Thor like two ole’ pals bellying up to the bar.The Hulk resists going back to Banner, and returning to Earth where he faces fear and hate from many (he’s beloved on Sakaar). When Bruce does return, he’s near panic, uneasy in this alien land and their inhabitants. Especially that world’s leader, played by the scene-stealing Goldblum as a fast-talking, vain con-man. The Grandmaster’s a devious, snarky Oz, ready to pull the rug out from anyone. Urban is terrific as Hela’s thick-headed henchman (dubbed the Executioner by her) who may have more than a bit of good still in him. Elba’s more of a Robin-Hood style man of action this time out, while Hopkins lends the proper gravitas to his leader turned Obi-Wan sage dispense of advice and inspiration.
In a true example of “thinking outside the box” Marvel Studios has enlisted the director of two of the best comedies of the last five years (WHAT WE DO IN SHADOWS and HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, the gifted Taika Waititi, The directors of the previous two Thor flicks had done epics and sword-slashing adventure, while Waititi is known for smart, quirky comedy. Here he delivers all the big action and fantasy sequences that fans of the franchise would expect, but he makes great use of the quiet time between bombasts to explore the character’s whimsy. It’s been reported that 80% was improvised, which somehow gives this big budget blockbuster the “loosy-goosey” feel of a rag-tag indie project. Unfortunately the style doesn’t always work for the two competing story lines: Thor and pals in a galactic SPARTICUS and Hela decimating Asgard. The Hela stuff’s good, but not as much fun as Hulk playfully sparring with Valkyrie. That’s not to say it’s all slapstick and giggles. Marvel’s taken a rap for not taking chances, afraid to eliminate characters. Not the case here, it’s truly a “game changer”, Thor’s never gonna’ be the same. The effects are top of the line particularly with the Hulk, Ruffalo’s performance is enhanced, not smothered by the motion capture CGI. We can still see him in there. Special kudos to the art direction team, who re-created much of the eye-dazzling spectacle created by artist Jack “King” Kirby (he’d be 100 this year) in those original comic books. Unlike a “distinguished competitor’s” films, this flick pops with color in tribute to the fun sci-fi popcorn epics of the 70’s and 80’s (FLASH GORDON, KRULL, etc.). The icing on this confetti cake may be the weird and wonderful score by Mark Mothersbaugh, very different from the typical adventure, string and brass background tracks. With its offbeat attitude and inspired direction, THOR: RANGNAROK is certainly the best, most entertaining, and funniest of the Thunder God’s solo adventures. Excelsior and pass the popcorn!
WAMG has your free tickets to see THOR: RAGNAROK early!!
Enter for your chance to win a pair of passes to attend a special RealD 3D advance screening of THOR: RAGNAROK in St. Louis!
In Theatres Nationwide in 3D, RealD™ 3D and IMAX 3D on November 3rd!
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK on October 30 at 7:00 pm in the St. Louis area.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:
In the comics, who is Thor’s Korbomite counterpart and what is his hammer’s name?
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OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
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In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.
But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!
Directed by Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins star.
