GRAVITY Attracts 10 Oscar Nominations Including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress!

Alfonso Cuaron has orbited Oscar before, most notably with 2007's CHILDREN OF MEN where he received nods for writing and editing but he didn't manage to land them. That all is set to change once more as his magnificent force of GRAVITY pulled in audiences around the world and is being lauded as one of the best of year officially now.

GRAVITY has made $675 million worldwide and counting and if you haven't seen it yet do yourself a favor and check it out while it's still in theaters! It's a must see on the big screen and in 3D.

So how is GRAVITY being recognized? 10 nominations! Here they are:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Alfonso Cuaron)
- Best Actress (Sandra Bullock)
- Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki)
- Best Original Score (Steven Price)

- Best Production Design
- Best Film Editing

- Best Visual Effects
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Sound Mixing

My sincerest hope is that GRAVITY sweeps. Yes there are important movies this year that have also gotten nods, but GRAVITY I think is a masterpiece and a defining moment in cinematic history. Further I think that the movie brings together the world's audiences in such a unique way that it almost HAS to win Oscar. And not just for visual effects which is all but a sure thing for the movie.

For all of our GRAVITY coverage, click here. The 86th Oscars air on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollwood, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.

MUST WATCH: Insane STALINGRAD VFX Reel !!

Tim here, and you need to check out insanely impressive, awesome looking STALINGRAD Visual Effects Reel! Something that's even more impressive is the amount of work that went into this VFX Reel just to show all of the layers and work that went into creating the spectacular effects seen in the film. The movie came out in 3D earlier this fall, and is directed by Fedor Bondarchuk with the 3D produced by Steve Schklair (3ality Technica; using their TS-5 rig and SIP (Stereoscopic Image Processor)), and it stars Thomas Kretschmann (KING KONG, WANTED, RESIDENT EVIL: APOCOLYPSE) and Yanina Studilina. The folks at 3ality Technica should continue to be very proud of this movie. The visual effects were done by Main Road|Post, and you can learn more about them on their Official Site: www.mrpost.ru

As of December 8, 2013 the movie has amassed $66,982,391 from the total of its Foreign releases according to Box Office Mojo. The movie is slated to hit the UK February 21, 2014 according to the release schedule of its IMDB Page. Should it nab the Best Foreign Film Oscar Nomination at the 86^th Academy Awards you can expect a North American release to occur before the final votes need to be submitted.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her.

impressive VFX Reel IS BELOW:

The movie is performing really well overseas, and is Russia's Official Selection for entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar Nomination at the 86^th Academy Awards.

MOVIE REVIEW: THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG - Tim's Review

Tim here, and what follows is my review for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which is the second part in the Peter Jackson movie trilogy adapted from the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. To sum up quickly my overall thoughts: The second movie is an improvement upon the first with an exciting and thrilling adventure that ends on a stupendous cliffhanger! Next year can't come soon enough.

The story is a much faster pace, which is an improvement over the slow beginning its predecessor. It opens with a prologue in the familiar Lord of the Rings local Bree, and a carrot chomping PJ cameo! It's set before the beginning of the adventure, when Gandalf (Ian McKellan) found Thorin (Richard Armitage) and incited the quest in his mind and that they'd need a burglar for the job. Cut to immediately after the events of the last one and the company of dwarves, with wizard and Hobbit, are still being pursued by orcs. This keeps them moving as they make a quick rest at the home of Beorn (Mikael Persbrandt), who single-handedly is able to scare the orcs from attacking, before they venture into Mirkwood. Here the company breaks up as Gandalf goes to explore more in regards to the Necromancer of Dol Guldur, and the company continues on their journey through the forest to the Lonely Mountain. Unlike the book we actually get to follow Gandalf simultaneously as the company travels along their dangerous road, complete with spiders, elves, the men of Laketown, and finally the chiefest of calamities: Smaug.

Without going into any real spoilers, the story is handled very well, with the deviations not being too problematic. P.J. has been quoted in Empire as saying "I'm quite enjoying deviating from the books!" Well, here in The Desolation of Smaug he makes the boldest deviations yet. Do they work? I'll hold off my final thoughts until I see the final movie There and Back Again to judge how well the deviations work. However, initial thoughts are that some work for me and some don't. There's a great moment when Bilbo (Martin Freeman) puts on the Ring to evade the spiders and can understand what they're saying, which displays some of the way in which the Ring's magic effects him. Additionally during that sequence there's a moment where Bilbo loses the Ring and desperately, and fanatically, fights off a smaller insect creature that is crawling near the Ring. "Mine!" and the power of the Ring's pull on Bilbo is displayed so wonderfully well. That was a clever and nice deviation. Then there's the budding romance between new elf warrior Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner) that's a new deviation that I will hold judgment on until it plays its course in the final chapter. There is one thing that happens here during this growing relationship that pays homage to Lord of the Rings, but I feel that it's not right here and belongs solely to The Fellowship of the Ring. You'll know it when you see it. The story has many great moments, including a Martin Freeman one after he gets the dwarves into the barrels and realizes he didn't get a barrel for himself. The barrel sequence is thrilling (with Bombur (Stephen Hunter) awesomeness), Laketown is impressive, and the Lonely Mountain is immense, and Smaug stupendous!

"An exciting and thrilling middle chapter to The Hobbit trilogy!"

The performances in the film continue to be fantastic. Martin Freeman was the perfect casting for Bilbo as he brings such humor and humility to the role. Ian McKellan continues his magnificent work as a conjurer of more magic inside the role of Gandalf as there is on display onscreen from the magicians at WETA Digital. Richard Armitage displays the most range yet as he begins to let show Thorin's family treasure madness taking form, and Kenn Scott as Balin continues to council him and remind him of his duties as a leader. Ken Scott really makes it that when rewatching The Fellowship of the Ring a tear can't help but be shed upon seeing Balin's tomb. Evangeline Lilly was a wonderful addition to the cast in a newly made-up character, and she played her scenes very well. Especially against a hauntingly majestic Thranduil (Lee Pace) and Legolas. Orlando Bloom returns to the role as if riding an oliphant, and has a wonderful moment when searching the dwarves' possessions upon their capture and comes upon a photo of young Gimli amongst Gloin's things. He and Gloin (Peter Hambleton) share a great moment that will make many fans laugh. Sylvestor McCoy makes an additional appearance as Radagast and it's a wonderful treat yet again. Too bad his screen time was so short. Hopefully there will be more of him in the third installment. Luke Evans did a fantastic job as Bard, and as well his ancestor Girion in a flashback, and added much more depth to the character than was in the source material. Stephen Fry was absolutely sublime casting for the Master of Laketown. Finally we come to Benedict Cumberbatch who played both the Necromancer and the titular Smaug. What a performance! Benedict Cumberbatch brought Smaug to life in such a way that was awe inspiring, magnificent, and a real treasure. He didn't just provide his voice, but instead gave a performance capture that lit up the screen.

Andrew Lesnie continued his breathtaking cinematography in this installment, and the stereo 3D (rigs provided by the awesome 3ality Technica) and high frame rate maintained to bring the world to life in a way that makes me wish more movies were shot this way. 3ality did some customized rigs for the barrel sequence, and the 3D during that sequence is insane. Since a huge amount of this movie is digital visual effects it's important to bring up the fantastic work of WETA Digital, and their work greatly benefitted from the stereo 3D and HFR. Smaug in particular was amazing to see in the format. Some of my favorite moments from the film regarding the stereo 3D are the snow falling during a pivotal scene in Laketown, the great expansive and empty halls of the Lonely Mountain, and the massive scale of Smaug. However, what's all this without the sound design? Dolby Atmos preserves the 3D atmosphere in the sound, and there was so much in the sound design that the world felt entirely real. I can't imagine how many coins they had to rustle with to get all those different variations. Howard Shore provided a rich score that introduced many new themes. In particular Smaug's theme was one that sticks with you for a long time after the screen had cut to black. On a technical level this is a masterpiece.

Peter Jackson did a fantastic job directing this movie, but special mention also has to go to Andy Serkis as the Second Unit Director. Together they brought the world of Middle-Earth to life with all the rest of their team with so much verisimilitude to Tolkien's descriptions. I'm extremely excited to see the next installment, and as stated earlier December 2014 can't come soon enough.

HOBBIT UDPATE: Two New TV-Spots With Review Buzz Words !

Tim here and two more TV-Spots for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug have hit! BEWARE OF SPOILERS! There's a lot of great footage in these two spots, and and some very nice shots of Smaug. What makes these TV-Spots so great to watch is the Review Buzz Words.

From what early reviews are saying the movie is better than the first. You can head over to the Rotten Tomatoes - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug page to read early reviews from the top critics. There is no consensus on Rotten Tomatoes yet, but as of writing this the Tomatometer is at 76%, which is up from the 65% that An Unexpected Journey scored. Either way, the film still looks to be amazing. Enjoy both TV-Spots below:

TV SPOT #9

TV SPOT #10

On December 13^th The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits IMAX 3D and RealD 3D screens in HFR and SFR. THIS IS ON THURSDAY!

HOBBIT UPDATE: Production Diary #13 And Middle-Earth Chrome Experiment Live

A Journey Through Middle-earth

Tim here and Peter Jackson has brought us the 13^th production diary for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is out! First, BEWARE OF SPOILERS! There's a lot of great Behind the Scenes footage in here, and it's wonderful if you're curious about the filmmaking process, but that doesn't mean that if you're trying to preserve your viewing experience that you'll walk away without getting some undesirable information.

We also get an amazing view of the 3ality Technica 3D rigs holding Jackson's Red Epics that are shooting in HFR 3D (High Frame Rate - 48 fps). Love it!

There's a wonderful amount of humor contained in this production diary. It's funny seeing Bilbo and the dwarves playing table tennis while on break. We get some Laketown BTS that includes Stephen Fry, who might have been some of the best casting along with Sylvester McCoy. Another thing clear is how huge the sets were in these massive sound stages. Amazing to hear how much virtual water and gold the VFX guys at WETA Digital had to make. Alright, there's a lot in this one, so I won't hold you back much longer. Enjoy it below, and be sure to read after the video for information about the Google Chrome Middle-Earth Experiment:

Additionally the Chrome Experiment I wrote about a few months ago has hit the web! It's an interesting interactive map of Middle-Earth and has a few fun games and places to explore. Currently you can explore the Trollshaws, Rivendell, Dol Guldur, Thranduil's Hall, and Laketown, with The Lonely Mountain to be unlocked soon. I wish it was a little more like Google Earth in that you could zoom in to all the Middle-Earth locations and map out the land. It would be especially awesome if they had Hobbiton and the Shire. Maybe in a future update that will be possible. It's a good start for now. I'd like to be able to visit some of the locations from Lord of the Rings as well. You can check it out here: http://middle-earth.thehobbit.com

On December 13^th The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits IMAX 3D and RealD 3D screens in HFR and SFR. THIS IS A WEEK AWAY!

Phil McNally Joins Rocket Science 3D As Global Stereoscopic Supervisor

A good friend of mine, Phil McNally has just joined Rocket Science 3D and I want to express best wishes for him at his new gig. He was the Head of Stereo at DWA and has always been ONE OF THE BEST at providing info to me and answering queries. He is a huge asset in the S3D world. RS3D is lucky to have him. All the best Phil!

ROCKET SCIENCE 3D WELCOMES PHIL “CAPTAIN 3D” McNALLY, EXPANDING STEREOSCOPIC SERVICES

LOS ANGELES — Rocket Science 3D is pleased to announce that Phil “Captain 3D” McNally has joined Rocket Science as its Global Stereoscopic Supervisor.

“We are thrilled to have Phil on board at Rocket Science. He is hailed as the expert of all things 3D and brings years of industry experience,” said Stephen Castor, CEO of Rocket Science 3D. “Phil's expertise allows us to expand our stereoscopic consultancy services, offering stereoscopic supervision and stereoscopic producing to both animation and live-action filmmakers.”

McNally most recently served as Head of Stereo at DreamWorks Animation. He was the Stereoscopic Supervisor on Shrek The Third, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs Aliens, How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After, Megamind, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, The Croods, Turbo, Mr. Peabody & Sherman and How To Train Your Dragon 2.

Previously, McNally worked at ILM, where he converted Chicken Little into 3D. He went on to supervise and advise on the stereoscopic conversion of Disney’s Meet the Robinsons and The Nightmare Before Christmas.


ABOUT ROCKET SCIENCE 3D

Rocket Science 3D utilizes proprietary conversion technology to create state-of-the-art 3D Stereoscopic Motion Pictures from 2D content. We offer comprehensive hardware and software solutions, and convert to stereo and no-glasses autostereo. Rocket Science also provides 3D conversion and innovative hardware and software solutions for theatrical live performance, theme park attractions, gaming, museums, sports venues, holograms (musion screen), digital signage, medical and military.

UPDATED! MUST WATCH: 4 New Clips From THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG !

**SAME DAY UPDATE: I've added a fourth clip that was just released: "Into The Barrels"!

Obviously these clips are minor spoilers because, well - it's clips from the actual movie so keep that in mind as you read on.

These three clips are starting to piece together the stories that are taking place in part two of the THE HOBBIT from Peter Jackson and company. We have clips discussing the sanity of trekking to the mountain, some of Tauriel's history and an ominous warning from an orc.

I LOVE the VFX for the orc in the third clip below! Looking wonderful guys! Weta's doing another smashing job. And obviously I can't wait for the HFR 3D experience either! 3ality Technica was on this job so look for outstanding results once again.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG opens on December 13 in HFR 3D, 3D and flat.

Hilarious New Commercial For Air New Zealand With A Middle-earth Twist!

Love it when corporations get creative like this, and why not? New Zealand IS Middle-earth right? I won't spoil a thing for you - you have to watch.

But to top it all off, you could win seats at the premiere of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG at either Wellington or Los Angeles! For more info on the contest, head on over to Air New Zealand.

I've never been to Kiwi but obviously would love to go there. What a trip that would be! Can't wait to see DOS - and some more brilliant native 3D shot on 3ality Technica rigs :-)

Oh and advance tickets for DESOLATION OF SMAUG are on sale tomorrow!





Via Collider

Must Watch: Jonas Cuaron's Short Film Tie In With GRAVITY And How It May Make Oscar History

Very cool development here with the release of Jonas Cuaron's short film entitled ANINGAAQ and its tie-in with his father's amazing movie GRAVITY which is still in theaters. The rest of the post has minor spoilers in it as well as the short film, so don't read ahead unless you've seen GRAVITY or worst case scenario, you don't plan to see it (but please do - highly recommended).

ANINGAAQ tells the story of what happens on the other end of the radio transmissions that Sandra Bullock's character is able to initiate in GRAVITY. Until now, no one new who she was speaking to and under what terms. Now we know!

The 7 minute short was short entirely in Greenland at a cost of $100,000 (mainly transportation costs of equipment and crew). Moreover, Warner Bros. has decided to submit the film as an entry to the Academy for Best Short Film Oscar. This will mark the first time that a movie and a short film that have a tie-in have both been nominated for an Academy Award (assuming they both get the nod), and the first time that this has happened as father / son duo.

Check out the short below:



Via THR

Exclusive Interview: Steve Schklair, 3D Producer on STALINGRAD - We Talk THE HOBBIT And THE GREAT GATSBY Too!

I recently had the the opportunity and pleasure to speak with Steve Schklair, 3D Producer on STALINGRAD (catch up on our coverage of the movie here) and CEO of our friends at 3ality Technica. The movie was directed by the much in demand Russian filmmaker Fedor Bondarchuk and is the entry from Russia for the upcoming Academy Awards, Best Foreign Language Oscar.

Steve and I talk about the movie at length (the whole interview is just over 30 minutes) including segments on the director, the 3ality Technica equipment and services, the magnificent sets, Russian crews, the film's esthetics, budget, box office, some of the history involved, Fedor Bondarchuk and his cinematographer, etc.

We also touch upon THE GREAT GATSBY and THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG as 3ality Techica was instrumental in the making of those 3D movies, as well as what's next for Steve and 3ality.

After a record breaking launch in Russia and the Ukraine, STALINGRAD is now enjoying huge box office returns in China. To date the movie has earned $65.7 million with more results due from China.

Here's the interview; enjoy:



Here's the storyline for STALINGRAD:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her. Thomas Kretschmann and Yanina Studilina star.

And here's a description of Battle of Stalingrad from Wikipedia:
The Battle of Stalingrad (August 23, 1942–February 2, 1943) was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in the southwestern Soviet Union. Marked by constant close-quarters combat and lack of regard for military and civilian casualties, it is among the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. The heavy losses inflicted on the German army make it arguably the most strategically decisive battle of the whole war. Afterwards, the German forces never regained the initiative in war in the East.

If you haven't seen the trailer yet (And I highly recommend you do), check it out here.

Definitely check out this movie if you have the opportunity and I'll have more information about distribution soon for western audiences.

The Force Of GRAVITY: $500 Million In Box Office And Still Climbing

What can I say that I haven't said already? If you haven't seen GRAVITY yet in theaters, get out and enjoy. Beyond that, what a remarkable achievement for Alfonso Cuaron and Warner Bros. The movie will hit $500 million in worldwide box office this weekend and is still drawing in the crowds and has already pulled ahead of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS in receipts.

Look for GRAVITY to hit ~$260 million domestically and ~$300 million in foreign markets for a nice ~$560 million take PLUS CHINA. I haven't included China in the mix here but I expect big things from them, especially with their IMAX screens. Is expecting a $600 million a long shot? I don't think so. We'll see.

Anyway, I'm just so thrilled with the success of a movie that deserves to be successful! Cuaron nailed it. I wish the movie was longer because the time just flies when you're watching it, but really - it's a masterpiece.

We need more original stories like this with near perfect 3D and acting!

THOR: THE DARK WORLD Hammers The Box Office !

Can Marvel do no wrong? Seriously. They are kings of the box office, they have a recently renewed TV series with AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. and just signed a deal with Netflix to have four of their characters (Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones) with separate series culminating in a crossover series entitled THE DEFENDERS, all of which is based in Hell's Kitchen, NYC.

THOR: THE DARK WORLD continues in the Marvel tradition of kick ass action, great storytelling, compelling characters all in a solid 3D conversion (haven't seen it yet, but my assumption based on previous productions). Of course being a follow up to THE AVENGERS doesn't hurt as IRON MAN 3 can attest with it's $1.2 billion take (that's fifth best EVER). So we'll see where Thor 2 goes. It has already hit $140 million worldwide with only one day reporting in North America. My projection is $90 million for the weekend domestically.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

For all of our THOR 2 coverage, click here. And here's the link for all of our Marvel coverage!

THOR: THE DARK WORLD is now playing!

HOBBIT UPDATE! New Trailer, Fan Event Video And Production Video !!

WOW! What a 24 hours in Middle-earth! We've got the new trailer for THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, a video from the Fan Event that took place yesterday and a brand new Production Video showing us what they shot this past summer for pick ups!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

The Fan Event was attended by Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Jed Brophy, Peter Jackson (barefoot!) and Lee Pace providing a worldwide scope to very internationally appealing work by J.R.R. Tolkien. The event was stationed in New York, London, Los Angeles and Wellington with many more cities participating for fans to watch.

Naturally the trailer is jaw dropping! Love it! I won't spoil it for you but suffice to say we have more of well, everything!

The Production Video is what I truly enjoy the most in this job - how the movies are made. I could watch BTS (behind the scenes) video for hours upon hours. So please do watch them all - they make the trifecta of Hobbit videos!

Yet again - another movie that our friends over at 3ality Technica are extremely proud of thanks to the use of their 3D rigs and services. December can't come soon enough!


THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG opens on December 13 in HFR 3D, 3D and flat.

Here's the trailer:




Here's the fan event - you can fast forward to 10:00 for the trailer and 12:30 for the actual event!




And the new Production Video... Enjoy!!

STALINGRAD 3D Grabs Over $8 Million More With China Opening - $60 Million Worldwide !

Fedor Bondarchuk’s 3D World War II movie STALINGRAD is posting exceptional numbers overseas. First it set records in Russia and the Ukraine and now it has landed in China. Over the first four days of release, STALINGRAD has gated $8.3 million from 7,013 screens, beating the openings of PEARL HARBOR and WAR HORSE.

Screenings continue in Russia as well, bringing in another $2.8 million making it's take on Russian soil $47.8 million with an additional $3.3 million in the Ukraine.

Total box office to date is ~$60 million and is Russian's entry for Foreign Language Oscar.

I know the folks over 3ality Technica are very proud of the movie and it's continued success! In fact I recently conducted an interview with Steve Schklair, 3D producer on the movie (also CEO of 3ality) and I will have that up shortly for you.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her. Thomas Kretschmann and Yanina Studilina star.

Watch the trailer for STALINGRAD 3D here.

Source: Variety

Hobbit Update: Two More TV Spots!! Have a Look!

Oh man - anticipation is already at a fever pitch for THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG and I don't really need anymore reasons to go... BUT...

Have a look at these new TV Spots (#4 and 5)! Remember, all the Hobbit movies are shot in 48 frames per second in native 3D on 3ality Technica rigs and Red Epic cameras - the best in the business. Can't wait!

...and if you've missed the first three TV spots - click here.

Here is the storyline for the movie:
The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

For ALL of our Hobbit coverage, click here.


THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG opens in 3D on December 13. Advance tickets on sale November 21.

Watch: New Trailer For 47 RONIN

We've got the second trailer for Universal Pictures and director Carl Rinsch's 47 RONIN starring Keanu Reeves and it's looking better still! Love the visuals in this native 3D production.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Keanu Reeves makes an explosive return to action-adventure in 47 Ronin. After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and restore honor to their people. Driven from their homes and dispersed across the land, this band of Ronin must seek the help of Kai (Reeves) - a half-breed they once rejected - as they fight their way across a savage world of mythic beasts, shape-shifting witchcraft and wondrous terrors. As this exiled, enslaved outcast becomes their most deadly weapon, he will transform into the hero who inspires this band of outnumbered rebels to seize eternity.

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

47 RONIN opens on December 25 in native 3D.

Fan Event! THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Preview Set For Major Theaters Nov 4th!!

Great news fans of Middle-earth! You can get an advance look at some of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG at major theaters on November 4th at 5pm Eastern. Stars Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Andy Serkis will be involved too.

If you are not in one of the major centers listed below, don't worry - there will be a live online feed streamed as well.

Can't wait to get to see some footage! By the way, I just got off the phone with the CEO of 3ality Technica, Steve Schklair (who's company provided rigs and S3D expertise to the Hobbit productions) and I will have that interview up soon! We discuss SMAUG and his new 3D movie he co-produced entitled STALINGRAD that's been a huge hit overseas.

Here are the cities involved (alas mine is not one of them):
NEW YORK
AMC Lincoln Square
Featuring special host Anderson Cooper and cast members Richard Armitage and Orlando Bloom

LOS ANGELES
Pacific Theatres at the Grove
Featuring cast member Evangeline Lilly

LONDON
Odeon West End
Featuring cast members Andy Serkis, James Nesbitt, Lee Pace and Luke Evans

WELLINGTON
Embassy Theater
Featuring director Peter Jackson

Other participating theaters:
TORONTO
Cineplex Odeon Queensway Cinemas

MIAMI
Dolphin Theater

PARIS, FRANCE
Gaumont Pathe

ROME, ITALY
The Space Cinema Moderno

HAMBURG, GERMANY
Cinemaxx Hamburg Dammtor

BELGIUM, BRUSSELS
Kinepolis Brussels

MADRID, SPAIN
KINEPOLIS

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Cinepolis, Mexico City

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Hoyts Broadway

Here's the official press release:

WORLDWIDE FAN EVENT FOR “THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG” SET FOR NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Fans Get Chance to Meet New Stars Joining the Trilogy, Catch an Exclusive First Look at Footage from “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and Participate in a Live Q&A with Director Peter Jackson and the Cast

Burbank, CA, October 25, 2013 — Gearing up for the December 13, 2013, release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), fans will get a chance to meet new cast members joining the highly anticipated second film in “The Hobbit” Trilogy, including Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace and Luke Evans, as part of a global fan celebration to be held on Monday, November 4, at 5:00 pm EST, and simultaneous times around the world. At each of the satellite-linked cinemas in four host cities—Los Angeles, New York, London and Wellington—Jackson and members of his cast and filmmaking team will gather with fans to show exclusive footage from “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and answer questions in front of a live audience, as well as offer a few surprises.

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper, who serves as special host for the entire event, will be based in New York, where he will welcome Richard Armitage, the film’s Thorin Oakenshield, and Orlando Bloom, who returns to the role of Legolas from “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy. Evangeline Lilly, who joins the cast as a new Elf warrior, Tauriel, will be based in Los Angeles. London will host new cast member Lee Pace, the film’s Elf King Thranduil; Luke Evans, who joins the cast as Bard the Bowman; and Andy Serkis, a member of Jackson’s filmmaking team and the first film’s Gollum. Peter Jackson will join the celebration from Wellington, New Zealand (where it will be Tuesday, November 5, at 11:00 am).

Each cinema will be connected by satellite, allowing audiences to participate in a simultaneous Q and A among participants in all four host locations. Additionally, in cities across the globe—including Brussels, Belgium; Hamburg, Germany; Madrid, Spain; Mexico City, Mexico; Miami, Florida, USA; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; and Toronto, Canada—fans will be invited to gather at select cinemas to be among the first to see the extended footage debut and watch the festivities unfold live. The event will also be streamed live online so that anyone with an internet connection can join the celebration at home or at viewing parties among friends, though the online simulcast will feature an edited version of the extended footage debut.

Details on locations, timing and how to sign up for a chance to join one of the many simultaneous events can be found at the film’s official site (TheHobbit.com) and on Facebook (facebook.com/TheHobbitMovie) and Twitter (Twitter.com/TheHobbitMovie), under the global hashtag #hobbitfanevent.

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The international ensemble cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. The film also stars (in alphabetical order) John Bell, Manu Bennett, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Lawrence Makoare, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Dean O’Gorman, Mikael Persbrandt, and Aidan Turner.

The screenplay for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is by Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

The creative behind-the-scenes team is led by director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, editor Jabez Olssen, and hair and makeup designer Peter Swords King. The costumes are designed by Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor. Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of armour, weapons, creatures and special makeup, which are once again being made by the award-winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital is taking on the visual effects for the film, led by senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri. The visual effects supervisor is Eric Saindon, with David Clayton and Eric Reynolds serving as animation supervisors.

Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” was shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second and will be released in High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) in select theaters, other 2D and 3D formats, and IMAX®. Production took place at Jackson’s own facilities in Miramar, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand. Post production took place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a WingNut Films Production, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.

STALINGRAD Sets Russian Box Office Records - Sets Sights On Oscar!

A good friend of mine, Steve Schklair is a co-producer on STALINGRAD which was shot in amazing native 3D. I've seen segments of the movie and was not only moved by the attention to detail, authenticity of the war and acting - but also the 3D. Director Fedor Bondarchuk’s budget was $30 million and it's all on the screen and then some. It was shot on a massive set built outside St. Petersburg and painstakingly brought back to the horror of World War II in Russia.

3ality Technica supplied the 3D systems and technology behind the movie using the TS-5 rigs. I've seen these rigs up close and personal and they are impressive pieces of technology.

I love how artistically the visuals are done, mimicking film stock of the period that has been subsequently colorized. Brilliant. The visual effects are Hollywood class as well, no doubt.

Russia has selected STALINGRAD as their Best Foreign Language contender for the Academy Awards for many reasons, one of which is obviously box office: The movie broke records in opening number one in Russia (1400 screens) and the Ukraine, raking in $17.3 million. I honestly believe it is deserving of the Oscar for its technical and creative triumphs. Sony distributed overseas.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her. Thomas Kretschmann and Yanina Studilina star.

Here's what MarketSaw reader 'Katusha' had to say about his experience with the director and his movie:
"This is the best director in russia right now and I highly recommend his other movies which commonly share personal stories against a military historical backdrop. Fedor Bondarchuk's father, Sergei Bondarchuk also directed "War and Peace" in 1960's. His films do have patriotic notes - and there is much to be proud of for the efforts of Russian people to defend their land and families from German invasion, and this film's goal is to show their heroism and sacrifice. Germans were the aggressors, so I wouldn't expect a Russian director to side with them too much."

You've got to see the trailer for this movie if you haven't seen it yet.

If you know your history, then you know that the Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. To brush up on the details, click here.

Impressively, STALINGRAD is the first IMAX movie that is non-American and is Russia's first 3D movie. More details when I get it - I working on something special for this...

Sources: Variety | The Moscow Times | The Wrap

First 3 TV Spots For THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG!

Check out the first three TV spots for Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG! I can't wait for this movie to happen. It seems like forever since AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY last December, but Smaug will soon be upon us!

There's nothing that surpasses the quality and purity of a native 3D production and we're about to see the best of the best with Peter Jackson's second production of the Hobbit movie trilogy.

3ality Techica is again housing the Red Epic cameras in their industry leading 3D rigs and further, lending their expertise to the production. There's no need to rely on post processing to create these images - they are captured live in camera. Native 3D is where the equipment and the creative talent truly shine.

If you haven't seen the trailer for THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG yet, you can do so here. And it's a must watch!

Here's the movie's storyline:
The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG opens in 3D on December 13.

GRAVITY Continues To Hold Altitude - Scorching Hot $40 Million Projected Second Re-entry!

Ok, that title doesn't really make sense - holding altitude and also going into re-entry. But it SOUNDS cool. :-)

Remember the original estimate for GRAVITY's opening weekend last week? $40 million, that's right. I said more like $50 million and that hit instead. Why did I think that high a number? Because of the IMAX and 3D surcharges that would be underestimated.

Now the projected earning for GRAVITY in its second weekend is pegged at... $40 million and I think that's about right - maybe $45m. Remember IMAX took in about 20% of the box office take from only 10% of the theaters so I'm thinking that the people that put off seeing the movie in the first weekend due to sold out IMAX venues will definitely be hitting it this weekend while its still scorching hot.

GRAVITY has legs. It'll be with us for a long time and it's primed for awards too. The movie has already pulled in $107 million in under a week worldwide.

You don't need to have an apple fall on your head to know if you haven't discovered GRAVITY yet, you need to get out there and do it! More numbers soon...