After a 26 year hiatus, Betty Boop will be returning to the silver screen after news broke that Animal Logic Entertainment (the geniuses behind The Lego Movie), Fleischer Studios (the creators of Betty Boop), and Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertaiment plan to create a “music-driven hybrid animated comedy” starring the iconic flirtatious red-clad, curly-haired flapper. Cowell made the news official by tweeting a photo of him and Boop, saying: “Betty is an icon, and one of the biggest stars in the world- I’m thrilled to be working with her. Betty, I’ve worked with some serious divas but I think you could be the biggest of them all!”
Ms. Boop excitedly responded: “I’m so excited to return to the big screen. I only work with the best! Let’s have some fun, Simon. Boop-Oop-a-Doop!”
Last time we saw Boop, she appeared in a cameo in the 1988 movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” Boop originated in 1930 from the creative mind of Max Fleischer for his Talkartoons series and later starred in her own self-titled series, which boasted over 100 episodes and ended in 1939. Nevertheless, Betty Boop, being the cartoon icon she is, has been featured in many TV shows, movies, and several ad campaigns including Coca Cola, Lancome, UNIQLO, and NASCAR. Pretty successful gal, right?
The Betty Boop revival is still in its infancy and does not yet have a director, writer, or release date.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Is The Assassin's Creed
Movie Slayed? Rumors
Say No More Michael
Fassbender?
What will come of the Assassin's Creed movie?
For anyone who has played any of Ubisoft’s popular Assassin’s Creed games, you know how awesome it would be to see kick-butt parkour moves and mind-blowing time/memory travel on the big screen. However, a rumor has been circulating that Michael Fassbender, who is well-known for his role as Magneto in the latest X-Men films, has quit the project and will no longer bear the legendary assassin’s hood.
No more Michael Fassbender?? O_o
Apparently, Fassbender has reportedly left the project due to inefficient communication with the studio and a deviance from the game storyline towards a new original plot. Thankfully, after thorough digging, it seems like Assassin's Creed fans can take a sigh of relief in knowing that Fassbender is still on board with the project. In fact, he has expressed his excitement in several interviews, stating that "it was very interesting - the idea of reliving memories." But life isn't all fun and games for this film's production team. They face a lot of pressure because of the negative stigma associated with video game film adaptations. Let's face it, Max Payne, Silent Hill, and Prince of Persia weren't exactly record-breaking box office hits.
Interesting Costume...
The film is already in pre-production. Bill Collage and Adam Cooper are reportedly responsible for writing the film, while Justin Kurzel is a rumored potential director.
Our Beloved Assassins
The film is currently set for an August 2015 release.
If Michael Fassbender doesn't work out, maybe they should just hire this dude...he already has the hood...
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Source: mtv.com, vcpost.com, gamerheadline.com
ALERT! Exciting Brand New
"Into the Woods" Images
Just Released
If you weren't already excited for the Christmas release of Disney's Into the Woods, these newly released images of our favorite fairy tale characters are sure to change that! Check them out below! Stephen Sondheim's musical takes a dark, realistic, and not-so-happily-ever-after twist on the beloved stories from our childhoods. Read more about this upcoming film adaption of the award-winning musical by clicking here. To see the official trailer click here.
Also make sure to check out my moviepilot page here and follow me on twitter @LyVelezMovies for more awesome movie updates and reviews! :D
Anna Kendrick as CinderellaDaniel Huttlestone as Jack and Tracey Ullman as his motherMacKenzie Mauzy as the Golden Haired RapunzelJames Corden as the Baker and Meryl Streep as the WitchEmily Blunt as The Baker's Wife and James Corden as The BakerBilly Magnusson as Rapunzel's PrinceLilla Crawford as Little Red Riding HoodStreep (Witch), Blunt (Baker's Wife), Corden (BakerJohnny Depp as the Big Bad WolfPunch & Blanchard (Stepsisters), Baranski (stepmom)Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince
Monday, July 28, 2014
"Lucy" Review: Pros and Cons
This weekend, Lucy ($44,025,000), the new sci-fi flick starring Scarlett Johansson, comes out on top, crushing its competitor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Hercules ($29,000,000). After getting tangled up with the wrong guy, Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) finds herself forced to carry the synthetic drug CPH4 which has been gruesomely implanted into her stomach. She then suffers a brutal beating which pops the pouch of CPH4. As the CPH4 circulates through her body, this drug deal victim can now access more than 10% of her brain. With predatory ferocity, Lucy sets out to seek revenge on her attackers and attain the rest of the CPH4 she needs to survive.
Sounds pretty cool, right? With a cast consisting of well-known, talented actors like Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman, you’d expect a sure fire hit. Let’s evaluate Lucy's pros and cons, shall we?
Pros:
• As the CPH4 continues to increase brain capacity, the person begins to become “unblocked” and is stripped of emotion, empathy, sympathy, and pain. Scarlett Johansson delivers an incredible performance as an unfeeling, dangerous super genius. With a constant blank stare and occasional unnerving head tilt, Johansson perfectly portrays how a person stripped of all emotion and pain is essentially deprived of their humanity, making them all the more dangerous.
• The film also addresses man’s ignorance when it comes to science. We believe we have advanced so far that we are the rulers of the universe when, in reality, we have just skimmed the surface. The havoc wreaked by Lucy shows how incapable we are of controlling natural phenomenon.
• Morgan Freeman’s voice (enough said)
Cue the creepy head tilt...
Cons:
• Before you go see this, know that the science is completely botched. However, if you can get over that, it might not be too much of an obstacle. Admittedly, though, it did make it difficult to take the film seriously at times
• Several cheesy lines are heard throughout the movie, especially ones regarding the brain. It seemed as if the script writers threw in the word "brain" way too much in an attempt to give the film a feeling of scientific validity
• The general plot is very straight forward and predictable. In an attempt to make things interesting, weird, LSD, trippy scenes were thrown around that were often incoherent and unnecessary.
• To be honest, Morgan Freeman’s character was unnecessary and his presence was probably simply a publicity strategy to get audiences to come.
• Lastly, if you were looking forward to an edge-of-your-seat action thriller, this film actually veers more towards the psychology and focuses less on brute force fight scenes (not necessarily a con, but I figured you should know).
All in all, Lucy is geared towards a very specific audience and may not be for everyone. It definitely has interesting aspects, but ultimately, if I were you, I’d probably RedBox this one.
Favorite quote: "It's like all things that make me human are fading away." ~Lucy explaining her situation to Dr. Norman (Freeman)
Movie Score: http://www.amazon.com/Lucy-Soundtrack-Motion-Picture-Serra/dp/B00M0JHA0C
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Disney's Into the Woods Coming this Christmas
This coming Christmas day, Disney brings us a family-friendly musical mash up of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. The Tony award-winning musical Into the Woods is getting a cinematic adaptation featuring the spell binding music of composer Stephen Sondheim and will be brought to life by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Meryl Streep (the Witch), Johnny Depp (the Wolf), Chris Pine (the Prince), Anna Kendrick (Cinderella), and many more. As a darker version of the famous fairy tales we heard as kids, Into the Woods will follow in the footsteps of Maleficent and Snow White and the Huntsman. However, despite the musical’s more adult-like feel, Disney has announced that the film adaptation will be a fairy tale adventure for all ages.
As we wait for Christmas day, let’s enjoy some pictures of our favorite fairy tale characters being brought to life.
P.S. Brand new images for Into the Woods have just been released! Check them out here. To see the official trailer click here.
Remember to follow my moviepilot page here and follow me on twitter @LyVelezMovies!
Chris Pine as Cinderella's PrinceMeryl Streep as the WitchAnna Kendrick as CinderellaJohnny Depp as the WolfEmily Blunt as the Baker's Wife
Top 5 Movies to Get You Ready for College
Are you about to become a college freshman, or are you a senior getting ready to finish your college career? Either way, here are some movies you have to watch to get ready for the upcoming fall semester!
5. Mean Girls
I know what you’re thinking, “why the heck is Mean Girls number 5?” Calm down. It’s only because Mean Girls is technically high school not college. Nevertheless, this cult chick flick classic is a must see before you head off into the big scary world of college that is bound to be full of Regina George’s. If you want to make a good impression, make sure to wear your most “fetch” outfit!
4. She’s the Man
Once again, it’s a high school movie, but come on! It’s She’s the Man! Having a hard time getting a cute guy’s attention? Try Viola’s method, dress up as his roommate, flash the entire school, and live happily ever after!
3. Sydney White
This awesome modern Snow White story follows Sydney White, a Kappa sorority legacy, as she does her best to fit it despite her tomboyish ways. After being embarrassed in front of the student body, she befriends a group of seven dorky guys who are about to get evicted from their home the Vortex by the notorious Greeks. Determined to prove the Greeks wrong, Sydney helps these seven guys take over the student body. Freedom to the Seventh Power!
2. The House Bunny
This hilarious modern classic tells the story of Shelley, a playboy bunny who thinks she’s been kicked out of the Mansion, as she wanders onto a college campus and tries to transform a group of outcast girls into the hottest chicks on campus.
1. Legally Blonde
At the top of the list we have everyone’s favorite Legally Blonde! Everyone’s favorite blonde Elle Woods is determined to follow her boyfriend to Harvard Law School. After getting there, everyone believes she doesn't belong there, and Elle sets out to prove them wrong and become the most fabulous lawyer ever!
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
For
those looking for an action packed yet deep and thought provoking film, Dawn of
the Planet of the Apes is the movie for you. Starting off, the obvious
flaunting of CGI’d apes hunting in the jungle caused me to worry that perhaps
the plot had fallen victim to the big Hollywood special effects that caused the
downfall of movies like Alice in Wonderland and Oz the Great and Powerful. Special
effects are great and all as long as you don’t neglect the plot line.
Thankfully, the appearance of the humans, who were thought to have gone extinct
due to the simian virus, amps up the tension in what seems like the apes’
perfect life. From then on, the film cascades into a beautiful mixture of
edge-of-your-seat battle scenes and thought-provoking tear-jerking events.
The tensions within the film branch
far from simply the tension between man and ape. The leader of the human colony
Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) is at odds with Malcolm (Jason Clarke), the human
colony’s co-founder and an advocate for peace between the apes and humans.
Dreyfus knows that the colony is desperate for power, and firmly believes in
the eradication of the simian threat. Is it better to have mercy and live in
peace, or eliminate the threat and kill hundreds of humans as well as apes?
The film also brings into question
how much we can truly trust those seemingly similar to us. The apes believe they are superior to humans,
yet one ape, Koba (Toby Kebell), loathes them and not without reason. He suffered
abuse under human hands and bears the scars to prove it. The fact that the ape
leader Caesar (Andy Serkis) not only tolerates the humans but even helps them
pushes Koba from loathing to an obsessive lust for power. This lust leads Koba
to shoot Caesar, usurp his power, and leave Caesar for dead. Sound familiar?
Yes, this part of the movie is basically a simian version of Julius Caesar,
except for the fact that Caesar miraculously recovers from being shot in the chest with a machine gun (I’ll let that one slide).
Among the blood-shed and incredible
visual effects, the most intimate and realistic moment was the tear-jerking
exchange between Malcolm and Caesar following Koba’s defeat. After all the
turmoil these two have gone through, you half expect them to hold hands and
frolic into the forest to live happily ever after. Well, that is definitely not
what happens. Malcom warns Caesar to leave the tower since human armies are on
their way, responding to an emergency radio call from Dreyfus’s human colony.
Yet, Caesar stays put, explaining that he has finally realized that despite all
of his and Malcolm’s efforts, war is inevitable. Yes, this movie is fiction.
For Pete’s sake, there are chimps and orangutans riding horses. Nevertheless,
Caesar’s statement definitely rings true in reality. Especially now, what with
the U.S.’s continued struggle with the Middle East and even North Korea.
All in all, Dawn of the Planet of
the Apes has much more to offer than just cinematic visual funsies. It’s an exhilarating
adventure for anyone looking for a thrill on a Friday night, and Caesar the ape
brings into question many issues that all too true to us humans in everyday
life.
Favorite Quote: "I've come to realise how like them we are" ~ Caesar speaking to his son while he recovers from surgery
Music Score: http://www.michaelgiacchinomusic.com/soundtracks/dawn-of-apes.html
