tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron
Director: John Hillcoat
Release Date: November 25, 2009
Running Time: 112 mins.
MPAA Rating: R - for some violence, disturbing images and language
Distributor: Dimension Films, The Weinstein Company
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Starring: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet
Director: Roland Emmerich
Release Date: November 13, 2009
Running Time: 158 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 - for intense disaster sequences and some language
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
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Imagine that!  Roland Emmerich did another epic end-of-the-world flick, starring semi-respectable actors, and boasting a huge budget!  Doesn't this schtick get old Mr. Emmerich?

2012 features a paper thin plot about crazy solar flares in the few years leading up to the year 2012 that somehow turn the neutrinos in the Earth's core into microwaves that slowly, but steadily start heating up the planet.  This results in earthquakes, tsunamis, sink-holes and other natural disasters.  It's all pretty dehumanized until these things start to affect Jackson (John Cusack) and Kate (Amanda Peet), a divorced couple with two kids.  Oh, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a bleeding heart, government geologist who advises the president (Danny Glover) on all this, and eventually (spoiler alert!) gets with the president's wicked hot daughter (Thandie Newton) to replenish the Earth's population.  There's a Woody Harrelson part there too.  He plays the crazy guy that predicted all this. 

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Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey
Director: Lee Daniels
Release Date: November 06, 2009
Running Time: 109 mins.
MPAA Rating: R - for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language
Distributor: Lions Gate Entertainment

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Starring: Bill Nighy, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Nick Frost, Rhys Darby, Tom Sturridge
Director: Richard Curtis
Release Date: November 13, 2009
Running Time: 116 mins.
MPAA Rating: R -  for language, and some sexual content including brief nudity.
Distributor: Universal Pictures
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Has anyone really decided what this film is called yet? It's on IMDb under The Boat that Rocked, Fandango has it as Pirate Radio, the theatre that I went to see it at displayed a poster with The Boat that Rocked, I'm confused. And so, must have been director Richard Curtis, since it became apparent during the showing that he didn't really know what he wanted to say. The most representative advertising the film did, was to say, ‘from the people who brought you Love Actually.' They both had charming and funny moments, but they both wandered around, never really sure of where they are supposed to be headed.

The story follows a ship that broadcasts Rock and Roll into the UK. It's called Pirate Radio, because apparently the government didn't allow land-based stations to play that sort of music? I don't know. It wasn't clearly explained. The ship is full of DJs that each have a show, and a few extraneous crew members there to fulfill flat character types (the lesbian, the fatherless youth looking for a family). They listen to good music, do drugs, and bring women on board to have sex with, but they're only allowed once a week (and they're not allowed to live on the boat unless they play for the other team).

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Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner
Director: Chris Weitz
Release Date: November 20, 2009
Running Time: 130 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG - 13
Distributor: Summit Entertainment

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Sequels are inevitable. Movie fans demand continuity and studios rely on tested formula to make money. Summit Entertainment's franchise (and biggest money-maker) The Twilight Saga has launched the marketing drive for its second movie New Moon way ahead of its release. This is not because the whole series is in jeopardy or because fans demanded such intensive coverage, but simply because shrewd business strategy suggests so.

Directed by Chris Weitz, New Moon continues the love story of Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen, two lovestruck teens who fell in love, despite the fact that, one of them is not human. In this sequel, Edward left Bella in order to protect her from the danger posed by his family and other vampires. In Edward's absence, she gets to know Jacob Black, a childhood friend who happens to hold secrets of his own. Things get more complicated as vampires and werewolves and humans interact. Bella finds herself choosing between holding on to the past or accepting a new future. But what and more importantly who will she choose?

New Moon offers more action and thrills, CGI effects which are not necessarily goundbreaking but essential in putting shape and identity to Meyer's fictional characters and (of course) more cool music. Over-all, Weit'z follow-up suceeds in many fronts and also failed in some important areas, but it proved Summit's decision to replace Catherine Hardwicke justified.
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Four awesome young actresses are reported/rumored to be positioning themselves for a possible role in the next Spiderman movie. The character in contention: The Black Cat.


But before we go any further, is this newsworthy? Definitely. While it maybe just a fictional character, Black Cat is quite interesting and intriguing. She's been related to Spiderman in the past and her descent into the world of crime is worth a good look. Has casting actually started? No confirmation yet from the studio, but with the names of the actresses being mentioned, fans are, indeed, getting excited.

Two of these fab actresses are known for both period and contemporary films - Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married/Becoming Jane) and Romola Garai ( Inside I'm Dancing/Atonement), while the other two - Julia Stiles and Rachel McAdams are more 'inclined' to portray modern characters, or so it seems... As of this writing, McAdams is already out of contention. Enter... Eliza Dushku! (nahhh, she's been attached to this casting news way back, says MTV). So, among the remaining 3 actresses, who can satisfy the [acting and stunts(?)] requirements to play an authentic Black Cat?

More about the fictional Marvel character and the young actresses in contention after the jump!
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While doing some finishing touches to my Twilight: New Moon review, I got the chance to watch the trailer for Robert Pattinson's upcoming modern drama entitled Remember Me. The first thing I noticed - not the acting - but the music. I love it!

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Director Allen Coulter appears to be trying to create a refreshing new take of the tired and old formula of 'bad boy loves good girl' theme, throwing in, what appears to be, a difficult relationship between father and son. I'm pretty sure Rob Pattinson can match Brosnan, who plays his Dad, in the acting department. They even look 'related', so it's good casting on the part of Coulter. But in the case of Chris Cooper, that maybe a different story. Cooper, playing Emilie de Ravin's Dad, is a cop and has all the reasons to hate Pattinson, whom he arrested during a brawl. So when his daughter enters into a relationship with the young rebel, everything becomes even more complicated.
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London-based Momentum Pictures is drumming up interest for their latest release Glorious 39. The psychological thriller starring Romola Garai and Bill Nighy is one of tMF's most anticipated films of the year.

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The announcement for the showing and the subsequent interview follows:

Come to an exclusive Q&A with Stephen Poliakoff, Romola Garai and Bill Nighy and see their new film Glorious 39, Friday November 20, Odeon West End Book tickets here

Aside from Garai as its lead star, Glorious 39 has a superb supporting cast including David Tenant, Charlie Cox and Eddie Redmayne.
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