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Monday, April 30, 2012

SPOILER ALERT: Want To Know Who The Villain Is In STAR TREK 2? And MORE...

Ok guys - this post has the potential to be absolutely full of spoilers from beginning to end so beware of the following content!!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what we have learned from the site TrekMovie (generally fairly good sources):

- New Shots of Zachary Quinto as Spock!!  (as shown) Man, does he EVER look like Nimoy. Perfect casting - he seems to be getting more and more like him as he ages!


- Benedict Cumberbatch IS Khan Noonien Singh after all. There has been speculation ricocheting around the interwebs for some time now that this was the case, but no definitive proof and a lot of polarization on the issues. One one hand you have the purists who say that no one can fill the shoes of Ricardo Montalban's Khan (it IS hard to argue against that point), but on the other hand you have the fans that point to a new reboot of the franchise and to not reintroduce one of the most memorable villains in all of Sci-fi history is blasphemy. Apparently there are now enough independent sources backing this information that it seems highly likely that Cumberbatch is Khan. Scary? Not completely. Cumberbatch is currently filling very challenging shoes indeed with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and comes across as an intellectual with complete validity. My worry is more on the physical side - Khan was genetically superior in strength as well. Can Cumberbatch match Montalban? Remains to be seen.

- Leonard Nimoy returns as Spock Prime. A surprise in that it was thought that he retired from movies entirely. Now AICN is saying that Nimoy will definitely return and will have "long and stately robes".

- There's a "deep space" smackdown between Kirk and Khan in space suits. "Flying" suits as per AICN's contact.

- Klingons will be in STAR TREK 2. TrekMovie sources indicate that this time the Klingons are not a sub-plot that could be easily cut out of the film (as in Abrams' STAR TREK), so we will finally see the JJ-verse version of Klingons on the big screen.

SO. A lot to digest and if you are a solid Star Trek fan as I am - you may be a bit worried about including Khan. It HAS to be perfect. If it isn't... then hell hath no fury like a Trek fan scorned.



Marvel's THE AVENGERS Hit The Box Office With... Well, VENGEANCE!! And More On What To Expect With IRON MAN 3...

To any doubters out there that said that the superhero genre can't deliver mega box office, THE AVENGERS are saying what Marvel has been saying since IRON MAN - vengeance is ours!

How does $178.4 million sound in it's opening weekend? WITHOUT North America? THE AVENGERS took first place in all of it's 39 foreign market openings and set box office records in 12 of them. Don't forget that some of the biggest foreign markets have yet to launch, namely Russia, China and Japan.

Some estimates peg the overseas futures at $600m +! So easily count on a BILLION dollar plus event movie.

I'll have more numbers in the coming weeks, especially when it opens in the US and Canada in... 5 DAYS! 4 and a half days if you go to the midnight screenings - don't forget to get your free IMAX poster if you do!


**AND**


Producer Kevin Feige talks IRON MAN 3! It's all well and good to bring together some of the top superheroes of all time in THE AVENGERS, but what happens after that event movie? It makes sense to go back to Tony Stark as IRON MAN was the first big hit from those characters (THE HULK was ok, but not great). So IRON MAN 3. What's in store?

Here's what Feige had to say:
"So Iron Man 3 has been structured specifically to be the antidote to The Avengers... Circumstances in the story separate Tony from having access to anything. We wanted to take Tony back to, metaphorically speaking, the cave from Iron Man, the first half of Iron Man, when he's cut off from the world and needs just focus on his intellects to get himself out of his situation. So he's not calling Thor, he's not calling Captain America, he can't press a special button to have the helicarrier come rescue him, so I think that'll be a nice complement to the team up of Avengers."


Sounds perfect to me.

Sources: Box Office Mojo | Empire

Sunday, April 29, 2012

MUST SEE: New International Trailer For Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS!! **VISUAL SPOILERS**

Absolute visual spoiler alert for this trailer! And well, if you can't resist then go ahead - I have to "in the line of duty" :-) Stunning, STUNNING new footage in this trailer!!

Here's the storyline for PROMETHEUS:
Ridley Scott, director of “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.  

Check out this thing if you dare. You WILL learn something new with it so be careful!!



Thanks for the heads up hesjustagrunt! PROMETHEUS opens on June 8.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Two More TV Spots For Marvel's THE AVENGERS!

If you're like me you kinda have one eye open and the other shut when you watch these because you have already been sold on the idea of going to the movie (a dozen times over), you don't want anymore spoilers but yet curiosity is overwhelming.

Same holds true with these two new TV clips for Marvel's THE AVENGERS. There are some new shots in these so you have been warned!

Here is the storyline for the movie:
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.


THE AVENGERS assemble May 4.

**UPDATED With Steve Schklair Of 3ality Technica Thoughts - Peter Jackson On HFR: "There Can Only Ever Be A Real Reaction... When People Actually Have A Chance To See A Complete Narrative..."

** SAME DAY UPDATE: I reached out to Steve Schklair of 3ality Technica for his thoughts on the subject as Peter Jackson is using their 3D rigs on his production. 


Here's what Steve had to say:
"Every change in cinema technology has come with negative comments and naysayers. This includes the advent of color, sound, digital, and 3D. If you remember back to the early days of digital, there was a company selling a process that would artificially insert weave, grain, scratches and dirt into a pristine digital image so that it would have a “film look”. Motion artifacts in 2D are distracting, and in 3D they are especially distracting. Shooting HFR makes for better images and sharper less distracting pictures. Because it does not look like what people are used to, it comes with the same detractors as did color, sound, digital, and 3D. I agree with Peter Jackson in that you have to see an entire movie at 48 and not just a few minutes. When you become immersed in the story, the difference in look will become secondary to the story. Eventually, like all new technologies in our business, it will become the accepted norm. History shows that to always be true."

Eloquently put. I couldn't agree more!


It was only a matter of time until we would have heard from Peter Jackson on THE HOBBIT and it the so-called negative reaction to 48 frames per second frame rate. That time has come.

And the man makes total sense. Here's what Jackson had to say:
"Nobody is going to stop. This technology is going to keep evolving. At first it’s unusual because you’ve never seen a movie like this before. It’s literally a new experience, but you know, that doesn’t last the entire experience of the film; not by any stretch, after 10 minutes or so. That’s a different experience than if you see a fast-cutting montage at a technical presentation."

"There can only ever be a real reaction, a truthful reaction when people actually have a chance to see a complete narrative on a particular film."

"A couple of the more negative commenters from CinemaCon said that in the Gollum and Bilbo scene [which took place later in the presentation] they didn’t mind it and got used to that. That was the same 48 frames the rest of the reel was. I just wonder if it they were getting into the dialogue, the characters and the story. That’s what happens in the movie. You settle into it."

Further, Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. President of Domestic Distribution added:
"It might not initially be accepted by all, but eventually [Jackson] feels it will be and eventually it can only improve. I think by the time he presents this film finished, the majority of moviegoers will accept it and be pleased."

If you would like some further reading on why High Frame Rates (HFR) are important for 3D, check out this great article by Shutter Angle. It explains why these advancements in cinema technology walk hand in hand toward better and better viewer experiences.

Martin Scorsese wonders whether or not this whole HFR backlash thing is a generational gap. I tend to agree with that - younger audiences will be quicker to accept and immerse themselves in it.

My view is quite simple really. I subscribe to the aspiration of the perfect viewing experience - one where you can't tell what's real and what's not. Quite frankly, the holodeck from Star Trek TNG is what I'm talking about. Being IN the movie. 3D and HFR are incremental steps toward that goal and I support these movements 100%.

Here's the storyline for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY:
The Hobbit is an upcoming two-part epic fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson. It is a film adaptation of the 1937 novel of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien and prequel to The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings, returns as director of the film and also serves as producer and co-writer. The film will star Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Richard Armitage, known for playing Lucas North in the BBC drama series Spooks, as Thorin Oakenshield. Several actors from Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy will reprise their roles, including Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, and Orlando Bloom. Additionally, composer Howard Shore, who wrote the score for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, has confirmed his role in both parts of the film project. The two parts, entitled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, are being filmed back to back and are currently in production in New Zealand; principal photography began on March 21, 2011. They are scheduled to be released on December 14, 2012 and December 13, 2013, respectively.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Worried About The Rating For PROMETHEUS? Don't Be, Says Fox CEO Tom Rothman!

Music to my ears! Much has been said lately on the pending decision on just what rating will be assigned to Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS simply because of it's pedigree, ALIEN and ALIENS in particular live in a very dark and horrific universe. What sort of prequel would it be if PROMETHEUS was relegated to a PG-13?

Tom Rothman (Fox CEO) has set the record straight recently at CinemaCon in Las Vegas:
"I can assure the fans—I’m very aware of their concern—absolutely they can take it that the film will not be compromised either way. So if that means that the film is R, then it’ll be an R. If it’s PG-13, then it’ll be a PG-13, but it will not be compromised"

And Tom continues:
"[For] Prometheus, it would have been very easy—in fact probably in Chapter One of the Executive Handbook, if I ever read such a thing, it would say, ‘Go ahead, make a straightforward prequel to Alien.’ That would have been the easy thing to do. Prometheus is the more challenging thing to do. It’s bolder, it’s original, it’s in the universe, but it’s not a literal story-based prequel to [Alien], it’s a wholly new science-fiction entry from Ridley Scott, who hasn’t made a science-fiction film in 30 years."

Personally I believe that we are going to be in for a rated R experience with PROMETHEUS. With the comments that Ridley Scott has made and now Tom Rothman, along with the content that is meant to marry up with ALIEN, it HAS to be. What do you think?

PROMETHEUS opens on June 1.

Source: Collider


Thursday, April 26, 2012

THE AVENGERS Roar, Opening To Record Numbers Overseas!

Avengers assemble is right! Wow. The Marvel superhero ensemble has stepped up and delivered in a big way in some smaller markets hinting at what is to come in the coming weeks worldwide.

THE AVENGERS held the highest and second highest opening numbers of all time in New Zealand and Australia respectively. Taiwan also had it's opening day record smashed by Cap and his team.


Projections for North America are illuminating a potential $150 million + opening! Personally I think it will be closer to an eye opening $200m. MovieTickets.com have said that pre-sales are out pacing IRON MAN, IRON MAN 2, CAPTAIN AMERICA and THOR... COMBINED. Yeah, it's that good folks.

THE AVENGERS open in North America on May 4.

Source: THR

MUST WATCH: Behind The Scenes Featurette For Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS!

Ah yes, I love these featurettes! Check out the camera rigs in this shot!! As you may know, 3ality Technica is the company behind the 3D camera rigs / services on PROMETHEUS and judging by the content that we've been getting and the awe inspiring 3D in the pre-rolls I've seen in theaters, Ridley Scott and his team of 3D experts have NAILED it.

As you further may know, I've held the movie as my most anticipated movie of 2012 for some time and that hasn't changed in spite of all the hoopla over THE AVENGERS.

Here's the storyline for PROMETHEUS:
Ridley Scott, director of “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

And if this date hasn't been branded on your mind yet, PROMETHEUS face hugs you on June 8.

Check out the featurette!



Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Legendary Filmmaker Martin Scorsese Accepts ‘RealD Innovation in 3D Award’ at CinemaCon

Academy Award® Winner ‘HUGO’ Honored for Pioneering Contributions to 3D

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (April 25, 2012) – RealD Inc. (NYSE: RLD), a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, awarded its third ‘RealD Innovation in 3D Award’ to five-time Academy Award winning film ‘HUGO’ during a luncheon at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, NV. Academy Award winning filmmaker and ‘HUGO’ director Martin Scorsese was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the film from RealD Chairman and CEO, Michael V. Lewis.

“’HUGO’ set a new bar for innovative use of 3D, representing a leap forward in 3D filmmaking by utilizing 3D techniques to draw audiences into the story in ways unobtainable in 2D,” said Lewis. “With his work on ‘HUGO,’ Mr. Scorsese has embraced 3D as a creative tool and demonstrated its true potential to bring a life-like and fully immersive world to the big screen.”

"I had a fascination with 3D that goes back to the View-Master. I'd always dreamed of making a film in 3D. It's like a combination of theatre and film.  There's something 3D gives to a movie that takes you to another land," said Martin Scorsese in his comments upon receiving the award. "Working with RealD creatively was a liberating experience. Thank you RealD for allowing us to make something like ‘HUGO.’"

The ‘RealD Innovation in 3D Award’ recognizes extraordinary contributions to digital 3D that embody the pioneering and creative spirit the technology brings to life in cinema and other applications.

Past award honorees have included James Cameron and Jon Landau for their work on the top-grossing worldwide feature film of all-time, ‘AVATAR,’ as well as Henry Selick, LAIKA and Focus Features for their work on the feature film ‘Coraline,’ the first stop-motion animated feature ever produced from inception in 3D.

‘HUGO,’ recipient of 11 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Director, and winner of 5 Oscars, is the astonishing adventure of a wily and resourceful boy whose quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father will transform Hugo and all those around him, and reveal a safe and loving place he can call home.  Directed by Martin Scorsese, ‘HUGO’ is based on Brian Selznick’s best-selling novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret and stars Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer with Jude Law. Independently produced by Graham King’s GK Films, ‘HUGO’ was distributed by Paramount Pictures.

About RealD Inc.
RealD is a leading global licensor of 3D technologies. RealD's extensive intellectual property portfolio is used in applications that enable a premium 3D viewing experience in the theater, the home and elsewhere. RealD licenses its RealD Cinema Systems to motion picture exhibitors that show 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content. RealD also provides its RealD Display, active and passive eyewear, and RealD Format technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers and content producers and distributors to enable the delivery and viewing of 3D content.  RealD's cutting-edge 3D technologies have been used for applications such as piloting the Mars Rover.

RealD was founded in 2003 and has offices in Beverly Hills, California; Boulder, Colorado; London, United Kingdom; Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit our website at www.reald.com.

Cautionary note on forward-looking statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements, including but not limited to: statements related to the utilization of 3D in the feature film ‘HUGO’.  These statements are based on RealD’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside RealD’s control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  RealD’s annual and quarterly reports include a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

RealD undertakes no obligation to update publicly the information contained in this press release, or any forward-looking statements, to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Congratulations Martin Scorsese!! You've earned it. HUGO was spectacular!!

Must See: New Image Of Gwen Stacy And Peter Parker Plus Two More From THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN!

Liking the shot of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) and Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) a lot and I think the casting is perfect for this movie. I'm expecting perfection so yes, I'm getting a bit nervous! SPIDER-MAN was it when I was a kid. There wasn't really anything else that interested me nearly as much. More when I get it!!

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN opens June 30.

Want A Free Poster For THE AVENGERS? Go To The Midnight IMAX Showing In These Cities...

YES!! I love these promotions and I will be first in line. :-) JOHN CARTER recently did this same type of marketing ploy and I think it's the way to go for for these mega-releases.

From IMAX: “Everyone who attends the IMAX 3D midnight show of Marvel’s The Avengers on May 4th (the evening of May 3rd) at participating locations will receive a limited edition IMAX print exclusive to the 12:01 show!” 

Check out the poster! Looks amazing. I'm going to have mine laminated for my office wall.

Guys, event movies like this only happen once in a blue moon. Get out there and get this poster! If you're going to go to see the movie anyway why not enjoy the added bonus?

Marvel's THE AVENGERS opens May 4 (the evening of May 3 at midnight for the poster!).

Here are the participating IMAX locations:

Alberta
Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre Chinook IMAX Theatre
Cineplex Scotiabank West Edmonton Mall IMAX Theatre
Empire Studio 16 Country Hills & IMAX

Alabama
Cobb Hollywood 16 Cinemas & IMAX
Rave Patton Creek 16 & IMAX
Rave Valley Bend 18 & IMAX

Alaska
Regal Goldstream 16 & IMAX
Regal Tikahtnu Commons Stadium 16 & IMAX

Arkansas
Dickinson Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre

Arizona
AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX
AMC Desert Ridge 18 & IMAX
AMC Loews Foothills 15 & IMAX
AMC Westgate 20 & IMAX
Dickinson Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre

British Columbia
Cineplex Colossus Langley IMAX Theatre
Cineplex SilverCity Riverport IMAX Theatre
SilverCity Victoria IMAX

California
AMC Bay Street 16 & IMAX
AMC Burbank 16 and IMAX   
AMC Century City 15 & IMAX
AMC Covina 30 & IMAX
AMC Cupertino Square 16 & IMAX
AMC Del Amo 18 & IMAX
AMC East Ridge Mall 15 & IMAX
AMC Mercado 20  & IMAX
AMC Mission Valley 20 & IMAX
AMC Norwalk 20 & IMAX 
AMC Orange 30 with IMAX
AMC Palm Promenade 24 & IMAX
AMC Plaza Bonita 14 & IMAX
AMC Promenade 16 & IMAX
AMC Puente Hills 20 & IMAX
AMC Santa Anita 16 & IMAX
AMC Tyler Galleria 16 & IMAX
Cinemark 22 & IMAX
Edwards Alhambra Renaissance 14 & IMAX
Edwards Aliso Viejo 20 & IMAX
Edwards Camarillo Palace Stadium 12 & IMAX
Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16 & IMAX
Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX
Edwards Long Beach 26 & IMAX
Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 & IMAX
Edwards South Gate Stadium 20 & IMAX
Edwards Temecula Stadium 15 & IMAX
Edwards Valencia 12 & IMAX
RAVE Brentwood 25 & IMAX
Regal Cinemas El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX
Regal City Centre Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Civic Center Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Escondido Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Hacienda Crossings Stadium 21 & IMAX
Regal Parkway Plaza Stadium 18 & IMAX

Colorado
AMC Arapahoe Crossing 16 & IMAX
AMC Highlands Ranch 24 & IMAX
AMC Orchard 12 & IMAX
AMC Westminster Promenade 24 & IMAX
Cinemark Carefree Circle IMAX Theatre
UA Colorado Center Stadium 9 & IMAX
UA Colorado Mills Stadium 16 & IMAX

Connecticut
AMC Loews Plainville 20 & IMAX
Rave Connecticut Post 14 & IMAX
Rave Motion Pictures Buckland Hills 18 & IMAX

Florida
AMC Altamonte Mall 24 & IMAX
AMC Aventura 24 & IMAX
AMC Regency 24 & IMAX
AMC Orange Park 24 & IMAX
AMC Sarasota 12 & IMAX
AMC Sunset Place 24 & IMAX
AMC Tallahassee Mall 20 & IMAX
AMC The Regency 20 & IMAX
AMC Universal Cineplex 20 & IMAX
AMC Veterans 24 & IMAX
AMC Woodlands Square 20 & IMAX
Cobb Dolphin Mall 19 & IMAX
Cobb Lakeside 18 & IMAX
Cobb Merritt Square 16 & IMAX
Grand Pier Park & IMAX
Muvico Baywalk 20 & IMAX
Parisian 20 & IMAX
Rave Bayou 15+IMAX
Rave Destin Commons 14 & IMAX
Regal Gulf Coast Town Center Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Sawgrass 23 & IMAX
Regal Waterford Lakes Stadium 20 & IMAX
World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theatre

Georgia
AMC Avenue Forsyth 12 & IMAX
AMC Barrett Commons 24 & IMAX
AMC Southlake Pavilion 24 & IMAX
AMC Stonecrest 16 & IMAX
AmStar 16 & IMAX
Regal Arbor Place Stadium 18 + IMAX
Regal Augusta Exchange Stadium 20 & IMAX
Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station 16 & IMAX
Regal Mall of Georgia Stadium 20 & IMAX

Hawaii
Regal Dole Cannery 18 & IMAX

Iowa
Rave Davenport 53 18 & IMAX

Idaho
Edwards Boise Stadium 22  & IMAX

Illinois
AMC Barrington 30 & IMAX
AMC Loews Country Club Hills 16
AMC Loews Quarry Cinemas 14 & IMAX
AMC Loews Streets Of Woodfield 20 & IMAX
AMC Showplace Edwardsville with IMAX
AMC Showplace Naperville 16 & IMAX
AMC Showplace New Lenox 14 & IMAX
AMC Showplace Rockford 16 & IMAX
AMC Showplace Village Crossing 18 & IMAX
AMC Yorktown 18 & IMAX
Cinemark Seven Bridges IMAX Theatre
Goodrich Randall 15 IMAX
Rave Grand Prairie 18 + IMAX
Regal Lincolnshire 20 & IMAX

Indiana
AMC Showplace Indianapolis 17 & IMAX
AMC Showplace Schererville 16 & IMAX
AMC Showplace Traders Point 12 & IMAX
Goodrich Hamilton 16 IMAX
Goodrich Portage 16 IMAX
Rave Motion Pictures Jefferson Pointe 18 & IMAX
Showplace Cinemas East 18 & IMAX

Kansas
AMC Studio 30 & IMAX
AMC Town Centre 20 & IMAX
Warren West IMAX

Kentucky
AMC Newport On The Levee 20 & IMAX
Rave Stonybrook 20 & IMAX

Louisiana
AMC Clearview Palace 12 with IMAX
AMC Elmwood Palace 20 & IMAX
The Grand 16 & IMAX
Rave Mall of Louisiana 15 + IMAX
Regal Louisiana Boardwalk 14 & IMAX

Massachusetts
AMC Boston Common 19 & IMAX
AMC Liberty Tree Mall 20 & IMAX
AMC Methuen 20 & IMAX
Showcase Cinemas Randolph 16 & IMAX

Maryland
AMC Columbia 14 & IMAX
AMC Loews Rio Cinemas 18 & IMAX
AMC Loews White Marsh 16 & IMAX
AMC Magic Johnson Capital Center 12 with IMAX
AMC Owings Mills 17 with IMAX
Regal Majestic Cinema  20 & IMAX
Regal Westview Stadium 16 & IMAX

Maine
Saco Cinemagic & IMAX

Michigan
AMC Forum 30 & IMAX
AMC Livonia 20 & IMAX
AMC Star Great Lakes 25 & IMAX
Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids North & IMAX
Celebration! Cinema IMAX Theatre
NCG Trillium Cinemas IMAX Theatre
Rave Ann Arbor 20 & IMAX

Minnesota
AMC Arbor Lakes 16 & IMAX
AMC Eden Prairie Mall 18 & IMAX
AMC Rosedale 14 & IMAX
AMC Southdale 16 & IMAX

Missouri
AMC BarryWoods 24 & IMAX
AMC Chesterfield 14 & IMAX
AMC Independence Commons 20 & IMAX
Regal St. Louis Mills Stadium 18 & IMAX
Ronnies 20 Cine & IMAX
Springfield 11 & IMAX

North Carolina
AMC Concord Mills 24 & IMAX
The Grand 18 & IMAX
Regal Crossroads Stadium 20 & IMAX
Regal Palladium Stadium 14 & IMAX
Regal Stonecrest At Piper Glen Stadium 22 & IMAX
Southpoint Cinemas & IMAX
Wells Fargo IMAX Theatre at Marbles

Nebraska
AMC Oakview 24 & IMAX

New Hampshire
Hooksett Cinemagic & IMAX

New Jersey
AMC Clifton Commons  16 & IMAX
AMC Garden State Plaza 16 & IMAX
AMC Hamilton 24 & IMAX
AMC Jersey Gardens 20 & IMAX
AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 & IMAX
AMC Loews New Brunswick 18 & IMAX
AMC Rockaway 16 & IMAX

Newfoundland
Empire Studio 12 Gateway Park & IMAX

Nova Scotia
Empire IMAX Theatre

Nevada
Brenden Theatres and IMAX at the Palms
Regal Aliante Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Red Rock Stadium 16 & IMAX 
Regal Sunset Station Stadium 13 & IMAX

New York
AMC Empire 25 & IMAX
AMC Kips Bay 15 & IMAX
AMC Loews 34th Street 14 & IMAX
AMC Loews Port Chester 14 & IMAX
AMC Stony Brook 17 & IMAX
Cinemark Tinseltown USA & IMAX
City Center: Cinema de Lux & IMAX
Regal Crossgates Mall Stadium 18 & IMAX
Regal Deer Park Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal New Roc City 18 & IMAX
Regal Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 & IMAX
Regal Transit Center 18 & IMAX
UA Westbury Stadium 12 & IMAX

Ohio
AMC Easton Town Center 30 & IMAX
AMC Lennox Town Center 24 & IMAX
Rave The Greene 14 & IMAX
Regal Crocker Park Stadium 16 & IMAX
Springdale 18: Cinema De Lux & IMAX

Oklahoma
AMC Quail Springs Mall 24 & IMAX
AMC Southroads 20 & IMAX
Cinemark IMAX Theatre at The Tulsa
Moore Warren IMAX

Ontario
AMC Courtney Park 16 & IMAX
AMC Kanata 24 & IMAX
AMC Whitby 24 & IMAX
AMC Yonge & Dundas 24 & IMAX
Cineplex Coliseum Mississauga IMAX Theatre
Colossus Woodbridge IMAX Theatre
Empire Theatres Kitchener
Empire Empress Walk 10 Cinemas & IMAX
SilverCity Ancaster Cinemas & IMAX
SilverCity Gloucester IMAX Theatre
SilverCity London IMAX
SilverCity Polo Park Cinemas & IMAX
SilverCity Windsor Cinemas & IMAX

Oregon
Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX
Regal Lloyd Center 10 Cinema & IMAX
Regal Old Mill Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Valley River Center 15 and IMAX

Pennsylvania
AMC Franklin Mills 14 & IMAX
AMC LoewsWaterfront 22 & IMAX
AMC Neshaminy 24 & IMAX
Cinemark Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills & IMAX
Great Escape IMAX 14
Penn Cinema & IMAX
Rave Motion Pictures Promenade 16 & IMAX
RC Reading Movies 11 + IMAX
Regal Warrington Crossing Stadium 22 & IMAX
UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX

Quebec
AMC Forum 22 & IMAX

Rhode Island
Providence Place Cinemas 16 & IMAX

South Carolina
Citadel Mall IMAX Stadium 16
Great Escape 14 & IMAX

Tennessee
Rave Motion Pictures East Ridge 18 & IMAX
Regal Opry Mills Stadium 20 & IMAX
Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 & IMAX
Regal Streets of Indian Lake Stadium 16

Texas
AMC Barton Creek Square 14 & IMAX
AMC Firewheel 18 & IMAX
AMC First Colony 24 & IMAX
AMC Gulf Pointe 30 & IMAX
AMC Mesquite 30 & IMAX
AMC Northpark 15 & IMAX
AMC Stonebriar Mall 24 & IMAX
AMC The Parks at Arlington 18 & IMAX
B&B Colleyville Cinema Grille & IMAX
Cinemark 17 & IMAX
Cinemark Century 16 & IMAX
Regal Amarillo Star 14
Regal Gateway Stadium 16 & IMAX
Silverado Station 18 IMAX
Santikos Silverado IMAX

Utah
ATK IMAX, Clark Planetarium
Megaplex 14 & IMAX at Legacy Crossing
Megaplex 17 & IMAX at Jordan Commons
Megaplex 20 at The District

Virginia
AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24 & IMAX
AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX
AMC Lynnhaven 18 & IMAX
AMC Potomac Mills 18 & IMAX
AMC Tyson Corner 16 & IMAX
Regal Commonwealth 20 & IMAX
Regal Fox Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Manassas 14 & IMAX
Riverside IMAX Theatre at the Virginia Air & Space Center

Washington
AMC Kent Station & IMAX
AMC Loews Alderwood Mall 16 & IMAX
AMC River Park Square 20 & IMAX
AMC Southcenter 16 & IMAX
Lincoln Square Cinemas IMAX Theatre
Pacific Science Center PACCAR IMAX
Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 & IMAX
Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 & IMAX

Washington DC
AMC Loews Georgetown 14 & IMAX


WHEW!! :-)
 

Universal Moves 47 RONIN To February 8, 2013

I actually like this move other than the fact we will have to wait a few more months to see it. Universal has decided to move 47 RONIN from November 11 of this year to February 8, 2013 and have not given a reason for the decision (standard practice).

The move frees the film from having to go up against two other anticipated, tentpole 3D movies - THE HOBBIT and GRAVITY. Good idea. In February 47 RONIN only has to deal with another 2D iteration of the DIE HARD franchise.


It also clears the way to add or improve on the visual effects of the movie in post production which seems like a good idea when you have so many good things going for it (story, casting, score, costume design).

Here is how Keanu Reeves has described the movie:
It’s in 3D. It’s kind of a western. I call it a story of revenge and impossible love. The samurai become ronin, outcast, and decide to enact revenge on the person who is responsible for the death of their lord. And I play an outsider, a kind of half-breed with a mysterious past named Kai, who’s in love with the princess and she’s in love with me, but we can’t be together. But during this journey and revenge, things change.

For all our our coverage of 47 RONIN, click here.

Date Change Via BoxOfficeMojo

MUST SEE: First Look At Ang Lee's LIFE OF PI

Check out our first look at Ang Lee's LIFE OF PI!! Love this image as this really is the meat and potatoes of the story: A small boat, a boy and a tiger. :-)

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Pi Patel is an unusual boy. The son of a zookeeper, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior, a fervent love of stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them “the truth.” After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional-but is it more true? 


The original book was written by Yann Martel in 2001 and many directors took a close look at it as a project for them, finally winding up in the capable hands of Ang Lee.

Suraj Sharma won the coveted role of Pi from a field of 3000+ hopeful young actors. He joins a cast including Tobey Maguire, Gerard Depardieu, Irrfan Khan and Adil Hussain.

LIFE OF PI is slated for release on December 14. Really looking forward to this one - the effects will definitely be Oscar fodder at the very least!!

Source: CriterionCast

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Sneak Peak Of THE HOBBIT Shown At CinemaCon: Christie And REALD Debut Brightest Commercially Available 3D Dual Projection System

YES!!! So excited about this technology! 48 frames per second looks AMAZING - so realistic. I saw both 48 fps and 60 fps at James Cameron's demonstration last year and it was spectacular. I can only imagine how well THE HOBBIT looked! Wish I was there right now. More when I get it!!

Here is what I think are the two most lucid reactions to the screening:
"The fact is that 48 fps 3D is the most startlingly “real” 3D I’ve ever seen in my life. The downside for older types is that it’s too real. [...] In a word, 48 fps 3D looks like high-def video. It doesn’t look “cinematic”, lacking that filtered or gauzy look we’re all accustomed to." -Jeff Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere.

"It’s literally like being on the set next to the actors as they’re performing. [...] Once audiences get to see The Hobbit screened at the 48 frames per second rate when it’s released in theaters on December 14, 2012, I can guarantee moviegoers are going to demand all films be presented at 48 fps." - Rebecca Murray, About.com

While it is true that the image is spectacularly real, many just "want" that hazy feel of 24 frames per second. Trust me when I say that 48 and 60 fps looks just like you're looking out a window into another world and with 3D you are actually drawn into it.

Expect many to voice displeasure over the higher frame rates because, well, many hate change. Take 3D for example, that changeover is still occurring. Thankfully as the poll today suggests, 3D is over the hump of public opinion. So to will higher frame rates. For me though? 48 and 60 fps is astonishing!!

Here is a retelling of what was seen in the clip **SPOILER ALERT**:

There was a lot of the helicopter shots you expect in a Lord of the Rings movie. Lots of shots of the dwarves trudging over mountains (again, this stuff looked spectacular). There was some of the business we saw in the trailer, with the introduction of the company of dwarves. There were also some quick shots - the company floating down a river in barrels, Gandalf running through a dungeon, being jumped on by a wild man of some sort, Legolas sliding in front of spider-webbed dwarves and knocking an arrow, warning he would kill them. There were also a handful of longer scenes that we saw. We saw Bilbo's meeting with the three trolls. One positive aspect of the 48fps is that since everything looks so video, the digital creatures look more like they're on the set. The tone of the scene is very playfully threatening, with the trolls having dim reactions. The scene ends with the dwarves coming to Bilbo's rescue in a big battle against the trolls. We also saw Gandalf investigating the rising darkness. In one scene he is at a table with Elrond, Galadriel and Saruman, talking about ancient tombs that have been opened - ancient tombs with such strong binding spells no one should have been able to get in. Then there's a scene of Gandalf investigating the open tomb, where he runs into a very silly Radagast the Brown, who has some birds under his hat (we also saw a shot of his sled being pulled by bunnies). It turns out the opened tombs belong the nine Ring Wraiths. The biggest scene was Bilbo meeting Gollum. Despite being told what we were seeing were unfinished effects, Gollum looked great (and again, the 48fps gave him more of a sense of being actually there). The scene was cut a little slackly; I imagine the final version will be tighter. But it was good.  

Scenes from Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Hobbit” Brought to Life in 48 Frames per Second on Massive Silver Screen

CINEMACON/LAS VEGAS – (April 24, 2012) – Christie Duo™ combined with the new RealD XL-DP Cinema System today to project Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Sneak Peek” of The Hobbit in 3D, presented at High Frame Rates (HFR) of 48 frames per second, achieving an unprecedented combination of uniformity and brightness.  Christie®, a global visual technology company, and RealD, a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, powered today’s major studio presentation in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

In the setup for this presentation, projection engineers calibrated the system using brightness measurements taken towards the edges of the screen, rather than at the center. The abundance of light available allowed the center brightness to be reduced considerably and still provided luminance measurements in excess of six foot lamberts (ft-L) across the better part of this massive 70-foot-wide screen. By combining the Christie Duo and the RealD XL-DP 3D Cinema System, exhibitors can actually achieve double the light output over the previous leading large format solutions, and at a significant overall value during regular, commercial movie showings.

“With the new RealD XL-DP Cinema System, there is a technical solution for achieving 3D brightness at 2D light levels on some of the largest movie theater screens in the world,” says Rod Archer, vice-president of Cinema Products, RealD. “RealD technology delivers twice the light of other 3D providers, allowing premium large format screens to demonstrate the true potential of digital 3D cinema with a lifelike and immersive 3D presentation without compromising brightness.”

Says Don Shaw, senior director, Christie’s Entertainment Solutions product management group: “Although it may seem too good to be true, the incredible experience delivered today by RealD and Christie was achieved on a silver screen, using Christie’s Pureformity Color™ Technology to  ‘control’ the center brightness, allowing us to obtain the most uniform image possible across this large screen. Standard Christie Solaria® projectors, the Christie Duo integration kit and the RealD XL-DP Cinema System combined to achieve this industry first, which will present a compelling alternative to the more costly, but half as bright, offering from the current large-format market leader.”

The RealD XL-DP Cinema System is a pair of matched left and right eye polarizing filters featuring the patented XL light recovery technology.  This Cinema System is designed for use on dual DLP projector installations on large screens, usually over 65 feet in width (20 meters).  Early users of this combination of the XL-DP Cinema System and dual DLP projectors report 3D presentation brightness at 2D light levels on screens as large as 92 feet (28 meters).

Christie Duo and Christie Pureformity Color™ Technology Immerse Audiences in the Movies
Introduced in February, the Christie Duo is a new dual–projector integration kit intended to give exhibitors the ability to create and deliver their own, branded premium theater experience.  The Christie Duo™ integration kit can be used with either 2K or 4K Christie Solaria® Series digital cinema projectors, purchased with new projectors or purchased as a standalone integration kit for Christie customers who already have Christie projectors. Christie Solaria® Series digital cinema projectors are the world’s best-selling, DCI-compliant digital cinema projectors, with close to 30,000 shipped and installed to date.

The integration kit features the choice of two configurations: a compact and convenient stacking system for 3D installations, or a new, innovative physical configuration that perfectly aligns every pixel on the screen for optimal 2D and 3D presentations. Coupled with automated features that easily calibrate, align and optimize the images from both Christie Solaria® Series 2K or 4K digital cinema projectors, Christie Duo delivers a completely seamless, premium movie experience for the world’s largest screens.

Pureformity Color™ Technology – a contraction of the words Pure and Uniformity – aptly describes Christie’s innovative ability to achieve optimal image color and brightness uniformity. While every Christie projector is built to exact DCI standards, every projection system has inherent color and brightness uniformity variations across the screen, especially towards the left and right hand edges. These effects can sometimes be exacerbated by certain screen materials and auditorium lighting conditions. Christie’s Pureformity Color™ Technology provides an unprecedented level of field optimization for these issues so that image quality perfection can easily be achieved across the whole screen.
About Christie®
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual technologies company and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan, (JP:6925). Consistently setting the standards by being the first to market some of the world’s most advanced projectors and complete system displays, Christie is recognized as one of the most innovative visual technology companies in the world. From retail displays to Hollywood, mission critical command centers to classrooms and training simulators, Christie display solutions and projectors capture the attention of audiences around the world with dynamic and stunning images. Visit www.christiedigital.com.

Christie’s Commitment to HFR
The two main goals of Christie’s HFR activities are to help the industry develop the best HFR content and the best delivery system for HFR content. The first goal involves assisting leading-edge filmmakers and post-production companies in perfecting HFR movie creation, so the industry has the most engaging, entertaining content possible. The second goal is to assist exhibitors in showing these 3D HFR movies in all their glory. To these ends, Christie is helping create the standards for 3D HFR movies through formal and informal technology-development alliances with major producers and directors, post production facilities, studios and technology partners. On the exhibitor’s front, Christie provides one stop shopping for all the hardware, software and services that enable exhibitors to deliver a filmmaker's vision in stunning 3D HFR quality. For more information visit http://www.higherframerates.com.

Christie® is a registered trademark of Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
Christie Solaria® Series is a registered trademark of Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
DLP and DLP Cinema® are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments.
RealD is a registered trademark of RealD Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Clip Description From BadAssDigest (CBM had been previously credited in error)

Roger Corman Enters The 3D Realm With ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT CHEERLEADER!

Haha! Well it was bound to happen and I'm glad it has! B movie god Roger Corman (Hey - James Cameron used to work under him!) is setting up to the 3D plate and will release ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT CHEERLEADER in three dimensions!

From Variety: "Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader" marks Corman's first foray into 3D. Pic will be helmed by vfx artist Kevin O'Neill and will star Jena Sims, Sean Young and Treat Williams. Movie will premiere in August.

Sean Young! Where has she been!?

The movie is part of the upcoming slate of EPIX, which is a joint venture between Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate. Looking forward to seeing this! Thanks for the headsup Doc...

POLL: 71 Percent Agree That 3D Is Better Than 2D And 31 Percent Say It's "INCREDIBLE"!

Jim Chabin, President, International 3D Society
American moviegoers continue to find 3D movies exciting, according to a study released today by the International 3D Society. 

In a poll conducted by the organization, 52% of those surveyed had seen at least one 3D movie in the last three years. Asked to describe their experience, 71% said that their 3D experience surpassed watching conventional 2D movies, 31% reporting that their 3D experience was “incredible.”

“Moviegoers continue to enjoy quality 3D movies,” said Society President Jim Chabin. “Consumers are savvy in selecting what movies to watch in 3D, but according to our results, they feel it is clearly a more fun, more exciting, and a more valuable experience.” 

The poll was conducted for the Society by Opinion Research Corporation and Seidmon Associates from interviews of 1,011 Americans ages 18+ between April 5th - 8th, 2012.

Upcoming 3D movies announced for 2012 include: ‘Men in Black 3,’ ‘The Amazing Spiderman,’ ‘Prometheus,’ ‘Katy Perry: Part of Me,’ ‘Finding Nemo,’ and ‘The Great Gatsby.’

About the International 3D Society: The International 3D Society was founded to advance the art and technologies of stereoscopic 3D content and its professional innovators through education, hands on demonstration and recognition. For more information please visit: www.International3DSociety.com.

International 3D Society sponsors include Signature Sponsors: Panasonic and Korea Telecom, as well as Founding Sponsors: 3ality Technica, Dolby, DreamWorks Animation (DWA), IMAX, MasterImage 3D, PIXAR, RealD, Inc., Sony Corporation of America, Vizio, The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and XPAND 3D.

Not all that surprising to me of course! 3D has been growing in influence year after year - all you have to do is look at the top movies this year and see that most of them are in three dimensions. Onward and upward!!

Must Watch: New Trailer And Movie Clip For Pixar's BRAVE

I like what I am seeing now from the marketing folks at Pixar for their latest 3d animation BRAVE. They also played their "from the makers of..." card by dropping the logos of TOY STORY, WALL-E and UP. I guess I would too if I were them, but they don't do that very often do they? Has me thinking why they did that. Hope it's a good thing!

Anyway, here is the storyline for the movie:
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Check out the trailer and clip below...




I get the feeling those red headed triplets are going to be a handful for their family! BRAVE opens June 22. More when I get it...

via Collider

Watch: New Trailer For HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

Check out the new trailer for Genndy Tartakovsky's HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA starring the voices of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Kevin James, Molly Shannon, Cee Lo green and Andy Samberg.

Clearly there is sufficient comedic talent lined up for the voice cast, but how's the story? Time will tell. 

Here's the synopsis:
Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s (Adam Sandler) lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.




Here's hoping this is good time! It has the possibilities in place so let's see if it delivers. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA opens on September 28.

Monday, April 23, 2012

RealD Surpasses 20,000 3D-Equipped Screens Milestone!!

Approximately 725 Million Moviegoers Worldwide Have Experienced RealD 3D

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 23, 2012) – RealD Inc. (NYSE: RLD), a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, announced today that the company has surpassed 20,000 RealD 3D-equipped screens at motion picture theatres worldwide. The industry’s most widely used 3D cinema technology, as of the quarter ended March 23, 2012, RealD 3D was available on approximately 20,200 screens at approximately 5,100 locations globally including 11,700 screens in approximately 2,600 domestic locations and approximately 8,500 screens in approximately 2,500 international locations. This represents a 35% increase in the company’s installed base in the last 12 months and a 3% increase during the quarter ended March 23, 2012. To date, approximately 725 million moviegoers around the world have experienced a feature film in RealD 3D.

“This milestone is a testament to studios, filmmakers and theatre circuits around the world who have embraced RealD’s premium 3D experience,” said Michael V. Lewis, Chairman and CEO of RealD. “We look forward to continuing to expand our global installed base with a growing focus on international territories, including Russia and China.”

To date, more than 90 major motion pictures have been shown in RealD 3D, which is deployed by approximately 900 motion picture exhibitors in 68 countries around the world. Of the 11 films to ever gross more than $1 billion in global box office, eight films to achieve the milestone have been released in RealD 3D.

Capable of delivering twice the light of competing 3D technologies, RealD 3D can be shown on screens up to 82 feet (25 meters) wide with a single digital cinema projector. “Our technology advantage over other 3D providers enables exhibitors to deliver a brighter and more lifelike image at their premium large format theatres,” said Joseph Peixoto, President, Worldwide Cinemas for RealD. RealD 3D can be found in approximately 200 premium large format auditoriums, including big screen theatres from major exhibitors such as AMC (ETX), Carmike Cinemas (BigD), Cinemark (XD), Cineplex (Ultra AVX), Marcus Theatres (UltraScreen), Regal (RPX) and more.

About RealD Inc.
RealD is a leading global licensor of 3D technologies. RealD's extensive intellectual property portfolio is used in applications that enable a premium 3D viewing experience in the theatre, the home and elsewhere. RealD licenses its RealD Cinema Systems to motion picture exhibitors that show 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content. RealD also provides its RealD Display, active and passive eyewear, and RealD Format technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers and content producers and distributors to enable the delivery and viewing of 3D content. RealD's cutting-edge 3D technologies have been used for applications such as piloting the Mars Rover.

RealD was founded in 2003 and has offices in Beverly Hills, California; Boulder, Colorado; London, United Kingdom; Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit www.RealD.com, www.facebook.com/RealD3D or www.twitter.com/RealD3D.

CONGRATULATIONS REALD! Continued success around the world!!

RealD is a sponsor of MarketSaw

Check Out This Year's 3D CinemaCon Posters!!

Well it's a shame I won't be able to attend CinemaCon this year (first time that's happened in a LONG time - it used to be called ShoWest) and quick frankly it's my favorite convention. It's kind of like a Comic Con for theater owners and it's not open to the public. The previews are amazing (as the owners need to see what's coming down the pipe) and this year is no exception - Warner Bros is showing about 10 minutes of THE HOBBIT in 3D and at 48 frames per second!

So yeah, you can see why I'm disappointed.

Here are some poster shots that I would have normally taken myself if I was there but this time they are courtesy of Steve over at Collider. Have a look!

I'm really amped about 47 RONIN. It's a top flight team making this thing so definitely looking for more info when it becomes available.

Further, the team at 3ality Technica are looking after the 3D for PROMETHEUS, THE HOBBIT, STEP UP REVOLUTION and THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN so look for some very cool visuals in these top native 3D productions this year!

I will be keeping you up to speed with all the 3D happenings at CinemaCon 2012 - stay tuned for more!

Couple of New Photos From The UK And Rome Premieres For THE AVENGERS

Here are a couple of quick photos from the premieres of THE AVENGERS in the UK and Rome.

Gotta love the Hulk's hands lifting up their stage platform!

Source: Disney

New Clip And Featurette From Marvel's THE AVENGERS Featuring Bruce Banner And Black Widow!

I love these clips because many of them are short enough to not give away too much but you certainly get a sense for what the characters will be feeling in them. In this case, we have Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Bruce Banner (with a 'touch' of Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo) in a heated conversation.

Here's the movie's official storyline:
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.

Here's the movie clip:



And here's the Black Widow featurette (autoplays unfortunately):




Via Collider

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Guy Pearce Is Trying On Some New Genes With IRON MAN 3!

Ah yes, the overdue rising star named Guy Pearce! You have to love his short viral marketing piece he did as Peter Weyland for Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS and if you haven't seen LOCKOUT yet, do it - I had fun.

Pearce is definitely making a solid move into A-list territory and to me he has always been one of my favorite actors since I saw him in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO.

Now comes word that he is in final talks to star in IRON MAN 3 as the geneticist Aldrich Killian who will supposedly co-create "Extremis" nanotechnology. He may or may not then turn around and sell it to terrorists. Not good. A virus is supposed to be spread via this nanotech.

Ben Kingsley may be joining the cast too and there has been some conjecture about what role he might play. One of the terrorists perhaps? Or the other co-creator (if they decide to make this role a male instead the female Maya Hansen)?

Marvel again seems to be lining up a top flight sequel here. Shane Black is a great choice as director, the casting is bang-on thus far and the story seems quite interesting - apparently it will not only bring in the aforementioned nanotech but will also be very Tony Stark centric, highlighting his intellectual prowess. Love it.

Looks like production starts in May with a slated May 3, 2013 release. Nice job so far Marvel!


Source: Variety

Friday, April 20, 2012

3ality Technica To Help Broadcast The Summer London Olympics!

Cool news regarding 3D and the summer London Olympics! 3ality Technica will be there in force to help the Olympic Broadcasting Services deliver the exciting content providing their equipment and expertise. The confidence meter for an enjoyable broadcast from the historical gathering just went up significantly!

"We volunteered our expertise to OBS and said we will do whatever it takes to help you because this event has to be well done," said Steve Schklair, CEO, 3Ality Technica. "It will hurt the 3D industry if it is not."

"The 3D Olympics needs to be more than technically perfect," he added. "If the 3D feed of the Opening Ceremony, for example, is not more compelling than the 2D feed then people will switch back to the 2D. Our concern is about generating compelling content."

From 3DFocus:

There will be a 3D operations centre in the IBC (International Broadcast Centre) to receive and distribute signals and to produce a dedicated 3D channel broadcasting 16 hours a day for the Games’ duration and a daily highlights programme as part of the 3D channel transmission. More than 230 hours of 3D will be produced in total.

The intention is that 75-80% of the coverage will come from native 3D cameras and 25-20% from 2D converted cameras.

Live coverage is currently planned for the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, gymnastics and synchronised diving with possible additional live coverage from canoeing and aquatics (swimming, synchronised swimming, diving and water polo).

The ENG crews, armed with Panasonic AG-3DP1 twin-lens camcorder s, will provide feeds for the highlights package for sports including basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, equestrian, judo, cycling and wrestling.
The 3D feed will be offered by the BBC, CCTV (China), Sky Italia, Australia’s Channel Nine, France TV and NBC.

There are now just 100 days to go before the London Olympics games commence. It was also confirmed today that Virgin Media will be carrying Eurosport 3D - a dedicated channel which will broadcast eight hours of live footage and four hours of highlights from the games, starting July 27tth.

Steve is bang on. The Olympics is such a monumental period of time in broadcasting that any hiccup in the 3D presentation would reflect badly from the sheer number of people around the globe watching it. Thanks for stepping up 3ality Technica!


Source: 3DFocus.co.uk

Embargo Is Lifted: THE AVENGERS Reviews Start Pouring In! Kevin Feige Updates On Recent Call Back For The Movie...

Well it's time. Marvel has lifted the embargo and is allowing media to voice their thoughts about THE AVENGERS and thus far (and to no one's surprise after twitter reactions already) the movie is a critical hit. Rotten Tomatoes has the movie pegged at a 98% fresh rating and holding.

Here are some quotes from various media outlets about THE AVENGERS:

Todd McCarthy, THR - "As creatively variable and predictably formulaic as the Marvel films have been, this one will not only make the core geek audience feel like it’s died and gone to Asgard but has so much going for it that many non-fans will be disarmed and charmed. This is effects-driven, mass appeal summer fare par excellence, that sought-after rare bird that hits all the quadrants, as marketing mavens like to say."

Justin Chang, Variety - "As written and directed by the ever genre-savvy Whedon, it’s a clean-burning, six-cylinder entertainment that exudes discipline in every particular, from the script’s balance of sincerity and self-effacing humor to the well-integrated visual effects to the keen sense of proportion that governs the ensemble. Whenever the possibility of boredom or excess rears its head, Whedon finds an elegant solution."

Oliver Lyttleton, The Playlist - "It’s not just the best Marvel movie to date (although it is that), and it’s not just in the very top tier of superhero movies (although it is), but it’s one of the most all-around satisfying summer blockbusters since God-knows-when."

Eric Eisenberg, Cinemablend - "As a lifelong comic book fan, I walked into The Avengers with the highest hopes and deepest fears. A little over two hours later, as the credits began to roll, I turned to the friend sitting next to me, smiled and exclaimed, “They actually did it!” What Whedon and Marvel have created here is not just extraordinary, but one of the most entertaining and satisfying comic book movies yet."

Eric Goldman, IGN - "Iron Man and Captain America probably get the most screen time (or at least the most focus). And while Whedon and the funny and clever Tony Stark seem made for each other, I was very impressed how he handled Captain America, who is a far more straightforward and unwaveringly noble fellow than Whedon – who prefers his characters to be a bit more ambiguous and flawed — is known for, but one he handles very well, as Cap takes on the leadership role he was destined for."

James White, Empire Magazine - "A joyous blend of heroism and humour that raises the stakes even as it maintains a firm grip on what makes the individual heroes tick."

**AND**

Producer Kevin Feige updates (via Blogomatic 3000) on just what Joss Whedon and the A-list talent were shooting the night of the premiere in Los Angeles:

"I will tell you this: It was not a scene. It was not a scene. There’s little things. It’s been blown out of proportion. Which is fun, I like that things are blown out of proportion. Sometimes they’re true sometimes they’re not. There is the potential that there will be one little change. People might not even notice it. It’s not a big thing."

So anyone's guess as to what was actually shot that day. A set up for IRON MAN 3? CAPTAIN AMERICA 2? THE AVENGERS 2? THOR 2? Actually it's a great marketing angle for free publicity and if that's the case - bravo Marvel.

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