New Trailer For GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY!

Here's the latest trailer for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY from director James Gunn and Marvel. Loving it so far!

Note the clever use of classic rock tunes - loving it more and more. We also get to hear Groot's voice (Vin Diesel) as well as Rocket's (Bradley Cooper).

Here's the movie's storyline:
From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team – the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits – Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand – with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” is presented by Marvel Studios.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens on August 1.

Movie Review: GODZILLA - 8.2 Stars - No Spoilers - Possible $100 M Opening!

 Saw GODZILLA and was suitably impressed. This is a true monster movie and it was made by a coveted new director in Gareth Edwards. Edwards (MONSTERS) specializes in this genre and while you can clearly see studio interference with this movie, Edwards still manages to deliver despite those handcuffs.

I will point out that I saw a trailer for EDGE OF TOMORROW in 3D pre-rolling before the movie and the 3D sucked. Big time. I could feel my brain wince within SECONDS of the opening shot seeing light. I sincerely hope they clean that up as I was really looking forward to seeing that in three dimensions. As of now I cannot recommend seeing it.

Back to GODZILLA. The 3D is average I would say for modern standards. Nothing to write home about. Still much better in 3D than seeing it in flat.

I was worried about how Mothra (or whatever they call her in the movie) would appear as that is a tall order (pun intended) to get right. I was satisfied to a large degree with the flying beasts, but still there were moments where I shook my head.

Godzilla himself was impressive. Just what I wanted really. The devastation going on around there during battle set me aback - definitely worth waiting for and Edwards is a master of that. Wait for it, wait for it... YES!

Click to enlarge

So what didn't I like about it? Well this is spoiler free so I can't go into details but I will in the comments if it goes that way. I did feel that the nuclear "tests" should have been dug into much more. And my biggest dislike? I felt Aaron-Taylor Johnson failed. Totally. I felt no emotion when he was struck by bad things happening to him. Perhaps he just can't act. I loved him in KICK ASS but, wow, not good here. Bryan Cranston is always good. Oh and Ken Watanabe and his burrowed brow, pensive, gaze to no where look got old by the time he executed this maneuver the tenth time. Edwards should have gotten more out of him.

So, yes, I recommend going to see GODZILLA and still recommend IMAX 3D for it as the sound in that theater shakes you to your core. The 3D is always better on the largest screen possible as well. I will be seeing it again! Whenever you feel awe in going to a movie, that is MAGIC. It brings out the kid in us all and GODZILLA's got it :-)

New Trailer For TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION

Here's a new trailer for Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION. The effects look jaw dropping good as usual for these films and with the addition of Mark Wahlberg and a "soft reboot" of the story, I'm hoping for a revitalized franchise that focuses more on human characters and their journey.

The movie stars Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammar and Li Bingbing.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. The film begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens on June 27.

First Look At Ben Affleck's Batman From BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN

Click to Upsize

I'm surprised this is out so early, but hey why not. Take a look at the new image released from director Zach Snyder's twitter account. My first thought is Ben Affleck has beefed up even more for the role though perhaps the suit has made some physical enhancement liberties. Whatever. The suit looks gothic and visceral at the same time - and interesting combination. The top of his nose looks like there are some character lines put in - perhaps in homage to Adam West's mask.

Can't see much of the batmobile, but as standard, it looks badass. The tires look like they are ready to hit the asphalt, no question.

Affleck is joined in the movie by Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor), Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Tao Okamoto and Callan Mulvey

BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN is slated for release on May 6, 2016. More info, including a synopsis when we get it.

Batman closeup courtesy of adamhlavac via Collider

MUST WATCH: New Trailer For DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES !

You've got to see this trailer! My jaw hit the floor with a couple of these scenes from director Matt Reeves' DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES - how lifelike the apes are!! Weta - you're AMAZING!

But don't take my word for it, watch it. Just stunning. I'm so amped for this movie already - now I'm over the top. Imagine all this is gorgeous, natively shot 3D (with our friends from 3ality Technica) and the suspension of disbelief will be so solid!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES opens on July 11.

Finally! James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D Release Details!!

We're finally getting details on James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge 3D feature documentary. It's been awhile coming too, but so glad the time is almost here. I'm very interested in seeing what personal money can buy when it comes to science. I know it's not all Cameron's money as he is sponsored somewhat, but still - I wish more well off individuals would consider science as a philanthropic or personal journey. The Mariana Trench dive project will be released on August 8.

Here's the press release:

DisruptiveLA, a cutting-edge marketing and distribution company for filmed entertainment, has acquired the US Distribution Rights to the feature documentary “JAMES CAMERON’S DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D,” directed by John Bruno, Andrew Wight and Ray Quint. A film about determination, danger and the ocean’s greatest depths, “JAMES CAMERON’S DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D” tells the story of Cameron’s journey to fulfill his boyhood dream of becoming an explorer. The movie offers a unique insight into Cameron’s world as he makes that dream reality – and makes history – by becoming the first person to travel solo to the deepest point on the planet.

Opening August 8 in theaters across the US, “JAMES CAMERON’S DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D” chronicles the highs, and literal lows, of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, the first extensive scientific expedition in a manned submersible to the Challenger Deep, Earth’s deepest place. It was inspired, in part, by the fact that we know less about the deep oceans than we do about the surface of Mars. DEEPSEA CHALLENGE was led by Cameron, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for blockbusters such as Avatar and Titanic and a veteran of eight deep ocean expeditions. It was executed in partnership with National Geographic and Rolex and with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. During it, Cameron deployed his unconventional DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible on 13 dives, collecting numerous samples and identifying 68 new species. On March 26, 2012, the Expedition culminated in Cameron’s historic, solo dive to the Challenger Deep, a staggering 35,787 feet (almost seven miles) beneath the ocean’s surface.

Risk and danger are ever-present in the film as Cameron dives progressively deeper in the New Britain Trench off Papua New Guinea and in the Mariana Trench, 200 miles southwest of Guam. Confronting the enormity of the dive to the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, Cameron recalled thinking, “I’ve had years to contemplate this moment, and I won’t say there hasn’t been dread.”

Among his concerns was the risk the sub would implode under the crushing pressure (1,000 times that at sea level) at the ocean’s deepest points. In the movie, Cameron describes an ominous scenario: “As you approach the bottom, with barely a warning sign, the sphere buckles suddenly. Faster than you can scream, you’re smashed into jam.”

Cameron survived to capture the haunting, lunar-like landscape of the Mariana Trench in stunning 3D, and to document the sea creatures he observed in the depths. In a tense 90 minutes, “JAMES CAMERON’S DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D” builds on these images to create a visual sensation that evokes a spirit of extraordinary human aspiration.

Industry veterans Chris Miller and James Burke are DisruptiveLA’s co-founders. Says Burke: “James Cameron and his team’s courage and tenacity in seeing this project through, with findings that scientists are still poring over, is an inspiration to everyone.”

“JAMES CAMERON’S DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D is everything we’d dreamed it could be and more,” says Lisa Truitt, president of National Geographic Cinema Ventures and an executive producer of the film. “It’s a heart-racing film experience and an inspiring reminder that our beautiful planet still has much to explore.”

“We are proud to have accompanied James Cameron, a Rolex Testimonee, on this inspirational journey to the deepest reaches of the world’s oceans, encouraging further exploration of the planet’s last unknown frontiers and sparking the interest of new generations in scientific research,” says Rolex Director of Communication and Image, Arnaud Boetsch.

This should be a sight to see! Can't wait.

GODZILLA 1-Min Clip Features Spoiler Peek at Monsters

Hey everyone, Tim here with an exciting little clip from the new Godzilla movie! This little clip that is less than one minute gives us a preview of some spoiler material...

SO WATCH AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!

I'll provide a spoiler descrition of the clip that you'll need to highlight to read because the text is hidden:

It features Dr. Ichiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and Admiral Stenz (David Strathairn) discussing the chances of an "alpha predator" winning in a monster grudge match. We then get our first two good glimpses of Godzilla and this flying monster about to engage in battle.

End spoilers. So now you can watch the clip below. Again, if you're trying to keep a pristine viewing experience it might be best for you to skip this clip. We're less than two weeks away from the movie being released.

Godzilla stomps his way into 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D theaters on May 16, 2014.

Tim's Review of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

Tim here, and let me start by saying that this movie is an average film overall. Whether you want to look at amongst superhero movies or all of filmmaking history the movie falls into the category of average. This is why I ended up deciding to give the movie a C+ score, and after reading my thoughts you can see the movie for yourself to make up your own mind.

Flat out the story and plot are the main areas where this movie fell flat and was very "BLAAHH!" In the very beginning of the movie my suspension of disbelief is thrown because I can't understand how in the past Peter's father was supposed to have uploaded a video file over an Ethernet port from a private jet to the cloud... Did the cloud exist back then? When is back then? I'd say late 1990's or early 2000's if the movie was taking place in present day, which seems reasonable to assume. So how does he not only upload the file, but get interrupted and start from the same place each time. As some of us know if we start uploading a file to a server via FTP and it gets interrupted you have to start over again. Only sometimes if you're lucky it will continuing from where it got interrupted. That's one of the first things that was hard to swallow.

The movie continues at an uneven pace and often gets to a slow crawl despite the action sequences that pop up. At the center is a love story that is strong and is done well thanks to the great performances from Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, but the rest of the movie fails to take off. The plot revolving around what Peter's father did never really feels like it works, nor does his father's explanation for why Peter would have gotten his abilities while anyone else wouldn't. The movie is an exercise in waste, and as well fails to bring anything truly new to the table. The conclusion of the love story at the end of this movie is the only fitting aspect, and the only thing the audience will have an emotional reaction to. At the same time it makes it difficult to bring Peter's true love interest of the Spiderman universe Mary Jane Watson into the mix.

Another area I had trouble understanding how it could happen, and was not an area my suspension of disbelief would accept the event, was in the creation of Jamie Foxx's Electro. First, Foxx's Max/Electro character is underdeveloped and then there's no clue given as to why he would survive his accident to turn into this villainous character and no one else would. Especially since electric eels are involved and the movie establishes that Oscorp has abandoned animal experimentation after the events of the last film. So why are the eels there? Also, what about the bullies and tormentors of Max from earlier in the film? Why do they disappear never to be heard or seen again? I'm sure Max would have wanted revenge on them. There's a serious failure on the storytelling here.

So next we come to the other villain of the movie: Harry Osborn, AKA The Green Goblin. His character was also underdeveloped, but was also way too sullen. Dane Dehaan did a fine job with what he had to work with, but the emotional range of the character was sullen and really angry. His relationship with Peter wasn't developed enough and additionally the decease that afflicted his father and now consumes him felt rushed. His overall purpose was to setup the next installment's plot.

And, that's the biggest pitfall of this movie: it's all setup for the bigger franchise. It doesn't stand on its own. Paul Giamatti was poorly used as an extremely one-dimensional Aleksei Sytsevich who will end up being The Rhino in the next film. His character is over-animated and over the top and terribly uses the high level of acting Giamatti is capable of delivering. It doesn't seem like he'll work in The Amazing Spiderman 3 as a compelling villain. It's all a setup for the Sinister Six, and Harry Osborne will be at the center as The Green Goblin.

Beyond the story the technical aspects of the film were on par with a big budget movie like this. The stereoscopic 3D was average however because they chose to make it a hybrid instead of a fully native 3D production. I call it hybrid because it was shot in 2D with 35mm film and all the digital VFX were rendered in stereo. This caused a lot of the live action elements shot on 35mm to feel flatter as the 3D wasn't pushed enough for there to be true depth in the shots. A lot of the CGI elements created by the VFX department worked great in stereo and they pushed it as much as they should have, but that didn't help the earlier decision that the rest would be converted to 3D. It was a step back from the last installment. Also, 3D conversion on 2D shot action scenes where it's close shaky camera and quick cutting never works well for me. I saw the movie in MasterImage 3D and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.

The sound design wasn't anything innovative, but was technically good. The score by Hans Zimmer felt recycled from his previous scores. The Electro theme and music style worked well and had some creativity in it, but still sounded too similar to what Hans Zimmer has done in The Dark Knight franchise and last year's Man of Steel. It's easy to expect more from this talented composer.

Marc Webb did a fine job making this movie, but in the end failed to go beyond average. It's going to be hard keeping excitement amongst fans with this by the numbers delivery. Let's hope that things are greatly improved with the next installment.

Teaser For DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Trailer That's Coming May 8

Here we go! I'm definitely feeling the anticipation for DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES and I love this teaser trailer. If your going to do a trailer for a trailer you absolutely must do it right. It's got to be short, concise and innvoative in some way - in others words, worth your time to watch it. I've watched it a dozen times so this is definitely a success for the movie's Instagram account.

Simply love how Caesar looks! If you haven't checked out Tim's exclusive interview with Andy Serkis (pictured above perf-capping Caesar) - I recommend it.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES opens on July 11. The new trailer launches May 8 - stay tuned! This is a native 3D production shot using industry leading 3ality Technica 3D rigs.

UPDATED: Three New Video Clips From X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Updated: A THIRD clip from the movie has been released today featuring Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) - warning this does give away the reason why Xavier can walk again.

Here's the latest from X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST! First video is a clip from the movie featuring Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique) and Peter Dinklage (Bolivar Trask) and a second featurette on Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).

So yes there are some visual spoilers here - a scene from the movie - but there is not much at all regarding plot, so in my mind it's ok to watch unless you want a pristine viewing experience of the whole thing in a few weeks.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from “X-Men: First Class,” in an epic battle that must change the past — to save our future.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens on May 23 featuring native 3D shot with rigs from our friends at 3ality Technica.

Two New Posters For Frank Miller's SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR

Check two new posters for Dimension's SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR. The obviously stylized posters are for the obviously stylized movie franchise but this time the movie will be in 3D - perfect for this genre based on the graphic novels of Frank Miller (300).

I'm actually much more excited about this movie because of the 3D than the original. Not surprising coming from me I know, but I really think that 3D will dramatically improve the audiences suspension of disbelief for this genre. Can't wait!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miller’s visually stunning “Sin City” graphic novels back to the screen in SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR. Weaving together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales, the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants. SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is the follow up to Rodriguez and Miller’s 2005 groundbreaking film, FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY.

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR opens on August 22 in 3D.

Source: IMP Awards
 

New Trailer For TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Here's the new TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES trailer - though there is very little that's new about it over the first one.

Probably the coolest thing about the movie thus far is obviously the creature effects, but also the fact that Leonardo is being voiced by Johnny Knoxville. Oh and William Fichtner. Anything with Fichtner is definitely cool. :-) And I guess having Megan Fox associated with another Michael Bay production is something too.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save the city and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman with a Screenplay by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec and Evan Daugherty, Producer Michael Bay (the blockbuster Transformers franchise) and director Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans) bring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the popular franchise that has captivated audiences of all ages for decades, into the 21st century.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES opens on August 8 in 3D.

Star Wars Episode 7 Cast Revealed!

Tim here. It's Official: The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer.  

The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

New GODZILLA Image And Featurette !

Check the latest image and featurette from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. The image is sort of a POV shot of Godzilla from the ground and from some distance as well. I'm not overly impressed with this particular shot - no idea why this one was selected for marketing. Godzilla looks a little plastic here - I'm sure motion, breathing, dust, scaling effects (like seeing those birds moving in the background) and of course stereoscopic 3D will bring it all home, but I'm a little meh on this one.

The featurette is very cool because one of the major components of any motion picture is sound, but it holds particular attention when you are talking about a Godzilla movie. That Godzilla roar is unique and has to be captured just so. I like being able to see the focus they put on that aspect of the movie.

Here's the movie's storyline:
In Summer 2014, the world’s most revered monster is reborn as Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic action adventure GODZILLA. From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (MONSTERS) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.

GODZILLA opens on May 16 in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

TITLE CHANGE: Hobbit 3 Now Titled THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES !

SURPRISE! Tim here, and Peter Jackson has revealed today that the third Hobbit movie will in fact be called: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. That's right. Read below what Jackson had to say on his Official Facebook Page announcing the title change:

Peter Jackson

---

_“Inside Information...

Our journey to make The Hobbit Trilogy has been in some ways like Bilbo's own, with hidden paths revealing their secrets to us as we've gone along. "There and Back Again" felt like the right name for the second of a two film telling of the quest to reclaim Erebor, when Bilbo's arrival there, and departure, were both contained within the second film. But with three movies, it suddenly felt misplaced—after all, Bilbo has already arrived "there" in the "Desolation of Smaug".

When we did the premiere trip late last year, I had a quiet conversation with the studio about the idea of revisiting the title. We decided to keep an open mind until a cut of the film was ready to look at. We reached that point last week, and after viewing the movie, we all agreed there is now one title that feels completely appropriate.

And so: "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" it is.

As Professor Tolkien intended, "There and Back Again" encompasses Bilbo's entire adventure, so don't be surprised if you see it used on a future box-set of all three movies.

Before then however, we have a film to finish, and much to share with you. It's been a nice quiet time for us—Jabez and I happily editing away in a dark cave in Wellington—but those halcyon days are quickly coming to an end. It will soon be time to step into the light. Expect to see and hear much about The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in the coming months.

And there's also The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Cut, which we're in the process of finishing, with over 25 mins of new scenes, all scored with original music composed by Howard Shore.

It'll be a fun year!_”

There you have it. At least he revealed some additional information about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition and how much extra footage we can expect. More than likely additional Mirkwood footage will be in there, including Bombur taking a nap after his dip in an enchanted stream as per the book. Also, it's nice to hear that the There and Back Again title isn't completely abandoned as it may show up in box sets of the movie. Here's to hoping for an awesome Extended Edition Trilogy Box Set titled The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

Fear not as the release date for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is still December 17^th, 2014. And, look for word on the release of the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition release date.

WATCH: The First 5 Minutes Of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

Here's the next iteration of the planned trilogy of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON tales - and we get to watch a full 5 minutes from it. Lots of action by way of a dragon race the vikings like to engage in, so some mild visual spoilers in this, but nothing really concerning the overall story I would say.

The imagery looks better and better everytime I see a Dreamworks Animation project! The score is well done again too and with hearing Jay Baruchel's voice again, it was a welcome memory from the first.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The thrilling second chapter of the epic HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON trilogy brings us back to the fantastical world of Hiccup and Toothless five years after the two have successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snoutlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 flies into theaters June 13.

Must Watch: New BTS Featurettes For X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Here's a couple of new featurettes for you and after that last trailer I'm sure you're itching for more. The first one shows Magneto retrieving his helmet from his previous captor's vault and the second focuses on the early '70's wardrobe for some airport scenes and Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique character.

For me BTS scenes are like the appetizer before the meal. I really enjoy seeing directors at work and their crews. Love how Singer came up with the idea for Fassbender's Magneto breaking into a vault to reclaim his helmet! Much better than making a new one.

The BTS also revealed some of the native 3D camera rigging by 3ality Technica and the 3D tent village where the stereographer (my friend John Harper) reviews the stereo shots. Check out the screen caps I made at the end of the post!

So have a watch!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from “X-Men: First Class,” in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens on May 23 in native 3D.

Source: CBM

Watch: Behind The Scenes TV Spot For Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

A few great new shots in this TV spot for Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY! Love seeing Vin Diesel getting performance capped for Groot. The effects look fresher for this movie - not sure why. Loving what I see. The genre for this one I think will resonate with a ton of people.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY finds space adventurer Peter Quill the object of a bounty hunt after stealing an orb coveted by a treacherous villain, but when Quill discovers the power it holds, he must find a way to rally the quartet of ragtag rivals hot on his trail to save the universe.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens on August 1.

MUST WATCH: Final Trailer Set Free For X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST !!

OMG. Here it is. This movie looks like no other superhero movie before it! Yes there's an ensemble like THE AVENGERS. Yes there's time travel like in SUPERMAN. Yes it's all in 3D. But DOFP unites all of those qualities into one movie and amps it up! A HUGE ensemble cast. Time travel galore AND let's not forget the highest quality native 3D that modern technology (3ality Technica and ARRI) and one of the best crews can give us! Yeah, I'd say we're in for one behemoth of a movie.

Check out this trailer. I can understand wanting to hold off for a pristine viewing of the movie, but the trailer itself pulls together a better understanding of what has already been presented to us through all the marketing thus far, but in doing so uses a ton of new footage. I found that there was some visual spoilers in it, but not a huge amount. Your call.

I will say that Led Zeppelin's "Kasmir" has been over used lately, but hey - I love the tune. I don't tire of it.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from “X-Men: First Class,” in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens on May 23 in native 3D! Congrats on the trailer Mr. Singer!

Blackmagic URSA 3D-Capable at $6,500 Per Camera!

"The new URSA Cameras do support genlock and should work with 3D, but will also need to be frame synced."

- Rick Rivera

Tim here, and I've gotten confirmation from Blackmagic Design (via Rick Rivera, a Support Representative) that their new URSA camera will be 3D-Capable. More accurately two URSA cameras can be synced together for Stereoscopic 3D production. This makes this the most affordable 4K Cinema Camera to be able to be used for Stereoscopic 3D! Or does it?

At $6,500 roughly for the PL-Mount version of the camera ($6,000 roughly for EF-Mount), this definitely comes in as the most affordable 4K Cinema Camera. However, the media that it records on to is super expensive. It records on to CFast Cards, and to give you an idea about how much it costs: 120 GB = $1,200! How much 4K RAW gets recorded on to one 120 GB CFast Card at the normal 24 frames per second? Sadly, 6-Minutes! (Source)

Now there are 2 card slots in the camera, so that means you could technically record 12-Minutes before needing to reload both cards; but, that's a total of 240 GB at $2,400 for 12-minutes of RAW footage. OUCH! During a regular shoot you'll want a couple of cards available to continuously shoot. So if you dump two cards while two cards are in the camera that gives you 4 cards, but you'd likely want 6 cards to be safe. Thus, you're looking at $7,200 for recording media!

The price will drop as most recording media has in the past for the industry. And Blackmagic Design isn't the only company using CFast Cards. ARRI is betting on the CFast technology as well as its the primary recording media for their new AMIRA camera. The AMIRA is the lower cost ($45,000) documentary version of their ALEXA. The ARRI ALEXA can record on to three media: SXS Cards, XR Modules (XR Capture Drives), and CFast Cards (through adapter). This should help bring the price down of the CFast media, and as well increase the sizes of cards.

Coming back to the cost of the Blackmagic URSA for 3D Production we need to look at the cost of the camera body and media for each eye. Say one already has lenses and the other necessary camera accessories and just needs to know the cost of the cameras and media. Two PL-Mount URSA Cameras will cost $13,000 to the average consumer. Say one buys 6 CFast Cards per camera, then that's 12 CFast Cards total and will cost $14,400. That means that the URSA in a 3D-Capable capacity costs $27,400! Wow, that's affordable compared to the RED Scarlet or Epic. Each Scarlet will cost $14,500 for the body alone; thus, two Scarlets are $29,000 before RED SSD's for recording media. The Epic is more money than the Scarlet, obviously. The ALEXA is expensive at $75,000 per camera. In the end, The Blackmagic URSA is still the most affordable 4K Camera for Stereoscopic 3D Production!

Let's look at some of the Technical Specs for the Blackmagic URSA compared with the ARRI ALEXA since they are so similar in physical design.

	Blackmagic URSA	ARRI ALEXA
Picture of Camera
Effective Sensor Size	21.12mm x 11.88mm (Super 35)	23.76mm x 13.37mm (Super 35)*
Effective Resolution	3840 x 2160	2880 x 1620*
Exposure Latitude	12 stops	14+ stops
Frame Rates	3840 x 2160p (23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 60) 1920 x 1080p (23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 60) Sensor frame rate support: Up to 60 fps	ProRes HD 0.75 - 120 fps ProRes 2K 0.75 - 60 fps DNxHD HD 0.75 - 120 fps ARRIRAW 0.75 - 120 fps
Exposure Index	ISO Presets: 200, 400, 800, & 1600	ISO Presets: 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, & 3200
White Balance	Presets for 3200 (tungsten), 4500 (fluorescent), 5000, 5600, 6500, and 7500 (variety of daylight conditions).	Presets for 3200 (tungsten), 4300 (fluorescent), 5600 (daylight) and 7000 (daylight cool). Automatic calculation or manual white balance for 2000 to 11000 Kelvin, adjustable in 100 K steps
Lens Mount	EF, PL, B4, HDMI (Camera body without sensor, features an HDMI 4K input with mounting plate to connect any HDMI camera for URSA quality recording, monitoring, audio and timecode.)	ARRI Exchangeable Lens Mount (ELM); ships with Lens Adapter PL Mount with LDS contacts, 54 mm stainless steel PL mount, Super 35 centered. 52.00 mm nominal flange focal depth without FSND filters.
Weight	7.5 kg/16.5 lbs	ALEXA XT body with XR Module: 7.3 kg/16.1 lbs.
Dimensions	Length: 312 mm/12.3", width: 155 mm/6.1", height: 244 mm/9.6"	Length: 332 mm/12.95", width: 183 mm/7.20", height: 158 mm/6.22"
Connectors	Output:   1 x 12G-SDI -- 10-bit 4:2:2 1 x 3G-SDI -- down-converted signal for monitoring Input   1 x 12G-SDI Reference   1 x Reference input Timecode   1 x Timecode input 1 x Timecode output Analog Audio Inputs   2 x XLR -- selected mic/line level and +48 V phantom power Analog Audio Output   1 x 1/4" TRS -- for headphone monitoring SDI Audio Output   2-channel via SDI output Remote Control   1 x LANC on 2.5 mm sub-mini -- controls record START/STOP, iris, and focus USB   1 x USB 2.0 mini type B for software updates Supported Standards   SDI Compliance: SMPTE 292M SDI Audio Sampling: 48 kHz and 24-bit	1x media slot for XR Capture Dive or SxS adapter 2x BNC recording out HD-SDI, 1.5G/3G (REC OUT 1 and REC OUT 2) 2x BNC monitoring out HD-SDI, 1.5G (MON OUT 1 and MON OUT 2) 1x XLR 5-pin analog audio in (AUDIO IN) 1x BNC return video in HD-SDI, 1.5G (RET/SYNC IN) 1x LEMO 16-pin external accessory interface (EXT) 1x Fischer 2-pin 24 V power in (BAT) 3x Fischer 3-pin 24 V remote start and accessory power out (RS) 1x LEMO 2-pin 12 V accessory power out (12 V) 1x LEMO 5-pin timecode in/out (TC) 1x TRS 3.5 mm headphone mini stereo jack (AUDIO OUT) 1x custom LEMO 16-pin electronic viewfinder (EVF) 1x custom LEMO 10-pin Ethernet with 24 V power (ETHERNET) 1x Fischer 5-pin Lens Data Display (LDD) 2x Fischer 5-pin Lens Control System (LCS) 1x Fischer 12-pin for CLM-2, CLM-3, CLM-4 or later (IRIS) 1x Fischer 12-pin for CLM-2, CLM-3, CLM-4 or later (FOCUS) 1x Fischer 12-pin for CLM-2, CLM-3, CLM-4 or later (ZOOM) BNC connectors designed for fast exchange without camera disassembly. These connectors require a special tool.

*ARRI ALEXA has 3 Sensor modes 16:9 (23.76mm x 13.37mm at 2880x1620 pixels), 4:3 (23.76mm x 17.82mm at 2880x2160 pixels), and Open Gate (28.17mm x 18.13mm at 3414x2198 pixels)

As you can see from the above comparison the Blackmagic URSA is a pretty decent camera when compared to the ARRI ALEXA. Naturally the ALEXA is higher end and a camera that would be more prefered by the professionals. However, for a lower-end professional camera the URSA is capable of delivering good quality for those looking to make a project to get them noticed. And Blackmagic will only improve the camera.

Some additional details about the Blackmagic URSA can be found in the link below, but one of the best things about the URSA is that its sensor and lens mount assembly can be changed. This means you can upgrade to the latest sensor technology in the future and keep your investment in the camera body! Now that's a sweet deal. And, the sweetest part of the whole deal is that Blackmagic Design packages the cameras with the full version of its DaVinci Resolve Software!!! They also did this with their previous cinema cameras. What this means is you get the full professional color grading software many feature films use. What's more is that DaVinci Resolve comes with a plethora of Stereoscopic 3D finishing tools. More information about DaVinci Resolve can be found here.

That's the Blackmagic Design URSA Camera for you. You can read more about it on the official Blackmagic Design Website here. The Blackmagic URSA Camera is scheduled to be released late July 2014.

Must Watch: Segment From Opening Fight Of X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST !

The MTV Movie Awards produced this clip from the upcoming Fox mega-movie X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. Take note of how the mutants are using their abilities in ways we haven't seen before and the care that director Bryan Singer has taken to effectively team up the characters to defeat the new enemy.

Here's the movie's storyline:
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from “X-Men: First Class,” in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens on May 23 in stunning 3D - natively shot by the best in the business.

Watch: New Times Square Clip From THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 !

And the clips just keep on coming! Here's the latest from Sony for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 featuring the Times Square showdown between Electro (Jamie Foxx) and Spidey (Andrew Garfield).

Watching this - keep in mind that one of Spider-man's abilities is precognition in his spidey-sense. So it may seem like he is moving impossibly fast, but in actuality the lore has him seeing what will happen and acting before it happens. Makes for an incredibly cinematic moment when time is frozen or in slow motion.

Can't wait for this movie. Spider-man has always been my fav superhero since I was 4 years old. Here's hoping the franchise kicks it up a notch.

Here's the storyline from the movie:
It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: Oscorp.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 opens on May 2 in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

Guy Ritchie's KING ARTHUR To Be Released In 3D

Couple of pieces of news here - firstly, Guy Ritchie has been finally confirmed to helm KING ARTHUR (he has been attached since 2010) for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow and secondly it will be in 3D. Whether or not it will be a native 3D production or a conversion is still being held closely to the vest. Always hoping for native!

KING ARTHUR is expected to be released on July 22, 2016 and it looks to be the first of a six film franchise.

Here's a teaser of the King Arthur legend courtesy of Wikipedia:
Although the themes, events and characters of the Arthurian legend varied widely from text to text, and there is no one canonical version, Geoffrey's version of events often served as the starting point for later stories. Geoffrey depicted Arthur as a king of Britain who defeated the Saxons and established an empire over Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and Gaul. Many elements and incidents that are now an integral part of the Arthurian story appear in Geoffrey's Historia, including Arthur's father Uther Pendragon, the wizard Merlin, Arthur's wife Guinevere, the sword Excalibur, Arthur's conception at Tintagel, his final battle against Mordred at Camlann and final rest in Avalon. The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes, who added Lancelot and the Holy Grail to the story, began the genre of Arthurian romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature. In these French stories, the narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights of the Round Table. Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the legend lives on, not only in literature but also in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and other media.

More info when I get it!

New Photos From DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES !

We saw one the apes clutching an assault weapon during a recent TV spot and now we have another one pointing a shotgun. Seems these apes aren't all about spears at all and have adapted to the human technology that suits their needs. Not all of it does apparently though.

It'll be interesting to see Caesar lead his group of apes while the humans struggle to make a comeback. I'm looking for human interest AND ape interest stories here and when the two factions meet - look out!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

Says Serkis: "Caesar not only has a wife, but also an infant son and a teenage son. This film centers around the notion of family — the survival of the family and what lengths you would go to to protect them when life is extremely hard and tough."

Check out our exclusive interview with Andy Serkis (Caesar) if you missed it! Tim and Andy talk about 3D, the 3ality Technica rigs - and you know, cool MarketSaw stuff :-)

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES opens on July 11.

Source: USA Today

Movie Review - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, 9.2 Stars! Spoiler Protected, $300M Opening!

Yes, the hype is real. Get out and see CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and see it on the largest 3D screen possible. The story alone is worth the price of admission and it's not your typical superhero one trick pony. It's rare that a story like this makes it's way on the screen in this genre, but MAN, I'm hoping for more.

3D is playing a huge role with this Cap release. 40% of all screenings were in 3D and the box office showed it with $96.2 million from the US and Canada this weekend. And the all important overseas markets delivered on all cylinders too with a blammo $207 million! Cap 2 is April's largest opening EVER.

I love how CATWS philosophy is political but still with tons of action. Marvel is definitely on to something by building each standalone movie with a different tone. For example GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY will have much more humor built into it than the other Marvel franchise movies - it's brilliant.

I have two sore points that I have to get out of the way first and then on to focusing on the brilliance of this movie. Note that I have typed out the spoilers in white text below, so you will have to simply highlight those areas to read them if you have already seen the movie.

WARNING SPOILERS BELOW THIS LINE:
What bothered me about this movie and it's not even addressed - which really gets under my skin, is that this is a MAJOR, MAJOR attack on S.H.E.I.L.D. and the world at large - huge in scale and in fact does warrant all the Avengers assembling once again!! This is not a Cap only adventure we're talking about. Nick Fury was considered DEAD. One second from Hydra domination. Where on earth was Tony Stark? The Hulk? Hawkeye? I can understand Thor being hard to get a hold of, but even he would monitor something like this! All we get is Cap and Black Widow. Look, all I'm asking for is an explanation. Remind us that all of Stark's suits are gone. That Bruce Banner is perhaps hiding again. That Hawkeye has residual brain issues from being tapped in THE AVENGERS. :-) C'mon.

Secondly is the loss of suspension of disbelief when Hydra shows up in a super old computer system. I call BS on that one. And anyone in information technology would too - which happens to make up a LOT of this movie's target audience. A sentient computer? I don't care who is in it. Sentient? That won't happen for another 25-25 years! Moving on...

END OF SPOILERS

Here's the storyline for the movie:
After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” finds Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.

So yes, the story was amazing - worth a 94% for their efforts. A treat. Acting was up to standard and because of the talent involved (Redford et al) I gave it a 92% delivery. Character development wasn't as strong (88%) as the original Cap movie, but it didn't need to be as his origins had already been done. Loved what they did with the Winter Soldier. I had some trouble with suspension of disbelief (84%) as I have outlined in the spoiler section - therefore can't go into details. Suffice to say it wasn't an overly jarring experience, but noteworthy.

The Russos did an amazing job directing the movie (93%) and apparently they are approached for the next Cap as well. Good! The sound and score (91%) are what I expect from a Marvel production - amazing! Cinematography was better than average (92%) with the cityscapes playing interesting roles in the movie. The visual effects were marvel standard as well - meaning, WOW (97%). Very well done.

Finally the 3D was a little less than what I anticipated, but still clearly top notch and well worth seeing in 3D. I think that unless my 3D score is down around 70% - you need to see any superhero genre movie in 3D. It really delivers what the directors and writers want to you. The movie was definitely planned in 3D and deftly delivered in a post production 3D effort from Stereo D. One shot in particular I loved and that's a shot of Steve Rogers talking and the city background is all out of focus - a beautiful depth of field shot and with the 3D applied was almost like art. Stunning shot. It's the little things like that. Go see this movie!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER is now playing in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

Two New TV Spots For GODZILLA

Check out these two new TV spots for GODZILLA - they've got some new footage in them as well. Warner Bros. and Legendary are slowly building the momentum for this thing but once it takes off - look out. I expect huge numbers from this movie. Brand alone will take it forward but word of mouth will top it off.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Gareth Edwards directs "Godzilla," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai," "Inception"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), Oscar® winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," "Cosmopolis"), and Sally Hawkins ("Blue Jasmine"), with Oscar® nominee David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck.," "The Bourne Legacy") and Bryan Cranston ("Argo," TV's "Breaking Bad").

GODZILLA opens on May 16 in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

Bryan Singer Talks Native 3D On Set Of X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST !

Here's a quick tour of one of the sets from X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST given to us by director Bryan Singer. He's amped up about shooting in native 3D (using 3ality Technica rigs, Alexa Ms and Leica lens - my friend John Harper is the stereographer) and the cutting edge technology that's in his employ for this epic movie.

The set is very impressive with intricate work done for a fine level of detail. The lighting and green screening is on a large scale as well, so I expect "The Monastary" scene to be accordingly magnificent.

Singer looks right at home in the middle of this large scale effort - and I'm going to look right at home in the theater audience watching it!!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original "X-Men" film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens on May 23.

New Poster And TV Spot For DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

"I need... to speak to Caesar!"

In case you've missed it, I've got the new TV spot and poster for DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. The poster is via our friends over at Collider and it looks quite emotional actually and that's an accomplishment given there are only chimps in the shot. The eyes ARE uncanny.

The TV spot on the other hand shows just how far the scales have become unbalanced with the chimps and apes riding domesticated horses in clear military fashion. I can't tell if the spear points are made of stone or metal, but they are not solely wood. But are they limited to spears? Nope. A little further along and you can see one carrying an assault rifle - most likely acquired from a dead human.

I'll say it again - the VFX looks staggering. Perfect from what I can see. Add in native 3D cinematography shot on industry leading 3ality Technica rigs and you've got a massive visual treat for the eyes. Bring it on Caesar!

Speaking of Caesar, click here to read Tim's recent exclusive interview with man who performance captures him: Andy Serkis.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES opens on July11.