Category: Hollywood

Australian filmmaker George Miller to head Cannes Jury in May

NEW DELHI: Australian director, screenwriter and producer George Miller will be heading the jury of the 69th Festival de Cannes.

The Festival will be held from 11 to 22 May.

Reacting to his appointment, Miller said, “What an unmitigated delight! To be there in the middle of this storied festival at the unveiling of cinematic treasures from all over the planet. To spend time in passionate discourse with fellow members of the jury! Such an honour! I’ll be there with bells on!”

It was in Cannes last May that Mad Max: Fury Road set out on its fantastic cavalcade across the screens. The film, shown Out of Competition in the Official Selection, marked the return not only of the hero of the legendary saga for the myriad fans of Max Rockatansky, but also the comeback of his creator, Miller, and of the visionary filmmaking that made him a household name around the world.

The roots of Miller’s career, alongside those of Peter Weir, Bruce Beresford and Phillip Noyce stretch back to the golden age of Australian cinema from the 1980s.

Originally from a small village in Queensland, Miller wrote and directed Violence in the Cinema, part 1 in 1971. Produced by his friend Byron Kennedy, with whom he founded the Kennedy Miller company, the short film picked up two prizes from the Australian Film Institute. This official recognition encouraged Miller to pursue a career in film and to make his first feature film.

February 10, 2016
Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD line-up movies leading up to Oscars

MUMBAI: The Oscars are just round the corner and Star India’s English movies channels will celebrate the month by airing award winning movies.

Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD will also showcase the Oscars live at 5:30 am with a repeat telecast at 8:30 pm on 29 February, 2016.

Star Movies will also showcase blockbusters with Oscar Fever from 15 February to 27 February at 6:30 pm with movies like Life of Pi, Aliens, Titanic, Die Hard, Gladiator, etc.

The Oscars movie fest will begin with three blockbuster premieres that will be simulcast on Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD. The line-up will include the Meryl Streep starrer Into the Woods, which will be aired on 13 February at 6:30 pm and Wild premiering on 20 February at 6:30 pm.

The channels will also air movies like Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Black Swan, The Sound of Music and Braveheart amongst others.

The two channels will also showcase moments from the 88th Academy Awards’ after party on 30 February.

February 9, 2016
Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD line-up movies leading up to Oscars

MUMBAI: The Oscars are just round the corner and Star India’s English movies channels will celebrate the month by airing award winning movies.

Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD will also showcase the Oscars live at 5:30 am with a repeat telecast at 8:30 pm on 29 February, 2016.

Star Movies will also showcase blockbusters with Oscar Fever from 15 February to 27 February at 6:30 pm with movies like Life of Pi, Aliens, Titanic, Die Hard, Gladiator, etc.

The Oscars movie fest will begin with three blockbuster premieres that will be simulcast on Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD. The line-up will include the Meryl Streep starrer Into the Woods, which will be aired on 13 February at 6:30 pm and Wild premiering on 20 February at 6:30 pm.

The channels will also air movies like Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Black Swan, The Sound of Music and Braveheart amongst others.

The two channels will also showcase moments from the 88th Academy Awards’ after party on 30 February.

February 9, 2016
Disney’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ crosses $2 billion global box office mark

MUMBAI: Star Wars: The Force Awakens has crossed the $2 billion mark worldwide on 6 February, which was its 53rd day of release, thus becoming only the third film ever to do so and just the second to do it in original release.

Additionally, the movie also crossed the $900 million mark at the North American box office and is the only film in history to reach this milestone.

“This is a historic moment for Star Wars, for Lucasfilm, and for Disney, and all of us here are extremely gratified to be a part of this journey with fans around the world who have made Star Wars: The Force Awakens such an extraordinary success. The film’s achievements are truly astounding, and it’s our great honor to relaunch this cinematic galaxy not only for all the devoted decades-long fans but for a new generation who will keep the Star Wars legacy alive for many years to come,” said The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn.

Through 4 February, Star Wars: The Force Awakens earned an estimated $899.1 million in North America and $1,095.6 million internationally for a global total of $1,994.7 million. Opening internationally 16 December and in the US on 18 December, Star Wars: The Force Awakens posted the all-time biggest global and domestic debuts with $528.9 million and $247.9 million respectively.

Over the course of its eight-week run, it has set numerous other records, including:
– Biggest domestic preview gross ($57 million)
– Biggest opening day domestically ($119.1 million)
– Biggest domestic second weekend ($149.2 million)
– Biggest domestic third weekend ($90.2 million)
– Biggest opening week domestically ($390.8 million)
– Biggest opening weekend in 18 territories: UK (4-day), Australia, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Poland (3-day), Denmark (5-day), Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Serbia, New Zealand
– Fastest film to $1 billion globally (12 days)
– Biggest film of all time in the US and the UK

Directed by J.J. Abrams, written by Lawrence Kasdan & Abrams and Michael Arndt, and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Bryan Burk, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was named one of AFI’s top ten films of 2015 and has received five Academy Award nominations, for film editing, visual effects, sound editing, sound mixing, and for series composer John Williams’ original score.

The Star Wars Saga continues 15 December, 2017, in Star Wars: Episode VIII, picking up in the wake of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Later this year, Rogue One, a new adventure detailing events prior to Star Wars: A New Hope, will take flight on 16 December, 2016.

February 8, 2016
Disney’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ crosses $2 billion global box office mark

MUMBAI: Star Wars: The Force Awakens has crossed the $2 billion mark worldwide on 6 February, which was its 53rd day of release, thus becoming only the third film ever to do so and just the second to do it in original release.

Additionally, the movie also crossed the $900 million mark at the North American box office and is the only film in history to reach this milestone.

“This is a historic moment for Star Wars, for Lucasfilm, and for Disney, and all of us here are extremely gratified to be a part of this journey with fans around the world who have made Star Wars: The Force Awakens such an extraordinary success. The film’s achievements are truly astounding, and it’s our great honor to relaunch this cinematic galaxy not only for all the devoted decades-long fans but for a new generation who will keep the Star Wars legacy alive for many years to come,” said The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn.

Through 4 February, Star Wars: The Force Awakens earned an estimated $899.1 million in North America and $1,095.6 million internationally for a global total of $1,994.7 million. Opening internationally 16 December and in the US on 18 December, Star Wars: The Force Awakens posted the all-time biggest global and domestic debuts with $528.9 million and $247.9 million respectively.

Over the course of its eight-week run, it has set numerous other records, including:
– Biggest domestic preview gross ($57 million)
– Biggest opening day domestically ($119.1 million)
– Biggest domestic second weekend ($149.2 million)
– Biggest domestic third weekend ($90.2 million)
– Biggest opening week domestically ($390.8 million)
– Biggest opening weekend in 18 territories: UK (4-day), Australia, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Poland (3-day), Denmark (5-day), Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Serbia, New Zealand
– Fastest film to $1 billion globally (12 days)
– Biggest film of all time in the US and the UK

Directed by J.J. Abrams, written by Lawrence Kasdan & Abrams and Michael Arndt, and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Bryan Burk, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was named one of AFI’s top ten films of 2015 and has received five Academy Award nominations, for film editing, visual effects, sound editing, sound mixing, and for series composer John Williams’ original score.

The Star Wars Saga continues 15 December, 2017, in Star Wars: Episode VIII, picking up in the wake of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Later this year, Rogue One, a new adventure detailing events prior to Star Wars: A New Hope, will take flight on 16 December, 2016.

February 8, 2016
MN+ to honour Brad Pitt’s work on ‘Walk of Fame’

MUMBAI: Times Network’s HD English movie channel MN+ is all geared up to air movies starring Brad Pitt in its official weekend property ‘Walk of Fame.’ The next new edition will start from 6 February and air every Saturday at 9 pm.

The movies that are lined up on the channel are: Fury, Fight Club, Seven and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Fury, the American-British war film in which Pitt is seen playing the role of Don Wardaddy Collier along with a five-man crew, embarks on a mission that puts their lives in danger as they attack the Nazi army. The film got the actor a nomination in Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.

The other American film Fight Club is about an office worker who is tired of his dull existence and his new friend helps him discover an exciting and dangerous sense of purpose. The movie is based on a novel with the same name.

Seven, a psychological thriller, rotates around a serial killer who begins murdering people according to the seven deadly sins and two detectives tasked to apprehend the criminal.

February 5, 2016
MN+ to honour Brad Pitt’s work on ‘Walk of Fame’

MUMBAI: Times Network’s HD English movie channel MN+ is all geared up to air movies starring Brad Pitt in its official weekend property ‘Walk of Fame.’ The next new edition will start from 6 February and air every Saturday at 9 pm.

The movies that are lined up on the channel are: Fury, Fight Club, Seven and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Fury, the American-British war film in which Pitt is seen playing the role of Don Wardaddy Collier along with a five-man crew, embarks on a mission that puts their lives in danger as they attack the Nazi army. The film got the actor a nomination in Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.

The other American film Fight Club is about an office worker who is tired of his dull existence and his new friend helps him discover an exciting and dangerous sense of purpose. The movie is based on a novel with the same name.

Seven, a psychological thriller, rotates around a serial killer who begins murdering people according to the seven deadly sins and two detectives tasked to apprehend the criminal.

February 5, 2016
Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD to premiere ‘Birdman’

MUMBAI: Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD will premiere the wildly loved movie Birdman on 6 February 2016 at 6:30 pm.

The movie will be simulcast on both the channels.

The dark comedy follows the story of a middle aged actor at a moment in his career to make a comeback.

The cast of the movie includes Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts.

The movie has gained recognitions at the 87th Academy Awards, as Birdman won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

The marketing idea for the premiere of Birdman was adapted from the idea of the film that focuses on the protagonist’s tussle with his alter ego.

Additionally, the channels will also simulcast the Oscars live on 29 February at 5:30 am and a repeat at 8:30 pm. In the run-up to the Oscars, Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD will also be airing the movies that were nominated and appreciated at the Academy Awards over the years.

February 3, 2016
Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD to premiere ‘Birdman’

MUMBAI: Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD will premiere the wildly loved movie Birdman on 6 February 2016 at 6:30 pm.

The movie will be simulcast on both the channels.

The dark comedy follows the story of a middle aged actor at a moment in his career to make a comeback.

The cast of the movie includes Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts.

The movie has gained recognitions at the 87th Academy Awards, as Birdman won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

The marketing idea for the premiere of Birdman was adapted from the idea of the film that focuses on the protagonist’s tussle with his alter ego.

Additionally, the channels will also simulcast the Oscars live on 29 February at 5:30 am and a repeat at 8:30 pm. In the run-up to the Oscars, Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD will also be airing the movies that were nominated and appreciated at the Academy Awards over the years.

February 3, 2016
Warner & Lego to launch ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ video game

MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The Lego Group and Lucasfilm will be launching Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, marking the return of the Lego videogame franchise.

Launching on 28 June, 2016, the game will introduce new gameplay mechanics to build, battle and fly through the galaxy like never before, as well as new story content exploring the time between Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, providing additional insight about the new movie and its characters.

Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be available for PlayStation4 and PlayStation3 computer entertainment systems, PlayStationVita handheld entertainment system, Xbox One, Xbox 360, the Wii U system from Nintendo, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems and Windows PC.

“We’re extremely proud of the Lego Star Wars videogames, truly an incredible franchise that has sold more than 33 million copies and helped ignite a passion for numerous fun-filled Lego games enjoyed by countless gamers around the world. Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be pushing the series forward with innovative new gameplay mechanics, while also exploring new parts of the universe that are sure to excite and delight both Lego and Star Wars fans, as well as newcomers to our games,” said TT Games managing director Tom Stone.

“We are thrilled to be bringing back the Lego Star Wars videogame franchise, which kicked off such a beloved series of Lego titles more than a decade ago. Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens allows players to experience the new film in a unique way that only TT Games can provide, combining signature humor with epic Star Wars action. With previously untold story content exploring new details about the movie and its characters, it’s a perfect fit for fans of all ages,” added Lucasfilm vice president, digital business & franchise management Ada Duan.

“We are delighted to return to the Star Wars Universe and continue the journey with the franchise that started it all for Lego videogames,” said Lego Group VP – digital games Niels J?rgensen. “Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will offer an amazing gaming experience covering not only the movie but also exclusive content with all the fun and humor you would expect from a Lego game, while delivering the epic Star Wars adventure fans expect.”

Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes players deeper into the new film than any other game with all of the heroic characters from the movie, including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and BB-8, as well as Kylo Ren, General Hux and Captain Phasma, while also exploring iconic Star Wars locales, such as Jakku and Starkiller Base.

The action-packed adventure introduces new gameplay features, including the enhanced “Multi-Builds” system, where players can choose from multiple building options to advance the game. Gamers will be able to engage in intense new Blaster Battles for the first time, utilizing surrounding environments to drive back the First Order. Fans can also experience the thrill of high-speed flight gameplay through arena-based battles and dogfights in space, while utilizing a multitude of vehicles along the way, including the legendary Millennium Falcon.

PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 players will have access to exclusive downloadable content, the Droid Character Pack and the Phantom Limb Level Pack.

February 3, 2016