Sure, the official Hunger Games trailer is fantastic enough to hold us all over for quite a while, but thanks to Mainstay Productions, we have yet another Hunger Games trailer to be thankful for: the teaser for their web series, Finnick & Annie. Due out on December 8th, the series will focus on our local District 4 heartthrob, Finnick Odair, and the love of his life, former Hunger Games champion, Annie Cresta. Click here to give the Finnick & Annie teaser a look.
In other visual news, a new trailer still of Amandla Stenberg as Rue in her training attire has popped up as well as a small handful of images from People Magazine in honor of their recent Hunger Games feature. In addition to the shots of Elizabeth Banks as Effie handing over the microphone to Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and the one of Katniss having a moment with Liam Hemsworth’s Gale, we also got that particularly colorful entry featuring Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta all looking their best (see below).
Sticking with the theme of HG imagery, The Hob has a fairly amusing two-part piece up and running called “Hunger Games Fans Have an Eye for Details.” As someone who’s worked on a number of short films, I’m well aware of how difficult it can be to maintain continuity. Regardless of the crews’ watchful eyes, tiny details inevitably slip and Hunger Games fans are wasting no time pinpointing the mishaps. Part 1 and Part 2 of the piece highlight a handful of errors including Prim’s Mockingjay pin magically hopping lapels in between shots and the fact that a pair of Converse sneakers have a cameo in the trailer.
Click here to read more.
It’s a sad week for movies trailers, however that means there’s more room to express our thankfulness for some solid posters! But, in an effort to steer clear of that lack in the trailer department, this introduction is dedicated to the noteworthy non-trailers only.
What better way to spend the most magical time of year than by seeing a particularly magical and inspiring movie? No, this isn’t a review – that you can find right here – but there’s really no way to talk about Hugo without being swept right back up by that incredible adventure.
Part of the beauty of filmmaking, is the ability to transport viewers to another reality. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, filmmaker Georges Méliès seized the opportunity to put stop tricks and painted film cells to use, combining his skills as a magician and filmmaker to, quite literally, bring dreams to life. Ultimately, we’re still doing the very same thing today, but with the wildly advanced technology and more thorough understanding of storytelling, director Martin Scorsese has created one of the most successful attempts at bringing an audience into the movie with Hugo.
Want to put the odds in your movie’s favor? Make a Christmas movie. Unoriginality, cheesy humor, goofy characters? All is excused when it’s done in the name of holiday spirit. While Arthur Christmas does make use of that get out of jail free card quite often, there is enough solid filmmaking behind the Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures Animation collaboration to label Arthur Christmas above average holiday fair.
After three immensely successful productions, why would Summit Entertainment change their formula now? Of course the studio wouldn’t, but you’d think bringing aboard an Oscar-winning director would almost naturally warrant some changes for the better, but sadly, Bill Condon’s prowess was entirely consumed by the drone of The Twilight Saga and he actually winds up delivering a piece that’s rather sub-par to two of the previous installments.
All hale the tough cookies of cinema! We’ve got three incredibly strong heroines leading the promotional pack this week, but, before we get to the goods (and the bads), let’s take a look at some of the items that didn’t manage to crack the top or bottom out.
Sure, I’m thankful for my wonderful family, but after over 20 years of going around the dinner table on Thanksgiving and saying what we’re all thankful for and basically repeating the same thing year after year, it’s been necessary to spice up the conversation with a rather blunt degree of honesty. In 2009? I was thankful for my iPhone. Last year? Thankful for being able to go to graduate school for film. This year? I am endlessly thankful that Lionsgate took Suzanne Collins’ beloved book and, based on the recently released trailer, is 110% doing the source material justice.
With ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager heading towards a fifth season, it’s safe to say that the show’s star, Shailene Woodley, has made quite the name for herself. However, as much success as the actress has found in the television industry, she admits, “Features is where my heart is.” Well, turns out her heart is leading her in the right direction because not only is her first big screen effort an Alexander Payne film starring George Clooney, but Woodley is downright fantastic in it.
It’s most certainly not a surprise to see Judy Greer in yet another movie, as the actress tends to keep particularly busy, but Alexander Payne’s The Descendants? As my fondest memories of Greer include here iconic comedic performances in films like Jawbreaker and 13 Going on 30 as well as her TV show Miss Guided, which left us far too soon, seeing her pull the reigns on what comes so naturally to her and amp up the drama wasn’t just a nice surprise, but a notably successful effort, too.