20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation have released a first trailer for HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2.
The thrilling second chapter of the epic HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON trilogy brings us back to the fantastical world of Hiccup and Toothless five years after the two have successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snoutlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds.
When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons.
The voice cast features Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Kit Harington, Cate Blanchett, Djimon Honsou, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller and Kristen Wiig.
Awww, I love Toothless! Just so cute. Looks like another visit to the island of Berk from director Dean DeBlois and producer Bonnie Arnold is going to be amazing!!
When terrorists take down the White House (code name “Olympus”), a disgraced Secret Service agent attempts to rescue the president of the United States in Olympus Has Fallen, an electrifying and inspired action thriller from acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day).
A small group of heavily armed, meticulously trained extremists launch a daring daylight ambush on the White House, overrunning the building and taking President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) and his staff hostage inside an impenetrable underground presidential bunker. As a pitched battle rages on the White House lawn, former presidential security officer Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) joins the fray, and finds his way into the besieged building to do the job he has trained for all his life: to protect the president – at all costs.
Banning uses his extensive training and detailed knowledge of the presidential residence to become the eyes and ears of Acting President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) and his key advisors. With tension rising, the radicals begin executing hostages and threaten to kill more unless their outrageous demands are met, our national security team must relay on Banning to locate the president’s young son, who is being sought as the ultimate test of the president’s loyalty to his country, and rescue the president before the terrorists can unleash their ultimate, terrifying plan.
Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, King Arthur, Brooklyn’s Finest) helms an original script written by newcomers Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt.
OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN will be in theaters March 22, 2013.
Film District and WAMG are giving awaypasses (good for two) to the advance screening of OLYMPUS HAS FALLENon March 21st at 7:00 PM in St. Louis.
To help choreograph the action, director Antoine Fuqua brought in Keith Woulard, a former Navy SEAL who had worked with the director on an earlier film, Tears of the Sun. “I knew Keith could make it exciting and authentic,” he says. “The violence looks so real that it can be very disturbing. We worked out the choreography based on what the SEALs might actually do in that situation and then we tweaked it with a little movie twist.”
Answer the following question:
The Navy SEALs were established in what YEAR and by which PRESIDENT?
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING. WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL.
2. SEND YOUR NAME AND ANSWERS TO: michelle@wearemoviegeeks.com
3. YOU MUST SUBMIT THE CORRECT ANSWER TO OUR TRIVIA QUESTION ABOVE TO WIN.
4. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The film is rated R
OLYMPUS HAS FALLENstars Gerard Butler (300,), Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Battle Los Angeles), Academy Award®-winners Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, The Dark Knight Rises) and Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got To Do With It, This Means War) , Robert Forster (Jackie Brown), Cole Hauser (A Good Day To Die Hard), Ashley Judd (Kiss The Girls), Melissa Leo (The Fighter, Frozen River) ), Dylan McDermott (“American Horror Story,” The Campaign), Radha Mitchell (Man On Fire) and Rick Yune (The Fast and the Furious).
The film is produced by Alan Siegel (Chasing Mavericks, Machine Gun Preacher), Gerard Butler, Danny Lerner (The Expendables 2) and Ed Cathell (Drive Angry, Playing for Keeps). Director of photography is Conrad W. Hall (The Punisher, Panic Room). Editor is John Refoua (Avatar, Safe House). Production designer is Derek R. Hill (W., Into the Wild). Costume designer is Doug Hall (Crazy Heart, A Walk to Remember). Stunt coordinator is Keith Woulard (Black Hawk Down, Iron Man 2). Executive producers are Avi Lerner (The Iceman, The Expendables 2), Heidi Jo Markel (Playing for Keeps, Lovelace), John Thompson (Brooklyn’s Finest,Playing for Keeps), Trevor Short (The Mechanic) and Boaz Davidson (The Expendables 2). Peter Schlessel, Will French (Bullet to the Head, Killing Them Softly) and Stephen Roberts (Killing Them Softly, Killer Joe) are co-executive producers.
As most of America takes the day take off in observance of President’s Day, check out the latest videos from Film District’s OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN.
First up is the extended trailer followed by an inside look at the White House by the stars of the film Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman & Aaron Eckhart.
(via Yahoo! Movies)
Seeing Angela Bassett in this film, or any film for that matter, is always big plus. I like that they cast a woman as the steely, strict, and tough director of the Secret Service working feverishly to save the president and her country.
When the White House (Secret Service Code: “Olympus”) is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger crisis.
Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) directs an all-star cast featuring Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd and Rick Yune.
OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN checks into theaters March 22, 2013.
MOVIE 43 is not for a week stomach… and neither is this prize pack giveaway!
In Relativity Media’s new film MOVIE 43, comedy is served steaming hot by director Peter Farrelly of The Farrelly Brothers (Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber) in one of the most original comedies ever made. This movie stars Terrence Howard, Elizabeth Banks, Emma Stone, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Halle Berry and many more like you’ve never seen them before… and to celebrate WAMG is giving away a MOVIE 43 prize pack. Check it out!
PRIZE PACK INCLUDES:
Branded hat
Branded baseball t-shirt
Branded underwear
Poster
$30 Fandango gift card
Toilet mug
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.
2. SEND YOUR FULL NAME and ANSWER TO: melissa@wearemoviegeeks.com.
3. Out of all of the stars featured in MOVIE 43, who are you most excited to see?
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.
From the twisted minds of producers Peter Farrelly (Hall Pass, Shallow Hal) and Charles Wessler (There’s Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber), comes Movie 43– the outrageous new ensemble comedy starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Movie 43 is not for the easily-offended and contains jaw-dropping, sometimes shockingly disturbing, but always entertaining intertwined storylines you’ll have to see to believe.
Relativity Media’s must see outrageous comedy MOVIE 43 starsElizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Leslie Bibb, Kate Bosworth, Gerard Butler, Bobby Cannavale, Kieran Culkin, Josh Duhamel, Anna Faris, Richard Gere, John Hodgman, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Knoxville, Justin Long, Stephen Merchant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz, Chris Pratt, Liev Schreiber, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Uma Thurman, Naomi Watts, and Kate Winslet.
Had to believe that only six years ago the graphic novel film adaptation 300 burst on to movie screens featuring ground-breaking CGI effects and a bravado charismatic performance by a generally unknown actor as the fearless King Leonidas: Gerard Butler. Aside from a great vocal performance in the terrific animated feature HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, Hollywood has not known what to do with this handsome Scott. There’s been a few thrillers like LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, but generally he’s been consigned to “rom-com” Hell, sometimes paired with other denizens of that genre such as Katherine Heigl and Jennifer Aniston. Just a few weeks after the family flick CHASING MAVERICKS, Butler’s back in that pit once more with PLAYING FOR KEEPS. Hmm, this one’s got an Oscar-winning actress in the mix. Maybe this will be the one to show off his acting chops rather than just his scruffy good looks.
Butler plays George, a Scottish soccer superstar well past his prime. After squandering most of his sports earnings he moves to a rental guest house in Virginia. There he can re-connect with the ten-year old son Lewis (Noah Lomax) from his ex-wife Stacie (Jessica Biel), while he tries to become a TV sports analyst. George takes his son to soccer practice and is dismayed by his clueless, distracted coach. The former star steps in to give the team a few pointers. He’s soon lured by a “soccer dad”, the very rich Carl (Dennis Quaid), to take over as coach. Now George must end his son’s team’s losing streak while fending off the advances of Carl’s neglected wife Patti (Uma Thurman) and divorced “soccer moms” Denise (Catherine Zeta Jones) and Barb (Judy Greer). At least he’s finally bonding with his son, but now Stacie’s about to get re-married! Is there a chance that he can turn things around for the team and his family?
Really, is there any doubt where this fluff is heading? At least Butler doesn’t have to strain at another American accent (usually screaming out of one side of his mouth). He’s playing another variation of the man-child who becomes a responsible adult thanks to the love of an adorable tot and an extremely patient woman. At least the ladies are treated to a couple of sans shirt scenes. Speaking of ladies, the actresses here are ill-served by this weak script. The radiantly beautiful Biel is made to look frumpy for most of the flick (Butler’s tousled locks are given more attention than her glowing mane). She’s icy to her ex at first, but that dad-son bonding melts her heart, of course. On the other hand, the maternal temptresses always look like they were just touched up by their personal stylists. After picking up her CHICAGO Oscar, Jones has not had any film roles that have showcased her considerable talents. This role is a bit of an improvement over the wild-eyed shrew in ROCK OF AGES. When Butler’s immune to her sultry smiles she offers herself to groom him for ESPN. Here’s hoping next year’s BROKEN CITY is more worthy of her time. Still, she fares better than Thurman as a desperate housewife on the prowl. At one point she’s bemoaning her hubby’s infidelity, then next moment she’s rolling around on George’s bed in skimpy black lingerie (perhaps to prove she’s got her pre-baby bod back). Maybe Quentin can get her back in the bright yellow track suit soon. The other steamy suburbanite is played by the delightful comic actress, Greer, who is the film’s only bright spot (I’ll add a star just for her way too short scenes). She’s deserving of her own screen showcase. After playing the third pompous movie jerk in a row (after THE WORDS and WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING), I’m happy that Quaid has scored a hit TV series (“Vegas”). If this is what the big screen is offering him, then the small screen can provide much better vehicles. I guess the same can be said for all those involved with this effort.
The actors are certainly not helped by the odd directorial choices from Gabriele Muccino. He overuses the steadycam to the point of nausea. It’s a dialogue scene in a kitchen! Lock that camera down! It’s not edgy, it’s distracting! Same shakiness for the scenes of the soccer team saying inappropriate lines, but it’s so adorably cute. At least we can be safe to say that PLAYING FOR KEEPS is the last dismal dreary rom-com of the year. I wonder if there are cinema penalty cards?
Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dennis Quaid star in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, a romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former soccer star (Butler) who returns home to put his life back together. Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s soccer team. But his attempts to finally become an “adult” are met with hilarious challenges from the attractive “soccer moms” who pursue him at every turn. PLAYING FOR KEEPS is directed by Gabriele Muccino, the director of “The Pursuit of Happyness.
Film District and WAMG invite you to enter to win a pass to the advance screening of PLAYING FOR KEEPS on December 3rd at 7PM in St. Louis.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING. 2. SEND YOUR FULL NAME TO michelle@wearemoviegeeks.com . 3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us your favorite Gerard Butler film and why.
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The film is rated PG 13.
Photo credit: Dale Robinette
PLAYING FOR KEEPS opens in theaters on December 7th, 2012.
For the latest news and updates, be sure to follow PLAYING FOR KEEPS on the officialFacebook and Twitterpages.
A few new pictures as you wind down the week for Relativity Media’s two upcoming comedies.
Outrageousness ensues in this first photo of Miles Teller, Justin Chon, and Skylar Astin from 21 AND OVER. Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what’s expected of him. But when his two best friends Casey and Miller surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday, he decides to do the unexpected for a change, even though his critical medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes one night of chaos, over indulgence and utter debauchery.
21 AND OVER opens in theaters on March 1, 2013. For the latest news and updates, be sure to Like the 21 AND OVERFacebook Page.
Are you ready to see Gerard Butler’s lucky charms?
Catch a wave of the actor’s transformation from surf sensation to wee little leprechaun in Relativity Media’s upcoming comedy, MOVIE 43. This foul mouthed leprechaun isn’t chasing rainbows in this hilarious flick alongside an all-star cast starring Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Leslie Bibb, Kate Bosworth, Gerard Butler, Bobby Cannavale, Kieran Culkin, Josh Duhamel, Anna Faris, Richard Gere, John Hodgman, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Knoxville, Justin Long, Stephen Merchant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz, Chris Pratt, Liev Schreiber, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Uma Thurman, Naomi Watts, and Kate Winslet.
Warning: This movie is not for the weak-stomached, faint of heart, or easily offended. From the twisted minds of producers Peter Farrelly (Hall Pass, Shallow Hal) and Charles Wessler (There’s Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber), MOVIE 43 opens in theaters nationwide on January 25th, 2013.
Over the years we’ve seen several inspirational sports biography films. Certain sports seem to lend themselves to the cinema, like boxing with RAGING BULL and ALI, or baseball in THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES and THE ROOKIE. But surfing’s a more difficult to convey on-screen. Many folks may harken back to the crude rear-projection sequences in camp 1960’s flicks like GIDGET, BEACH PARTY and their sequels. With documentaries like the first ENDLESS SUMMER, new film technology allowed for an up close look at the surf pros. CHASING MAVERICKS is the dramatic life story of one of those pros: Jay Moriarty. In a way this is similar to a superhero story. Instead of getting a uniform and shield, we see how Jay got his wetsuit and board. It also has an element of the wise elder training the young upstart. Think Mr.Miyagi in THE KARATE KID films and the various Jedi masters in the STAR WARS series. Perhaps, more than the other genres, MAVERICKS is a true family film with sons discovering fathers in the unlikeliest of settings (and vice-versa).
We first meet Moriarty timing the waves as they break on shore in 1987. While rescuing the pooch of his slightly older pretty neighbor Kim, the eight year-old lad is swept up by the current. Before the sea claims him lil’ Jay is pulled up by super surfer dude “Frosty” Hesson (Gerard Butler). Driving the kids back home, Jay is stunned to find out that his rescuer lives right down the street. Soon the boy is pulling out his father’s old surfboard out of the garage (Dad has been absent for a while) and hitting the beach. Cut to 1994 as teenage Jay (Jonny Weston) secretly hitches a ride on top of Frosty’s van and observes the surfer pro and some pals going to a secluded section of beach that is home of the “mavericks” (giant, monster waves). After he’s discovered, Jay begs Frosty to teach him out to ride the mavericks. The elder surfer begrudgingly agrees and for the next several months Jay balances his school work, pizza job, keeping his boozy Mom (Elisabeth Shue) focused on her job, and pursuing the lovely grown-up Kim (Leven Rambin) with his passion for training in order to tame those truly killer waves.
This is a sweet little underdog tale accented with some truly spectacular photography of these athletes. We get all angles (including underwater), and these thirty and forty-foot swells looming over the surfers are really breath-taking. The film makers do their best to help us focus in on the principals (it’s a big problem with all the similar boards and wetsuits). On land some of the subplots don’t quite play off and disrupt the momentum of the main surf-training story. The romance of Jay and Kim seems to be a given with some minor obstacles (she doesn’t want her pals to know that she likes this guy that’s a couple years younger!). And the concerns about Jay’s pal Blond hooking up with a bad crowd (he may be dealing drugs!) never has a real resolution. When a major tragedy blindsides a character it seems like it was thrown at the script from left field (perhaps this is what happened, true life being very untidy). As for the cast, Butler has toned down the aggression so prominent in the dismal rom-coms and gives us a hunky, often mellow surfin’ Yoda. His Frosty is a mentally absent father whose paternal nature is finally opened up by his young student. On the other end is Shue’s character who also is put on the right course by her son’s determination. It’s always a pleasure to see this veteran actress again on screen, but the role is somewhat underwritten. We never really get to see her pushing away from the bottle. Weston is a likeable, if somewhat bland (perhaps, the way his role is written) hero. The script may be too respectful of this real life surfing icon. He’s more of a noble ideal than a true human being complete with flaws and frailties. CHASING MAVERICKS is a well shot profile of the sport and one of its heroes, but the people are not nearly has compelling as the images of those brutal, but beautiful waves.
Get a first look at Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel and Catherine Zeta-Jones in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, a romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former soccer star (Butler) who returns home to put his life back together. Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s soccer team. But his attempts to finally become an “adult” are met with hilarious challenges from the attractive “soccer moms” who pursue him at every turn. PLAYING FOR KEEPS is directed by Gabriele Muccino, the director of “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
Also starring Dennis Quaid, Uma Thurman and Judy Greer, PLAYING FOR KEEPS opens in theaters on December 7th, 2012.
The Weinstein Company presents the new trailer for CORIOLANUS – directed by Ralph Fiennes with a screenplay by John Logan, based on the play “Coriolanus” by William Shakespeare. Filmed in Serbia, Montenegro and the UK, the film will be released December 2nd.
Synopsis:
A feared and revered military commander courts tragedy when he enters the political arena in CORIOLANUS, a driving action/drama that marks the directorial debut of the film’s star, two-time Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes. Updating William Shakespeare’s late-period tragedy of ancient Roman setting to the 21st Century of guerrilla insurgencies, instant polling and 24-hour news networks, Fiennes delivers a trenchant tale of honor, power, politics and pride. At the heart of the film is the personal journey of Caius Martius, the noble but flawed “Coriolanus” of the title. Scion of a proud, aristocratic military family, Coriolanus is a man of great courage and unshakeable integrity – but the values that have served him and his country in battle will be his downfall in civil society. Working from an adapted screenplay by award-winning writer John Logan, Fiennes takes a bracingly modern and naturalistic approach to Shakespeare, delivering a story that speaks strongly to our own polarized, volatile times. Joining Fiennes onscreen is an exciting, impressive and international cast that includes Gerard Butler, Brian Cox; Oscar® winner Vanessa Redgrave; Jessica Chastain; John Kani, James Nesbitt; Paul Jesson; Lubna Azabal; and Ashraf Barhom.
Caius Martius “Coriolanus” (Ralph Fiennes) is unquestionably Rome’s most courageous general and its most controversial. He is revered for his ferocity in battle and willingness to die for his country; and reviled for his openly contemptuous attitude towards the ordinary Roman citizen. After achieving an astounding victory in Rome’s long-running war with the neighboring Volsces, Coriolanus is prodded by his controlling and ambitious mother, Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the prestigious and powerful political office of Consul. But Coriolanus bristles at the false niceties of retail politicking, and is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public rejects his bid, Coriolanus explodes in rage, prompting a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy, the Volscian guerrilla leader Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take revenge on his city.
