Film Review: Star Wars – Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Set 30 years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire in Return of the Jedi (1983), and the seventh installment in the main Star Wars film series, Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens, directed by J. J. Abrams, sees a new threat rise from the ashes. Led by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), The First Order are attempting to rule the galaxy, but the Resistance is still strong. Newcomers Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) join the fight with the Resistance, led by veterans of the Rebel Alliance, as they find out the truth about the Jedi force that they thought were only myths.

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Film Review: Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes

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Directed by Matt Reeves and sequel to the 2011 film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which began 20th Century Fox’s reboot of the original Planet of the Apes series, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes is the eighth theatrical film in the franchise. In the wake of a disaster that changed the world, the film follows a growing nation of genetically evolved apes, led by Caesar (Andy Serkis), who are threatened by a band of humans – including Malcolm (Jason Clarke), Dreyfus (Gary Oldman), Alexander (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and Ellie (Keri Russell) – the few survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. But their fragile peace proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

New Gollum Images From ‘The Hobbit’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

With the recent news that Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit is set to be made into three films rather than the initially planned two, we have the first set images of Gollum.

Whilst we may have already met Gollum in Jackson’s original Lord Of The Rings trilogy, it’s obvious that visual effects technology has gotten a lot better since then because somehow the little creature manages to look even more creepy… and realistic.

Brits At The Box Office: Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Brown Findlay, Tilda Swinton & More!

(Weekly feature written for BritScene)

The Christmas season is over, and 2012 is now well in play. Some films did well over this period, with many that we mentioned in our last post remaining at the top of the Box Office, with many that we mentioned in our last post remaining at the top of the Box Office. This weekend there are a couple of great films being released too, including action thriller Contraband and coming-of-age drama Albatross, as well as a few others that are expanding their release to more theaters. Carry on reading to find out what British movies and actors you can see on the big screen over the next seven days, as well as where you will be able to see them.

Brits At The Box Office: Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig & More!

(Weekly feature written for BritScene)

This week we’re doing a Christmas round-up of films, so you know what will be on in theatres up until New Years Day. There’s three new releases to be looking forward to – The Adventures of Tintin, War Horse and The Iron Lady – and there’s also a few of last week’s films still doing well, with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows placing itself at the top of the box office.

‘The Hobbit’ Cast List

With the release of Peter Jackon’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey earlier today, I’ve written a cast list so we know who to expect in this epic two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s novel, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

First Trailer & Poster for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’

(Written for BritScene)

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first trailer for Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey online today. Not only is the trailer brilliant, but there’s also a lot of British actors in this, and we already can’t wait to see it.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of a two-part series of films to be adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s novel of the same name, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings, returns as director and also serves as producer and co-writer.

New Clips And Behind The Scenes Footage for Tintin

(Written for BritScene)

Excited for the new Tintin movie? Well, we’re about to make your day…

DreamWorks Pictures has released five clips from The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn this week, and three behind-the-scenes featurettes have also appeared online which take us inside the amazing motion-capture process of Steven Spielberg’s 3D family adventure.

The Adventure Begins With a New Trailer for Tintin

(Written for BritScene)

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn is the first instalment in a planned trilogy of computer-animated motion-capture adaptations of George Remi’s series of comic strips. When Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship they set off on their first adventure, a treasure hunt.

MSN have released an exclusive second trailer for the film this week, only a day after releasing the trailer for another of Spielberg’s film, War Horse.

The script is based on three of the Tintin stories – The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure, with screenplay written by Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim), Joe Cornish (Attack The Block), and Steven Moffat (TV’s Sherlock & Doctor Who).

Film Review: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

(Read this in my publication In Retrospect – Issue 1)

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Directed by Rupert Wyatt, The Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is the prequel to The Planet Of The Apes phenomenon that was first published as a novel in 1963 by Pierre Boulle. ‘La Planète des Singes‘ was first translated as Monkey Planet, but was later reissued to tie into the film franchise that the novel inspired. The first film adaptation was released in 1968 and starred Charlton Heston, which was then remade in 2001 starring Mark Wahlberg. This latest instalment explains the uprising of the apes, telling the story of how they escaped captivity and gained their intelligence, and how they managed to take over humanity when their only purpose was as test subjects to help save it.