Film Review: Thor – Ragnarok

Directed by Taika Waititi, the third instalment in Marvel’s Thor films, Thor: Ragnarok, sees the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) return after being banished by his long-lost goth sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett). Imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, which is ruled over by camp tyrant Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), Thor is pitted against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a gladiatorial contest. But, with the help of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and a defender of Asgard, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), his priority is to return home to save it from of the prophesised catastrophe of Ragnarok.

DVD Review: Crimson Peak

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Crimson Peak is set in the aftermath of a family tragedy, when a young, aspiring author (Mia Wasikowska) is torn between love for her childhood friend (Charlie Hunnan) and the temptation of a mysteriously seductive outsider (Tom Hiddleston). Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay: a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth behind Crimson Peak.

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Film Review: Thor 2 – The Dark World

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Marvel‘s latest, Thor: The Dark World, and directed by Alan Taylor, continues the big-screen adventures of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Mighty Avenger, in the aftermath of 2012’s Avengers Assemble. As a shadowy enemy predates the universe itself, Thor must fight to save Earth and all the Nine Realms in order to restore order across the cosmos, as an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Idris Elba Confirms Heimdall’s Return in ‘Thor 2’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Idris Elba, next to be seen as the captain of the spaceship in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sci-fi Prometheus, is to reprise his role as Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, in Marvel’s Thor 2, Collider have reported this week.

He also commented that he wanted to get to know his character a bit more. “Who is Heimdall? He guards the gate. Okay. Is there anything else? I don’t know what is in the script because I haven’t read it yet. But, the audience has responded to Asgard and wants to know more about who lives there and what it’s about. I’m sure, if they do that, Heimdall will be featured more.”

Film Review: Avengers Assemble

(Published in Issue 9 of my publication In Retrospect)

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Written and directed by Joss Whedon, Avengers Assemble centres around the Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)’s, need for a superhero team. Uniting Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), The Avengers are brought together to face Thor’s Godly brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his Chitauri alien army as they declare war on Earth.

27 New Images for ‘Avengers Assemble’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

A whopping 27 new images of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble have been released online this week, which include a look at How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, the Hulk at his angriest, a lot of lasers, and the odd-looking antagonist Loki played by Tom Hiddleston.

New Trailer and Poster for ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ Starring Rachel Weisz & Tom Hiddleston

(Written for BritScene)

A new poster and the second trailer for the upcoming romantic drama, The Deep Blue Sea, have been released this week. Directed by Terence Davies’ (The House of Mirth), the film is based on Terence Ratigan’s 1952 play and stars British actors Rachel Weisz (Page Eight) as a London socialite and Tom Hiddleston (Thor) as an ex-RAF pilot.

Casting Catch-Up: Tom Felton, Saoirse Ronan, Tom Hiddleston, Emma Thompson, Dominic Cooper & More!

(Weekly feature written for BritScene)

There has been a lot of casting news over the past couple of weeks, so we thought we’d narrow it down a little for you with a short list of the most exciting stories involving which British actors have been recently attached to what. With upcoming films and TV series that we’ve heard a lot from, to a film that has been off the radar for nearly three years, take a look below to see the ongoings of Tom Felton, Nonso Anozie, Matt Milne, Saoirse Ronan, Tom Hiddleston, Leslie Manville, Emilia Clarke, Emma Thompson, and Dominic Cooper.

‘Thor 2’ Gets A Robert Rodat Rewrite & Starts Filming This Summer

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Tom Hiddleston revealed to Empire earlier this month when and where Marvel Studios will start filming Thor 2, as Marvel Studios confirmed that Saving Private Ryan scribe Robert Rodat is rewriting the script for director Alan Taylor.

Hiddleston, who plays the character of Loki, told Empire that: “All I know about Thor 2 is that we’re supposed to film it in London in the summer and that it’s being directed by Alan Taylor.”

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.

New German Trailer and Stills For ‘The Avengers’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Marvel Studios have released a new German trailer and two universal stills for Joss Whedon’s The Avengers this week, showing some new footage for the superhero comic book adaptation.

When an unexpected enemy threatens global safety, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team.

8 New Clips For Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’

(Written for BritScene)

There have been eight new clips for Steven Spielberg’s war-time drama, War Horse, released online this week.

Last week we showed you a featurette highlighting the British cast, but these new clips show the actors in their characters, with a focus on Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine (TV’s Life Bites) and his mother, played by Emily Watson (Oranges & Sunshine).

New War Horse Featurette Highlights All British Cast

(Written for BritScene)

A new featurette for Steven Spielberg‘s upcoming war-time drama, War Horse, has been released this week, focusing on the film’s British cast including Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

War Horse follows a young boy, Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine (TV’s Life Bites), and his horse, Joey. Despite being too young to enlist in to the cavalry, Albert heads to France when his horse is sold and sent into the trenches of War. War Horse is a compelling tale of their bond, and is Spielberg’s seventh film set in the World War era.

The Latest Trailer for ‘War Horse’ Gallops Onto Our Screens

(Written for BritScene)

This week sees the release of the first trailer for Steven Spielberg’s war-time drama, War Horse, which follows the story a young boy, Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine (TV’s Life Bites), and his horse, Joey. Despite being too young to enlist in to the cavalry, Albert heads to France when his horse is sold and sent into the trenches of War. War Horse is a compelling tale of their bond, and Spielberg’s seventh film set in the World War era.

The film is based on both a children’s novel of the same name, written by Michael Morpurgo and first publishes in the UK in 1982, and also on the 2007 stage adaptation.

It’s Been a ‘Super’ Week for Marvel and DC

This week sees the trailers of two of the most anticipated and upcoming superhero films, the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan‘s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, and Marc Webb‘s first in a series of rebooted Spider-Man films, The Amazing Spider-Man. Captain America is out in cinemas next week and a (good quality) trailer is due for The Avengers shortly. With the Comic-Con this week, as well, everyone has gone Marvel and DC mad.

First up there’s Captain America which is released in UK cinemas next week on 29th July. Only a short time to wait until the year for the following three films. However, Captain America is the last of The Avengers team that we need to meet so it’s about time. Captain America is the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) who is deemed unfit for military service and volunteers for a top-secret research project, thus turning him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.

Film Review: Thor

The fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor follows the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is banished to Earth by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the ruler of Asgard, and stripped of his powers and his hammer after reigniting a dormant war. As his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots to take the Asgardian throne, Thor must prove himself worthy. But when the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero as he must protect his new human allies (Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and Stellan Skarsgård).