Coming in 2015 is the brand new relaunch of the Terminator series with Terminator: Genisys. The film will see Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as the original T-800 along with Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor, Jason Clark as John Connor, Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese, and Lee Byung-hun as the T-1000. Acting as a reboot, prequel, and sequel to the Terminator series, the story plays out the same as the original movie: John Connor finds out Skynet plans to send a T-800 back in time to kill Sarah Connor in order to prevent his birth, and in order to protect her he sends one of his men, Kyle Reese, back in time to protect her. However, the film differs in that the timeline has been changed after a T-800 was sent back in time to protect Sarah as a child, training her to face her destiny.
The film will feature both original villains from the first two Terminator movies: the T-800, played by a CGI-rendered younger version of Schwarzenegger, and the T-1000 originally played by Robert Patrick in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgement Day now played by Korean actor Lee Byung-hun.
The film looks promising, and being a huge fan of the Terminator series I can hardly wait to see this film when it hits theaters July 2015. Watch the trailer below!
After the massive success of the first Avengers movie, the anticipation is high for the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers 2: Age of Ultron set to hit theaters May 1st, 2015. The film will star Robert Downey Jr. as billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony Stark / Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as the hammer-wielding god of thunder Thor, Mark Ruffalo as everyone’s favorite green giant the Hulk, Chris Evans as the patriotic superhero Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as the lovely Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as the expert marksman Hawkeye. The film will also star Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver, Elizabeth Olson as the Scarlet Witch, and James Spader as the voice of Ultron.
The film takes place after the destruction of S.H.I.E.L.D. brought on from the events of Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier. Tony Stark brings an old peacekeeping program back to life named Ultron, a self-aware artificial intelligence. Unfortunately for Tony, the plan to use Ultron as a peacekeeper backfires as Ultron ultimately comes to the conclusion that humanity is the enemy and plans on ridding the earth of them in order to “keep the peace”. The Avengers must take on Ultron before it’s too late and his plan of human extinction succeeds.
The film definitely looks promising, but the question remains: will the sequel do as well as the first film? The first Avengers broke several box office records including the largest Saturday gross with $69.7 million as well as the largest Sunday gross with $57.1 million. The film currently sits at #3 on the list of highest grossing films of all time according to Wikipedia.
Will Avengers 2: Age of Ultron outperform its predecessor? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, the movie theaters will be very crowded at midnight on May 1st next year.
The story will mostly follow the storyline of the original 1950 animated classic, while also implementing a few twists and turns. One thing that the film will do differently from the original is that Ella and Prince Charming end up meeting each other before the ball. The Prince, at the time, tells Ella that he’s simply a palace worker. Another difference between the two films is that in the new film the Fairy Godmother will play a much larger role, and is initially disguised as a beggar lady watching over Ella before eventually revealing her true identity as her Fairy Godmother.
Patrick Doyle is set to compose the score of the film. Doyle previously worked on the soundtrack to Hamlet as well as Thor, so it’s safe to say the expectations for great music in the film are high.
The film looks impressive from the trailer, and definitely looks to be a wonderful addition to the several other Disney films coming out in 2015 including Pan and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
After nearly 10 years without a new Star Wars film, the epic series born from the mind of George Lucas will be returning to the big screen next December 2015. Disney, who bought the rights to Lucasfilm, announced in 2013 their plans to create a new Star Wars film and have J.J. Abrams direct it. Another bombshell Disney announced is that all the original cast, from Harrison Ford (Han Solo) to Kenny Baker (R2-D2), will be reprising their roles from the original trilogy. Joining the original cast will be younger actors John Boyega and Daisy Ridley. Andy Serkis, famous for his roles as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the giant ape in the 2005 film King Kong, and the smaller ape Caeser in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was also cast in the film.
While many fans are ecstatic for the new addition to the awesome series that is Star Wars, there are some fans who are more nervous than excited. Many fans claimed the last prequel trilogy of films contained too many plot holes, bad acting, and certain lead actors (*cough*Hayden Christensen*cough*) were not very relatable. For this reason, it’s safe to say that many long-time fans of the series are hoping and praying that this new film will be more like the original Star Wars trilogy.
This is one of the main reasons, I believe, why Disney decided to bring the original cast back in order to create that nostalgic feel so that the long-time fans can enjoy it as well as appealing to the newer fans with a newer, younger cast.
While fans of the series are either excited or nervous (or both), judging by the trailer it’s clear that one thing is without question:
What excites me most about the film is that it is an origin story, or a prequel, to the story. I’ve always been a huge fan of prequels so to see one for a classic film like Peter Pan makes me anxious to see it. Also, I am a huge fan of Hugh Jackman so when I heard the film would feature him I became all the more anxious to see it.
However, even before being released the film has already stirred up some controversy. The role of Tiger Lily, who in the original story is of Native American descent, was given to Rooney Mara who is of Caucasian descent. This caused an uproar among critics who claim that Warner Bros. was “perpetuating the invisibility of Native Americans in film” and a petition was made demanding that Warner Bros. stop casting white actors in roles for people of color. Warner Bros. claims that they were trying to create an international and multi-racial cast, although most of the cast is Caucasian.
In light of this controversy, whether or not this film’s performance in the box office will be affected by this casting decision remains to be seen. In any case, I know that I will be first in line to see this epic prequel of a Disney classic. Pan will be released in theaters everywhere July 2015.
Coming in 2015, Seventh Son based on the novel The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney looks to be an epic film filled with fantasy elements and great CGI. The film stars Jeff Bridges as Master Gregory, the Spook, and Ben Barnes as Tom Ward, the Spook’s Apprentice.
While I have never actually read the book, the film definitely looks interesting. However, there are a few things that worry me about the film. For starters, what’s up with Jeff Bridges’ accent? He sounds like somebody doing a bad Sean Connery impersonation. Also, the film looks like a mash-up of Lord of the Rings and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (how ironic) which sort of hurts the originality element to it.
The film also experienced several push-backs in the US, which eventually landed it being released in early 2015. However, it was released early in France in December 2014 and was met with mixed reviews, one of which didn’t sound very impressed with the film’s take on the series by Joseph Delaney.
Jordan Mintzer from Hollywood Reporter is quoted as saying after meticulously pointing out many of the flaws he found in the film,
“What’s left is certainly watchable but far from memorable, and though a closing scene leaves things open for a sequel, business realities may deem otherwise. If anything, the movie offers up the guilty pleasure of seeing Bridges and Moore duel it out in front of countless green screens and a few stunning Canadian backdrops – two great actors clawing at each other with magic staffs and fake fire, trying to survive in the netherworld of heroic kitsch.”
With a review like this, one might start to wonder if seeing the film would be worth their time and their money. However, whether or not the film will take off in theaters this coming 2015, one can appreciate the time and effort put into the film especially from an impressive list of actors and writers and hopefully this film won’t suffer the terrible fate this similarly named film did.
With the year 2014 coming to an end, many die-hard fantasy lovers are welcoming the new year with great expectations of all the great fantasy flicks that will grace the big screen in 2015. These films include a much anticipated addition to the Star Wars franchise which includes all of the original cast members, as well as a brand new live-action remake of the movie Cinderella starring Lily James and Cate Blanchett. Needless to say, if you are a lover of fantasy movies, then 2015 could be your best year yet!
Here are 5 upcoming fantasy films to look forward to in 2015.
Based on the novel The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney, the film will star Jeff Bridges as Master Gregory, the Spook, Ben Barnes as Tom Ward, the Spook’s Apprentice, and Julianne Moore as Mother Malkin, the malevolent witch that was defeated and imprisoned by Master Gregory centuries ago. After escaping her imprisonment, Mother Malkin seeks revenge and plans to unleash her wrath on humanity. There’s only one thing stopping her from succeeding: Master Gregory. Enlisting the help of his new apprentice Tom Ward to help stop the evil witch once again, Master Gregory must teach Tom how to prevail against dark magic before it’s too late. Will the Spook be able to teach his apprentice what took him years to master in a short amount of time? Find out February 6th, 2015 when Seventh Son is released in theaters. You can view the trailer below.
A Disney classic being retold once again, this time an origin story, Pan looks promising to fans of the Peter Pan franchise. The film will star newcomer Levi Miller as Peter Pan, Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, and Garret Hedlund as a young Captain Hook. Pan will be an origin story for the characters Peter Pan and Captain Hook, exploring the story of how Peter Pan found Neverland and Captain Hook became the ruthless, one-handed pirate he is famously known to be. The film will also feature Amanda Seyfried, Rooney Mara, and English fashion model Cara Delevingne. This exciting new addition to the Peter Pan franchise is slated to be released sometime during summer 2015. Check out the trailer below!
Another Disney classic being retold as a live-action film, Cinderella will provide a fresh, new take on the classic tale of a servant girl turned ballroom princess. The film will star Lily James as Ella, Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine (the Wicked Stepmother), Richard Madden as Prince Charming, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. The film plans on sticking to the main story line of the class Disney tale, however there are a few new twists and turns in the film that will hopefully appease longtime Disney fans. You can watch a trailer for the film below!
After the massive success of the first Avengers film, it’s safe to say there’s a lot of high expectations for this sequel. Starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and James Spader as Ultron, Avengers: Age of Ultron pits the Avengers against Ultron, an artificial intelligence hellbent on seeing humanity extinct. Will the Avengers succeed in defeating Ultron, or will Ultron’s plan of human extinction prove to be too much for the Avengers to handle? The film will also feature the superheros Quicksilver and the Scarlett Witch played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olson, respectively. Watch the epic trailer below!
Born from the mind of George Lucas, the Star Wars franchise has become one of the most recognizable phenomena in all of movie history. Everything from the characters themselves to the epic soundtrack composed by John Williams, the series has become so recognizable that if you tell anyone that you’ve never heard of Star Wars they will think you’ve been living under a rock your entire life reading Moby Dick and watching reruns of Star Trek on your black and white television set. While the Star Wars franchise has proved to be extremely popular, when Lucas released his three new prequel films starting with Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in 1999, many fans were sorely disappointed by the film because of its “poor plot”, “poor character development”, and, of course, Jar Jar Binks. All this to say, with the new release of a Star Wars film, it’s safe to say that while many fans are excited, others are nervous. Will this new Star Wars film save the franchise from its not-so-glorious prequels, or will it only further drive fans further away back to 1977? Only time will tell. Watch the trailer below!
With all these great films coming out in 2015, it’s safe to say fans of fantasy films will be kept busy all throughout the year. However, before we get too excited about films coming out in 2015, fans can’t forget that the final installment of the Hobbit comes out December 17th. Before venturing into Neverland, space, or the Prince’s ball, fans will probably be wondering what’s happening in Middle Earth this coming Wednesday.
Okay, Okay. I admit it. I’m a total movie buff. My husband and I watch at least one movie per day, and sometimes two. Our favorite pastime after a long day is to curl up on the couch with a glass of water and navigate to one of the popular streaming media apps on our dvd player. Over the years, we’ve found that there are a few movies we constantly return to. Some of my favorites include Dave, Avatar, the Back to the Future series, the Star Wars series, The American President, Tangled, i-Robot, Hitch, and a few more. They are all so different that it’s impossible for me to choose just one.
Movies sweep us away into environments that encourage emotions, thoughts, and feelings that we might not have experienced otherwise. Since I like to use movies to let go of the day’s stress, most often I choose comedies, fantasies, and romantic movies. My husband totally LOVES action flicks, on the other hand, which I typically don’t mind. Of course, if I’ve watched an action movie before it’s time to go to sleep, I may have to stay up a bit later to give time for my adrenaline rush to subside. A good romantic comedy is good for that, as long as it’s not too heavy on the steam.
On rare occasions, we will visit a movie theatre. These visits are often reserved for movies that are known to have spectacular graphics, a particularly compelling storyline, or if they are being aired for a special occasion. For me, seeing a movie on a big screen is like taking a kid to a candy store. Yes, that’s how much I love movies.
On the big screen, I’d have to say that AVATAR takes the cake for graphics. That movie simply AMAZED me! After I left the theatre, I felt as if I had sensory overload for the first time in my life! Likewise, I was surprised to see a movie with such a strong message. I loved James Cameron’s vision, and I believe it’s one of the best movies ever made.
That does not, however, mean it’s my favorite movie.
It’s kind of funny, as much as I like Avatar, there is a series I have yet to mention that has totally captivated me. I have not mentioned it thus far because I believe this series rises so far above the rest that it’s not even in the same league. Others of you who are also fans of this series will know what I mean. Before I reveal the name, however, I must say that, although the movies are fantastic, I believe the books are far better than the movies. The series of which I speak is Harry Potter.
Even though the Harry Potter series is my favorite of all, they are not my “go to” movies. I believe this to be true for me because I hold a certain respect for them, and don’t want to turn them on unless I can give them my undivided attention. These movies do not fulfill the same role and are not the typical “stress relievers” that the others are for me.
That said, I will end this post with “Harry Potter Rocks!”
There’s a brand new social network on the rise called tsu, which pays its users for their content. For many people that are active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, this sounds almost too good to be true. For this reason, people are skeptical of tsu’s approach to social media, worried that it could somehow be a scam.
However, creator Sebastian Sobczak recently sat down with Fox News and talked about the legitmacy of tsu, saying that its framework was inspired by YouTube’s partnership model where users are paid for their content. You can see the interview here:
A few things to note from this interview:
– Sebastian compares users who post images of themselves on social networks without getting paid for it to artists having their songs played on the radio without receiving royalties for it.
– This is the first social network that pays its users for their content.
– Tsu has several celebrities backing it including 50 Cent, Timbaland, and Lance Bass.
– 90% of the money generated by tsu that goes to its users is from ad revenue.
So one might be wondering, if this is truly a legitimate website that is willing to pay you for your content, then how exactly does it work?
Here’s an informative picture to give you a good idea on the tsu algorithm:
From the FAQ section on tsu:
User A invites user B, who invites user C, who invites user D
Part 1
– $100 of earned revenue is generated based on the content user D shared (photos, videos, status updates, etc.)
Part 2
– 90% of earned revenue go to the users. In this case, $90 of the $100 is shared with all the users.
– tsū takes 10% of the $100 for platform fees. In this case $10.
Part 3
– User D, the original content creator takes 50% of the $90. In this case, $45.
– User C gets 33.3% (1/3) of the original $90 generated. In this case, $29.70
– User B gets 11.1% (1/3 of 1/3 = 1/9) of the original $90 generated. In this case $9.99
– User A gets 3.70% (1/3 of 1/3 of 1/3 = 1/27) of the original $90 generated. In this case $3.33
– This is what we call the rule of infinite thirds
Already, there are several people claiming to have made $100, $200, even $300 from tsu in just a little over a month since its initial launch in late October 2014.
Kevin Hinkle, a successful tsu user, showing a check sent to him by tsu.
If you are interested in learning more about tsu, or if you are ready to join what is being called the fastest growing network of all time, visit my profile below and sign up!
A Disney classic being retold once again, this time an origin story, Pan looks promising to fans of the 
Laura C. Cantu 