First Look at Ryunosuke Kamiki as Sōujirōu Seta

Here's Ryunosuke Kamiki as Sōujirōu Seta on the set of the second (and third) Rurouni Kenshin film.

He actually doesn't look like Sojiro. :(

Maybe it's just in the angle?

Infinity # 6 Spoilers - Thanos' Final Fate

Infinity # 6 was nice but still not-that quite satisfying. But for something that was built to be this big, it shined brightly.

What's really interesting here was the ending to the Thanos plot thread. This was the big fight and it doesn't get any bigger with Captain America leading a handful of the most powerful members of his team against Thanos and what's left of his Order including Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive.

In the final pages of the Thanos chapter, we see Thor go head to head against Thanos...

Oh and Thane is also here watching his pappy's fight against the Avengers. That's when the whole face-turn-heel moment comes about...

So what exactly happened to Thanos after that flashing light?

Turned into amber no less by Thane. Same goes for Proxima Midnight.

It's living death for the organisms that gets Thane pissed off. The Avengers win, the Earth is saved and the galactic alliance return to their lives to rebuild. Meanwhile, the Illuminati adds in a new prize to their secret stash.

Thank you Jonathan Hickman, Jim Cheung and Dustin Weaver for this wonderful tale. It's on the upper echelons of good Marvel stories that have come out in the past two years or so. 

Jessy Mendiola Rocks Jeric Teng's Socks in McDonalds Prank

Watch as Jessy Mendiola (a perennial darling here in thefanboyseo.com) practically disarms cager Jeric Teng all thanks to his brother Jeron Teng and McDonalds.

There's a second or so here where she actually feeds the younger Teng some fries. Good times. Oh and to quote a good friend...

YOU LUCKY BASTARD!!!!

Jeric was utterly speechless and wasn't sure if this was really happening.

The most epic reaction in the video when Jessy sits beside Teng.

Here's the video.



Here's another look at Jessy before we close down this post.

Delivery Man Review

Caught Dreamworks Pictures' "Delivery Man" last night and I found it surprisingly good despite a so-so trailer. The film stars Vince Vaughn as Dave Wozniak, a man who finds out that he has fathered 500 or so kids thanks to a sperm bank. It also features Chris Pratt and Cobie Smulders and is directed by Ken Scott.

And if you think this is an original, a quick Wikipedia check shows us that this is actually a remake of a 2011 French film entitled "Starbuck". Despite that, I think this is nice movie.

WHATS GOOD:

- Vince Vaughn was OK here. He's not the doofus nor the ass that we know him from other films. This one's a more mature Vaughn. Still if you look at him, it'll probably get you a snicker or two but thanks to the material and probably the director, this is a different Vaughn. In his case, different was good.

- Robin Scherbatsky Cobie Smulders. She looks beautiful whatever the scene. Not convincing as a police nor as a mother but her presence is definitely adds a little nice vibe to the movie. She's hot.

Let's go for another one...

And another one...

OK, enough Sherbatsky. 

- CHRIS PRATT! This guy stole the show for me. Each scene is pure genius. He plays Vaughn's best friend and attorney Brett who helps him out with legalities in this case. A lot of great comedic beats here in this movie for the guy who would be playing the Starlord next year.

Parks and Recreations has proven that this guy is definitely a keeper for comedic roles. Also I hear that he actually gained 60 pounds just to get into the role of Brett which is really interesting.  

- The plot might be a little dull but it's all those heartfelt scenes where Vaughn either does an "Act of Random Kindness" or plays Guardian angel that can really get you. The film's not a 'crier' but it'll touch a soft spot especially for would-be fathers, husbands and boyfriends. (I suddenly have this urge to call up my dad and play pool with him)

- There's a moral lesson in the movie. Somewhere here. Regardless, it's a really fun movie. Also don't do drugs, always go to work on time and don't use the delivery truck as your own personal vehicle, people are waiting for fresh cut meat dammit! 

DELIVERY MAN is a nice movie. It's got it's merits and while it's not going to be really, really stellar I can say that you can enjoy this a lot. Again, word of caution, the comedy bits are with Pratt not with Vaughn. That'll save you some grief. 

Verdict: 6.5/ 10

Special thanks to Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures for the photos and all that.  DELIVERY MAN opens Dec. 4

Vince Vaughn Fathers 533 (!) Children in "Delivery Man"

Vince Vaughn has starred in some of the biggest box office comedies of the past decade, winning over audiences with his characteristic deadpan delivery and scathing sense of humor. Having played the lovable Everyman many times before, DreamWorks Pictures' new heartwarming comedy “Delivery Man” serves as a departure for him as an actor. A touching story filled with honesty and hope – in addition to humor – the film gives audiences a glimpse of a more mature Vince Vaughn.

“Delivery Man” tells the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak (Vaughn) whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

Now married and the father to two children of his own, Vaughn was drawn to the role of David Wozniak as he wanted to address the issues of balancing life and family from a fresh perspective.

“It’s a great premise that is a little bit crazy,” says Vaughn, “but underneath it all the movie is about family, about connection and about finding your way, so it has a lot of heart to it. The movie deals with real issues that families go through, what people go through in life trying to find their way and be successful, in a very authentic way. But there’s also an underlying optimism, warmth and love to the film that’s very powerful and funny.”

David is the eldest of three sons in the Wozniak family. He works for the family’s Brooklyn-based meat business with his father and brothers, but is a constant foul-up, albeit a loveable and likeable one. “David is a strange character,” explains producer André Rouleau. “Maybe he is not the best man in the world, but he’s got a big heart, and that’s why people love him.”

David’s past comes back to haunt him when he learns that the anonymous donations he made to a fertility clinic years ago under the pseudonym “Starbuck” have produced 533 Wozniak descendants, resulting in a paternity nightmare.

Adds Vaughn, “David is a guy who hasn’t grown up. He’s still very childlike in a lot of ways. He doesn’t have a lot of adult responsibility and he realizes that his girlfriend is pregnant. He owes money to some mobsters who are getting impatient and are giving him some pretty rough coaxing, and he’s constantly late on his bills.”

Writer/director Ken Scott was thrilled to give Vaughn the chance to tackle the role of David Wozniak. “It's always about how this impacts David's character,” Scott says. “So, for me, it was very important to find a great actor, someone good with comedy, someone who was strong enough to carry the whole movie on his shoulders, and someone who we would want to follow on this journey. Vince was very passionate about this story, he loved the story, he loved the character, obviously, and he has the talent to carry this movie. I felt he was perfect for this role.”

The filmmakers knew after just one meeting with Vaughn that they had found the right man. executive producer Scott Mednick recalls, “As we walked out to my car, the three of us looked at each other and said, ‘My God, he's David!’ Vince brings a depth and a heart to the role that I think audiences are not expecting … he does an amazing job. He takes this film on his back and delivers, for my nickel, the performance of his life.”

“He’s showing us another dimension of his major talent,” adds executive producer Mark Sourian. “Vince has always given great comedic performances. Now, with ‘Delivery Man,’ audiences get to see more of his versatility and depth as an actor. I think Vince was happy to play a part that was different from the roles he's had in the past. He definitely brings something amazing and unique to the character of David. I think, as a new father himself, he brought a personal understanding of the situation that nobody else could have performed as well.”

Opening soon across the Philippines on Dec. 4, “Delivery Man” is a DreamWorks Picture distributed by Walt Disney Studios International.

Armitage Returns as Thorin in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"

He made a huge impression as the Dwarf Prince, Thorin Oakenshield in last year's “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” Now, Richard Armitage returns to play the same character in the highly anticipated sequel, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”

As a young Dwarf Prince, Thorin witnessed the destruction and terror wrought when a great fire-breathing dragon attacked the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. When no one came to the aid of the surviving Dwarves, a once proud and noble race was forced into exile. Now, as the strong, fearless fighter and respected leader of The Company of Dwarves, Thorin is determined to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that brought such misery upon his people.

Question: What is Thorin like when we meet him in this movie, and how is he different from the Thorin in the first film?

Richard Armitage: I think one of the interesting things about Thorin on the Quest is that when Gandalf is present, he has to defer to Gandalf’s authority. Thorin has always understood that Gandalf’s in the driver’s seat, so there’s more time in the second film when Gandalf is absent from the Dwarves and Thorin’s really in control. But, unfortunately, they seem to stumble into greater difficulties.

Getting incarcerated in the Woodland Realm by the Elves is, I think, possibly the lowest point that they get to on the Quest. They’re stripped of all their belongings, of all their weapons and all hope is lost, really. That’s key to the center of the second film in terms of character development. I think that’s the moment when Thorin realizes that Bilbo is not just one of the men on a Quest. He’s actually going to be an asset in terms of retrieving the Arkenstone. So really that’s where we get with Thorin in this sweeping arc, which is actually a dent in his success rating, as it were.

Q: Along those same lines, in this film, Thorin does finally set eyes on the Lonely Mountain, his lost homeland. What kind of effect does it have on him?

Armitage: It’s so interesting because it’s a really complicated push and pull, which I knew from the beginning, and figuring how to play it was quite a challenge. The Quest is everything that’s driving him forward. The map and the key are catalysts that drive him forward, the promise of his Kingdom, of his throne, which is very personal, and also the promise of reclaiming all of that wealth for his people which, again, is very personal. But, at the same time, the terror and the demon that sits inside of the Mountain is so repulsive to him that he’s pushed away from it as much as he’s drawn towards it. It’s a very complicated, emotional moment for them.



Q: You have said that when you first began to play this role, director Peter Jackson’s belief in you helped you to find the leader in yourself to play Thorin. How has that been as you’ve continued this journey?

Armitage: Well, I think it’s partly finding my own love for the character because he wasn’t somebody initially that I was in love with. I was often at odds with him and disagreeing with him, and all the while I’m trying to defend him. But I think I found that place in him whereby the thing I loved about him was his loyalty to his men and the fact that he would fight to the death for them.

Q: Can you tell me about the Elves that capture Thorin and the Company in the Mirkwood Forest? How does Thorin feel about these Elves?

Armitage: It’s Thorin’s worst nightmare, really. I mean, the Dwarves and Elves in general have had a very antagonistic history. They’ve always been at war, but this is very personal. When they were annihilated and forced to leave the Mountain into exile, Thorin stood looking up at Thranduil, sort of begging for his help. And Thranduil turned his back on them and didn’t give them any sanctuary, and they had to wander Middle-earth as vagabonds, and find a new life in the Blue Mountains. I don’t think that’s something that he’s been able to forget.

So, being captured by them and forced in front of Thranduil and then locked away in his prison, that’s what I consider to be the lowest point in Thorin’s career, as it were. But before he’s locked away, he does voice his feelings to Thranduil. He says, ‘This is what you’ve done to my people. This is why there’s this antagonism between us and I’ll never forgive you for that.’ So, there’s a certain satisfaction in being able to say those things, but nevertheless, Thranduil is going to stop them from going on the Quest and he locks him in the dungeons—locks which, incidentally, had been built and designed by Dwarves, so they know that they cannot get out.



Q: Working with Peter Jackson again, was the experience the same as before or was it different?

Armitage: It was different. I think there was an increased sense of trust between both of us. It was always there, but I think it was much more evident when you go back to shoot with someone again. He would work with much more detail. We had a lot more shortcuts to get to things because I understood exactly what he meant, really, without saying things.

And sometimes it takes you by surprise. I’d go away the night before and imagine how the scene would be, and come back in and the first thing Peter would do would be to tell me exactly what I’d imagined. I was like, ‘Oh, we really are on the same page.’ So that was a brilliant thing. And certainly in the final two weeks of pickups, it was very much myself and Peter working together. We were both pushed to the limit and we really got through the last week together. All I can say is it was a relationship based on trust.

Q: Some characters are going to be showing up for the first time in the second movie, such as Legolas, Tauriel, Thranduil and Beorn. I was wondering if you could talk about working with Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace and Mikael Persbrandt?

Armitage: The only character I never really got to work with, sadly, was Evangeline, although we were in the same scene together and we share a look. But, yeah, I really enjoyed working with Mikael, and the same with Lee and Orlando.

I had a great scene with Lee, which was very, very satisfying to play because, as I’ve said before, it’s a chance to hear the voice of the Dwarves staking their claim and you don’t often get to hear that. With Orlando as well, there was a great scene where he takes Orcrist from Thorin and believes that Thorin has stolen it from the Elves because Orcrist is an Elvish blade.



Q: Since the release of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” has your life changed in any way? Do you have people come up to you and want to talk about him?

Armitage: People don’t really recognize you. But I had a really great one. We were doing the DVD release in Australia. I did a Q&A in a cinema, and I had such a great response. I really felt the enthusiasm for the movies, but also particularly for the character.

One of the great questions was, ‘Who was the love of Thorin’s life?,’ which is something that I had thought about. People really invest in not just the character or the story but the history of the character and the future of the character. It’s something that stimulates you to ask more questions when you’re developing a role.

A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” will be released in 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures on Dec. 11, 2013.

WARFARE OF HUNTERS AND PREYS IN “THE WHITE DRAGONS” Exclusive in SM Cinemas Starting December 4

“The White Dragons” inventively tweaks Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” where director Ryan Little reignites the classic tale like never before in this explosive action epic adventure.

The story takes us to medieval times when dragons are being hunted for the vitriol that powers the human world and where Ishmael (played by Corey Sevier) and his trusted friend Queequeg (Kepa Kruse) lead a crew of dragon hunters. The much sought after vitriol is a highly explosive liquid substance found inside the dragons, giving life and power to the mythical realm they live in. Their Captain’s adopted daughter Rachel (Sofia Pernas) joins them in their quest. Believing that the family of her father had been slaughtered by dragons, Rachel’s untiring quest to annihilate the last living dragon soon finds out the darkest secrets of her kingdom in the White Dragon’s lair.

“The White Dragons” will open December 4 (exclusive) in SM Cinemas from CrystalSky Multimedia.

A By-The-Numbers Look at "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"

Are you curious as to what it took to make “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” a reality? Here's a by-the-numbers look on the fun facts surrounding the production of the Peter Jackson film.

Number of crew member whose sole job on set was to look after prosthetic hands: 1

Years the textures department at Weta Digital worked on Smaug’s skin: 25

Average days shooting on a single set: 26

Inches that 15-year-old actor John Bell (Bain) grew over the length of production: 4

Tons of silicon used to generate the facial prosthetics: 4

Hours to complete hair, make-up, prosthetics and wardrobe for each of the 13 Dwarves: 5

Average number of doubles used for each main character, including scale, stunt and riding doubles: 5

Length of toupe tape used to attach beards to faces: 7 km

Weeks of location filming on the Trilogy: 9

Human hair for wigmaking: 10kg; Wigs created for the Dwarves: 91

Average days it took to renew a studio with a new set: 104

Tons of silicone used to mold all of the armor and weapons for all cultures: 14

Polystyrene trees, used in various configurations, to make the Mirkwood set: 32

People it took—including actors, doubles and stunt men—to portray 13 Dwarves: 65

Age of the oldest vintage microphone used to record the score: 80 years

Microphones used in the film’s scoring session: 88

Musicians in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra recording the film’s score: 95

Studio sets built for the Trilogy: 99

Hobbit feet for Bilbo: 100+

Drivers needed to transport the cast and crew to New Zealand locations: 115

Approximate population of the Trilogy’s art department: 250+

Beards made for the production: 263

Bottles of spirit gum used in the production: 300

Traveling weapons for the 13 Dwarves: 547

Crew traveling on location between two units: 800

Bottles of isopropyl alcohol used to remove prosthetics: 860

‘Extras’ that needed to be cast for the Trilogy: 1200

Hand-spun goblets created for Smaug’s Lair: 2000

Props recorded in the furniture catalogue for Lake-town: 3000

Approximate number of continuous hours the art department worked to build, decorate, and tear down sets. This involved different crews working 24/7: 8900 hours

Prosthetics made for the Trilogy: 11,862

Cups of coffee made by craft services throughout production: 140,000+

Punched aluminum gold plated coins trickled over Smaug’s Lair: 170,000

From Academy Award®-winning filmmakerm 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.”

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all—a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself—the Dragon Smaug.

A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” will be released in 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures on Dec. 11, 2013.

Uncanny Avengers # 14 Spoilers - Two Deaths

Ugh. Marvel had to stick with the classic make great characters dead and while this definitely proves that the rumors are true, it leaves a bad taste especially for fans of these two characters.

OK time for the ever classic SPOILER ALERT

So what happens here is the team is split into different parts of the Apocalypse Twin's ship. Wolverine was taken out by the his son Daken who was revived as a Horseman. Thor is in another area battling the resurrected Sentry (whom he killed at the end of SIEGE). Wanda (Scarlet Witch) is together with Wonder Man hatching a plan under the watchful eye of Simon's brother the Grim Reaper. 

Captain America and Havok are fighting Banshee with The Wasp. It's really only Rogue and Sunfire that's walking freely and they plan on murdering their teammate Scarlet Witch to save mutantkind and the rest of the world.

That's a lot to take and we're not even in the actual issue. Issue 14 climaxes with the scene where Rogue stabs Wanda. 

Shiro and Simon are fighting when Wanda drops...

Rogue versus Grim Reaper round 2

She gets impaled by Reaper's scythe, something that should not have happened if Rogue still retained a bit of Miss Marvel's invincibility, well to some extent anyway... 

I feel sad for Wolverine at this point because not only does he have to hurt/kill/maim his son again (which he killed during 'Final Execution', he also has to witness the eventual death of Rogue. And try as he may to get her off the Reaper's scythe, it's really no use. 

Wanda completes the spell and with that Wonder Man also disappears into thin air, since he effectively has been unmade by the Scarlet Witch. 

Dammit Rick Remender. Too much feels. 

Idina Menzel is Elsa, the Snow Queen in "Frozen"

From the outside, Elsa looks poised, regal and reserved, but in reality, she lives in fear as she wrestles with a mighty secret—she was born with the power to create ice and snow. Broadway superstar and film actress Idina Menzel (“Enchanted”) provides the voice of Elsa, in Walt Disney Animation Studios' stunning big-screen comedy-adventure “Frozen.”

Haunted by the moment her magic nearly killed her younger sister Anna (voice of Kristen Bell), Elsa has isolated herself, spending every waking minute trying to suppress her growing powers. Her mounting emotions trigger the magic, accidentally setting off an eternal winter that she can’t stop. She fears she’s becoming a monster and that no one, not even her sister, can help her.

Menzel brought warmth and likability to what might otherwise have been a cold character—by definition. “Idina has a sense of vulnerability in her voice,” says director Chris Buck. “She plays a very strong character, but someone who lives in fear—so we needed someone who could portray both sides of the character, and Idina was just amazing.”

Menzel says she finds her character unique. “Elsa is the Snow Queen; she could easily be perceived as a villain, but that’s not who she is. She's extremely complicated and misunderstood. She actually banishes herself from her home to avoid hurting others, and in return, she finds the liberation to celebrate who she is.”

The celebration is marked by the song “Let It Go,” and the character undergoes a profound transformation—inside and out. “Before ‘Let It Go,’” says character design supervisor Bill Schwab, “Elsa is really buttoned up, her hair is up—everything is perfect. During the song, she gives herself permission to be who she is and everything changes—her hair is more wild, her gown is magical. She’s finally free—even if she is all alone.”

According to Paul Briggs, head of story, Elsa’s new-found freedom—and the journey Anna takes as a result—showcases one of the film’s key themes: family. “The one person Elsa most needs on her side when her secret is finally revealed is her sister,” says Briggs. “The strength of the family bond is what makes this story so powerful, because it’s her sibling who’s willing to look beyond her powers and stand between her and the world if that’s what it takes. She just has to find a way to let that happen.”

Tony® Award-winning Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel has a diverse career on the stage, in film and television, and in music. Lauded for strong yet emotional performances, Menzel recently culminated a successful international orchestra tour.

She reached superstardom on Broadway with her Tony®-winning performance as Elphaba in the blockbuster “Wicked,” and in her Tony-nominated role as Maureen in the revolutionary “Rent.” Menzel also appeared as Sheila in the Encores! production of “Hair” and starred as Amneris in Broadway's “Aida.” In London, she premiered in “Wicked” in the West End and received the Theatregoers Choice Award for best actress in a musical.

Opening across the Philippines in 3D and 2D on Nov. 27, “Frozen” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.