James Mangold Page 2

Logan Review

Excellent

Hugh Jackman returns to his signature role one last time (so he says), reuniting with filmmaker James Mangold, who also directed 2013's The Wolverine. But this doesn't feel like any other X-Men movie; it strikes a sombre, gritty tone from the start to take the audience on a dark and rather brutal road trip. So while it feels rather long and repetitive, the movie also has a strong emotional kick.

It's set in the year 2029, when mutants have been wiped off the planet, and no new ones have been born for years. Hiding out in a drunken haze as a Texas limo driver, Logan aka Wolverine (Jackman) has stashed Charles aka Professor X (Patrick Stewart) across the border in Mexico, watched over by albino caretaker Caliban (Stephen Merchant). Then a nurse (Elizabeth Rodriguez) appears asking for Logan's help to transport the young Laura (Dafne Keen) to North Dakota. And Laura clearly has a genetic connection with Logan. It also turns out that she has escaped from a Mexico City hospital, so as Logan, Charles and Laura hit the road, the ruthless henchman Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and sinister Dr Rice (Richard E. Grant) are hot on their trail.

Mangold holds all of this in careful control, never tipping over into the usual whiz-bang Hollywood superhero action chaos (the violence is especially grisly). The story moves at a steady pace that adds an involving note of desperation to each sequence. This also makes the movie feel a bit repetitive and even wheel-spinning at times. Since the baddies are able to stay right on the heroes' heels, it's clear that even a nicely offhandedly sojourn with a farmer (Eriq La Salle) and his family will be short-lived. But the gnawing intensity, while never quite building into proper suspense, gets deep under the skin as it fleshes out the characters.

Continue reading: Logan Review

Logan Trailer

In an almost fourth-wall-breaking episode, the latest installment of the Wolverine movie series acknowledges the 'X-Men' comic book series. But this time Logan is far from the superhero his fans are reading about. Age has finally caught up with him - as it does with everyone - and he's no longer as fast or as agile as he used to be. His injuries don't heal as quickly as they used to either, but he's not the only one dealing with the crippling effect of old age. He's currently caring for Professor X in a hide-out, but their lives are about to become disrupted once again with the arrival of a new mutant. Laura is an 11-year-old girl with powers and abilities that match Logan's own. There are dark forces closing in on her, however, and as much as she is capable of taking care of herself, she needs guidance, protection and discipline from somebody who knows her struggle.

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Logan Trailer

Not even a mutant can be powerful forever. Logan aka Wolverine is dealing with the effects that old age are having on his ability to heal, namely the fact that his skin now scars easily and he's constantly in pain. Professor Charles Xavier is also suffering; Alzheimer's has taken over his mind, destroying his memories. But the pair don't even have the X-Men to take care of them anymore, as a new supervillain by the name of Nathaniel Essex with his Essex Corporation is destroying the world as we know it. Logan and Xavier's only chance of defeating Essex lies with a young girl named Laura Kinney who is an exact genetic clone of Wolverine in female form.

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Fox Announces, 'Wolverine,' 'Fantastic Four' Sequels, Plus Mystery Project

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 21 March 2014

Hugh Jackman Jennifer Lawrence Kate Mara Miles Teller James Mangold Michael B. Jordan Jamie Bell

Both 'Wolverine' and 'Fantastic Four' have been given sequels whilst a new project is kept closely shrouded.

Fox has scheduled three more upcoming Marvel movie dates so that the studios can keep continually churning out new superhero movies in the years ahead. The new films - a Wolverine and a Fantastic Four sequel and a mystery Marvel project - are plotted for release from 2017 and onwards. The next Wolverine is set for March 3, 2017, the Fantastic Four sequel is pencilled in for July 14, 2017, and the last one is due to arrive on July 13, 2018, according to Variety.

The Wolverine
Fox Have Plotted A Release Date For The Next 'Wolverine' Movie, For 2017.

Whilst details on the latter two projects are a lot more vague, it was announced last November that Hugh Jackman will be returning to the role of the iconic mutant for a follow-up to 2013's franchise-boosting The Wolverine alongside director James Mangold.

Continue reading: Fox Announces, 'Wolverine,' 'Fantastic Four' Sequels, Plus Mystery Project

A Week In Movies: Stars Shine At Comic-Con, Coogan Launches Alpha Papa, More Gravity Thrills

By Rich Cline in Movies / TV / Theatre on 26 July 2013

Scarlett Johansson Chris Evans Benicio Del Toro Djimon Hounsou Tom Hiddleston Ian McKellen Patrick Stewart Hugh Jackman James Mangold Jennifer Lawrence Patrick Wilson Steve Coogan Chris Hemsworth George Clooney Sandra Bullock

Superheroes turn out at San Diego Comic-Con, while Hugh Jackman makes a final push for The Wolverine. Jennifer Lawrence plugs her Hunger Games sequel, Steve Coogan premieres Alpha Papa in Norwich and Gravity continues to provide goosebumps...

Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson

Comic-Con in San Diego last weekend featured a staggering array of star power presenting their upcoming superhero movies. Chris Evans and Scarlett wound up the fans while talking about Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Benicio Del Toro and Djimon Hounsou were on hand to chat about Marvel's interstellar epic Guardians of the Galaxy. Tom Hiddleston talked up Thor: The Dark World. And the enormous cast of X-men: Days of Future Past turned up, including acting veterans Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. Watch Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson talk 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' at Comic-Con, or see Djimon Hounsou and Benicio Del Toro discuss 'Guardians of the Galaxy' at Comic-Con. Check out the video of Tom Hiddleston talking about 'Thor: The Dark World' at Comic-Con and see Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart getting a little sentimental during 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Comic-Con Q&A.

In addition, Hugh Jackman and James Mangold continued their globe-hopping press tour, arriving in San Diego to discuss their new X-men movie The Wolverine, the Japan-set adventure that arrives in US and UK cinemas this weekend. Watch 'The Wolverine Press conference here, click to view the 'The Wolverine' trailer or read our The Wolverine Review.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Stars Shine At Comic-Con, Coogan Launches Alpha Papa, More Gravity Thrills

'The Wolverine' Movie Is Here: So, What Do The Critics Think?

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 24 July 2013

Hugh Jackman James Mangold Dwayne Johnson

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine takes a break from the X-Men in new solo movie 'The Wolverine' which will be released imminently. What do those who've had a first preview reckon?

Set in modern day Japan after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, The Wolverine will follow its titular knuckle-bladed character as he faces his ultimate nemesis in a battle that will change him forever and leave him more powerful than ever before. There'll be katana-swishing samurais, gangland crime, ancient clans, and bullet train battles as Wolverine's travels take him East to meet new mutants in a role that Hugh Jackman bulked up for by eating "an awful lot of chicken, steak and brown rice" under Dwayne Johnson's advice.

Wolverine Poster
Hugh Jackman Took Weight-Gaining Advice From Dwayne Johnson.

Set for release over the next few day, the film's already received generally appreciative critical reception but The Guardian's Henry Barnes isn't delighted with the previews, saying "The fights are predictable, the scenery disappointingly drab considering the potential in Tokyo's neon-lit wonder-world," whilst recognising that the shortcomings of the movie could stem from director James Mangold's history of being more qualified as an "actors' director than action man," with films such as Walk The Line, 3:10 To Yuma and Girl, Interrupted under his belt. Barnes also observes that spark and interest could be waning in the X-Men because "the franchise has been snicked into strands so twisted from each other that its getting tough to trace the genealogy."

Continue reading: 'The Wolverine' Movie Is Here: So, What Do The Critics Think?

Video - 'The Wolverine' Producers Lauren Shuler Donner And Hutch Parker Talk Authors And Global Interest At Comic-Con - Part 2

'The Wolverine' producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Hutch Parker talk about the original comic writers and the international appeal of the movie at a press conference at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Continue: Video - 'The Wolverine' Producers Lauren Shuler Donner And Hutch Parker Talk Authors And Global Interest At Comic-Con - Part 2

A Week In Movies: Pacific Rim Launches, The Wolverine Shows Himself And Gwyneth Deals With Sex-Addiction

By Rich Cline on 05 July 2013

Guillermo Del Toro Idris Elba Hugh Jackman James Mangold Bruce Willis Anthony Hopkins Ashton Kutcher Rachel McAdams Noomi Rapace Gwyneth Paltrow Jennifer Hudson

Guillermo Del Toro's summer blockbuster Pacific Rim holds huge premieres in Mexico and London, while The Wolverine and RED 2 begin their own publicity assaults. And trailers tease us with glimpses of Jobs, Passion, Thanks for Sharing and more...

Pacific Rim

This week's big world premiere was for Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim, which was held in Mexico City on Monday with cast members Charlie Day, Ron Perlman and Rinko Kikuchi. They were joined by British costars Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam and new True Blood hunk Robert Kasinsky for the European premiere in London on Thursday. Critics' reviews are embargoed, but Emma Watson and Kanye West both tweeted praise for the film, which opens next week.

The next big blockbuster this summer will be The Wolverine, a stand-alone X-men movie set in World War II Japan. Hugh Jackman returns as the iconic character, and this week appears in a short behind-the-scenes doc with director James Mangold. They reveal several enticing clips from the film, which opens later this month. Watch The Wolverine featurette here.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Pacific Rim Launches, The Wolverine Shows Himself And Gwyneth Deals With Sex-Addiction

Video - James Mangold, Lauren Shuler Donner And Hugh Jackman Explain Concept Of 'The Wolverine' In A New Featurette

Director James Mangold, producer Lauren Shuler Donner and title star Hugh Jackman talk about the new 'The Wolverine' movie in a featurette in which they mention how Logan's healing powers are now under threat.

Continue: Video - James Mangold, Lauren Shuler Donner And Hugh Jackman Explain Concept Of 'The Wolverine' In A New Featurette

Turning Japanese: 'The Wolverine' Sees Hugh Jackman In Asia (Trailer)

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 05 April 2013

Hugh Jackman James Mangold

Hugh Jackman's Logan travels to Japan in the latest Wolverine movie.

The latest trailer for James Mangold's The Wolverine will be a feast for the eyes to Marvel fans eagerly anticipating their latest slice of Hugh Jackman action. Set in modern-day Japan, the movie sees Jackman's character encounter a considerable enemy from his past who will ultimately impact on his future. After alienating himself from his X-Men peers and being forced to kill his true love Jean Grey, the Wolverine is feeling a little down on his luck, so much so that he abandons his superhero identity.

However, when Logan is approached by Mariko Yashida who takes him to Asia, he enters yet another battle to the death. It's the sequel to the X-Men film series based on the Marvel comic books by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller and roughly follows the timeline of events since 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand.

Continue reading: Turning Japanese: 'The Wolverine' Sees Hugh Jackman In Asia (Trailer)

The Wolverine - Teaser Trailer

Logan's mutant ability to survive almost anything is beginning to take its toll. After alienating himself from his X-Men peers and being forced to kill the love of his life Jean Grey to save everyone else, he feels he has nothing left to live for. Immortality has become a curse, so much so that even the most dangerous of proposals to make him mortal are tempting. He attempts to abandon his Wolverine identity, but he is approached by Mariko Yashida who takes him to Japan where her employer, who is on his death bed, wants to repay him for saving his life by offering him a cure for his mutant powers. However, as he enters into yet another battle to the death, it becomes obvious that his newfound vulnerability is a force to be reckoned with as, while eternal life forced him to face the emotional trauma of the past, mortality forces him to face the biggest torment of his life as the limits of his body and soul are truly tested.

'The Wolverine' is a sequel to the 'X-Men' film series based on the Marvel comic books by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller and follows the timeline of events from 2006's 'X-Men: The Last Stand'. It has been directed by James Mangold ('Girl, Interrupted', 'Walk the Line', 'Cop Land') who co-wrote the script alongside Mark Bomback ('Total Recall', 'Die Hard 4.0'), Scott Frank ('Minority Report', 'Marley & Me') and Christopher McQuarrie ('The Usual Suspects', 'The Tourist'). See this stunning superhero action flick as it hits cinemas on July 26th 2013.

Click here to Watch - The Wolverine - TV Spot

Knight & Day Trailer

Watch the trailer for Knight & Day

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Oliver & Company Review

By Christopher Null

OK

Disney's animated version of Dickens' Oliver Twist, Oliver & Company, is a true oddity in the Disney canon. For starters, the animation style is completely different from anything else in its repertoire. Obviously inspired by Ralph Bakshi (of Felix the Cat fame), the movie features garish perspectives, serious abuse of zoom (in almost every scene), and an attempt at urban grittiness which Walt Disney never knew in his entire life.

And yet here it is, Oliver & Company, wherein an orphaned kitten falls in with a crowd of dogs-cum-hustlers, only to end up adopted into a rich girl's house. A kidnappng and rescue plot (pushing the boundaries of the G rating) ensues -- ironically, it's the best part of the movie.

Continue reading: Oliver & Company Review

Kate & Leopold Review

By Norm Schrager

Excellent

At first glance, Kate & Leopold appears to be a fairly run-of-the-mill romantic fantasy. A successful, 21st century woman meets the Duke of Albany circa 1876, via a hiccup in the time-space continuum. And although they can't find true love within their own generations, it might be possible with one another. Sounds like a recipe for a safe, mushy Hollywood movie, so what makes this film different? It's the way writer-director James Mangold (Copland, Girl,Interrupted) avoids stereotype, with an intelligent, crowd-pleasing take on the time travel love story. It's smart enough to remind us just how stupid a movie like Just Visiting is.

And not only is the storytelling sharp, but the characters are too. Meg Ryan (not too perky, not too whiny) is Kate McKay, working her way up the NYC corporate ladder, but too busy for love after a four-year relationship with her brilliant ex, Stuart (Liev Schreiber). When Stuart discovers an open portal in the fabric of time -- you have to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge at just the right time -- he accidentally brings the 19th century Duke back to modern-day New York. Everyone involved, including Ryan's kid brother Charlie (the underrated Breckin Meyer), clearly has some baggage and life experience, and Mangold's script (co-written with Steven Rogers) clues us in without clobbering us.

Continue reading: Kate & Leopold Review

Oliver & Company Review

By Christopher Null

OK

Disney's animated version of Dickens' Oliver Twist, Oliver & Company, is a true oddity in the Disney canon. For starters, the animation style is completely different from anything else in its repertoire. Obviously inspired by Ralph Bakshi (of Felix the Cat fame), the movie features garish perspectives, serious abuse of zoom (in almost every scene), and an attempt at urban grittiness which Walt Disney never knew in his entire life.

And yet here it is, Oliver & Company, wherein an orphaned kitten falls in with a crowd of dogs-cum-hustlers, only to end up adopted into a rich girl's house. A kidnappng and rescue plot (pushing the boundaries of the G rating) ensues -- ironically, it's the best part of the movie.

Continue reading: Oliver & Company Review