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Collide Trailer


Casey Stein (Nicholas Hoult) never had intentions of a life of crime, but during a backpacking vacation in Europe he gets drawn into a drug-smuggling ring in a bid to find the money to pay for his girlfriend Juliette Marne's (Felicity Jones) serious medical emergency. His role mainly involves driving, but the heist fails. Naturally he wants out of this life as soon as possible. When the love of his life is kidnapped, however, he is forced to return to his criminal past to get her back and enlists the help of his old boss Geran (Ben Kingsley). He'll do everything he can for Geran if it means taking out Hagen Kahl (Anthony Hopkins) - the merciless druglord who took Juliette - and getting his girlfriend back, even if that does mean risking his life in yet another high-speed Autobahn pursuit in Cologne. Sometimes it seems that it's only love keeping him alive.

Continue: Collide Trailer

John Boyega, James McAvoy And Ben Kingsley To Star In BBC / Netflix 'Watership Down' Re-Make


James McAvoy John Boyega Nicholas Hoult Ben Kingsley Olivia Colman Gemma Arterton Anne-Marie Duff

The BBC has teamed up with Netflix to announce a televisual re-make of children’s favourite 'Watership Down', which will feature an all-star cast including new Star Wars actor John Boyega, Nicholas Hoult and James McAvoy among others.

The new four-part animation was announced by the BBC in conjunction with streaming giant Netflix on Wednesday (April 27th), and with a reported budget of nearly £20 million, represents the biggest joint venture between the two organisations to date. Using state of the art animation, it will apparently be broadcast on BBC1 in late 2017, with Netflix giving it its premiere throughout the rest of the world.

John BoyegaJohn Boyega is to voice 'Bigwig' in a re-make of 'Watership Down' for BBC and Netflix

Continue reading: John Boyega, James McAvoy And Ben Kingsley To Star In BBC / Netflix 'Watership Down' Re-Make

The Jungle Book Review

Good

Using remarkably photorealistic animation, this remake of the 1967 Disney classic is warm and enjoyable, with a few moments of suspense for the kids in the audience. Loosely based on Rudyard Kipling's stories, it's a lively tale packed with memorable characters. But it feels relentlessly tamed for a family audience.

Stranded in the jungle as a baby, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) was rescued by the panther Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley) and raised by a pair of wolves (Lupita Nyong'o and Giancarlo Esposito). But the presence of a human in the jungle is unacceptable to tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), who was injured by a man and now wants Mowgli's blood. While fleeing to the human world, Mowgli has a fateful encounter with the seductive python Kaa (Scarlett Johansson). He's rescued by the bear Baloo (Bill Murray), with whom he has a series of adventures, including being kidnapped by a gang of monkeys led by King Louie (Christopher Walken). But Shere Khan is still searching for him, and Mowgli can't hide forever.

Filmmaker Jon Favreau (Iron Man) keeps the story skimming along the surface, avoiding the darker themes woven into the premise. So instead of exploring the meaning of humanity or mankind's relationship with nature, the film is a breezy adventure romp with the usual action movie beats and some surprisingly nasty violence. And it looks utterly amazing, especially since the credits note that it was filmed completely in downtown Los Angeles.

Continue reading: The Jungle Book Review

Knight Of Cups Trailer


Rick is one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood but after the death of his brother he finds himself becoming absorbed into a world of parties, drinking and excess. Parties are part of the norm for Rick but after the loss of his brother he finds himself evaluating his life and what it all means.

Spiralling uncontrollably his only real solace comes from short lived relationships with women, but each relationship actually brings Rick a little closer to the closure he seeks.

Knight Of Cups is the new film from Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life & The Thin Red Line)

The Walk - Teaser Trailer


French artist Philippe Petit made history in 1974 for his death-defying high-wire feat in New York, where he performed a series of tricks across a cable that was rigged between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Having been learning to command a tightrope since the tender age of 16, by the time he was 25 he was ready to shock the world with his extraordinary courage and ability in what was possibly one of the most dangerous stunts in human history. Not only that, but his walk actually turned out to be completely unauthorised; a feat of trespassing that took Philippe hours and hours of planning and careful deception. However, when it came down to it, seeing just how much he thrilled the crowd that gathered in the streets below, he was naturally let off all charges by an impressed judge.

Continue: The Walk - Teaser Trailer

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb - International Trailer


Larry Daley, the former security guard at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is facing his biggest challenge yet. While he's used his exhibit friends coming to life at night, they are normally very well-behaved during the new sunset opening hours, but it seems something's started making them a little crazy. The magic of The Tablet of Ahkmenrah seems to be waning, putting them at risk of being still forever. Larry must find a way to restore the tablet before it's too late, and so he decides to venture to the Natural History Museum in London to find out how to fix it. There, Larry and his ancient friends face enormous snakes, dinosaur skeletons and bronze lions that are all coming to life, as well as the feisty head of security Tilly.

Continue: Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb - International Trailer

Ben Kingsley Is The Wise And Caring Bagheera In Jon Favreau's 'Jungle Book'


Ben Kingsley Jon Favreau Lupita Nyong'o Idris Elba Scarlett Johansson

Ben Kingsley has joined the cast of Jon Favreau’s live-action adaptation of the classic Rudyard Kipling novel, The Jungle Book, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Ben KingsleyBen Kingsley at The Prince's Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards

Kingsley will play the role of Bagheera, the friendly, caring panther that acts as a surrogate father figure for the orphaned Mowgli. His recent projects include the high profile blockbusters Ender's Game and Iron Man 3, while his upcoming projects include Autobahn, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Exodus: Gods and Kings.

Continue reading: Ben Kingsley Is The Wise And Caring Bagheera In Jon Favreau's 'Jungle Book'

The Boxtrolls - International Trailer


Eggs is a young boy living in the dairy loving, wealthy town of Cheesbridge. He was adopted as a baby and is a perfectly ordinary boy - apart from the fact that he was brought up in a sewer by an unusual group of foster parents. The Boxtrolls are underground creatures feared throughout the town as sinister and dangerous monsters, but in truth they are remarkably kind and so shy that they spend most of their time hiding in the boxes they wear as shells and venturing out at night so that they don't bump into the Cheesebridge residents. All they wish to do is collect discarded rubbish and turn it into incredible machines. Unfortunately, despite their harmlessness, a vicious exterminator named Archibald Snatcher is after their heads when the town's council insists on their removal. Eggs must help save his family, but first he's got to start behaving like a regular boy.

Continue: The Boxtrolls - International Trailer

Hidden Below The Streets Are The 'Boxtrolls' [Trailer + Pictures]


Simon Pegg Ben Kingsley Toni Collette Isaac Hempstead-Wright Richard Ayoade Nick Frost

The trailer for the latest film to come from Laika, Phil Knight's Hillsboro animation studio, has hit the web. ‘Boxtrolls’ tells the story of a group of goblins that live underground, feeding off grubs and various bugs, and using boxes to appear greater than the sum of their parts. 

BoxtrollsHe's not a boxtroll, but he sort of is, is Eggs

The trailer gives us a further look at the beautifully crafted, almost dickensian world that the talented guys at Laika have created. The fantastical setting is intriguing as soon as we see the cobbled roof tiles, and becomes even riper for exploring the further we go down, even below the street, where those adorable (yet thoroughly disgusting) Boxtrolls. 

Continue reading: Hidden Below The Streets Are The 'Boxtrolls' [Trailer + Pictures]

A Week In Movies: Wonder Woman Is Coming, Walker's Hours Hits American Cinemas, And A Glimpse Of The Next Spider-man


Gal Gadot Rita Ora Paul Walker Andrew Garfield Emma Stone Michael Pena Simon Pegg Nick Frost Ben Kingsley

Gal Gadot

The big story this week is that Wonder Woman will make her long-awaited big-screen debut in the upcoming Batman vs Superman movie starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Israeli actress Gal Gadot has nabbed the key role; she's best known as Gisele in the last three Fast & Furious movies. 'Batman vs. Superman' has found its Wonder Woman, but who is Gal Gadot?

It was also announced that Rita Ora has joined the cast of Fifty Shades of Grey, which is currently filming in Vancouver with Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in the lead roles, and Sam Taylor-Wood directing. Others joining the cast include Marcia Gay Harden and Jennifer Ehle. We take a closer look at the appointment here.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Wonder Woman Is Coming, Walker's Hours Hits American Cinemas, And A Glimpse Of The Next Spider-man

'Ender's Game' Is A Worthy Adaptation - Boycott The Book, Scott-Card Isn't Getting Paid


Harrison Ford Asa Butterfield Ben Kingsley

Ender’s Game was a risky project from the outset. Not only is Orsen Scott-Card’s novel one of the most revered sci-fi works of all time, but the author’s forthright and controversial views on homosexuality have polarized fans of the franchise and the gay community alike.

Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield

But there is a crossover between the two – the gay community and fans of Ender’s – which lead to a campaign to boycott the movie remake of Scott-Card’s timeless book.

Continue reading: 'Ender's Game' Is A Worthy Adaptation - Boycott The Book, Scott-Card Isn't Getting Paid

'Ender's Game', Released In US Today, Receives Mixed Reviews


Harrison Ford Asa Butterfield Ben Kingsley Viola Davis

Ender's Game, due to be released in the US today (1st November), has received a series of mediocre reviews from critics.

Ender's Game
Ender's Game is released in US cinemas today.

The film, based on Scott Orson's book of the same name, is set in the future after an alien-human war. Ender Wiggin is a talented young boy studying at a military space academy where the students prepare for the next alien invasion of Earth. 

Continue reading: 'Ender's Game', Released In US Today, Receives Mixed Reviews

Harrison Ford Narrates 'Ender's Game' Final Trailer [Trailer]


Harrison Ford Asa Butterfield Ben Kingsley Viola Davis Abigail Breslin Moises Arias

The final trailer for Ender's Game has been released. Set in the future years after an alien-human war, the movie follows Ender Wiggin, a talent young boy who is sent to a military space academy in order to prepare for when aliens next invade Earth.

Asa ButterfieldAsa Butterfield at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.

Ender's Game teaser trailer, released earlier this year, gave an indication of what can be expected from the film. The final trailer, however, features a dramatic narrative by Harrison Ford who promises the aliens "will be back". It's all very visually appealing in a Star Wars-Superman-Terminator way and with the melodramatic music, intense exchanges and wild landscapes: it certainly appears to be a film fans of science fiction will love. 

Continue reading: Harrison Ford Narrates 'Ender's Game' Final Trailer [Trailer]

'Ender's Game' Boycott Due To Author's Homphobic Comments


Harrison Ford Ben Kingsley Asa Butterfield Moises Arias Abigail Breslin

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is to be adapted into a film, due out later this year. In a Huffington Post blog, Jamie McGonnigal, pointed out how the author of Ender' Game Orson Scott Card has been extremely vocal in emphasising his anti-gay marriage stance. All Out (a LGBT organisation) have created a petition addressing DC with the hopes they will change their decision in employing Card.

Harrison FordHarrison Ford stars in Ender's Game.

DC Comics hired Card in order to adapt his book Ender's Game into a film. All Out's petition addresses DC Comics saying that "by hiring Orson Scott Card despite his anti-gay efforts you are giving him a new platform and supporting his hate". 

Continue reading: 'Ender's Game' Boycott Due To Author's Homphobic Comments

Ender's Game Trailer


Ender Wiggin is the youngest in his family albeit with an astute mind and a powerful logic. It is seventy years since Earth was savagely attacked by the alien race the Formics, more commonly known as the Buggers, and he is exactly what the International Fleet are looking for as they scour their planet for a group of individuals powerful and clever enough to destroy their formidable foes once and for all. He is forced to leave his friends and family and join the Battle School in outer space, but his aptitude throughout all the challenges he is faced with has him upgraded by Colonel Graff to the prestigious Command School under the supervision of war hero Mazer Rackham. He is unaware, however, of just how much hope is being put on him to be Earth's saviour and his ability to make the right difficult decision leaves him with a sense of bitter self-loathing.

Continue: Ender's Game Trailer

Harrison Ford Fights Devastating Alien Race In Ender's Game [Trailer]


Harrison Ford Asa Butterfield Ben Kingsley

Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield come up against a terrifying alien race known as the Formics in new movie Ender's Game, from director Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine). A new trailer for the sci-fi move rolled out online on Tuesday afternoon (May 7, 2013), with  Butterfield participating in a Google+ hangout to coincide with the first look of the new movie, based on the novel by Orson Scott Card.

Set in a near future in which the alien race have attached the Earth, Ender's Game follows Andrew Wiggin (Butterfield) as a bright kid who's recruited to help humanity face future threats. He is guided in his growth by Colonel Hyrum Graff (Ford) and soon finds himself under the tutelage of the legendary Mazer Rackam, aka, The Top Dog (Ben Kingsley). 

Continue reading: Harrison Ford Fights Devastating Alien Race In Ender's Game [Trailer]

Ender's Game Trailer Gets Online Release (Video)


Harrison Ford Ben Kingsley

The upcoming sci-fi action release Ender's Game is a post-apocalyptic vision of a future Earth ravaged by alien warfare and a gifted child who is able to forewarn the remaining humans of an impending re-invasion, and today (May 7) we got to see the first trailer for the upcoming epic. The trailer was uploaded to production house Summit Entertainment's YouTube page just hours ago and promises everything you could want from a sci-fi romp.

The film stars Harrison Ford (promise of everything you could want fulfilled) and Ben Kingsley in the adaptation of Orson Scott Card's novel of the same name. Like the book, the film is set in Earth's future, where the few remaining humans left over from two separate wars with a insect-like alien species known as 'Buggers.' These war-ravaged humans must prepare themselves for impending future warfare with the help of the story's main character. This is a gifted child named Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) who sent to an advanced military school where his fantastic intellect is revealed and used to the human's much needed advantage.

Continue reading: Ender's Game Trailer Gets Online Release (Video)

Iron Man 3 Review


Excellent

Changing the writer and director for this third Iron Man movie turns out to be the best thing that could have happened, because Shane Black is a much more focussed filmmaker, and he gives this franchise a badly needed kick. We know that he and Downey work well together (see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), but we could never have anticipated how Black would bring clarity to Downey's comical riffs. He also makes the action scenes much more human, and therefore a lot more thrilling.

The story takes place in the overall Marvel chronology. Wealthy arms manufacturer Tony Stark (Downey) is feeling badly shaken by his experience working with the Avengers to fight off an alien invasion. So he dives into his work and neglects his relationship with Pepper (Paltrow), who also runs his company. Then two faces from the past reappear: bio-scientist Maya (Hall) is an old colleague of Tony's, while technical genius Aldrich (Pearce) has a past with Pepper. And both seem somehow connected to a wave of nasty bombings that is terrorising America, masterminded by a menacing man who calls himself the Mandarin (Kingsley). And the Mandarin's next target is Tony.

Intriguingly, the script keeps Tony out of the Iron Man suit for much of the film's running time, which makes his character feel much more grounded than ever before. It also makes the action set pieces even more spectacular, since they're not mere robot-vs-robot animated battles. So even if the dialog is peppered with technical gibberish, at least it has a personal dimension. Which not only deepens Tony and Pepper as characters, but makes the surrounding people more interesting. These include Tony's old pal (Cheadle), two self-healing goons (Dale and Szostak) and a pre-teen (Simpkins) who helps Tony. And with his constantly surprising character, Kingsley very nearly steals the show.

Continue reading: Iron Man 3 Review

Gwyneth Paltrow Is Most Beautiful Woman – Beyonce Isn’t Even On The List!


Gwyneth Paltrow Ben Kingsley

Not only did Gwynteth Paltrow beat Beyoncé this year for People Magazine’s Most Beautiful woman, but last year’s winner wasn’t even on the list! Anyway, according to Paltrow, it’s not even true.

Check out Paltrow in the Iron Man 3 Alternative Trailer!

Continue reading: Gwyneth Paltrow Is Most Beautiful Woman – Beyonce Isn’t Even On The List!

Stars Talk Iron Man 3 Ahead Of Hollywood Premiere [Video]


Robert Downey Jr Ben Kingsley Gwyneth Paltrow Guy Pearce Don Cheadle Rebecca Hall

The Hollywood red carpet premiere for one of the most anticipated films of the year, Iron Man 3, takes place tonight (April 24, 2013) and ahead of the big evening, several of the cast's stars gave their thoughts on what has still be a largely-guarded secret. There's well over half an hour of footage for you tuck into below, including interviews with Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall and, of course, Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr and his shady nemesis for the third instalment, Sir Ben Kingsley - who plays The Mandarin. 

Robert Downey talks Iron Man 3

Continue reading: Stars Talk Iron Man 3 Ahead Of Hollywood Premiere [Video]

Sir Ben Kingsley - Video Interview


Video Interview with Sir Ben Kingsley

Sir Ben Kingsley talks about his character The Mandarin and taking on the role in the new Marvel movie 'Iron Man 3' in a press junket interview.

Continue reading: Sir Ben Kingsley - Video Interview

A Week In Movies: Cruise's Oblivion & Butler's Olympus Have Their Worldwide Release & The Lone Ranger, The Hunger Games & Man Of Steel Launch New Trailers


Tom Cruise Robert Downey Jr Rebecca Hall Ben Kingsley Cannes Film Festival Mtv Movie Awards Johnny Depp Henry Cavill Hailee Steinfeld Douglas Booth

Oblivion Poster

Cinemas are now fully in the grip of blockbuster season, with Tom Cruise's Oblivion and Gerard Butler's Olympus Has Fallen expanding their reach into new countries this week. 

And next week sees Iron Man 3 begin its global assault. Stars Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley and Don Cheadle were in London this week for the film's premiere. Director Shane Black even took time out to do a stand-up routine with cowriter Drew Pearce to introduce the first UK press screening.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Cruise's Oblivion & Butler's Olympus Have Their Worldwide Release & The Lone Ranger, The Hunger Games & Man Of Steel Launch New Trailers

Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall, Stanley Tucci Among Guests At 'Iron Man 3' Premiere [Pictures]


Robert Downey Jr Rebecca Hall Stanley Tucci Shane Black Ben Kingsley

Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall and Stanley Tucci were among the high profile attendees at the Iron Man 3 premiere in London on Thursday (April 18, 2013). After an initial postponement following the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the premiere went ahead and was a typically star-studded affair. Of course, most of the crowd had turned out to catch a glimpse of Downey Jr, the Hollywood star who reprises his role as Tony Stark for the third time in the latest movie. Speaking to Sky News at the premiere, the actor said he was unsure if he will play the role again. "Right now the future is uncertain, but I think it's very important that we end this first Marvel phase in a way that is definitive and has people asking questions," he said.

Robert Downey JrRobert Downey Jr Wearing His Signature Sneakers At The Iron Man 3 Premiere

Downey's contract is up with Marvel, though it would be unthinkable for the studio to let him go without a fight. His co-star Don Cheadle, who plays War Machine, said he would do his best to persuade the actor to don the metallic suit again. "I'm going to threaten him that I'll let all his secrets out and then maybe we'll see if he can come back!" he joked.

Continue reading: Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall, Stanley Tucci Among Guests At 'Iron Man 3' Premiere [Pictures]

A Week In Movies: Star Wars Episode VII Shapes Up, Harrison Ford Joins Anchorman: The Legend Continues And Oz The Great And Powerful Hits Theatres


Carrie Fisher Harrison Ford Will Ferrell James Franco Mila Kunis Michelle Williams Rachel Weisz Robert Downey Jr Ben Kingsley Richard Dormer Julianne Moore Steve Coogan Sarah Polley

Star Wars

The movie casting rumour mill has gone into overdrive this week when Carrie Fisher seemed to confirm that she will indeed be back for Star Wars Episode VII. And then George Lucas chimed in to say that all three stars - Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill - are on board to reprise their iconic characters 30 years after 1983's Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Nothing is official yet, but we can probably expect a big announcement soon.

Meanwhile, Ford has joined the cast of the comedy sequel Anchorman: The Legend Continues, which is currently filming with Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate. And Halle Berry has officially rejoined the X-men for Days of Future Past, along with her original trilogy costars Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman and Anna Paquin, plus the cast of First Class.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Star Wars Episode VII Shapes Up, Harrison Ford Joins Anchorman: The Legend Continues And Oz The Great And Powerful Hits Theatres

Iron Man 3 - Alternate Trailer


Tony Stark may have the woman of his dreams, the technological skills of a genius and the ability to save the world from the occasional threatening force, but he's starting to realise that he's not entirely invincible. Unable to sleep and distracted by feelings of guilt, he is forced to reassess his ability to defend himself and his people as his formidable adversary Mandarin threatens to dismantle his life piece by piece. As he watches his life's work burn before his eyes, he is left only with his inner strength and resourcefulness to have a chance at destroying Mandarin once and for all. For the first time, Stark is feeling very vulnerable as he struggles to come to terms with himself as just Tony Stark rather than the supposedly indestructible Iron Man.

Continue: Iron Man 3 - Alternate Trailer

A Week In Movies: Wreck-It Ralph, No And Hitchcock Hit Cinemas While A Good Day To Die Hard, Fast & Furious 6 And Iron Man 3 Trailers Hit The Web


Anthony Hopkins Helen Mirren Ben Affleck Bruce Willis Jai Courtney Vin Diesel Paul Walker Tyrese Gibson Dwayne Johnson Michelle Rodriguez Robert Downey Jr Gwyneth Paltrow Don Cheadle Ben Kingsley

Hitchcock Still


We look at Oscar-nominated animated romp Wreck-it Ralph and Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren in Hitchcock

Awards season continues to crank up with Argo taking the lead in the homestretch. Ben Affleck's true 1970s thriller has won the top prizes at the actors, producers and directors guilds, which makes it the favourite to win Best Picture on Oscar night February 24th, even though Affleck isn't nominated as Best Director. On the other hand, he is up for director, as well as film and actor, in this Sunday's British Academy Film Awards, better known as the Baftas.

This weekend also sees the release of the season's final awards-contending titles in the UK, including Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren in Hitchcock and the Oscar-nominated animated romp Wreck-it Ralph. There are also two acclaimed foreign films: Pablo Larrain's inventive Oscar-nominated political black comedy No, and the gorgeous Japanese drama I Wish.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Wreck-It Ralph, No And Hitchcock Hit Cinemas While A Good Day To Die Hard, Fast & Furious 6 And Iron Man 3 Trailers Hit The Web

Iron Man 3 Trailer


Tony Stark may be Iron Man, but he's feeling less than unbreakable these days. Plagued by nightmares and guilty feelings, he is forced to doubt himself and his ability to protect himself and the ones he loves against a new enemy; the formidably ruthless Mandarin. His doubts are only amplified when his world and his power source are brutally snatched from him and left to burn at the hands of his enemy and he is left with his own internal strengths and resourcefulness alone to find the perpetrator and end his reign of terror. Stark is finally made to confront himself and his superhero identity as Mandarin sets out to prove there are no real heroes in the world.

The third instalment of this Marvel adventure, 'Iron Man 3' is set to be the most hard-hitting of the movies so far with questions being raised less about Iron Man and more about the true Tony Stark and his deeper abilities. It has been directed by Shane Black (the writer of the 'Lethal Weapon' film series) who also co-wrote the comic action flick with Drew Pearce ('Lip Service', 'No Heroics'). It is set for a spectacular release in cinemas on April 26th 2013 in the UK.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale, Jon Favreau, Ben Kingsley, Paul Bettany, William Sadler, Stan Lee, Yvonne Zima, Dale Dickey, Ashley Hamilton, Ty Simpkins, Spencer Garrett,

Continue: Iron Man 3 Trailer

The Dictator Review


Very Good
This may look like a wildly irreverent satire about a North African despot, but it doesn't take long to realise that the filmmakers' target is somewhere else.

And the biting script never pulls its punches, leaping us laughing at the audacity while making a serious point.

Aladeen (Baron Cohen) is the pampered dictator of Wadiya, who travels to New York to tell the UN to stop nosing around his nuclear "energy" plants. But his Uncle Tamir (Kingsley) is plotting to kill him and replace him with a double who will sign a democratic constitution essentially selling the country to oil companies. Aladeen manages to escape, but no one recognises him cleanly shaven, so he teams up with health-food activist Zoey (Faris) and a countryman (Mantzoukas) to get his country back.

Continue reading: The Dictator Review

The Dictator Trailer


General Aladeen is the ruler of a country called Wadiya. However, he is not a fair ruler, he is a dictator and his reign over Wadiya becomes cause for concern for the United Nations, who holds a meeting to discuss the future of the country. General Aladeen is told to attend, so he travels to America, determined not to introduce democracy into his country. While in America, he also wanders around in New York and ends up in bed with a shocked Megan Fox.

Continue: The Dictator Trailer

Hugo Review


Excellent

Based on the Brian Selznick novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Scorsese's first family movie combines a young boy's adventure with a cinematic history lesson. It's a celebration of wide-eyed wonder that's a joy to watch, although the title isn't the only thing that's dumbed-down.

In early 1930s Paris, the orphaned Hugo (Butterfield) lives in Montparnasse station, where he scurries through forgotten passageways maintaining the clocks. He learned this skill from his late father (Law), but an automaton they were fixing is his only reminder of his happier childhood. Dodging the tenacious station inspector (Baron Cohen), Hugo worms his way into the life of grouchy shopkeeper Georges (Kingsley), and has a series of adventures with his goddaughter Isabelle (Moretz). When they learn that Georges is forgotten pioneer filmmaker Georges Melies, they decide to help bring him back to life.

Scorsese tells this story with bravura moviemaking trickery, from whooshing tracking shots to wonderfully inventive uses of 3D. He also peppers the screen with witty references to film history from Modern Times to Vertigo, clips from early cinema and flashbacks to the Lumiere brothers' exhibition and Melies' busy studio. Meanwhile, the main plot unfolds with a warmly inviting glow, sharply telling details and a colourful cast of memorable side characters.
Intriguingly, everyone is a bit opaque; like the automaton, the gears turn but we never really understand them.

Butterfield's Hugo may be consumed by an inner yearning, but he's always on guard, providing a watchful pair of eyes through which we see the drama, romance and slapstick of the station. And it's in these details that Scorsese and his cast draw us in. Standouts are Baron Cohen, who adds layers of comedy and pathos to every scene, and McCrory (as Mrs Melies), with her barely suppressed enthusiasm. As usual, Kingsley never lets his guard down: he invests this broken man with a bit too much dignity.

As the film progresses, the passion for the movies is infectious. Scorsese's gorgeous visual approach and writer Logan's controlled cleverness never overwhelm the human story. And even if Melies' life and Paris' geography are adjusted for no real reason, the film's warm drama and delightful imagery really get under the skin, making us fall in love with the movies all over again.

Shutter Island Review


Excellent
Essentially a B-movie thriller with an A-list cast and production values (and an epic's running time), this film is almost ludicrously well-made. Scorsese is clearly having fun rattling our nerves, and he does it very well.

In 1954 Boston, Ted (DiCaprio) is a US Marshal heading with his new partner Chuck (Ruffalo) to the Shutter Island hospital for the criminally insane. A patient (Mortimer) has mysteriously disappeared, and the head doctor (Kingsley) is acting suspicious. So is everyone else for that matter. As Ted delves deeper into the mystery, which hints at a big conspiracy, he struggles with the implications these events have for his own life, including the death of his wife (Williams) and his experiences liberating Dachau at the end of the war.

Continue reading: Shutter Island Review

A Sound Of Thunder Review


Bad
The best thing that can be said for the embarrassing A Sound of Thunder is that at least it presupposes an audience whose belief in evolution is ironclad, sadly a minor triumph in these increasingly Scopes monkey trial-like times.

Adapted with sub-simian grace from the iconic Ray Bradbury story, the film puts us in the year 2055, where a Chicago firm called Time Safari takes wealthy, bored men back in time and hunt dinosaurs. The trick here is that Bradbury - prefiguring all the great time travel paradox stories and films to follow - realized one couldn't just do this without creating massive complications further down the time pipeline. So Time Safari has its hunters walk through the 65-million-year-old jungle on a pathway suspended above the ground, with the strict dictum not to touch anything, never step off the path and not to bring even the most microscopic thing back with them. And the dinosaur that they "hunt" (over and over again) has been selected for the fact that it's going to die anyway, bare seconds after the safari team shoots it. Thusly the time continuum remains unchanged and everybody's happy.

Continue reading: A Sound Of Thunder Review

Sexy Beast Review


Weak
No, it's not a porno movie. It's yet another British crime caper film. And frankly, we'd rather have the porn.

Gal (Ray Winstone), an old time ex convict, is now retired. All he does is sweat by the pool, enjoy his form porn star wife Deedee (Amanda Redman), and share drinks with a couple of good friends. The setting is Spain, the sun is hot, and life is free of trouble... until, of course, one day when the peace must be disturbed -- and it is, by a guy named Don Logan. Presumably the titular sexy beast, Don (Ben Kingsley) appears on the scene and hell breaks loose as Gal gets back into his life of crime.

Continue reading: Sexy Beast Review

Suspect Zero Review


Weak
I suspect that zero is moderately close to the number of viewers who will be impressed with Suspect Zero. Another by-the-book serial killer thriller that uses David Fincher's Seven as its guide, Zero takes a clever premise and buries it beneath layers of substandard detective clichés and crude camera tricks meant to deceive us. It's so desperate to keep us in the dark for as long as physically possible that it finally begins to lose its own way.

The mouse in this stock cat and mouse game is disgraced FBI agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart), a dedicated G-man with a high-profile blemish on his service record. His grievous error on a previous case earned him a demotion to the Bureau's dead-end Albuquerque office, though it's not long before Mackelway's hot on the trail of another cold-blooded killer. This wandering murderer (Ben Kingsley) exhibits no motive and establishes no pattern to his killings, but enjoys faxing Mackelway clues to drag the investigator deeper into a series of perplexing mind games.

Continue reading: Suspect Zero Review

Sneakers Review


Extraordinary
A delirious guilty pleasure, Sneakers is about as probable as me parting the Red Sea -- and just as fun. I mean, can you imagine: Redford, Poitier, Strathairn, Aykroyd, Phoenix, McDonnell, Kingsley -- all in one film? You'd expect at least six Oscars just on names alone. No such luck here, but this latter-day WarGames is an all-out riot.

Triumph Of Love Review


Bad
The moral of love: Be manipulative and conniving to get the man (or woman) you want, even if a few other folks get their hopes crushed along the way. That's what's certain after watching Clare Peploe's depressing fairytale/restoration comedy Triumph of Love (based on a superficial Marivaux play originally performed in 1732). That's not the filmmaker's intention, though. She's clearly going for whimsy, light romance, and slapstick cuckolding. What her film lacks is a heart and a conscience.

Mira Sorvino plays a princess who dresses up as a dandified male student to infiltrate the summertime estate of a misogynistic philosopher (Ben Kingsley). Under the old man's tutelage, a dashing prince (Jay Rodan) has been instructed to distrust the female sex. So clever Sorvino attires herself as a man to earn his friendship, trust, and above all, love.

Continue reading: Triumph Of Love Review

Death And The Maiden Review


Extraordinary
Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley are together in Roman Polanski's new film, Death and the Maiden, a haunting and powerful work of genius. Based on the acclaimed stage play, the story goes that Weaver is the wife of rich South American lawyer/politician Gerardo Escobar (played by Stuart Wilson), and they live alone in the wilderness of this unnamed country. One day, Dr. Miranda (Kingsley) shows up at the house after helping Escobar with a flat tire, and he comes in for a drink.

Paulina (Weaver) begins to inexplicably break down after his arrival, going so far as to sneak out of the house and destroy Miranda's car. Only when she returns do we discover the shocking reason for this insanity. Paulina suspects Miranda was the doctor who tortured and raped her 15 years earlier: the doctor, she says, who played the Schubert composition "Death and the Maiden" while he applied his evil ministrations. Paulina then turns the tables, tying Miranda up, beating him, and holding an impromptu trial to get his confession to the deeds.

Continue reading: Death And The Maiden Review

Oliver Twist Review


Weak
At the end of a good year, I will have read three books. This has nothing to do with any sort of laziness or lack of literary enjoyment; this is simply my quota. When I do read, however, I tend to try to read what one would consider modern classics. On this reasoning, I've read a scant number of what most people consider "classic" novels. However, of the few I have read, one of them happens to be Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. So, I am coming into Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist locked and loaded with the book and David Lean's wonderful 1948 version on my mind.

Let's get the story out of the way for those few who haven't heard it. Sweet, young Oliver Twist (Barney Clark) is cast out of his orphanage when he is picked to ask the cook for more porridge and is sent to work for a kind casket maker who is controlled by his wife. He escapes to London where he makes friends with a charming thief nicknamed The Artful Dodger (Harry Eden). As it happens, Dodger is part of a gang of thieving youths who work for the persuasive Fagin (Sir Ben Kingsley), a decrepit old man with too much hair and too few teeth. The storm really swells when Twist tries to go straight with a rich book collector named Mr. Brownlow (Edward Hardwicke) and gets on the bad side of a few of Fagin's friends and partners. The most nefarious of the partners is Billy Sykes (Jamie Foreman), a terribly mean thief who is followed around by an ugly dog named Bullseye. This all leads to a plot between Sykes and Fagin to kill poor little Oliver, but that proves to be pretty difficult.

Continue reading: Oliver Twist Review

A Sound Of Thunder Review


Unbearable

The Ray Bradbury short story "A Sound of Thunder," an unnerving morality tale about modern man's arrogant disregard for nature, ends with time-traveling dinosaur hunters returning to the future to discover that by stepping on a single butterfly, they've altered history inexorably. The hunters become trapped in an alien world of their own making.

But the new movie "A Sound of Thunder" not only misses Bradbury's point entirely -- using his ending as a jumping-off point for an action-adventure attempt to fix the hunters' mistake -- it's also a catastrophe of bad acting, ludicrous science and conspicuously cheap special effects that can't even follow its own internal logic from one scene to the next.

Stoic, beer-and-cigarettes guy's guy Edward Burns ("15 Minutes") is unconvincing as a genetic scientist and utterly bland as an action hero who leads the hunting exhibitions for wealthy thrill-seekers to fund his research on wildlife cloning.

Continue reading: A Sound Of Thunder Review

What Planet Are You From? Review


Bad

A comedian whose schtick has always been his acute social-sexual dysfunction, in "What Planet Are You From?" Garry Shandling is nothing if not well-cast as an alien packed off to Earth by his neutered, all-male race to impregnate an earth female as a prelude to invasion.

Given a crash course in inept pick-up lines and fitted with a motorized prosthetic penis that hums when he's aroused, Shandling is transported to the privy of a passenger jet and emerges to piggishly proposition stewardesses and every other female in sight, in what has to be the most awkwardly sexist comedy since the 1960s.

Populated by fundamentally unlikable, abusive men and pathetically needy, bitchy women, the drudging, deadpan farce tracks Shandling's libidinous frustration as he fails to pick up chicks and is chased by FAA investigator John Goodman (his arrival caused an air traffic incident), who figures out his secret with the flimsiest of suppositions.

Continue reading: What Planet Are You From? Review

Ben Kingsley

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Ben Kingsley

Date of birth

31st December, 1943

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Male

Height

1.73


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Ben Kingsley Movies

Collide Trailer

Collide Trailer

Casey Stein (Nicholas Hoult) never had intentions of a life of crime, but during a...

The Jungle Book Movie Review

The Jungle Book Movie Review

Using remarkably photorealistic animation, this remake of the 1967 Disney classic is warm and enjoyable,...

Knight Of Cups Trailer

Knight Of Cups Trailer

Rick is one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood but after the death of his...

The Walk Movie Review

The Walk Movie Review

After the Oscar-winning 2008 documentary Man on Wire told this story with such energy and...

The Jungle Book - First Look Trailer

The Jungle Book - First Look Trailer

Mowgli is a human boy known as a man-cub to his peers, among which are...

Life Movie Review

Life Movie Review

Beautifully written and directed, this fact-based drama is an odd mixture of excellent acting and...

The Walk - Extended Trailer

The Walk - Extended Trailer

Philippe Petit is a young French high-wire artist, passionate about his tightrope dream and determined...

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Life Trailer

Life Trailer

James Dean is a rising superstar; handsome, slick, smart and mild-mannered, and yet rebellious with...

Learning To Drive Trailer

Learning To Drive Trailer

Manhattan book critic Wendy is forced to adjust to a dramatic life change when her...

Self/Less Movie Review

Self/Less Movie Review

An intriguing premise keeps the audience gripped for about 20 minutes before the movie runs...

The Walk Trailer

The Walk Trailer

On 7th August, 1974, one man chose to walk a high-wire between the two buildings...

Stonehearst Asylum Movie Review

Stonehearst Asylum Movie Review

An arch approach makes this bonkers thriller rather enjoyable, even if it never quite cracks...

Robot Overlords Movie Review

Robot Overlords Movie Review

For a low-budget kids' movie, this British science-fiction adventure has an unusually sharp cast, decent...

Selfless Trailer

Selfless Trailer

What would you do if you had one of the smartest minds and largest bank...

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