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Tag: The Hobbit

  • Sony Pix to premiere ‘The Hobbit’ finale

    Sony Pix to premiere ‘The Hobbit’ finale

    MUMBAI: Hollywood movie channel Sony Pix will premiere the mega finale of the epic series The Hobbit. 

     

    The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies, adapted from the 1937 masterpiece novel The Hobbit, will premiere on 24 October at 9 pm. 

     

    The Academy award winning director Peter Jackson, who has acclaimed movies to his credit, such as The Lord of the Rings, created The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies as a sequel to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012 and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 2013. Together they act as the prequel to the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

     

    The movie bagged various nominations in 2014, including an Academy Awards, Screen Actors’ Guild Awards and Critics Choice Awards. Apart from Luke Evans, Richard Armitage and Martin freeman, The Hobbit: Battle of the five armies also stars Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Cate Blanchett as Lady Galadriel.

  • Cinépolis unveils 4th 3D Film Festival across India

    Cinépolis unveils 4th 3D Film Festival across India

    MUMBAI: Cinépolis has launched the fourth edition of 3D Film Festival, 3rd Dimension.

     

    Cinépolis has been hosting the film festival annually since 2012. The three-week long festival will run across all its movie theaters from 28 August to 17 September, 2015. 

     

    The film festival will exhibit 1,470 shows of recent 3D blockbusters. Cinépolis has collaborated with global visual technology company RealD Inc. to provide 3D technology for the film festival.

     

    The film festival will take place in Cinépolis theaters equipped with RealD 3D technology.

     

    Cinépolis has also collaborated with Northstar as media partner and Spiritual Yatra.com as associate partner for the festival.

     

    Cinépolis India head – strategic initiatives Devang Sampat said, “The second innings of 3D cinema has begun in India. The success of Avatar by James Cameron opened the floodgates of 3D films in Hollywood and Haunted by Vikram Bhatt managed to spark greater interest amongst the Indian filmmakers for this genre. With 3rd Dimension, we wish to usher in an era of an even more enhanced 3D experience in India and introduce the cinema lovers in the country to a more superior way to enjoy 3D films in the future.”

     

    “RealD is proud to support 3rd Dimension, a showcase of extraordinary movie-making as well as movie experiences. We look forward to this wondering event in bright, realistic and immersive RealD 3D,” added RealD VP and general manager Asia Pacific Edman Chan.

     

    The film festival will screen blockbusters such as Fast and Furious 7, The Hobbit, Big Hero 6, Guardians of the Galaxy, Gravity and Avengers: The Age of Ultron for its patrons to re-experience the rush with its superlative 3D features and help them recognise a genuine 3D experience.

  • Turner to license Warner consumer products in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka

    Turner to license Warner consumer products in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific’s Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) will now be the consumer products licensing representative for Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the licensing agent for Bangladesh being Enroute International Limited.

     

    WBCP’s portfolio in these markets will be represented by CNE, consisting of films, television series, animated programs, and more. This includes iconic brands such as DC Comics Super Heroes Batman, Superman and The Flash, as well as Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Harry Potter and The Hobbit trilogy amongst others.

     

    “Turner has always been our close partner as we support their broadcasting and marketing of animation programs in the region. This extension of our relationship will now include representation of our consumer products licensing business in the region, which is a strategic collaboration that will be mutually beneficial,” said Warner Bros. Consumer Products Greater China, Southeast Asia and India managing director Bianca Lee.

     

    The wide spectrum of WBCP’s licensing categories includes apparel, accessories, publishing, stationery, toys, gifts, novelties, as well as branded foods, personal care products and licensed advertising promotions as key categories in the region.

     

    Turner Asia Pacific president Ricky Ow said, “This association embodies the spirit of collaboration within Time Warner and leverages our combined organisation’s strengths. We already operate some of the most loved leading brands in South Asia and this collaboration will benefit from our proven success and the future investments we will make in the region. We are delighted to add WBCP to our portfolio and are very bullish on its growth opportunities.”

     

    CNE’s licensing portfolio in South Asia comprises 76 partners across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka across traditional retail, modern trade and e-commerce platforms.

  • Curtains down for showman Christopher Lee at 93

    Curtains down for showman Christopher Lee at 93

    MUMBAI: Actor Christopher Lee, who immortalised Count Dracula in the minds of viewers even generations later, through his stunning act in the film, died in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, on 7 June after being treated for respiratory problems. 

     

    Not only did he become synonymous as Count Dracula after his stunning portrayal of the role in Hammer Horror films, he is well known amongst Bond lovers as Scaramanga from Man With The Golden Gun (1974). His other notable roles include a part in the seventies British horror classic The Wicker Man as the eccentric and evil Lord Summerisle, and, more recently in Lord of the Rings.

     

    Born in Belgravia, Westminster, London, Lee was hard to manage as a child and therefore he would often be reprimanded by his teachers at school, which he accepted as  “logical and therefore acceptable” for being the rule breaker that he was. After his parents’ divorce he lived with his mother and sister in Switzerland and later went to Miss Fisher’s Academy in Territet, where he played his first role, as Rumpelstiltskin. 

     

    Before establishing his career as an actor Lee volunteered with the Finnish forces in World War II and later assisted SAS in their operations  —  a part of his life he kept to himself with an air of secrecy. After returning to London, he did not find his calling in office work, nor did he find himself fit to teach at the University like other war veterans of his time. It was during a lunch meeting with his cousin Nicol? Carandini, now the Italian Ambassador to Britain, that the prospect of him being an actor came out. 

     

    Initially worried that he was too tall to be an actor, Lee found instant fame after his first feature film The Curse of Frankenstein for Hammer Horror films. And there was no looking back for him post that.

     

    Lee wasn’t just fit for the fantasy roles he played, he was an avid fantasy reader as well. In fact he re-read Lord of the Rings trilogy every year, and was the only member of the film cast to have met the author JRR Tolkien. While he is known for his astounding roles as an actor, Lee also tried his luck at single and faired pretty well. This multi-lingual talent had also rendered his voice for many animated movies as well. 

     

    According to many, he was often dubbed as the ‘real life James Bond’ thanks to his exploits as a war veteran and his close association with James Bond author and his cousin Ian Fleming.

     

    While Twitter and Facebook flooded with comments from industry and fans alike, pouring down their grief at the loss of this great artiste, Lee’s family has refrained from giving any comment.

  • HBO celebrates Christmas and New Year

    HBO celebrates Christmas and New Year

    MUMBAI: HBO Defined will showcase a fantastic line-up of movies throughout December with Best of Defined 2014 and Merry Xmas special on HBO Defined and New Year ’s Eve stunt on HBO Hits. The HBO premium channels, which are exclusively 100 per cent ad-free, will entertain the audiences with movies from every genre.

     

    HBO Defined will air movies like Man of Steel, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Gravity, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Hobbit and The Great Gatsby under the best of defined 2014 on the weekends at 10 pm. The Merry Xmas special on HBO Defined also has an exciting Christmas line-up of movies like All I Want For Christmas, Four Christmases, The Santa Clause Trilogy and The Polar Express from 2pm onwards on 25 December 2014. HBO Hits will be ringing in the new year by presenting  blockbuster movies such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Green Hornet, The Hangover Part III, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Conjuring and Vantage Point.

     

    Commenting on the exciting line up, HBO managing director south Asia Monica Tata said, “We invite our audiences to celebrate the magic of Christmas and New Year with their favorite HBO Original Shows and movies on the HBO Premium channels this festive season. HBO Defined and HBO Hits have always lived up to giving their audiences a viewing experience which they have never witnessed before. Along with a great line up of films the channels will also celebrate via interactive contests on Facebook and Twitter”.  

  • ‘Exodus’ dethrones ‘The Hunger Games’ at the box office

    ‘Exodus’ dethrones ‘The Hunger Games’ at the box office

    MUMBAI:  Exodus: Gods and Kings, which stars Christian Bale, in the lead has topped the U.S. box office with a whopping $24.5 million debut, leaving behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1, which had held the No. 1 position for the past three weeks. The Hunger Games, now it its fourth week, slid only 40 per cent, earning $13.2 million for a domestic total of $277.4 million.

     

    While reviews of Exodus were not all positive as the makers faced criticism for casting mainly Caucasian actors, Fox points out that Exodus’ opening weekend audience was quite diverse, which is promising for the film’s future. The audience was 54 per cent male, and 65 per cent were over 25 years of age. 20 per cent of the audience were African-American while 18 per cent Latino. Top grossing theaters ranged from major metropolitan cities to smaller towns such as San Antonio. Exodus also opened in several international territories, earning $43.3 million around the globe.

     

    Although December openings are known for their slower starts and longer burns, Exodus, which cost $140 million to make after tax breaks, has earned exactly what box office insiders had expected for the weekend. In the upcoming weeks, the movie will face strong competition from the forthcoming movies – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, family musical Annie, Disney’s Into the Woods and Fox’s threequel Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

     

  • ‘CineEurope Final Night Awards’ honours movie industry luminaries, companies

    ‘CineEurope Final Night Awards’ honours movie industry luminaries, companies

    MUMBAI: Movie industry luminaries and companies were honoured at the CineEurope Awards ceremony and dinner reception on 19 June at the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB), in Barcelona, Spain.

     

    A dinner reception, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company and Rentrak, preceded the awards ceremony which was also hosted by The Coca-Cola Company. This year, a new award was presented honouring charitable works by the football club, FC Barcelona.

     

    “CineEurope is proud to join with Variety to present the first Variety International Children’s Fund Humanitarian Award to FC Barcelona and its foundation,” stated managing director Robert Sunshine at the convention. “This award is being presented to FC Barcelona because of their global reach to help children who so desperately need it. Their work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help eradicate poverty and polio are to be commended and FC Barcelona is truly deserving of this award.”

     

    The Variety International Children’s Fund Humanitarian Award was presented by Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO, DreamWorks Animation, and Miss World 2013, Megan Young.

     

    Other awards that were presented at the CineEurope Awards Ceremony include Rentrak’s International Box Office Achievement Award, presented to Warner Bros. Pictures International for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; CineEurope’s Independent Film Award to Germany’s Constant in Film; International Exhibitor of the Year Award to Vue Entertainment deputy CEO and CFO Alan McNair and The Coca-Cola Retail Achievement Award.

     

    CineEurope will take place from 16-19 June at the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB) in Barcelona, Spain. It will feature screenings of upcoming Hollywood films, sponsored events, timely and informative seminars and the CineEurope Trade Show. CineEurope is produced by Prometheus Global Media, owner of leading entertainment publications and events including Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, Adweek, Film Journal International, Dick Clark Productions, the CLIO Awards, ShowEast, and CineAsia.

     

    CineEurope is the Official Convention of the Union Internationale des Cinémas/International Union of Cinemas (UNIC).

  • Emerging technologies create problems for release of new films

    Emerging technologies create problems for release of new films

    NEW DELHI: Over 350 different versions of Captain America: The Winter Soldier was created in just 17 days, in order to play in all its formats in theatres across the United States and internationally.

     

    Those formats include: 2D, 3D, film and digital. Other variants might include 4D, IMAX, and high frame rate. In the near future, laser light projectors, Dolby Atmos, and Barco Auro will require even further versions of feature films. These can include any combination of 2D, 3D (typically at least two versions at different light levels), possibly Imax and in the case of The Hobbit, a high-frame-rate option. If one has a “4D” release, each of the three 4D companies — CJ 4DPlex, MediaMation and D-Box — require their own proprietary version.

     

    With tight turnaround times, and an ever-increasing number of variables to consider, executives are not seeing an end to this problem, though they are hoping that standards will help alleviate at least some of the workflow.

     

    “Standards will help with some of the chaos,” says an executive. “But we can’t afford to stay static. This is the new normal. We get it done, but it’s not easy. We learn, we get more efficient, and then something new comes along. It’s a cycle.”

     

    With more than 95 per cent of the cinema screens in North America now converted to digital, executives find the situation is getting chaotic.

     

    “Controlled chaos” is how one studio exec (who was not involved with The Winter Soldier) describes the situation as. The reason is that the various options afforded by digital technologies means that multiple versions of a movie are needed. “The number has skyrocketed.”

     

    Several sources confirmed that it is not uncommon for a studio to create roughly 15 different versions of a movie for a domestic release — and some recent tentpoles have exceeded 30 different versions just for North America.  

     

    Meanwhile, laser light projectors with the promise of offering brighter images will be made available this year — and that may require another version. Barco’s recently unveiled Escape system (which creates a sort of Cinerama experience) would require another.

     

    Film prints are still needed for the remaining theatres, though domestic distribution of a typical tentpole title to 4,000 screens generally means fewer than 100 film prints are being created. “It’s getting harder because all of this takes time,” admitted one studio executive. 

  • ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ climbs to more than $800 million worldwide

    ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ climbs to more than $800 million worldwide

    BURBANK: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has crossed $800 million at the worldwide box office, with markets still to open. The film, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), has thus far grossed an estimated $242.2 million domestically and $566 million internationally, for a worldwide estimated total of $808.2 million to date.

     

    The joint announcement was made today by Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios; Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema; Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

     

    “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is the second film in Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy, based on the timeless novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The first film, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” was released on December 14, 2012, and went on to become a billion dollar success at the worldwide box office. Now in its fourth week in release, the film remains in the top five in the U.S. and continues to ranked #1 internationally across 62 territories, with China releasing February 21, followed by Japan on February 28.

     

    In making the announcement, Fellman said, “Peter Jackson has once again proven to be the perfect guide for an adventure through Middle-earth. As ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ continues to delight audiences in the New Year, we congratulate him and everyone involved in the film on another box office milestone.”

     

    Kwan Vandenberg added, “This is a film that has resonated with moviegoers around the globe in a big way. We look forward to bringing ‘Smaug’ to China and Japan in February.”

     

    From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

     

    Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The international ensemble cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. The film also stars Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Ryan Gage, John Bell, Manu Bennett and Lawrence Makoare.

     

    The screenplay for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

     

    New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a WingNut Films Production, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” The film is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.

  • TNT bags premier rights to ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

    TNT bags premier rights to ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

    MUMBAI: Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting System has bagged the television rights to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. TNT already has rights to Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit, from New Line and MGM. The movie will premier on TNT in 2016, while the 2012 release The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be aired in 2015.

     

    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was acquired by TNT post its huge box office success. Reports suggest that the movie has bagged more than $400 million in worldwide BO and $ 127.5 million domestically, since its release earlier this month.

     

    TNT had first ventured into Tolkien’s Middle Earth with its network television premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2004. Since then the network has been acquiring movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2005 and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2006.

     

    TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies president, head of programming Michael Wright said in a release, “TNT has been the primary television home to Tolkien’s Middle Earth for nearly a decade, beginning with our network television premieres of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We’re proud to continue our association with these extraordinary and enormously popular epics with the acquisition of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.“