Briefly: 2016 is going to be a busy year. The year is filled with gigantic films like Cap 3, Batman v. Superman, Finding Dory, and Warcraft among dozens of others, and another huge release has just been announced for the cycle.

Lionsgate and Saban have revealed that Power Rangers will hit theatres on July 22nd, 2016.

Details on the film are still scarce (or non-existent), and the feature is still without a cast and director, but the script is coming from Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz while Haim Saban, Brian Casentini, Allison Shearmur and Roberto Orci will produce.

The first official synopsis for the film also debuted today, but it reveals nothing that we don’t already know:

From a story by Executive Producer Roberto Orci (TRANSFORMERS, STAR TREK, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2) and screenwriters Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, THOR) comes a modern reinvention of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a group of ordinary high school kids who find themselves infused with extraterrestrial powers and must harness those powers as a team to save the world.

What do you hope to see in the film? Sound out in the comments below!

Briefly: Luc Besson always puts together some fantastic films. Even if they aren’t always critically successful (I’m looking at you Hitman), at the end of the day he can direct, write and produce some very enjoyable films.

We’re eagerly awaiting Lucy’s release on July 25th (just a few more days away). Lucy is an action-thriller that tracks a woman accidentally caught in a dark deal who turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.

Because we’re so excited for the film, we jumped at the opportunity to offer fans an awesome Lucy giveaway. One lucky individual will receive a $50 prepaid Visa, plusLucy t-shirt and hat.

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Interested? Here’s what you need to do:

– Like Geekscape on Facebook
– Share this photo on your Facebook wall, and be sure to comment, letting us know what movie you’re most looking forward to this Summer.
– Reside in the United States (sorry Canadians).

Simple, huh? We’ll pick a winner next week, and be in touch! Happy sharing!

http://youtu.be/VcLERVsu1O8

Briefly: We still don’t know many details about Lionsgate and Saban’s recently announced Power Rangersbut we now know just who will write the script.

X-Men: First Class and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz will write the film, while Star Trek and Transformers screenwriter Robert Orci will help develop the story and executive produce.

We’ll be sure to fill you in as we learn more about the project, but as THR notes, the film will “completely re-envision the Rangers, a group of high school kids who are infused with unique superpowers but must harness and use those powers as a team if they have any hope of saving the world.”

Are you looking forward to the film? Anyone you would like to see take the role of a Ranger? Sound out below!

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Source: THR

Briefly: Following the three dino-free stills released earlier this monthJurassic World director Colin Trevorrow has debuted a bloody behind-the-scenes image from the film’s production.

As amazing and foolproof as I’m sure the Jurassic World theme park will be, something terrible is bound to happen (otherwise it wouldn’t be a Jurassic film, of course).

Take a look at the image below, and let us know what you think! Jurassic World hits theatres on June 12th, 2015.

The original Disney Infinity left a big impression on me, so much so that I considered it my game of show at last year’s E3. With the promise of multiple single player campaigns in the form of play sets combined with a nearly limitless level designing tool in the toy box, the possibilities seemed to echo the title. Much of these impressions carried over to the actual release, although my expectations fell short in certain areas, namely the same-ness of many of the characters, how bare bones some of the play sets felt and how the game initially promised to not need sequels while possibly replacing movie tie in games with Infinity content, (which was quickly proven wrong by the 3DS’s Olaf’s Adventure and the very game we’re talking about).

Still, the game had a ton of untapped potential that a sequel could capitalize on, especially because of Disney’s acquisition of giant properties like the Marvel universe. With that in mind, playing 2.0 was a top priority for me this year, both as a fan of the original and someone who was eager to see if Disney Interactive would adapt to the comic book universe or perish in a sea of broken promises and failure to improve. After an in depth playthrough of the game’s two play sets, I’m happy to say I’m leaning towards the former.

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To me, the biggest problem with Disney Infinity was that the campaign style play sets mostly felt like samples of what could be done in the toy box as opposed to fully fleshed out games, (aside from the Pirates set, most of what each was built from was ripped straight from Toy Box). With 2.0, this criticism has been fully addressed, giving us a huge open world city to explore as our favorite characters. The Avengers version of New York is promising to be more than twice as big as The Incredibles, with capsule toys, side quests and story missions still waiting to be found, all put into context by a full story penned by longtime Marvel scribe, Brian Michael Bendis. It’s a huge improvement from the opening and ending cutscene that greeted us at the end of the first game’s stories.

On top of that, the increased level cap of 20 allows us to unlock between 20 and 30 skills per character, which is a huge improvement compared to the original’s puzzling decision for level ups to mean absolutely nothing aside from unlocking new Toy Box parts. Making this even sweeter was how different each character felt. Firing off trick shots with Hawkeye, throwing down with Captain America, web slinging between buildings as Spider-Man or flying through the city at top speed with Iron Man felt distinctive, as opposed to many of the first game’s characters playing or feeling exactly the same. To top it off, the heroes each have a unique super move with varying in levels of awesomeness, (like Iron Man’s missile barrage vs Black Widow’s… invisibility turning? I know who I’m not playing as…)

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Even the original game’s characters are getting skill trees when they’re transferred into the new games, although theirs won’t be as robust as the new characters being brought in. Still, the fact that they’re getting upgraded at all is a great way to reward players who maxed out their figures despite their lackluster move sets. Plus, maybe some characters can be more fleshed out this time, specifically Anna and Elsa. The developers obviously knew very little about since they were developed before Frozen was released, so let’s hope they can be done justice the second time around.

Joining the heroes will be new power discs that were on display for the E3 demo. Aside from the Toy Box backgrounds, perks and weapons that came with the blind pack DLC of the original, Marvel’s version will also include sidekicks who fight at your side for a limited time, and costumes for specific characters. Ever get the feeling that you want to play as Captain America in his First Avenger gear? Or how about black suit Spidey? Ever wanted to fight side by side with The Winter Soldier after he blew us away in the latest Phase 2 film? Now’s your chance, with these discs that feel like a lot more than just fluff. My wallet is going to hurt.

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On the mission front, both the side and story missions felt more involved, forcing me to travel through more of the city to accomplish whatever the goal was. Whether it was racing on Nick Fury’s bike to escorting a scientist to key points in the city as symbiotes were viciously attacking us, these missions made the game feel like a full fledged experience. And while some of the bonus quests I played were still ridiculously easy, some of them presented a nice challenge, like the web slinging missions that I couldn’t get better than a bronze in.

If someone would have told me I was playing the new kid friendly Marvel game and not one that’s attached to a world building simulator, I would have completely bought it. But to think that a game where the single player content is more of the side dish to the Toy Box’s entree plays so well surpassed what I expected after playing the first game. I’m not sure if it’s a testament to Infinity’s developers or a knock at the other guys when web slinging feels more fun in this spinoff than it does in a core Spidey title. My only complaints are that there were some massive bugs, causing mission sensitive enemies to teleport across the map, and that traveling with non-flying or swinging characters felt like a chore. Having to drive as Black Widow when Thor can zip from one end of the map to another in minutes leaves an unbalanced feeling.

Both areas are said to still be in development, so let’s hope these get patched up come September.

http://youtu.be/W1P3b4YU8so

Whoa, Disney Infinity 2.0 hasn’t been announced for more than a month and we already have our second play set on its way!

Scheduled to launch day and date with the Marvel Super Heroes starter pack, (which comes bundled with an Avengers play set already), early buyers will also get the chance to swing through New York with Spider-Man, starring in his own adventure alongside some of his amazing friends.

Centered around a plot by The Green Goblin and Mysterio to harvest Venom’s symbiote, Venom clones are running rampant throughout the city, and it’s up to the web slinger to stop this latest attempt to take control of the city. Thankfully, he’s not the only one who has arrived to stop the threat, with Nova, Iron Fist, Nick Fury and Venom himself joining the fight, complete with their own figures to display when you’re not playing.

The Spider-Man play set will come bundled with the wall crawler and Nova, while the other three will be sold seperately, likely as individual characters and in a set. While details on pricing, bundles and future characters aren’t known yet, I’d be willing to bet that it would cost around $35 like the play sets for the previous games. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Goblin and Mysterio bundled with Avengers villain, Loki, at some point. After all, Randy, Syndrome and Davy Jones were all released for the first game, so it wouldn’t be too much of a shock.

If you wanted to know more about the upcoming play set, check out the trailer below and tell us if you’re planning on emptying your wallet for the Marvel and Disney mash up. Both Disney Infinity 2.0 and the Spider-Man play set are rumored to release on September 23rd.

http://youtu.be/clajnwqBNr4

After Disney Infinity 2.0 was announced last month, questions were running rampant as far as what Marvel and Disney characters would make the cut. Well, thanks to Walmart, we might have the answer… only months before it was intended.

Thanks to a recent preorder listing, the figures shown on the monster retailer’s website matches many of the figures that were recently confirmed at E3, bringing some credibility to the listing. From Guardians of the Galaxy to the recently announced Big Hero 6 and a few surprises in between, it looks like we’ll have a ton of new figures to collect throughout the next year and beyond.

If you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading here. For everyone else, below are the list of figures that might make their way onto store shelves for the next Infinity release.

-Stitch

-Donald Duck

-Tinkerbell

-Hiro and Baymax from Big Hero 6

-Drax

-Rocket Raccoon

-A Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set, including Star Lord and Gamora

This is in addition to Groot, who was already announced, rounding out the Guardians. When including the recently unveiled Merida from Brave and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, (who’s likely in to promote the DVD release of her self titled film when it inevitably hits in a few months), the roster is getting pretty huge, which means a shrinking wallet for us!

While seeing a GotG or Big Hero Six set isn’t surprising in the slightest, seeing characters like Tinker Bell and Donald Duck are welcomed surprises, especially considering Goofy can’t be following too far behind. The game desperately needs more Disney characters, so it’s good to see that they won’t get completely overshadowed by the inclusion of Marvel into the franchise. Yet, there are still some glaring omissions, namely Ferb, who was teased back when Fineas and Agent P were shown for the original, but has yet to be revealed, and Aladdin, who is strangely absent for a game that contains Agrabah guards, the Cave of Wonders, and even Abu in the form of an elephant. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re just scratching the surface of what 2.0 will have to offer.

So what do you think, Geekscapists? Do you like what you see so far? And who else do you want to see make the cut? Check out the latest reveal trailer and let us know what you want to see from the upcoming sequel.

Source: vinylmationkingdom.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBb8JyjSsU

Briefly: The photos don’t show off any of the film’s real stars (the dinosaurs, duh) but Universal Pictures has debuted three new stills from next Summer’s Jurassic World.

The images show off a buff Chris Pratt on a sexy motorcycle, Simpkins and Robinson looking amazing (probably because of a dinosaur, and Bryce Dallas Howard looking super business-y.

Take a look at the photos below, and let us know what you think! Did you catch those (spoilery) plot details from a couple weeks back? Jurassic World hits theatres on June 12th, 2015.

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Briefly: It’s been nearly two weeks since director Edgar Wright left Ant-Man over creative differences with Marvel, and the studio has now announced his replacement.

It seems as though it was tough for Marvel to find a director to take over the project, as a myriad of names apparently declined, but we now have a yes man in Yes Man director Peyton Reed. Here’s the announcement from Marvel:

When Marvel’s “Ant-Man” hits theaters July 17, 2015, director Peyton Reed will help shepherd the hero into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a cast led by Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas, with writer Adam McKay contributing to the film’s script.

So apparently all this chaos still hasn’t changed the film’s release date, and the script will also received further rewrites by Step Brothers writer Adam McKay.

A new synopsis for the film also hit the web today, so take a look at that below, and let us know what you think of the announcement.

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

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Briefly: Jurassic World is just over one year away from theatres at this point, and last week major setting and plot details from the film leaked online. Nobody knew what to believe, but director Colin Trevorrow has just officially revealed plot details from Jurassic World.

In a just-published interview with SlashFilm, director Colin Trevorrow has detailed the plot of Jurassic World, stating that “Jurassic World takes place in a fully functional park on Isla Nublar. It sees more than 20,000 visitors every day. You arrive by ferry from Costa Rica. It has elements of a biological preserve, a safari, a zoo, and a theme park. There is a luxury resort with hotels, restaurants, nightlife and a golf course. And there are dinosaurs. Real ones. You can get closer to them than you ever imagined possible. It’s the realization of John Hammond’s dream, and I think you’ll want to go there.”

He continues, revealing that the film will take place more than two decades after Jurassic Park. He speaks of two main ideas that came to light when deciding the film’s setting:

One was that money has been the gasoline in the engine of our biggest mistakes. If there are billions to be made, no one can resist them, even if they know things could end horribly.

The other was that our relationship with technology has become so woven into our daily lives, we’ve become numb to the scientific miracles around us. We take so much for granted.

Those two ideas felt like they could work together. What if, despite previous disasters, they built a new biological preserve where you could see dinosaurs walk the earth…and what if people were already kind of over it? We imagined a teenager texting his girlfriend with his back to a T-Rex behind protective glass. For us, that image captured the way much of the audience feels about the movies themselves. “We’ve seen CG dinosaurs. What else you got?” Next year, you’ll see our answer.

There are some other great revelations here, so be sure to read the full interview over at SlashFilm. It really sounds like Trvorrow and the team are trying to turn the franchise around, and I really can’t wait to see what they come up with.

Are you looking forward to Jurassic World? Be sure to let us know! The film hits theatres on July 12th, 2015.

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Just released from Marvel Studios, Edgar Wright will no longer be working on the film adaptation of Ant Man.

Marvel and Edgar Wright jointly announced today that the studio and director have parted ways on Ant-Man due to differences in their vision of the film. The decision to move on is amicable and does not impact the release date on July 17, 2015. A new director will be announced shortly.

This is fairly surprising as Edgar Wright has been on board with this film since it was first conceived way back in 2010, and was even onstage at SDCC 2012 to show off their first test footage of the film.

It would be very interesting to find out what exactly was the hang up between Wright and Marvel. All we know is we’re just gonna grab a pint at the Winchester and wait for this all to blow over.

Briefly: With just over a month to go until Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theatres, Paramount has finally unwrapped more of the film’s sure-to-be-coherent plot. They’ve kept things fairly under wraps so far, so it’s nice to actually learn a bit about the film before it releases.

I’ve hated on the film a lot so far, but this new preview actually makes it look like a pretty fun time. Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think! Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theatres on June 27th!

The man who has created some of the most terrifying, yet beautiful, works of art has passed away this morning at the age of 74.

Giger’s arguably most famous work was what he had created for the Alien series of science fiction films. He pioneered an art style that he referred to “biomechanical”, something that makes anything he works on from movies to sculptures to paintings all the way up to furniture, uniquely his.

The sad part of his passing is that it wasn’t directly related to disease. He suffered a fall recently and succumbed to the injuries.

He was a great man and will be missed.

Be sure to check out a great story of his work on the unfinished film adaption of Dune in the documentary of Jodorowsky Dune.

http://youtu.be/OPqh82Dz84Q

Briefly: We’re just a few more weeks away from Transformers: Age Of Extinction‘s big release, and Paramount has just debuted a few new stills from the film.

We’ve got shots of both Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, and that shot of Prime on his knees looks pretty badass. I’m not overly excited for the film (I quit the series after the first), but these shots certainly look cool.

Take a look at the images below, and let us know what you think. Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theatres on June 27th!

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Source: Empire

Just hitting the Geeksape news desk is some radical news! Lionsgate and Saban Entertainment are joining forces to bring us a new live action Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie!

Launched in America over 20 years ago, the Power Rangers have been a staple of children’s saturday morning television every week. From dinosaurs to ninjas and from space police to jungle animals, they’ve gone pretty much everywhere.

Details are vague; is this a reboot/re-envisioning of the show from 1993? OR, is this an entirely brand new narrative. The world will have to wait.

Briefly: The first set photos from Jurassic World are here, and they’re already looking better than the entirety of Jurassic Park 3.

The images come care of EW, and show Bryce Dallas-Howards’ character, as well as a damaged Jeep, and a Jurassic World chair in what looks like a gorgeous Hawaiian landscape.

The film stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Nick Robinson, Ty Simpkins, BD Wong, Irrfan Khan, David Oyelowo, Omar Sy, and more, and will hit theatres in June 2015. Take a look at the images below, and let us know what you think!

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We here at Geekscape are no strangers to MLP and Bronies (you should see my Rarity cosplay), so when we saw the trailer for the upcoming documentary on the best fandom out there we just had to share it.

I am always down for people intelligently explaining our passion for this show, and it looks like Brent Hodge as put together a fantastic film.

A Brony Tale is premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival April 26th. It can also be seen at the DOXA Film Festival on May 11th!

Luc Besson always puts together some fantastic films. Even if they aren’t always critically successful (I’m looking at you Hitman), at the end of the day he can direct, write and produce some very enjoyable films. So when I heard the trailer for his next film, Lucy just came out my excitement was palpable. Watch the trailer with me and get excited!

http://youtu.be/VcLERVsu1O8

First off I want to get the fallacy of the whole “10% of your brain” thing aside.  Got it? Good, now back to Lucy (IT’S SCIENCE FICTION PEOPLE!).

The film stars the goddess of internet neckbeards, Scarlett Johansson as Lucy. Woman forced into the role as a drug mule, and one day those drugs start leaking into her system. As you can tell by the trailer  much superhero fun is to be had, and if Luc Besson is behind it you KNOW it will be action packed.

Lucy hits theaters August 8th!

Briefly: Following the IMAX poster from a few weeks back, Paramount has debuted a new one-sheet for this Summer’s Transformers: Age of Extinction.

The image looks to feature the same gigantic spaceship as the IMAX poster did, but instead of new character Lockdown looking cool and walking away calmly, we have human stars Mark Wahlberg and Nicola Peltz running for their lives.

Take a look at the poster below, watch the trailer here if you haven’t, and be sure to let us know if you’re looking forward to the film. Transformers: Age of Extinction releases on June 27th.

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When you hear the name Andy Serkis what do you picture in your head? A little goblin running around in the search for his “precious” ring. Well now you can add Director to that list. That’s right the actor who portrayed Gollum in the Lord of The Rings movies is getting his directorial debut, and he is adapting…the Jungle Book?

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Serkis told a tale of reading the original Jungle Book story as a child living in Baghdad.

I found it mesmerizing, and it transported me into this incredible world. It’s extraordinary that I’m getting a chance to bring it to the screen … The jungle is a Garden of Eden and a wonderful place for Mowgli to grow up in, but also is a place of fear and a place of threat.

Not much has been revealed, but Serkis promises that this version will be faithful to the source material. It most likely won’t have singing bears.

This also marks his directorial debut, though it is important to note he is Peter Jackson’s Second Unit Director on The Hobbit Trilogy.

This news comes months after the announcement that John Favreu was brought on board to direct the new Disney adaptation. You can expect to see singing bears in that one.

Still over a year away from theaters, Jurassic World is shaping up to be a monster of a film. Not much media has been released of the film, but today we bring you some of the initial designs and concepts for the facility in Jurassic World.

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Set a few decades after the events in the third film, Jurassic World takes place at a third park. A successful park, that by the time the film starts, has been up and running for some time.

Besides these pretty pictures, and the June 2015 release date, we also have a nice list of actors that will be starring in the film.

  • Chris Pratt
  • Bryce Dallas Howard
  • Vincent D’Onofrio
  • Nick Robinson
  • Ty Simpkins
  • BD Wong
  • Irrfan Khan
  • David Oyelowo
  • Omar Sy

We would love to hear your thoughts on Jurassic World as well as everyone’s opinion on these concept images.

 

In what can only be called a “Trailer for a Trailer” (yo dawg), the team over at Fox have pushed out a little Instagram tease. Prepping us for next weeks World Premiere Trailer.

Based off the story line of the same name (Uncanny X-Men #141 and #142 to be precise), it has a gaggle of mutants flying around through time.

The X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in a battle that must change the past – to save their future

Be sure to check back here, next Monday, to peep at the official World Wide Premiere Trailer when it launches. Catch X-men Days of Future Past when it hits theaters May 24, 2014

 

Days of Future Past…where have I heard that name before…

We at Geekscape have many a love; two of those are Transformers and badass theatrical posters. Last week we showed you the very mery Wahlberg character poster. Well now we got you all a brand new one.

Paramount just released this awesome looking poster for the IMAX release of Transformers: Age of Extinction. It features the new character Lockdown, the hot Aventador changing bounty hunter.

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So scapists, who out there is excited for Transformers 4? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

 

Briefly: Well, the Oscars are over for another year, and I’m pretty bummed out that I didn’t get to watch this year (the livestreams were neither live nor streaming unfortunately). I heard that Ellen did an excellent job hosting (as always), and that the entire ceremony was very well produced.

Now, who won!? Take a look at the full list of winners below, and be sure to let us know who you’re glad took home the gold, who you’re disappointed didn’t, and anything else about this year’s Oscars that you may want to share!

Best Picture12 Years a Slave

Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Best Animated Feature FilmFrozen

Best Animated Short FilmMr Hublot

Best Original Song: “Let It Go,” Frozen

Best Original ScoreGravity

Best Production DesignThe Great Gatsby

Best EditingGravity

Best CinematographyGravity

Best Sound EditingGravity

Best Sound MixingGravity

Best Documentary Feature20 Feet from Stardom

Best Documentary Short: “The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life”

Best Live Action Short Film: “Helium”

Best Visual EffectsGravity

Best Foreign Language FilmThe Great Beauty

Best Makeup and HairstylingDallas Buyers Club

Best Costume DesignThe Great Gatsby

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave

There you go! Again, be sure to let us know what you thought of the ceremony in the comments below. In other news, this is now the most retweeted photo of all time!

The people at Valve certainly love what they do, so much so that they’ve created this intense Documentary that follows eSport Professionals on their road to the biggest video game tournament ever. Check out the trailer for “Free to Play” below!

FREE TO PLAY is a feature-length documentary that follows three professional gamers from around the world as they compete for a million dollar prize in the first Dota 2 International Tournament. In recent years, E Sports has surged in popularity to become one of the most widely-practiced forms of competitive sport today. A million dollar tournament changed the landscape of the gaming world and for those elite players at the top of their craft, nothing would ever be the same again. Produced by Valve, the film documents the challenges and sacrifices required of players to compete at the highest level.

Dramatic music? Check. Human element? Check. Topic geeks love? Check.

Free to Play looks like it will hit all the points of a great documentary. I am very excited to see this when it comes out on March 19th. You can get it FOR FREE on Steam. There will also be a Dota 2 item pack available for purchase, with contributions going to people featured in the film.

For more info be sure to check out the official website.

 

Can you believe that 2013 is nearly over? In less than 24 hours, we’ll abolish that dreaded three for ten more years, and a cool, clean, pointy four will take its place.

2013 has been a great year for all types of media, so as always, we rounded up our ever-growing pool of writers to share with you our favourite things of 2013. First up, movies!

Take a look at everyone’s top 5, top 10, or favourite film altogether below, and be sure to let us know yours in the comments!

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**** Disclaimer: I still haven’t seen Her, Lone Survivor, or August: Osage County

1. American Hustle – David O. Russell continues his reign with this smartly written and witty con-man drama that delivers the year’s best acting ensemble.

2. Rush – A surprisingly entertaining and adrenaline pumping real-life story about Formula 1 racing. Ron Howard returns to form with this memorable competitive sports drama.

3. About Time – “Love Actually” director, Richard Curtis, elevates his game with this delightful and charming tale of falling in love and discovering a new-found zest for life. Incorporating a mildly flawed, but still effective, sci-fi backdrop revolving around time travel, “About Time” is one of the year’s most sentimental features.

4. 12 Years a Slave – This freight train of an Oscar contender is visceral and unsettling to watch, but even harder to forget. It’s a real-life story of one man’s quest for freedom in the midst of a slavery-fueled 1860s Georgia.

5. The Wolf of Wall Street – Martin Scorsese’s satirical and over-the-top examination of a stockbroker’s greed and ambition is wildly engaging and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Jonah Hill gives a career best performance.

6. Trance – Danny Boyle’s unique style is a regular staple and it’s in tip-top form with his 2013 mind-bending thriller, “Trance”. Deciding who’s playing who, and differentiating between reality and subconscious has never been so much fun.

7. Short Term 12 – An eye-opening look at a state foster-care facility for at-risk youth serves as one of the year’s most compelling and moving independent dramas. A debut effort from director Destin Cretton, “Short Term 12” feels remarkably authentic.

8. Dallas Buyers Club – Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto give towering performances in this true story of Texas renegade Ron Woodroof’s battle with the pharmaceutical industry.

9. Gravity – This epic sci-fi adventure couples groundbreaking special effects with a captivating story of human survival. Superbly directed and well-acted on all accounts, “Gravity” is certainly a satisfying movie experience.

10. The Conjuring – James Wan’s “The Conjuring” has that rare classic horror feel. With genuine scares and a convincing story, we’re given a real horror movie gem.

Josh Jackson

Just to put this out there, I’m not a movie guy. I’ll go see the occasional film that catches my eye, but I’m the kind of person that’s perfectly happy with waiting for everything I want to see to hit my local Redbox before I see it. So for me to be compelled to contribute a movie piece for the end of 2013 is a testement to how much of an impression that Disney’s Frozen left on me.

I walked in knowing next to nothing about the movie, (which was intentional according to multiple sources citing Disney’s attempt to shy away from marketing princesses to attract a bigger audience.) The only reason I knew it wasn’t about Olaf the snowman as the advertisements would lead you to believe is because of the research I did for Disney Infinity at E3, but I never would have expected it to surpass Wreck It Ralph and Tangled. Once the credits rolled, not only would I have gladly place it above those two excellent movies, but I feel it deserves to be discussed in the same breath as the classics of the Disney Renaissance.

What made Frozen so great is that, because it’s so self aware, without being forced or preachy. The film’s first act is full of the typical Disney cliches; a princess who’s desperate for true love, meeting her prince charming, the two instantly falling in love, (with a musical number accompanying it,) and the eventual reveal that a curse that befalls the princess that can only be cured with an act of true love towards the movie’s conclusion. But once the second act starts, this whole concept is thrown on its head. The princess is the one who sets off to save her kingdom from its accidental plight caused by her sister and her uncontrollable ice powers, showing the bravery and assertiveness usually reserved for the prince. Along the way, Princess Anna meets Kristoph, an ice salesman who is an obvious secondary love interest, but acts as a reminder through most of the film that this fairy tale love is unrealistic. Despite this, both Anna and Prince Hans, her original love interest, seemingly go to great lengths to protect the kingdom and each other. It’s not until the final moments that the film’s greatest scene takes place that the film’s message becomes clear, redefining the meaning of “true love” in a fairy tale film while proving that two female leads can carry a movie without a “prince charming” to save them. It brilliantly sets the audience up with expectations that the writers are sure to have known their viewers would have, framed it in a way that exploits the typical Disney formula and takes a complete U-Turn half way through all the way up until the film’s climax, which deserves commendation in itself. And that twist! I can’t remember ever hearing a full theater audibly gasp before!

Once again, the message is strong without being forced, and unlike Enchanted, which dealt with similar themes, that film came off more as a parody. When I think Frozen, what I see is a huge first step towards redefining what a mainstream “princess” movie can achieve. With grand songs written by the people behind The Book of Mormon, recruiting broadway superstars like Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, who are led by a surprisingly strong vocal performance by Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell, gorgeous animation that’s highlighted by a breathtaking sequence showing the construction of Queen Elsa’s ice castle, and the incredible feat of making Olaf legitimately funny instead of painfully annoying, and it’s plain to see why I was left with such a strong impression by Frozen. Unquestionably, the film is one of the best I’ve seen in years, and definitely my movie of 2013.

Jonathan London

(In no particular order.)

Rush – My favorite Ron Howard movie. There is so much energy in every shot, whether it’s the physical and kinetic movements of the races or the internal and interpersonal turmoil of the characters. This movie proves that Chris Hemsworth isn’t just Thor and Ron Howard isn’t just the guy who makes movies to take your parents to. And Daniel Brühl makes a big argument on why Hollywood should put him in more films to come. Rush felt like a newcomer arriving on the scene with the experience of a classic filmmaker. If you don’t like car racing or sports movies you’ll be surprised by it even more.

Pacific Rim – Geeks! This was our movie! A celebration of Japanese monster movies, anime and giant robot films? From the guy who brought us Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth? How was this possibly going to miss? Critics will argue that it had thin characters, a dull middle act and stretched running time. I’ll argue that none of the intended recipients gave a damn… and neither did the filmmakers! There was enough ridiculous spectacle to keep your blood pumping and enough shout outs and wink winks to let you know they they know that it’s all in the name of fun no matter how far this fun locomotive careens off the rails like a Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon. Made for us and approved by us. Sequel please.

The Evil Dead – If you’re going to do a remake/reimagining, this should be your blue print. This was as brutal, fresh and scary as you remember the original being way back when but it doesn’t alienate the fans or negate what came before. I loved every gross, brutal movement of this movie. Now let’s see the series continue!

Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There) – This is the movie on the list that you probably haven’t seen (or heard of) but it premiered at Slamdance and hopefully the film’s distributor gets their act together so anyone outside of the Philippines can see it. My film school friend Marie Jamora made this movie about how fraternal loss and guilt can fracture a family over the course of decades. It’s also a pretty great movie about how that first true love in your life help begin the process of putting the pieces back together.

A Place Beyond The Pines – This one might end up overlooked on many end of the year lists and presents itself with a triptych act structure that might feel awkwardly paced for the unprepared but ends up being a pretty moving experience and meditation on legacy. The performances are all great and the film probably has the strongest tone of any movie I saw this year (Prisoners might be the other competitor here). The ideas that it presents about inescapability and responsibility will just stick with you as you watch the characters circle the drain of small town life.

This Is The End – The funniest movie of the year. As I talk about on the podcast, if we are moving past the current era of slacker improv comedies that started with Judd Apatow’s The 40 Year Old Virgin, This Is The End is a fitting cap. It’s vulgar, hilarious and doesn’t pull any of its punches. As nasty as it got at times, you welcomed it.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – In a year that offered up a darker Superman, a Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustles and loneliness leading someone to fall in love with their operating system, by the time it got to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty it just felt good to smile. I enjoyed all of those movies that I just referenced but Walter Mitty beats out Her, The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle for its level of positivity. By the time I watched it, I was done with watching a character’s self induced spiral over two hours and was ready for something that felt fresh. Ben Stiller finally finds himself making a movie on a bigger level, not necessarily a comedy and on a bigger scale than anything he’s attempted. The result is just something that is both inspiring and fun to watch. The argument against the movie could be that if you don’t like Ben Stiller it will be a long ride. He is in every scene. But at the same time let yourself be surprised by how innocent and likable the whole experience is. This really reminded me of another Christmas Day release that I enjoyed from years ago that played to the heartfelt moments but may not have been well received by theatergoers: Frank Darabont’s ‘The Majestic”.

Man of Steel – I’m ready to catch heat for this one but this was my favorite comic book movie of the year (sorry, Thor 2… I still love you for being a lot of fun). From the John Byrne style Krypton opening to seeing the apocalyptic results of super humans fighting it out for the real time on screen, Man of Steel was the cinematic relaunch that the character needed. Even though I missed John Williams score and dopey Clark Kent, this felt like the modern Superman that we needed to set the stage for what Warner Bros has in store. I’ll admit that it wasn’t perfect but it did the job it needed to do and I love arguing the merits of the film that a lot of people seem to overlook. Plus, when left with no choice Superman kills… just like in the comics!

Zero Charisma – I’d like to think that we were one of the first champions of this incredible film, having directors Andrew and Katie call in to the show prior to the SXSW premiere, then meeting and loving the film at SXSW and ultimately having them as guests on the show months later when Zero Charisma was released on VOD. I really do hope that you all have seen the movie by now because it is both the best movie about roleplaying culture and the best movie to ever portray geeks.

Prisoners – On top of this being Hugh Jackman’s best performance, Prisoners is just a really good mystery film combined with a revenge tale that twists and twists around itself like a snake. I hope this one doesn’t get overlooked by the awards but I’m worried that it. Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Mario Bello, Terrence Howard… the movie is absolutely stacked and if it was released in November or December no one would question it being nominated in a few categories.

Gravity – Thin script? There’s just no pleasing Gravity’s detractors. Luckily, their easy to ignore… because you can’t hear their whining in the vacuum of space. As visually stunning as it is white knuckle stress-inducing, Gravity is also Sandra Bullock’s best performance. At times, the visuals felt informed by video games like Half Life (and some of the skin of your teeth escape sequences do too) but that’s not a detraction from the film but something it does well. You really are in the main characters shoes from beginning to end and from one spectacular panic attack to the next. What an incredible roller coaster.

Dallas Buyers Club – Can they give both Best Actor awards to Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto this year? Because Dallas Buyers Club contains the two best performances we’re going to see. This movie is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking and the main character’s journey, from being completely despicable to becoming a champion, is the most engaging story I’ve seen this year. This was probably my favorite film.

The Most Fun I Had In The Theaters This Year: This is a combined sub-category made up of two experiences… watching White House Down with my wife and brother Paul as if we were watching a prolonged South Park episode. Tied with watching Olympus Has Fallen a few weeks after watching Die Hard 5 and realizing Olympus Has Fallen was a much better Die Hard movie.

http://youtu.be/fvMPU0WaPcc

S.J. Borger

1. 12 Years A Slave — A must see. Bravura performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dwight Henry, and, well, the entire cast, combined with a compelling script and a gripping visual style makes this, if not the year’s best movie, certainly a contender.

2. Frozen — Aside from the fact that our Princesses eyes are bigger than their wrists (really, Disney??), Frozen hits all the right notes: story, acting, music, comedy and romance.

3. American Hustle — Batman, Rocket Raccoon, Lois Lane, Hawkeye and Katniss get together to play a FBI agent, a con man and a corrupt Mayor (and the women who fascinate them). What more do we need to say?

4. Fruitvale Station — The true story of Oscar Grant III, who was shot to death by BART police at Fruitvale Station. The movie explores Oscar’s last day. While some critics have taken issue with the film omission and manipulation of facts, it is finely crafted and still worth watching.

5. The Way Way Back—A sweet, quirky comedy/drama about a family vacation to Cape Cod, with a charming coming-of-age story surrounding 14-year-old Duncan. It manages to avoid becoming too saccharine or too schmaltzy, thanks mostly to its strong cast.

Matt Kelly

1. The Kings of Summer – There’s a chance that this is my #1 because it’s the most recent film I’ve seen (thanks Netflix) but I genuinely believe regardless when I saw this movie I would have enjoyed it the same. It mixes drama and comedy in a delightful way just like the previously mentioned Way Way Back the only difference is that I was immediately enjoying myself from the first shot while WWB took some time to warm up to. When The Kings of Summer wants to be funny it hits the right notes but it shines when it wants to be dramatic. It beautifully captures the joys of summer in a fresh way.

2. The Way Way Back – This movie was a slowburn at first. In the first 5 minutes all I knew was that I hated Steve Carrel’s character (as well as most of the other characters) and felt depressed by what I was watching. Then Sam Rockwell walked on screen and reminded us why he is one of the best (and most under appreciated) actors working today. Every line he deliveries hits beautifully. It’s his charisma (as well as the beautiful water park set) that brings Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s coming of age dramedy about adolescence and Water Parks to the top of so many other critics “Best of” lists this year. There was only one film that I believe captured the excitement of a great summer better…

3. Room 237 – When it played festivals last year this was the film I heard about in every podcast and festival summary. I could not wait to finally get around to seeing it. FINALLY it was available on DVD and it lived up to every single bat-shit crazy fan theory I was promised and more! The movie presentation is fairly simple. Footage from The Shining, random stock footage and voice over. It’s not a visually interesting film (although when they point out the source of people’s insanity it can sometimes be hilarious) the real star is the unseen narration. Every person is nothing short of crazy and I love them for it.

4. Monsters University – You gotta love how frequently Pixar writes movies like The Incredibles and Monsters University where their basic message are things like “Not everyone is special” and “Kids sometimes your dreams just don’t work out”. Beyond the fact the Pixar’s latest film dishes out some hard reality to its intended audiences, it’s also hilarious. Packed with fantastic voice acting, a great story and solid comedy Monster University turned into an enjoyable animated version of Revenge of the Nerds.

5. The First Time – My cowriter and I love the movie In the Land of Women. So the second writer/director Jon Kasdan’s follow up film came out we immediately watched it. Technically the film is from 2012 but since it was not available outside a few festivals screenings until this year I’m giving myself approval to include it (thank you me). It’s a charming little rom-com about high schoolers. I’m fairly confident that he and I are the only men in the world who love this movie as much as we do (much like our love of In the Land of Women) so I’m not even going to try to explain my insanity to you. I will say that after watching this movie with him, I watched it three more times alone and we began working on a script inspired by a conversation the movie started between us. So Jon Kasdan if you’re reading this thank you, and also please appear on my podcast (www.thesaintmortshow.com)

6. Maniac – I went into this with high expectations. Everyone was calling it the best horror movie of 2013. I was already pretty impressed by American Mary and Evil Dead but the fine people at r/horror were right (obligatory shout out to my Reddit peeps). This is what horror movie remakes should be. Franck Khalfoun, Alexandre Aja and Gregory Levasseur took an infamous but pretty forgettable horror film from the 80’s and put a fresh vision on it to create a bizarre but fantastic viewing experience. I’m sure you’ve already read somewhere about how the film is shoot entirely from the serial killers perspective, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this going in but ended up loving the eerie effect it caused. Casting the otherwise lovable Elijah Wood as an uncontrollable killing machine also helps to drive home the message of never knowing the true person behind the mask.

7. Dear Mr. Watterson – One could argue that I’m slightly bias here as the director has appeared on my podcast. Some may even say this is another classic Matt Kelly way of plugging his podcast in a different article and while I’m certainly going to do that (click here and check out my interview) this documentary was a genuine delight. Joel Allen Schroeder appropriately captures the joy this comic strip has brought to countless people. The highlight of the film is the telling of Bill Watterson’s infamous anti-advertising speech from the perspectives of his peers who experienced it live.

8. Before Midnight – I still don’t quite know how I feel about Before Midnight. For that reason it has earned its place on my top 10. No film has felt as real as part 3 of Richard Linklater’s series of relationship analysis. If you’re a fan of the previous installments than you have learned to love Jesse and Celine. Until this point you’ve seen them strictly as people madly in love and constantly flirty. Before Midnight allows us to see those moments when even a perfect couple hits a rocky patch. As the film neared it’s end I remember feeling my heart hurting thinking ‘Please, it can’t end this way’. It’s an emotional roller-coaster unlike any other.

9. Inside Jaws – When I first heard about Inside Jaws I just assumed it was a documentary in the same vein as The Shark is Still Working. I was very wrong. Jamie Benning has compiled and created the ultimate viewing experience for not just Jaws fans but film fans. The movie works as a commentary track to Jaws compiled of interview clips over the years with people involved with Jaws as well a few interviews Benning conducted himself. Also included are outtakes, deleted scenes edited back into the movie and a few moments of instant replay to point out things you may have NEVER noticed before. I did not expect to stay awake until 3am watching it but I loved every second of it.

10. The World’s End – I genuinely thought this would be my number one film of the year. I was such a huge fan of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz that I could not wait to see the final pieces of their genre parody trilogy. I left the theater feeling indifferent. I didn’t hate it, but I certainly didn’t love it. I can honestly say that it was not going to be in my top 10 until I watched it last week for a second time. In typical Edgar Wright fashion, this is a grower. The second round I caught the fantastic foreshadowing that Wright has made himself known for. I wouldn’t be shocked if a few years from now this has climbed it’s way into my top 5 of 2013 in a retroactive article.

Top 10 Movies I didn’t seen in 2013 but hear are quite good and right up my alley: John Dies At the End, Spring Breakers, Downloaded, You’re Next, Bad Milo, Frozen, Saving Mr. Banks, Gravity, The Spectacular Now, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Derek Kraneveldt

My top five films for this year are not necessarily the best movies around, but simply the films that I enjoyed the most. That’s why you’ll see Pacific Rim in my top 5; not because it’s the best, but because it’s freaking awesome. Here goes:

1. Gravity – This is a film that you need to see in theatres if possible (it’s still playing all over the place, so get on it). Alfonso Caurón’s previous film Children of Men, in all of its post-apocalyptic, depressing as hell, incredibly shot glory remains one of my favourite films of all time, and Gravity sits right up there with it. Gravity is so believable that a reporter even asked the director what it was like to film in space. It’s the best 3D that has ever been released, and the only 3D film that has ever made me feel sick to my stomach (seemingly deliberately). There really isn’t anything not to love about Gravity, and its incredible cinematography and impossibly long takes are likely to leave you just as breathless as Ryan Stone is throughout the film.

2. Rush – I’m not a racing fan. I don’t even like sports. That being said, there were multiple moments throughout my first viewing of Ron Howard’s Rush that I though to myself “maybe I should start watching Formula One.” The film tells the incredible tale of the 1970’s rivalry of racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, and it may just be one of the best sports films that I’ve ever seen. Superbly directed, acted, written, and edited, Rush should not be passed up by anyone.

3. Pacific Rim – I saw Pacific Rim more than a few times in theatres. It’s far and away from the best film to release this year, and it had more than its fair share of problems, but it was so freaking bad-ass that I didn’t care. This is Power Rangers for adults in an unbelievably realized apocalyptic world, it’s easily the most fun that I had in a theatre this year, and it had me repeating Idris Elba’s epic speech for weeks. Pacific Rim all but bombed in North America, so I desperately hope that its stellar overseas performance leads to a sequel being greenlit.

4. Prisoners – In a year of unbelievably intense and terrifying films, Prisoners may just take the cake. The film follows the investigation of the kidnapping of two young girls, focussing in on both the police officer charged with the case, and the parents dealing with everyone’s worst nightmare. Prisoners may have a few too many red herring moments, but the intensity of the plot and especially the performances (Hugh Jackman’s definitely being the standout) more than made up for them. If you’re a parent, I could easily see Prisoners being your top horror film of 2013.

5. The Kings of Summer – This is a film that I had never heard of until just a few weeks back (thanks, dad). Simply put, The Kings of Summer is a coming-of-age drama/comedy that takes you right back to being a 15 year old kid, debating whether or not to run away from home because your parents suck and you’re smarter than everyone else. The movie is hilarious (Bellagio could easily star in his own spinoff), touching, nostalgic, and heartbreaking, all at the same time.

Sequel to the surprisingly good “Rise of The Planet of The Apes”, “The Dawn” looks as if it is taking what the first film did right, and expounds on it ten fold. Check out the official trailer below!

You can catch “Dawn of The Planet of The Apes” in theaters next summer, July 11, 2014!

Thats right folks. We have a hard, DAY specific release date for the upcoming 7th film in the saga. That date, announced today is

DECEMBER 18th, 2015!

The official press release is as follows:

With pre-production in full-swing, a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015, has been set for Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII.

 

“We’re very excited to share the official 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, where it will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgoing season but also ensure our extraordinary filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver a sensational picture,” said Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

 

Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J.J. Abrams (Super 8Mission: Impossible IIIStar Trek) and is being scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost ArkThe Empire Strikes BackReturn of the Jedi). Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (Mission: Impossible – Ghost ProtocolJack RyanStar Trek Into Darkness) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin,War of the Worlds) serving as executive producers. John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII.

 

Shooting is scheduled to begin spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios.

You can color me excited!

Ever wonder how wrestling organizations like the WWE hire their female talent? Based on the Divas that have gone through the organization throughout the 2000’s, I’d like to imagine that the process is similar to what was shown in The Boom Boom Girls of Wrestling, an independent satire that delves into the world of women in wrestling.

Spearheaded by Carolin von Petzholdt, (who also plays the lead character of Carla Von Awesome,) was inspired to work on this project after she was injured at the end of a two month stint as a pro wrestling trainee. What can only be described as completely insane, the clips shown at the film’s Comikaze panel are what I’d sometimes imagine the hiring process at the WWE looks like. (“Are those silicone? You’re hired!”) After these “super heroes” are chosen, the film promises to take the ladies to some of the most backwater locations you could imagine in order to perform in front of a crowd of dozens. Just like real life!

The film is in its final stages of production and is aiming for a 2014 release. Check out the trailer below, and after you’re done, you can find more information at the website for the film at www.theboomboomgirls.com/

Wes Anderson fans rejoice, the imaginative director’s latest project ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ will be upon us soon and from the trailer we can already see that this movie is filled to the brim with many talented actors. Just how many actors? Well, reddit user FennekFox goes into just how much talent is in the film:

“Overall a ridiculously impressive cast. You know how many Oscar nominations and wins this crowd has? I didn’t either, so I looked into it:
 
16 nominations among the cast spread out over 11 actors, albeit Owen Wilson’s and Jeff Goldblum’s nominations are not for acting.
 
3 wins for F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody and Tilda Swinton.
 
Wes Anderson himself has 3 nominations.
 
Also lots of more talent behind the scenes: Alexandre Desplat, who writes the music, has 5 nominations (from the last 7 years!). Milena Canonero, who’s obviously done a great job once again with the costume design, has 3 wins and 5 nominations. And set decorator Anna Pinnock has 3 nominations.
 
In total I found 32 nominations and 6 wins. But there may be more. The trailer looks fantastic, so perhaps some of these nominees can turn into winners. Ralph Fiennes performance looks awesome, I hope it’s him.
 
And before you ask: no I don’t have too much time on my hands! Knowing this was important to my well-being.”

The movie is described as a chronicle of the adventures of Gustave M. (Ralph Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

I’m not particularly worried about the balance of screen time the actors will receive. Anderson has an excellent track record of remembering to rely on the actual plot to move the story and not by relying on star power alone.

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ will be in theaters on March 7, 2014.