New Photos for X-Men: Days of Future Past

New photos to help promote Bryan Singer and 20th Century Fox's "X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST". The first came from Total Film and features more of the chance encounter between past Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and future Xavier (Patrick Stewart)...

There's also another one with Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique in human form confronting Magneto (Michael Fassbender)...

And another one featuring Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)...

Meanwhile, the official X-Men twitter page shared two new photos focusing on Magneto or Magnetos since we're talking about two versions of the character in the movie.

Michael Fassbender as the young Magneto

Sir Ian McKellen as the older Magneto

Helmed by Bryan Singer, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” stars newcomers Peter Dinklage, Omar Sy, Boo Boo Stewart, Fan Bingbing, Evan Peters, Adan Canto, Josh Helman, along with returning stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Halle Berry, Lucas Till, and Daniel Cudmore.

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” will open on May 22, 2014 in Philippine cinemas nationwide.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review

So here we are, one year after attending the special press screening for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, we're now attending the second film, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG with a bonus treat.

It's still the same creative and production team that's behind this. Still Peter Jackson directing with some help from Guillermo Del Torro, still Martin Freeman as Bilbo, Richard Armitage as Thorin and Ian McKellen as Gandalf.

We get some new additions to the cast too. LOTR alum Orlando Bloom returns here as Legolas, Luke Evans and Evangeline Lily are first timers here playing Bard and Tauriel respectively. The big character here is the dragon Smaug which is now voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock fans huzzah!). Still J.R.R. Tolkien's book as the source of inspiration and finally it's still Lee Pace here playing the role of Thranduil, that smug elf-king that rides a fricking reindeer to battle.

Evangeline Lily as Tauriel

Lee Pace as Thranduil

Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman

So what's different from this film from An Unexpected Journey. First the tone shifts to a darker, serious tone.  This new movie focuses on more darker stuff. That darker stuff? It also happens to be the meatier parts of the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Things like the Necromancer and Smaugh himself serve to really give our heroes a tough challenge. If you need further proof of this tonal shift I'm talking about, check out the dialogue that Beorn the Skinwalker provides about the Defiler and his torture. It's grim as grim can be.

Don't fret because much like Galadriel's phial of light, there's still some great things to expect from the film. There's a new love story element here between Tauriel (Lily) and Kili; which also becomes a love triangle thanks to Legolas. Bard's role is fleshed out better here and even Thranduil.

The scenes with the barrels were both funny and awesome. Keep your eyes peeled for that one.

In a nutshell, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is everything that you'll need for your epic fantasy adventure fix. It's already a great novel and it being translated for the big screen with lots of new bells and whistles shows just how much love director Peter Jackson has for the project. Tons of adventure and action but with very little fantastical creatures which is considerable since they focused more on Smaug the dragon. There's also a lot of complexities for most of the characters in this one. Thorin Oakenshield is one of the primary example. 

The ending is definitely STAR WARS Empire Strikes Back with the execution.

If there's any problem that I might have encountered here in the film, it's too much Orlando Bloom. Yes I acknowledge we need Legolas but we don't need him that much. The Kili-Tauriel was also half-baked but that's understandable since we're paying to see some action and dragon slaying hi-jinks and not "how we sired a dwarf-elf hybrid". 

For a movie that follows a high pedigree, I'm also impressed that The Hobbit: TDOS isn't as long as what I was anticipating, rather short film if I can say so myself. Also I highly recommend you see the film in a specific format - HFR IMAX 3D. Why? so that you'll freak out at the sight of huge spiders and get creeped out by giant honeybees that's why! 

The movie is perfect for my taste. It's packed tight with everything and it follows the book closely (well to some extent anyway, I don't need it to follow everything). The acting is superb and as always, the visual effects and musical scoring is practically begging for an Oscar Award. 

I'd like to thank Warner Bros. Pictures and the SM Mall of Asia IMAX for this wonderful screening. Until next year. Oh and the film is NOW SHOWING.

Martin Freeman Back as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit" Sequel

Like all Hobbits, Bilbo Baggins is fond of his comfortable existence; all he needs to be happy is a full pantry and a good book. When the Wizard Gandalf and 13 Dwarves unexpectedly appear on Bilbo’s doorstep and invite him to join them on a dangerous adventure, Bilbo’s life changes forever. Initially skeptical of the invitation, Bilbo’s spirit of adventure leads him to join the Company of Thorin Oakenshield and become the “burglar” required to complete their quest to outwit a ferocious dragon and reclaim the Dwarves’ stolen treasure. To everyone’s surprise, including his own, Bilbo’s wit and courage prove that there is indeed more to this Hobbit than meets the eye.

British actor Martin Freeman returns as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's “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.

As the second film begins, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Bilbo, Thorin (Richard Armitage) and the Company are shaken and exhausted ... but not broken.

Perhaps most changed of all is Bilbo Baggins himself. “I think, as the journey continues, Bilbo is able to look at the world a bit more square on,” says Freeman of the Hobbit at the center of the tale. “He is still the person he was; he is still frightened. He’s not a fighter or adventurer by nature, but to be among different species that want to kill him or eat him ... it doesn’t need to be said how huge a change that is. And Bilbo finds a bravery that he didn’t know he had, and, more importantly, that none of the others knew he had.”
From his encounter beneath the Goblin Tunnels in the cave of the emaciated and conniving creature known as Gollum, Bilbo has emerged with something more than his courage. He has managed to steal Gollum’s “precious” ring with the power to make its wearer invisible.

“Bilbo is beginning to have a strange relationship with this gold ring,” say screenwriter and producer Philippa Boyens. “He’s beginning to have a sense that there’s something off about it. It’s a tough choice for him to put it on and disappear, and he takes it off as soon as he can. Having such a great actor as Martin Freeman helps you find your way through this idea that this is not just a magic trinket that turns you invisible. Not every choice he had to make was a good choice down in those holes beneath the mountain.”

Bilbo chooses to conceal this new information from Gandalf, and, for McKellen, Freeman’s portrayal of Bilbo in this moment illustrates the art the actor brings to his performance. “Martin has a palette of subtlety, and it’s often unpredictable,” McKellen observes. “He doesn’t like to do the same thing twice in front of the camera, so with a multitude of takes, in every one of those takes, Martin will give you a different nuance, a different color, a different aspect of the character he’s playing. You don’t know quite what’s going to happen next, which makes your reaction all the more real. With each take, I discovered something new about Bilbo.”
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.

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.

Seven New Posters for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Seven brand new character posters for Peter Jackson's “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” have been launched by Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and MGM Pictures. The one-sheet artworks individually showcase the characters Bard (Luke Evans), Bilbo (Martin Freeman), Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), Thorin (Richard Armitage) and Thranduil (Lee Pace).

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.

Luke Evans as BARD

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

Orlando Bloom as Legolas

Evangeline Lily as Tauriel

Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield

Lee Pace as Thranduil

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.

All the X-Men: Days of Future Past Photos Now in Hi-Res

The good folks at 20th Century Fox Philippines just sent in some hi-res versions of most of the X-MEN:DAYS OF FUTURE PAST Photos.

20th Century Fox has just released "X-Men: Days of Future Past" high-resolution photos.

The latest high-quality images released worldwide features exciting and dangerous times in the lives of the mutants where they must face the past for the future of mankind and mutants.

James McAvoy, who reprises his role as young Professor X in the film shares that the star-studded film is going to be the biggest, most epic X-Men to be made. "“I think it’s the second biggest production Fox have ever embarked upon, behind Avatar. So they’re definitely going for it.”

Helmed by Bryan Singer, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” stars newcomers Peter Dinklage, Omar Sy, Boo Boo Stewart, Fan Bingbing, Evan Peters, Adan Canto, Josh Helman, along with returning stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Halle Berry, Lucas Till, and Daniel Cudmore.

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” will open on May 22, 2014 in Philippine cinemas nationwide.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" Gets Main Poster

The main one-sheet for Peter Jackson's “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” has just been released by Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and MGM Pictures.

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.

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

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.

Wounded Logan, Brooding Xaviers and More in New Stills for X-Men: Days of Future Past

Empire has released several new stills for 20th Century Fox's X-Men: Days of Future Past starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. Check them out below:

There's hardly any action in these stills, just a lot of brooding...

At least we end things with a little Jennifer Lawrence in Mystique action.

Source

5 Spoilery Rants and Raves About The Wolverine

SPOILER ALERT. This post is full of THE WOLVERINE spoilers. If you haven't seen the movie (shame on you) best skip to other posts. 

The Wolverine was all kinds of awesome in my opinion. With it's detachment from the world of the merry mutants, we're treated to a real Wolverine story that's got all the right stuff from humor to action. I decided to countdown the top ten stuff from James Mangold's movie, the top five things that gives THE WOLVERINE the edge.

1. Wolverine taking on the Ninjas

In homage to the classic Marvel stories set in Japan namely the story by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) gets to fight a horde of ninjas. Well, not all of them, he does a number on a couple until it was time to show viewers why James Howlett is called "The Wolverine".

Frank Miller and Chris Claremont sends Logan to Japan to fight ninjas  in the 'WOLVERINE' back in the 80s

In one of his earlier adventures, people identify Logan as a Wolverine. This is because he was short and fights really, really hard. Of course that isn't the case with the movie version of Logan as Hugh Jackman is already hitting the 6 feet mark. He is written however to be very feral and he still fights hard. He's so in love with fighting that even after getting shot with numerous arrows by the ninjas, Logan just shrugs it off in order to save Mariko in the final leg of the movie.


2. The Silver Samurai

RANT: Harada is not the Silver Samurai in the movie and it sucked bad. While we get a generally understandable reason why they took liberties with the character, it still sucked that we didn't get the real Silver Samurai and Wolverine showdown we all pined for. Logan and Harada has history. The two have clashed on a lot of occasions, they're also unlikely allies once in a while. I remember when the New Avengers had an adventure in Japan, it was Harada's crib that the Avengers crashed into both literally and figuratively. 

I believe this was the first tussle between Logan and Harada

Again, it was pretty obvious that it was Old Man Yashida controlling the Silver Samurai. Also how is it that Logan managed to pop open the helmet when the adamantium's already been removed. Wasn't there any adamantium lining for the neck area? And here I was thinking Viper and Yashida were both smart.

3. Losing his healing factor

OK not exactly an injured Logan but still close enough

Great job on depowering Wolverine in this movie. We don't get a lame ass reason which is good and we also don't get a stupid handwavium scenario either. It makes perfect sense and it makes things interesting at the same time. And to celebrate the greatness of Logan's loss of his healing factor, Marvel Comics has actually incorporated this on the ongoing WOLVERINE book with Paul Cornell and Allan Davis.

New story arc featuring a Wolverine without the healing factor to line up with the movie

And if you didn't notice it's not even a real depowering, more like dumbed down the healing factor because Logan can still take a beating despite getting shot at multiple times. For me it was a great story and a great challenge for the character. And at least towards the end we get our 'old' pal Wolverine back albeit with a new outlook in life and swayed from thinking he has to die. 

4. Mariko Yashida

This is a mixed rave/rant entry. Tao Okamoto may not be my choice to play Logan's lady love Mariko Yashida but she was still a good choice for the role. 

Here's my problem. She was bethrothed to some Manny Pacquiao looking guy. That of course doesn't push through because Mariko gets kidnapped. She later reveals that her first love was the ninja guy which of course doesn't make sense if you read the comic book because they're cousins in the 616. Dammit, them and they're liberties. Still there's a silver lining because it simplifies the plot (although this 'rivalry' was never explored, so the payoff was nil).

5. That mid-credit scene!

Yes stay for the ending as we finally get to see how The Wolverine ties up neatly to next year's X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.

This scene is set 2 years after the movie, with Wolverine returning to America after doing solo adventures abroad. In the airport, he spots a commercial for TRASK INDUSTRIES and then everything and everyone freezes. We see Ian McKellen as Magneto talking to Logan followed by the re-emergence of Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier. 

That being said, I'm closing this chapter of movie fandom and moving on to other things namely Bryan Singer's X-Men: Days of Future Past which again feature Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. 

THE WOLVERINE is still showing. Locally distributed by 20th Century Fox.