Movie, music, and television reviews from a select group of bloggers.
'Star Trek 2' actor Benedict Cumberbatch, seen here in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," may not be playing the villain in the new Star Trek movie, according to director J.J. Abrams. Is he just trying to throw fans off the scent? (Jack English/HONS/Focus Features/AP)
'Star Trek 2': J.J. Abrams discusses 3-D, Benedict Cumberbatch
3D has become something of a dirty word amongst moviegoers, and not without good reason: for every genuinely creative and/or enriching use of the format (Avatar, Hugo) there are a dozen other shallow, shoddy and gimmicky examples of 3D done wrong (Alice in Wonderland, Green Lantern, Clash of the Titans). When word got out that Star Trek 2 was going to be post-converted into 3D, many fans of the franchise feared that the sequel would fall into the latter camp of 3D movies.
Well, Star Trek 2 director J.J. Abrams isn’t letting those fears go unaddressed; check out what the geek-chic icon had to say on the subject – as well as some of the recent casting news about the sequel.
Abrams addressed the Star Trek 2 3D issue at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, while talking up the new Fox show Alcatraz, which he serves as producer on. On the subject of how they will shoot Star Trek 2:
We’re shooting on film, and the reason for that is I wanted to shoot with anamorphic, and you can’t shoot 3D in anamorphic.
Addressing the ongoing (jokes? concerns?) circling the Internet, in regards to Abrams’ divisive signature “lens flare” filming style potentially being an even bigger nuisance in 3D:
I’ve had some people make fun of me about that. Yeah, we’ve done some tests. Not only lens flare tests, but we’ve done 3D tests. We actually converted a bunch of the original movie, which looked really good. That was the thing that made me feel like, maybe that would be okay. But, I didn’t want to shoot the movie digitally…It will be converted, for those who want to see it in 3D. But, I wanted to match the look of the first one and shoot it anamorphically.
On a more interesting note, check out what Abrams had to say about the project which was ultimately selected for 3D conversion:
I did not fight for the 3D. It was something that the studio wanted to do, and I didn’t want to do it. And then, when I saw the first movie converted in sections, I thought that it actually looked really cool. So, I was okay with their doing it, as long as I could shoot the movie the way I wanted to, in anamorphic film, and then let them convert it. So, those who want to see it in 3D, which looked pretty cool, can do it, and those that want to see it in 2D can do that too.
While I’m sure that Abrams was just being honest in his answer, nothing is going to fuel the fire of those online naysayers than hearing that he didn’t even want to have the movie in 3D. There already enough people who currently view 3D as nothing more than a Hollywood cash-grab – Abrams’ words to little to dissuade that assumption.
Regarding some of the casting news that has recently been announced for Star Trek 2 - specifically that of Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), who is rumored to be taking over the villain role (of Khan?) from Benecio Del Toro:
Who said he’s our villain?…Honestly, he’s just an incredible actor. If you’ve seen his work in Sherlock, he’s just got incredible skills. He’s an amazing stage actor. He did amazing work (on stage) in Frankenstein. He’s brilliant. You try to cast people who are great. We got lucky.
Don’t let Abrams throw, Trek fans: for now, signs point to Cumberbatch indeed playing the villain, and that villain being Khan. We can’t prove it beyond a doubt, but the clues are definitely there to suggest that the actor will be playing a brainer version of Khan, with supporting actors like Joe Gatt providing the muscle. Still, we’ll have to wait for an official confirmation to know for sure.
What do you think about Star Trek 2 being pushed into 3D by Paramount? How about the casting of the film so far?
Star Trek 2 will be in theaters on May 17, 2013.
Kofi Outlaw blogs at Screen Rant.
'Merlin' finds heroes like the title character and the future King Arthur fighting to save the land of Camelot from supernatural aggressors. (Courtesy of NBC/Handout)
'Merlin' returns for a new season: a preview
Fans of the fantasy series MERLIN have had a long wait since the dramatic finale of the 3rd season last year. But the long hiatus is finally over and it was worth the wait. Returning with its 4th season, things start off with a bang – or rather a nasty tear between our world and the netherworld and creepy crawlies soon swarm over Camelot. One icy touch and a person is not simply frozen in fear – they are literally frozen to death. Unleashed by Morgana and her evil sister Morgause, the Derocha are not simply ghosts in the night. They are supernatural creatures that will steal your soul, the very breath from your body, and worse yet – Merlin’s magic is impotent against them.
It is the moment that every wizard fears, when you look into the face of your enemy completely helpless to defend yourself against them. Until this point, Merlin has been able to stand steadfast in the knowledge that he can always use his magic to protect himself and everyone he cares about. But once that is stripped away, all you have is a man forced to use his wits to defeat a seemingly invincible enemy.
You can just hear the laughter as Morgana and Morgause watch with unbridled glee. The Derocha are doing all their dirty work for them and Camelot will swiftly fall if they are not defeated. In a desperate, last minute attempt to save the kingdom and all of them from a chilling death, Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of Camelot journey to repair the torn veil between the worlds before it is too late.
Part 1 of “The Darkest Hour” sets up the threat and the perilous journey. Part 2, which concludes this magnificent and spine-chilling story, airs the following Friday, January 12th. Neither part is to be missed as death comes-a-calling, and while one may yet escape, another may not. “The Darkest Hour” introduces a threat more devastating than they have ever encountered and the cost of saving Camelot comes at a steep price. But, make no mistake, you will laugh and cheer and yet still feel great sorrow in the end. The war between the sorceress Morgana and the warlock Merlin has just begun. “The Darkest Hour” emphasizes to both how much they stand to lose and why this fight must be to the bitter end. Former alliances and childhood friendships are cast aside as magic faces off against magic.
This entire 4th season is about love, loss, and embracing destiny. Merlin cannot just be a boy behind the prince anymore. It is time to step outside Arthur’s shadow and let Arthur stand to become the king that he is destined to be. Similarly, Morgana rises to claim her deliciously evil glory unfettered by the insecurities of the past. And Merlin will have to walk the perilous path of hiding his true identity from both of them – lest his role to play is revealed too soon.
With Uther incapacitated with madness, never having recovered from the betrayal of his illegitimate daughter Morgana, Arthur tries to stand in as ruler of Camelot – alas, with the counsel of his uncle Agravaine, who does not seem to have Arthur’s best interests at heart.
Then, as always, Lady Guinevere is the wild card. Still seen as a mere servant, who has favor with Arthur, her role is unfathomable to most. Yet Morgana has seen the future and knows that one day Gwen will sit on the throne at Arthur’s side. So while Gwen’s natural grace and low station poses not outward threat, Morgana knows that she must stop Gwen. Morgana’s battles spread her thin as she takes on Arthur, Merlin and Gwen on multiple fronts in order to recapture Camelot.
But this is the flaw in her plan. Morgana is always focusing on the wrong things. Even once she were able to get Arthur, Merlin and Gwen out of the way, she is not in a position to rule Camelot as the people do not love her and respect her. If anything, last season should have taught her is the lesson that without the people of Camelot behind her, she is nothing. But blinded by rage, fear and a burning desire to take back what she believes is hers by birthright, Morgana cannot see what truly matters – what it will take to win a kingdom from the inside – through the hearts of its people.
One cannot combat destiny by sheer force-of-will – one must woo it and the art of seduction seems beyond Morgana. Fortunately for Camelot, our heroes Arthur, Merlin, Gwen and the Knights of Camelot know a thing or two about love and how to properly woo destiny.
Tiffany Vogt blogs at The TV Addict.
'The Vampire Diaries' has the best new male character on TV in 2011
Favorite New Girl: Zooey Deschanel. Oh, and before you chastise us for going with the obvious choice, please consider this.
Favorite New Girl Not Starring in a Show of the Same Name: It’s a tie… between AWKWARD’s Ashley Rickards and SUBURGATORY’s Jane Levy. Seriously. We can’t decide, can you?
Favorite New Guy: In a crowded field of very deserving candidates including HART OF DIXIE’s Wilson Bethel, REVENGE’s Gabriel Mann and ONCE UPON A TIME’s Josh Dallas, one man elevated evil to an entirely new level of fun. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES’ Joseph Morgan, we salute you!
Favorite Fake Newscaster: With his sly delivery and trademark smirk, Seth Meyers continues to demonstrate that should the day ever arrive when Jon Stewart decides to look for other opportunities outside of THE DAILY SHOW, the man manning SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’s Weekend Update desk is ready and waiting in the wings.
Favorite Funny: The $25 Foosball “bit” on COMMUNITY was worth every penny. Hence, Exhibit “A”
Favorite New Drama: With its litany of plot twists and cadre of characters whose murky loyalties had us questioning motives at every turn, HOMELAND was Showtime’s 24-equivalent minus the silly time constrains and plus the nudity.
Favorite New Comedy: What do you get when you combine a wickedly talented six person ensemble willing to do anything, and we mean anything, for a laugh? HAPPY ENDINGS, or as we like to call it, quite possibly the funniest series since that show about that coffee addicted gang from Central Perk.
Favorite Fictional Town: Complete with a seemingly never-ending calendar of events and festivals rivalled only by that of HART OF DIXIE’s Bluebell Alabama, this season of PARKS AND RECREATION cemented Pawnee Indiana’s status as the live action equivalent of THE SIMPSONS’ Springfield courtesy of a ridiculously endearing ensemble, an ever-expanding collection of hilarious townspeople, and one incredibly adorable horse (RIP Li’l’ Sebastian)
Favorite Fictional Family: Despite our love of MODERN FAMILY’s Dunphey-Pritchett clan, this blue-collar blogger feels a slight obligation to stick with fellow members of the 99% this year by raising a bottle to Showtime’s SHAMELESS Gallagher family for taking the dysfunctional family values to an entirely new level.
Favorite Four-legged Friend: Simply put, the almost unheard of 17-year life expectancy for Amanda/Emily’s adorable yellow Labrador Sam on REVENGE gives us hope for our frequent couch companion Mac.
'Happy Endings' has gotten decent ratings thanks to its strong fan base. (Adam Taylor/HONS/American Broadcasting Companies/AP)
'Revenge,' 'Happy Endings' are two of 2011's TV highlights
Favorite TV Trend: Suffice it to say, nothing puts a smile on our face like the proliferation of adorable television babies (See: RAISING HOPE’s Hope and DEXTER’s Harry)
Least Favorite TV Trend: The proliferation of the “T.B.D.” As in air dates for COUGAR TOWN, COMMUNITY, and AWAKE remain to be determined.
Trend That Has to Stop Now: Shows that deliver a series finale under the not-always-correct assumption that they’ll have life on another platform. (See: ENTOURAGE and ALL MY CHILDREN)
Best Excuse to Spend 3 Hours on a Couch: From THE MIDDLE to REVENGE and everything in between, there is nothing that makes us happier than Wednesday night’s on ABC.
Favorite New Bromance: What PERSON OF INTEREST’s Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Finch (Michael Emerson) lack in verbiage, they more than make up for in steely glances that say more than most pairings do in an entire episode’s worth of dialogue.
Show in Desperate Need of an EXTREME MAKEOVER: SUPPORTING CAST Edition: The only thing funnier than 2 BROKE GIRLS leading ladies Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs are the writing team who thought that surrounding them with a collection of highly offensive and astoundingly unfunny stereotypes would be a good idea.
Biggest Casting Blunder: THE OFFICE’s Andy Bernard is no Michael Scott.
Most Pleasant Surprise: The unexpected ratings success of REVENGE, HART OF DIXIE and HAPPY ENDINGS, three TV Addict favorites that in any other year would normally have been classified as “on the bubble” due to the very fact we love them so.
Most Pleasant Surprise (Runner-Up!): Thanks to a string of phenomenally talented hosts including Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, Emma Stone, Jason Segel, and Jimmy Fallon, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE actually became appointment viewing again.
Favorite Finale: We challenge you to find anything more flawless than FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS final montage. Go ahead, we’re waiting.
'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' star Rooney Mara (l.) is signed on for two more films, as is her co-star Daniel Craig. (Merrick Morton/HOEP/Sony, Columbia Pictures/AP)
'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' sequel is still on track, says Sony
It feels kind of weird to say that director David Fincher’s adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has performed somewhat below expectations at the box office to date.
On the one hand, it’s a $90 million project from a high-profile filmmaker that is based on an international best-selling novel that has only grossed $60 million in the U.S. so far; on the other hand, it’s an extremely adults-only, R-Rated murder mystery full of graphic content and fatalistic atmosphere that’s been generating excellent word-of-mouth. So, those financial returns are about as good as one could (reasonably) expect.
Nonetheless, there’s been some question as to whether or not Sony is actively pressing ahead with an adaptation of the next installment in author Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Played with Fire, because of Dragon Tattoo‘s so-so box office performance. According to EW, that is in fact the case.
A Sony representative informed the publication that Girl Who Played with Fire remains on-target for a late 2013 release date. Dragon Tattoo leads Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig are likewise reportedly already signed on to reprise their roles as Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, respectively, in both the sequel and the (for now, theoretical) third franchise chapter, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
Dragon Tattoo writer Steve Zaillian is in the early stage of scripting Girl Who Played with Fire, which Fincher has the option to direct. While he has not yet committed to the project, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker has admitted that (should he sign on) he would prefer to shoot both the second and third Millennium book adaptations back-to-back, for both practical and artistic purposes.
Fincher’s take on Dragon Tattoo has been playing very well with professional critics and casual moviegoers alike; similarly, it ranked pretty high on our favorite 2011 movies list. That sets it apart from relatively recent costly studio franchise titles that only did so-so business in theaters in comparison to their actual production budget, but were also critical duds (ex. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, TRON: Legacy)… and yet, sequels to both are being developed, with G.I. Joe 2 having already completed production.
In addition, Dragon Tattoo should continue to play well during the slow-going month of January and will probably (*knock on wood*) manage to snag a handful of Oscar nods in the near future – which will also help keep it in the limelight.
That’s all to say: Dragon Tattoo may not be a box office smash, but it should ultimately prove to be profitable enough to ensure that Sony doesn’t abandon its franchise plans.
We will continue to keep you updated on the status of The Girl Who Played with Fire as the story develops.
Sandy Schaefer blogs at Screen Rant.
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