The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

When last we left Peter Jackson's three-part cinematic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Smaug was swooping down upon the burgh of Laketown with desolation on his dragony mind. 

Smaug the mighty. Smaug the fire-bringer. Smaug the invincible. 

Or so he thinks. 

As the winged wyrm torches the tinderbox town, the man known as Bard nocks arrows to fell him. Smaug mocks. Smaug laughs. And Smaug dies. Bard's last projectile pierces the lone point of vulnerability in the dragon's otherwise impenetrable hide, slaying the hated and hateful beast. 

It should be a time of celebration. Of emancipation. But devastation is all that remains in the wake of the firedrake's conflagration. So the now-homeless denizens of Laketown turn their eyes toward their only nearby refuge: the crumbling walls of Dale near the gates of Erebor, the fabled mountain redoubt of the dwarves lately devoid of the scaly interloper that had slumbered there for six decades. 

The fallout of Smaug's downfall is not lost on the band of dwarves who plotted his eviction. Led by Thorin, they watch Laketown smolder from Erebor's heights. With Bilbo's burglaring help, they'd achieved their quest against long odds, vanquishing the dragon and reclaiming their ancestral fortress. 

It should be a time of celebration. Of emancipation. But more devastation awaits. 

That's because Erebor is home to the most fabulous treasure in Middle-earth … treasure all the races believe they're entitled to. The dwarves. The elves. The bedraggled refugees of Laketown, whom Thorin had promised recompense if they helped. 

But that was before Thorin saw it. 

All. That. Gold. In all of its blazing, beautiful, corrupting, corroding luster. Having seized Erebor's inestimable fortune, and having been seized by its seductive allure, Thorin has no intention of sharing any of it. 

"By my life," he vows, echoing Smaug's own declaration before he perished, "I will not part with a single coin, not one piece of it." 

Even if it means hardening his heart to the downtrodden survivors of Laketown. Even if it means going to war with an elven army led by their king, Thranduil. Even if it means spurning the friendship and counsel of Gandalf, Bilbo and all the other members of his company. Even if it means abandoning an army of dwarves (led by Thorin's cousin Dáin) that arrives at Erebor hours after Thranduil's bow-bearing elven battalion does.

"Will you have peace or war?" Bard asks Thorin on the threshold of a cataclysmic conflict. 

"I will have war," the dwarven leader spits. 

And that's when the orcs and the goblins and the wargs and the trolls and all manner of other misbegotten adversaries join the fray. Led by Thorin's lifelong nemesis, Azog, these creatures have still another claim in mind: the would-be dwarf king's head.

GENRE

Drama, Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, War

CAST

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins; Ian McKellen as Gandalf; Richard Armitage as Thorin; Ken Stott as Balin; Graham McTavish as Dwalin; William Kircher as Bifur; James Nesbitt as Bofur; Stephen Hunter as Bombur; Dean O'Gorman as Fili; Aidan Turner as Kili; John Callen as Oin; Peter Hambleton as Gloin; Jed Brophy as Nori; Mark Hadlow as Dori; Adam Brown Ori; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel; Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Sylvester McCoy as Radagast; Lee Pace as Thranduil; Luke Evans as Bard; Manu Bennett as Azog; Lawrence Makoare as Bolg; Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn; Benedict Cumberbatch as the voices of Smaug and Necromancer

DIRECTOR

Peter Jackson (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Lovely Bones, King Kong, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)

DISTRIBUTOR

Warner Bros.

IN THEATERS

December 17, 2014

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Wild

Only a hundred or so more days to go.

After day one of her hike up the Pacific Coast Trail—a winding path that stretches from the Mexican border all the way up the West Coast of the U.S. to the outskirts of Canada—Cheryl Strayed is seriously questioning her willpower. And her sanity. 

But it was kind of a mental meltdown that got her here in the first place.

Her life has become a mess. She knows it, and everyone around her knows it. Before she set her feet down on this rough-cut trail, she had been on a self-destructive path of drug addiction and sex with strangers. It was a trek that had destroyed her marriage and sucked away her health. Maybe walking a thousand miles will set things straight.

If nothing else, this journey might give her a chance to think, to dissect the mistakes she's made, to salve the things that hurt the most. Maybe this exhausting slog filled with aching muscles, scraped knees and bloody feet will allow her to finally dig up all the stuff she's had buried down deep.

So she shrugs into her huge and agonizingly heavy pack once again. She takes the next step. She conquers the next mile. She embraces the next hour alone with her thoughts. 

With only a hundred or so more days to go.

GENRE

Drama

CAST

Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed; Laura Dern as Mom/Bobbi; Thomas Sadoski as Paul; Keene McRae as Leif

DIRECTOR

Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club, The Young Victoria)

DISTRIBUTOR

Fox Searchlight

IN THEATERS

December 3, 2014

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Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

It's been quite an adventure for Larry Daley. Who woulda thought he could've risen from being a frowned-upon night watchman at New York's famous American Museum of Natural History to almost being in charge of the place? Or at least he's in charge of the museum's amazing animatronics display that everybody's raving about.

Of course, the truth of it is that there's no animatronics involved in his presentations at all. No wires, strings or well-devised 3-D images either. It's all brought about by the golden Tablet of Akmenrah—a long-ago unearthed magical artifact from Egypt that can somehow bring statues, figurines and T. rex bones to life every night with its mysterious powers.

But now the supernatural tablet is beginning to corrode for some reason. And Larry's in a panic about what to do. With each new inch of gold-gobbling rust, his cast of moving and talking historical characters and big bony buds seems to be losing its collective life force.

Time to go back to the beginning. Not his faltering start at the museum two movies ago, but actually the start of the tablet itself. He's going to have to find out more about the archeological dig that first uncovered it. And that will likely entail taking it to the British Museum of Natural History, home of Akmenrah's mummified parents, Merenkahre and Sheoseheret. If he can magically bringthem to life—along with every other artifact and fossil in that vast building—maybe he can get some good answers to his bad problem.

GENRE

Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Kids

CAST

Ben Stiller as Larry Daley; Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt; Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot; Rebel Wilson as Tilly; Ben Kingsley as Merenkahre

DIRECTOR

Shawn Levy (This Is Where I Leave You, The Internship, Real Steel, Date Night, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Night at the Museum, The Pink Panther, Cheaper by the Dozen)

DISTRIBUTOR

20th Century Fox

IN THEATERS

December 19, 2014

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Into the Woods

Film: Into the Woods

Starring: Emily Blunt (Looper), Meryl Streep (August: Osage County) and Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect)

Director: Rob Marshall (Chicago)

U.S. Release: December 25th, 2014 (Rated PG)

Genre: Musical

Runtime: 125 minutes


As the calendar year turns to 2015 and movie theaters become mobbed by people of all ages enjoying the freedom of the holiday season, I nestled comfortably into my seat to catch the latest Oscar-buzzed musical, Into the Woods. With many worthwhile films entangled in the crowded Best Picture race, I wanted to see for myself if Rob Marshall's adapted twist on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales is a justifiable inclusion. Marshall certainly has a bit of history on his side as the director of the 2003 Best Picture winning musical, Chicago, which tallied an astounding 6 wins and 13 nominations all together. Yet, even though Into the Woods may slip into the final pack for the year's most prestigious award, I wouldn't expect a similar result as 2003.

A baker and his wife (played by James Corden and Emily Blunt) are visited by their witch of a neighbor (Meryl Streep) and tasked with collecting specific items from the famous Brothers Grimm fairy tales we all know and love: Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Rapunzel. If they can collect the items in 3 days time, then the witch will reverse her curse of infertility on the baker's wife. So the husband and wife set out deep into the unpredictable woods in hopes of obtaining the items and beginning a family together.

While I definitely understand the appeal, meaning Into the Woods combines a Tony-winning soundtrack with familiar childhood stories in a modern and genre-bending new light, I will never understand or defend the feature's punishing third act. As someone who admittedly has no knowledge of the original Broadway musical, the film's final portion does nothing but tear down an otherwise sturdy foundation built by a solid first two acts. Into the Woods does an exceptional job of developing and and interconnecting these legendary tales into a fresh new story, but everything after Cinderella's marriage to the prince is an absolute abomination. The story becomes completely outstretched, the songs weaken in quality and everything falls into disarray. Perhaps the award winning musical offers a similar regressed finale, but it clearly doesn't work in the film's favor. Therefore, Into the Woods culminates as a mediocre musical adaptation at best.

Despite the feature's regrettably sub-par third act, I must admit that the first hour and a half is actually a delight. Dwelling on Meryl Streep's nearly annual inclusion at the Academy Awards ceremony always makes for good fodder, but it shouldn't be overstated that the queen of Hollywood usually warrants the attention she's given, and her performance here is no exception. Alongside Streep, castmates Emily Blunt and Anna Kendrick happen to shine the brightest. This female-heavy showcase is filled with powerful vocal contributions from everyone involved. But even though Into the Woods delivers good tunes and stunning visuals, the sum of these parts isn't nearly enough to undo the film's harshly tarnished conclusion.

Although Disney has a history of catering to families, this drawn out and over two hour affair is probably too much for younger children to sit through. Furthermore, in a surprising turn of events, Into the Woods stays true to the dark nature evident in the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The film doesn't harp on these violent and predatory undertones, but it also doesn't ignore them in prototypical Disney fashion. Into the Woods is a middle of the pack musical that may find favor with Oscar voters, but it won't top many of the sprouting year's-best lists either.


Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+

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The Taking of Pelham 123 : movie review

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Is a New thriller starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta directed by Tony Scott shot in the subways of New York City. The story starts as a man who calls himself "Ryder," (John Travolta) leads a band of thugs as they highjack a subway train and MTA dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) who is Reluctantly forced to be the Lead negotiator.

movie review The Taking of Pelham 123

This Film is a remake of a 1974 movie of the same name and reworked to meet a new audience. With modern dialog and cell phones, laptop computers and of course the fact that 911 effects the city still, this film was a really fast pace based roughly on the old plot. There are some wild scenes in this movie of New York City as the Mayor, (James Gandolfini) agrees to pay a $10 million ransom and they try to get the money across the city to the subway station. If nothing else is worth the price of admission to see James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano as mayor of New York it’s so cool. Denzel Washington and John Travolta work wel together and their voices are what id cool to have to big name actors in a dialog driven story about two characters that interact over a radio on the subway car. This film was made for a younger audience and I think that those are ones that do go to the movies regularly.

I think my fellow Critics just didn’t get that part of the puzzle, that this film was made with the 17-27ish age group in mind, so it’s fast cuts and rough, realistic dialog. What would a career family man with a Wife and kids and an ex-con straight out of prison talk like, what would the banter be? I think the writers nailed it dead on and the two main actors and Gandolfini included deliver the lines flawlessly. Also, the fact that this film has scenes filmed on the streets of New York to would in my opinion must have been a logistical nightmare and an undertaking that is in itself a commendable feat. This film also has some great editing and that’s often overlooked, editor Chris Lebenzon stitches together a compelling series of images that suck you in, and work well with the Music by Harry Gregson-Williams. This is a good film, not a great film and it overcomes a story that is antiquated, and turns it into a new and improved version that is engaging to watch.

Directed by Tony Scott
Produced by Tony Scott, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch
Written by Screenplay: Brian Helgeland, David Koepp (uncredited),
Novel: Morton Freedgood
Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Luis Guzman, John Turturro, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Frank Wood
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography Tobias A. Schliessler
Editing by Chris Lebenzon
Studio Relativity Media, Scott Free Productions,Escape Artists
Distributed by Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Spiderman 3

The Spiderman movies have definitely changed the story from the comic book. Watching the first of the film , I wasn't happy with the depiction of Peter Parker as more self-centred and vain, which is unusually in the context of the comic books. At this moment, Peter Park goes through so much crap that it's a wonder he doesn't commit suicide (it's kind of like Jack Bauer in 24).

Some factual points that were changed, which I'll agree was necessary to make a decent movie, are as follows: The Venom costume is an alien being acquired during the Secret Wars battle with the Beyonder (which was one of the best "cosmic" series Marvel has put out). Spiderman doesn't want to kill villains; even when he is beaten and pulverised, he holds back from taking the ultimate step (in fact, it is rare to show people dying in the comic books). Harry Osborn is more like the depiction of Normie Osborn (the son of Harry and Liz Allan) who is friends with the daughter of Spiderman (Spidergirl). Gwen Stacy is killed by the first Green Goblin (Norman Osborn). The people of New York have rarely been on the side of Spiderman. J. Jonah Jameson has always had a point in saying that it is people like Spiderman who create the villains. And so on.

It's difficult for me to reconcile what I know of Spiderman's history with a movie story that does its best and I admire that. A problem with the movies is that they can't intersect with the other characters from the Marvel Universe. It would be great to have movies like the Secret Wars or the Infinity Gauntlet, War, and Crusade series where a bunch of the Marvel superheroes get together and the stories make more sense (for example, explaining the origin of the Venom symbiote), but I guess that would be a logistic and budgetary nightmare.

Halfway through the movie, the story gets in line with what you'd expect from the book. The rejected symbiote bonds with a humiliated Eddie Brock to become Venom, one of the coolest villains to be introduced in the later years. The Sandman is a villain who is ambiguous. And Spiderman has a run of bad luck and is pummeled constantly but triumphs in the end against all odds.

I once wrote a review of the Batman series where I connected them to a lot of the comic books (I own a huge number of Spiderman comic books) and some other reviewer criticised my review. The perspective I offer is fairly unique: it is based on an experience I can't ignore or negative, and I think it helps place the movie in context of a long history of the books. So if you're interested in the saga of Spiderman beyond what you see in the three movies, I recommend buying some of the great story arcs of Spiderman just to see how complicated and mythological the creations are.

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Watch Season of the Witch Online Megavideo

Season of the Witch is a 2011 American period action film with supernatural elements and directed by Dominic Sena. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman as knights who return from the Crusades to find their homeland ruined by the Black Plague. A girl is accused of being a witch and causing the devastation. The film will be released on January 7, 2011.

Season of The Witch 2011 Synopsis :

Many years have Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) lives in battle. Sharply honed instinct they have their instincts as a fighter while also not be underestimated. Unfortunately, the two soldiers of the Crusades was not aware that they face a task that would have proved far more terrible than a battle they've ever experienced.

How disappointed Behmen and Felson when returned to their hometown and found their shattered homeland ravaged, not by enemy but because of an outbreak that has swept the land. Rarely can survive the deadly plague and the only hope left is Behmen and Felson. Church and Felson Behmen ordered to arrest and bring a young girl named Anna (Claire Foy), who was accused as the cause of the horrible plague to a monastery for this plague to an end.

Anna should follow a cleansing ritual that will end the storm that has engulfed the death of the entire European continent. Behmen and Felson not alone. There was a priest named Debelzaq (Stephen Campbell Moore), a soldier named Eckhardt (Ulrich Thomsen, a con man named Hagamar (Stephen Graham), and a young man named Kay (Robert Sheehan). None of them are aware of how much danger would they face in bringing Anna's journey into the remote monastery. And no one knows who the real Anna.

Season of the Witch
Genre : Thriller
Release Date : January 7, 2011
Director : Dominic Sena
Script : Bragi F. Schut
Producer : Alex Gartner, Charles Roven
Distributor : Relativity Media
Duration : 92 minutes
Budget : -
Official Site : seasonofthewitchthemovie.com


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X-Men: First Class Online Free

X-Men: First Class Movie is a series of the 5th of the movie X-Men after the X-Men trilogy and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. X-Men: First Class is the prequel of the X-Men trilogy set in the 60s when Charles Xavier and Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto is still young.

Movie Details

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones

Running Time: 131 Minutes

Like the four previous series, the film adaptation of the Marvel comic is also predicted to be as successful as the previous films. Film-film adaptation of the Marvel comic is much demand and has proved more successful even in the year 2011 alone 4 movie Marvel is ready to call it aired Thor (already aired last May and had topped the box office), X-Men: First Class (aired June 3 of this), Captain America: First Avenger (aired in July), and Spider-Man 4 (TBA).

X-Men: First Class Movie Synopsis :

X-Men: First Class Movie tells of the friendship of Charles Xavier (played by James McAvoy) and Eric Lehnserr (played by Michael Fassbender). Their friendship eventually dropped out due to disagreements. Charles then formed the group X-Men while Erick formed Brotherhood of mutants. In addition to Professor X and Magneto, another character known in previous X-Men series is Dr. Henry "Hank" McCoy, aka Beast (played by Nicholas Hoult) and Mystique (played by Jennifer Lawrence). Antagonist character in this film are a group of Hellfire Club, chaired by Sebastian Shaw (played by Kevin Bacon) who has the power to absorb the kinetic energy weapon fire and then use it to increase strength and speed.

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