20th Century Fox's Epic Review

Here's a review for 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios' EPIC featuring the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farell and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Showing May 24.

This is a non-spoiler review, so just go ahead and read on...

Blue Sky Studios Breaks New Grounds in the Animated Spectacle 'Epic'

Prepare to be hurtled along in a journey to the fantastical, spectacular world of “Epic” from Blue Sky Studios, the studio that brought to life the most beloved and successful motion pictures “Ice Age” and “Rio.”

Filmmaker Chris Wedge helms the upcoming larger-than-life “Epic” based on the beloved children’s book “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs” by William Joyce which introduced Samurai-like warriors, the Leafmen– and a war being waged in our own backyards between the forces of life and the forces of decay.

Django Unchained Review PART !

Here's my take on the "Django Unchained" directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson. The film will be locally distributed by Columbia Pictures Philippines and opens March 13 with an R-16 rating. 

Tarantino releases his 'love letter' for the Spaghetti Western genre in the film and it's an interesting mix of violence and metaphysical discussions of Freedom. There's a lot of great things to love (or like) about Django Unchained from the visuals, to the humor to the action right down to the themes in the film. 

Also before I proceed, I'd just like to point out that I'll keep things simple. Lots of reviews have already been released using high-fallutin' words and I don't want that. I don't want to use a lot of fancy snazzy terms that other reviews used for their review of Django so I'll make it simple. 

Jamie Foxx plays the titular Django Freeman, a former slave who buys his freedom from bounty hunter Dr. King Schulze (Academy Award Winner Christoph Waltz) and later goes on a blood-soaked mission to rescue his wife Broomhilda Von Shaft from rich plantation owner Calvin Candy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his Uncle Tom archetype butler Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson). The movie is set in the Southern states from Texas all the way to Mississippi and occurs two years before the United States Civil War just so you know.

I love the visuals here in the film. Django Unchained is set in different locales native to the story and to America. There's snowy mountains and rough terrains like badlands and even the basic sleepy town. Since this is a Tarantino film, you can be damned sure that thing the guy who also directed classic films like "Kill Bill" and "Inglorious Basterds" will play with the settings. One great example here is the use classic blood spurt on cotton plants. This of course happens in Big Daddy's plantation (Big Daddy is played by Don Johnson). This is also very symbolic in the sense that this completely ends the days of Django living as a slave. 

Another thing that might appeal to you in Django Unchained is the thematic use of the Germanic myth 'Ring of the Nibelung' to shadow Django's quest to rescue his wife Broomhilda Von Shaft.  I believe the right term to use when a film draws parallels to a myth is called monomyth. That's what Tarantino used in this movie. In the original myth, the epic's hero, Siegfried had to overcome three obstacles before reaching his beloved wife Broomhilda. He had to scale a high mountain (which might be the analogy for Big Daddy), bathe in the blood of a dragon (Calvin Candy) and in the end he had to go through hellfire in order to win back Broomhilda. It's amazing how Tarantino used all three and still manage to develop a pretty good flick. 

The music is pretty awesome here. Of course Tarantino'd be stupid if he didn't call in the superb stylings and scorings of Ennio Morricone. The main title track, Django is a throwback to the classic Western and Spaghetti Westerns that prevailed in the 70s and 80s. Luis Bacalov and Rocky Roberts provides the first track which pretty much got me hooked. Other tracks in the OST that appeared in the film was "Who Did That To You" by John Legend which is a nice mix of modern themes together with classic sensibilities. Awesome shit. 

Thus ends part 1 of my review for Django Unchained. The film is now showing with an R-16 rating from the Philippines' MTRCB. No cuts whatsoever so you should steel yourself for the violence and the racial slurs and Jamie Foxx's junk.

New Trailer for 20th Century Fox's Epic

Director Chris Wedge (Ice Age) returns with "Epic," his latest animated fantasy about a young girl who discovers a battle between good and evil based on the book "The Leafmen and the Brave Good Bugs" by William Joyce Starring the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Colin Farrell, Jason Sudeikis, Beyonce Knowles, Josh Hurcherson and Christoph Waltz.

Read more after the cut 

NECA to Release Django Unchained Dolls

Here's a quick look at the Django Unchained dolls from NECA featuring titular character Django (Jamie Foxx) and Schultz (Christoph Waltz).

Schultz played by Christoph Waltz, the man who rescues Django from slavery...

Electro err I mean Django with the silent D. 

Stephen is Candy's right hand man. A very vile and sinister old man played by Samuel L. Jackson

Check out the other characters after the cut...

DJANGO UNCHAINED TRAILER 2 NOW STREAMING

Due to open in the Philippines early next year, “Django Unchained” is the latest masterwork from Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Kerry Washington.

Set in the American South two years before the Civil War, the film revolves around Django (Foxx), a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive.

Meet the Cast of Quintin Tarantino's Django Unchained

The personal appearance of the cast of Columbia Pictures' new epic adventure “Django Unchained” was one of the major highlights of the “Summer of Sony” event, held recently in Cancun, Mexico.

Gracing the event were Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington and Quentin Tarantino, who wrote and directed the film.

Set in the South two years before the Civil War, “Django Unchained” revolves around Django (Foxx), a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive.

Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways. Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago.

Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation where slaves are groomed by trainer Ace Woody (Kurt Russell) to battle each other for sport. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. Their moves are marked, and a treacherous organization closes in on them. If Django and Schultz are to escape with Broomhilda, they must choose between independence and solidarity, between sacrifice and survival…

“Django Unchained” is produced by Stacey Sher, Pilar Savone and Reginald Hudlin. The executive producers are Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Michael Shamberg, Shannon McIntosh, and James Skotchdopole.

“Django Unchained” will be released in the U.S. on December 25, 2012 by The Weinstein Company, and in the Philippines in early 2013 by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Six New Images from Django Unchained featuring DiCaprio and Foxx

I don't know about you guys but I certainly am hankering for some old school cowboy shoot'em up especially after falling hard for the game "Red Dead Redemption". By the way this film "Django Unchained" is directed by Quintin Tarantino and stars Jamie Foxx.

Here's the official press release from Columbia Pictures: