Posts Tagged ‘ action ’

Jeremy Renner & Gemma Arterton talk “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”

Now In Theaters

Now In Theaters

What happens to our favorite fairy tale characters when the last page is read? In “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” the two children grow up wreaking havoc and carrying out revenge on any witch that crosses their paths.

Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner star as the film’s titular characters 15 years after they escape and kill the witch that captured them in a house made of candy. Hansel and Gretel are now famous bounty hunters travelling from town to town killing witches when they come across a town that holds the secrets to their past.

Arterton and Renner spoke to La Prensa de Houston about the dark side of the Brothers Grimm, developing their brother-sister relationship, and how fairy tales lend themselves to Hollywood cinema.

(L-R) Gretel (Arterton) and Hansel (Renner) take on witches and trolls 15 years after their escape

(L-R) Gretel (Arterton) and Hansel (Renner) take on witches and trolls 15 years after their escape

AG: Congratulations on the film, because it is not what I expected at all. It was very different from what I thought it would be, so it’s definitely got that element of surprise. What, for you, was the most surprising twist in this story that made you two want to be a part of this film?
GA: Really that Hansel and Gretel grow up to become these witch hunters. That’s the biggest twist. I’d never really thought about what happens to them after the fairy tale that we all finished. That’s where our film begins.

AG: What was the most fun for you in preparing for this film?
JR: I think finding the character and realizing you have to act in tandem with Gemma to really make what the tone and feel of the movie is. The relationship was the most fun, just kind of diving into that. It’s what we have to hold on to as actors as well, to face all of our truth in that relationship, because everything else around us was flying witches and freaks and the whole thing. That was the most fun, I think, because Gemma was so easy to work with. We instantly connected, so that made it even more fun.

AG: This is definitely not a film for children, because it was actually kind of scary. If you think about it, though, most Brothers Grimm fairy tales are pretty dark. Which other Brothers Grimm fairy tale characters do you think could be hardcore like this version of Hansel and Gretel?
GA: I’m thinking about fairy tales now and all those princesses and such, so I think Rapunzel is pretty hardcore. She lets people climb up her hair, so good for her.

(L) Hansel & Gretel's biggest fan, Ben

(L) Hansel & Gretel’s biggest fan, Ben

AG: I feel like Hollywood keeps making these childhood stories into darker and edgier movies and TV shows, like this film, Once Upon a Time on ABC, and I believe there was even a dark show about the Brothers Grimm themselves. What do you think it is about this kind of plot twist that keeps audiences asking for more?
JR: I think it’s the world, because it’s cinematic. It’s a form of fantasy, just like what comics are to comic book fans. There’s something very cinematic and a bit more grounded. Just think of fables and fairy tales, and we have that in spades.

AG: I think my favorite scene is when Edward stands up for you, Gemma, and takes care of the sheriff and his gang. It kind of reminded me of the Avengers when the Hulk smashes Loki from side to side, it kind of catches you off guard. What were your favorite scenes to film?
GA: I loved any of the scenes with Jeremy, really. We have a lot of fun playing brother and sister with the banter, and there are some tender scenes as well that were kind of beautiful to get in this crazy action, adventure movie. That, for me, was the best thing about this movie, this brother and sister duo.
JR: I loved working every day on this damn movie. I didn’t want it to end.

One of over about 60 witches Hansel & Gretel must kill to save the town

One of over about 60 witches Hansel & Gretel must kill to save the town

AG: Another crazy scene for me was those witches at the end. They kind of gave me goose bumps. What was it like working with those witches?
JR: Oh, it was fun. It’s like doing live theater or something. The set was built, and the witches were really flying on wires and the whole thing. At some points when you took breaks it was great, because you really see what all their make-up was. There were about 60 witches, so it was actually kind of fun to see which one we were going to fight next. That was a really trippy, acid, Halloween party.

AG: By the end of 2012, both of you have played some really iconic roles, so what goals do you have for the end of 2013?
GA: My goal is just to keep hopefully getting interesting work and doing it (laughs). I don’t like to plan, so I don’t have any specific goals. I would like to be more fluent in different languages, I think.

AG: Do you either of you have anything to say that I haven’t mentioned about the film that you’d like the readers here in Houston to know?
GA: I would say that they should just go see the film, it’s great.
JR: Yeah, it’s a good ride.

 

2013
01/25
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Iron Man 3: First Official Trailer and Images

In theaters May 3, 2013

Iron Man/Tony Stark fans, rejoice! The third installment in the series about everybody’s favorite arrogant billionaire by day/superhero by night is set to release on May 3rd of next year. The first official trailer and four images from the film have been released, and you can find it all at the bottom of the page. What is Iron Man up to now after The Avengers? It looks like it might be going a darker, more serious route, which is interesting. After watching the trailer, what do you think?

“Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?”

 

 

 

 

2012
10/23
CATEGORY
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RZA talks The Man With the Iron Fists

In theaters November 2, 2012

Robert “Bobby” Fitzgerald Diggs, better known as The RZA of the Wu Tang Clan, will be making his directorial as well as leading man debut with The Man With the Iron Fists, in theaters November 2nd. A self-proclaimed student of Quentin Tarantino, RZA has learned from the best and applied his lessons to the new kung fu film he co-wrote with Eli Roth and that Tarantino is producing.

RZA’s work with Tarantino began when he compiled the score for the critically-acclaimed martial arts film, Kill Bill: Vol. 1. Now that he has proven himself a talented composer and actor, RZA has gotten the chance to direct a film inspired by the kung fu films he grew up watching.

Before his concert at Warehouse Live last night, RZA sat down with members of the press to talk about his new film.

RZA starring as the Blacksmith

AG: So this is your directorial debut. Congratulations!
RZA: Thank you.
AG: What kind of director do you want to be known as?
RZA: A serious director, a person that really can take a story, put it on this big screen, and entertain the audience. You see many movies that come out every year, and sometimes we feel cheated out of our $12. I’m a movie buff; I go to the movies. When I’m home, every Wednesday is movie day, for me and my wife. That’s what we do, and it’s hard to waver from that. Sometimes we go, and I’m entertained. But a lot of times, I’m like… especially her, she’s like… (makes mad face). You know what I mean? And if she doesn’t like something, you know, that really gets me. I want to be able to make movies that entertain, first and foremost. That happens sometimes with comedy. It can be stupid. No disrespect, I’m not going to say this movie is stupid, because I love this movie, but look at Pineapple Express. It just has fun. It’s ridiculous, but those 95 minutes you spent, you can’t even recall what the movie was about. All you know is that you had fun. So I want to be a guy that makes films that are entertaining and fun.

AG: What do you want people to feel when they listen to the movie as well watch it?
RZA: Well, I’m from the old school, as they say. I’m a record collector. When I collect the soundtracks from the 70s, like Shaft or Claudine or Super Fly, the music matches the film. You can put the album on and almost see the film in your head. So when I did Ghost Dog, I took it the same way. Now, with The Man with the Iron Fists, you should be able to put the CD in, or download it to your computer, whatever you do, and envision the film. I had a writer talk to me in D.C. who got an early copy of the score and soundtrack, and he said he thought he saw the movie! (laughs) He’s like, “I saw the movie,” and I was like, “Well, I guess it worked.” The main plan for a score or soundtrack is to make you feel like you’re getting that movie experience again in your car.

AG: If you could take one movie that’s not in the kung fu or martial arts genre and make it into a kung fu movie, which one would it be?
RZA: Oh, that’s a good one. I won’t be able to answer that one right off the top. I’m going to have to think about that one for a little bit.

AG: For those who have never watched the kung fu films that you watched growing up, what kind of impression do you want to leave on that audience with this film?
RZA: First of all, I think this is a good film even if you take all the kung fu out. You’ve got a good film. But I would love for all the people who have never watched kung fu, who don’t know the genre, to find a love for this stuff, you know? I would love young people to feel like, even though this movie is…it’s Eli Roth, so you know we’ve got some gore, but I would love for young people to fight with their hands, to love martial arts. When The Karate Kid came out, there was a boom in people joining karate schools, and in the Bruce Lee days there was a boom of it, too. Hopefully this movie can spark it, because the gun violence and all that stuff that’s happening out there is ridiculous. When I was a kid, we had Saturday Morning Kung Fu Theater. You guys don’t got that no more. But it’s in some of those movies that you find loyalty, brotherhood, sacrifice, fight oppression, as well as some cool ass-kicking. That’s missing. I think that this film is a film to bring it back. Only instead of Saturday mornings, it’ll be Friday and Saturday nights, but I would love to see more of this. When Kill Bill came out – did we all like Kill Bill here? Yes? (laughs) Right. That was the last American film that focused on martial arts. That’s the last one that had real money, real people in it. Here’s the next one. I don’t think they should be this far apart. Even when I decided to do the movie, when I told Quentin [Tarantino] that I was ready to be a director, he gave me some advice. He said, “Maybe you should start with a small movie with a certain amount of money, and just do something simple.” I didn’t. I went for the big one, you know what I mean? Because I noticed, and not just on a commercial level, I said, “Quentin, when we did Kill Bill, it was successful. Everybody saw it, you made a couple hundred million dollars with it, and yet now, we can’t even get a kung fu movie, like when Curse of the Golden Flower came out, it couldn’t even play on 100 screens! So, there’s a market for people who are hungry for this stuff. If you don’t fulfill it, then let your student do it.” He said, “Okay, you take it.” He’s going on to other things, so I said, “I’d love to take over that genre with The Man with the Iron Fists. It’s the only kind of film I want to make. I’ve got a lot of ideas, but if I only made these kind of films, I’d still be satisfied.”

2012
10/22
CATEGORY
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Michael Pena talks End of Watch

In theaters September 21, 2012

David Ayer is known for his gritty cop dramas like Training Day, SWAT, and Street Kings. Now he was driven to get the story of Los Angeles cops “right,” and open a window into a rarely seen world of law enforcement for all its truth, grit and compassion with End of Watch. With a cast headed by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, and featuring Anna Kendrick, America Ferrera, Cody Horn, Natalie Martinez, and Frank Grillo, End of Watch is a powerful story of family, friendship, love, honor and courage.

Michael Pena co-stars as Officer Mike Zavala, playing opposite Jake Gyllenhaal as his partner on the job, Officer Brian Taylor. Here he talks about the intense preparation, filming with multiple cameras, and the pleasant surprise of humor on the job.

Pena is known for his diverse body of work in films such as The Lincoln Lawyer, 30 Minutes or Less, Crash, and World Trade Center. He can next be seen in Gangster Squad, alongside Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, and Ryan Gosling.

Just another day on the job for officers Brian Taylor (L) and Mike Zavala (R).

AG: Can you start with telling the readers a little bit about your character, Mike Zavala?
MP: I play this guy, Mike Zavala, this Latinoamericano who is a police officer, and he’s got this partner by the name of Brian Taylor, who Jake Gyllenhaal plays. These guys pretty much are good cops. They’re cops that don’t mind getting their hands dirty. We know the real guys this movie is based off of, and they just love getting big busts. It’s a thing that they really love to do. They get in a little bit of trouble, and that’s where some of the action comes from. Sometimes it’s just catching the bad guy, and that’s the way that starts. It’s really also about the brotherhood. These guys become “brothers from other mothers,” I guess you could say. It’s a really well-written script. It’s by the guy that wrote Training Day, SWAT, and The Fast and the Furious. Training Day, especially, has a lot of really great dialogue and really cool conversations, and that’s in this movie as well.

AG: David Ayer made it a point to say that this is not a “typical cop movie.” What would you say that means?
MP: Well, it’s not your typical cop movie, because in a cop movie, the dialogue is really plot-driven. You know, like, “We gotta go here for this, and then there for this,” so it tells the audience how to think and who’s the bad guy. A lot of times they’ll talk up the adversary so when you see them it’s like, “Wow, this guy’s got a lot of history.” In this one, it’s really a slice of life. We talk a lot about family, and we joke around. There’s quite a bit of humor in it. It goes into something that’s touching or something that’s humorous and then right into the action. We get calls all the time. That’s where it’s different. It’s really about two brothers, and then all of the stuff actually justifies the action sequences.

AG: So how did you prepare for that “brotherhood” with Jake Gyllenhaal?
MP: It was a five-month rehearsal period, when usually you only spend about six weeks. That’s what we did. That worked in a number of different ways. Instead of thinking in terms of, “What am I going to do? What do I have to do?” and having a technical advisor really help you out, it was really easy. We already had that stuff down so that we could really focus on the relationship and looking out for each other. These guys make a pact, you know, that if anything happens to them, they’re going to take care of each other’s families. That’s a huge responsibility. They’re also willing to do anything so that their partner goes home safe at night.

AG: During that five-month training, what did you learn that ended up being the most important thing that you used or did in the film?
MP: Really it’s the way that they spoke with each other, which I thought was really interesting. It was really awesome. You don’t think of cops as being funny people. I mean, I don’t. But these guys were written, and me and Jake played it up as much as we could, as humorous. Jake’s a really funny dude, and I had just gotten off doing a couple comedies, so I was like, “Dude, there’s nothing wrong with making talk funny.” You know what I mean? That’s what we did. Sometimes it has to be what it has to be, but other times, I’ve gotten on the screen and they’re laughing at your jokes.

AG: I understand this movie is kind of documentary-style, where cameras are woven into the story. What was it like filming with multiple cameras like that?
MP: It made it easier actually. We could just do take upon take upon take upon take, and you weren’t worried about continuity. You could always make it fresh. Especially with this kind of movie, you need to make it almost improvisational so you don’t really have to cut. Especially being a documentary-style movie, you want to be as natural as possible so the audience can be inside the car with you, like they’re on a ride-along. You want to make it as visceral and accessible as possible.

AG: What view of the cops did you have as a kid, and did that have any effect on the way you carried out your role in this movie?
MP: Yeah, for sure. Now, it’s like, on a plane ride for instance, I used to be like, “Oh, whatever happens happens,” but now I’m like, “Oh god, I don’t want anything to go wrong.” I want to see my kid grow up. I want to see him graduate high school, get married, and all that other stuff. That’s really, really important to me, and being safe put a different perspective on it than if I didn’t have a kid. It gives you more of a reason to care about the different neighborhoods you’re in.

AG: This film isn’t just about being a cop on the job, but also about going home to your wife and kid, so how did those feelings carry into filming those parts?
MP: The thing is, police officers need a time of decompression. That’s when the shift is over, when you’re ready to go. Say you see something horrific that day, which me and Jake actually did. It’s not the easiest thing to come home and fall asleep. Sometimes it takes a couple of hours, and you’re like, “What’s wrong with this world?” It’s not the easiest thing. I realized that that’s what police officers have to do, so it takes a special kind of woman to marry somebody like that.

Pena (R) and his on-screen wife (Natalie Martinez on R) and child.

AG: So what was it like working with Natalie Martinez being that woman for you?
MP: Loved it. I loved it. I would love to work with her again. The thing is that she spent a lot of time with me and wanted to get it right. I’m happy with the way it turned out. For somebody who plays the bad guy, you have to have just a little bit of shady-ness and thinking that there’s something wrong with them. When someone plays your wife, you want to have even just a little bit of love. It goes a long way. She was really easy to work with, and I recommend her to others.

AG: Well thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me. I’m really looking forward to watching this movie!
MP: Right on. I can’t wait for you to see it either.

2012
09/14
CATEGORY
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Catching Fire: Finnick O’Dair has been cast!

 

 

After months of debate over who should be cast as the pivotal character of Finnick O’Dair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Hollywood has spoken! Newcomer Sam Claflin is apparently the chosen one, and he has got some big shoes to fill. I mean, he might just be taking some of the heat off of Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, even though he did what I thought was an amazing job in The Hunger Games. Anyway, you might have caught Sam Claflin as Philip in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides or as William in the Ruper Sanders-Kristen Stewart cheating scandal, Snow White and the Hunstman.

I had my heart set on Armie Hammer, because I’ve seen his work and think he has the chops to play all of the several shades of Finnick O’Dair, but honestly, I think this might be a good choice. He’s obviously pretty but still masculine like Finnick, so he’s got the looks down. The true test will be seeing if he can pull off playful, superficial, and cocky at one point, and sad, conflicted, and vulnerable at another, at the drop of a hat.

Considering he’s a semi-newcomer to the biz and I haven’t really seen him act, I think it could be a really smart move casting him as Finnick. Audiences will mostly have no preconceived notions of him and be able to fully take him in as the dashing Finnick O’Dair. Either way, I was upset about Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, and he pulled it off, so here’s hoping for the best with my second favorite male character in the series, Finnick O’Dair!

2012
08/23
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Mauricio Kuri talks For Greater Glory

On DVD & BluRay on Tuesday, September 11, 2012

For Greater Glory, the story of the 1920s Cristero War, will be available to watch on BluRay and DVD on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. For Greater Glory tells the story of the violent civil war in Mexico following President Plutarco Elias Calles’ anti-Catholic provisions in the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.

A 13-year-old boy named Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio decides to take part in the Cristero War after watching the Mexican police execute his priest. The movie stars Peter O’Toole, Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Ruben Blades. Newcomer Mauricio Kuri plays Jose Luis, and he talks about the history of his country and what it was like working with a legend like Peter O’Toole.

AG: Can you start with telling the readers a little bit about your character in this movie and if there was any sort of personal connection between you and your character?
MK: I think there was a lot of personal connection, because my character was 14 years old, and when I was filming, I was 13. The movie has a lapse of three years, so at the beginning of the movie, I’m 12, and when it ends, I’m 14. Being 13 was just perfect, because I was between those two ages. I felt connected, because I think that being the same age, we could think similarly, and I’m Catholic. So being involved in this story that was known in Mexico and all over the world was amazing. I wanted to transmit to all of the people what actually happened in my country. We know history about the Chinese, the British, but we don’t know much Mexican history. It was a huge opportunity. It was amazing, because I always wanted to be an actor. My main purpose is to be a movie director, but it was amazing because I love cinema. I think cinema is just a great way to express yourself and transmit emotions. It was a really challenging experience, but it was beautiful.

Mauricio Kuri as Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio

AG: How did you get started acting?
MK: In my regular school, we have theater class. My teacher, Laura Belmas, she said, “Mauricio, can you come here for a second?” I said, “Yeah,” and she said, “I see some talent in you for theater, so I suggest you stay involved here in theater.” Theater is beautiful, and she taught me a lot of personal stuff about acting, so I got this passion for theater because of her. That passion for theater became a passion for cinema. Once I got this script for a movie called La Leyenda del Tesoro, it was produced by the same producer of For Greater Glory. It was a Mexican movie. It was a really small role, but I got that role, my first in a film. I was like, “Oh my god!” So one year later, the For Greater Glory script came, and I was just amazed that all of these things that I was reading in the script, I didn’t know a lot of it. I got so sad, because most of these things that I was reading actually happened. The whole movie is based on true events. I mean, not even my teachers knew about this, so I thought, “Something is wrong here.” That was also an inspiration to tell the people what happened. Not even Mexican people knew about this.

AG: Being a Mexican-American myself, I had no idea about the Cristiada, so this is a very informative movie. What kind of research did you do after reading the script and realizing, “Oh, there are a lot of things I didn’t even know about this?”
MK: I read the biography of my character, Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio, which was written by his uncle. It’s in Spanish, but I read the whole biography. It had real documents and photographs. I also read a little bit of this book called La Cristiada. It was written by John Mayer. Not the singer! (laughs) He’s a French investigator here in Mexico that is really famous. It was so weird, too, that the guy that wrote the story for the script, well, not the script, but the book the script was based on, was French! He’s not even Mexican! There was clearly something bad in this, because someone didn’t want people to know about this process. It’s something cruel that happened in our country, but it’s true. It’s really sad, but I’m glad that now that the DVD is coming out, people will be able to see some part of Mexican history in their house.

AG: What was it like working alongside such great actors like Andy Garcia, Peter O’Toole, and Catalina Sandino Moreno?
MK: It was just great. When I saw Peter O’Toole, I was just speechless. I love Lawrence of Arabia. It’s one of my personal favorite movies. When I saw him, I was kind of scared, too. These wonderful actors, they were so good that I didn’t want to disappoint them. I’m just starting, and I didn’t want to screw up (laughs). So I had to prepare myself more when I noticed that these huge actors were going to be in the movie. It was such a great experience, too, because they were all nice to me. I have this really cool relationship now with Peter O’Toole. He told me about his personal life and this school I should go to when I grow up. He went to the this school called the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. I want to go to that school, and it’s in London. He told me that it’s a wonderful school, that it exposes you to acting. There were a lot of personal experiences between us and between Andy Garcia and me. The relationship on film, it was pretty much the same kind of relationship outside of the film. It was awesome, because I consider him my friend. We were talking about a new project that he’s going to do, about Hemingway, he’s going to direct the movie. We were just talking about working together again, but it’s not official yet. I’m just glad that I have this relationship with him, because he’s such a wonderful person and such a wonderful actor, too. I admire him so much in the Godfather, because he’s just a person who knows how to get into character perfectly. Outside the film, he asked me to call him General. Not even during the movie, just there on set, I called him General. It was pretty cool and really fun.

AG: Now that this movie is nominated for so many ALMA Awards, what is it like for you being a part of this movie?
MK: Well, I’m really excited, because I know it got five nominations. I know that’s a lot. I’m excited, because I think the people that got nominated really deserve it, like Andy Garcia. I think he deserves that award, because he got so involved in the character. You could actually see the General through his eyes. I’m feeling so lucky to be in such a big movie for Mexico, because it was the most successful in the box office here in Mexico, the most watched movie in the history of Mexican cinema. It was just a great experience. I learned so much. It was my best school of acting, because Andy Garcia and Peter O’Toole taught me personal experiences and gave me personal tips. It was just great.

AG: With all of the controversy surrounding Mexico, how important do you think it is for a movie like this to come out? What misconceptions of Mexico are there in Hollywood that would love to be set straight?
MK: In Hollywood, mostly there are not a lot of Mexican movies. This movie wasn’t that successful in the United States, but I think it’s one of those movies that leaves a mark in people’s hearts. It has a really strong message. I think it’s one of those movies you don’t see a lot anymore, because you have something behind that is a lot of message and a lot of story behind it. It actually happened. It was just so great, the experience of filming it, so I’m really glad the DVD is finally coming out. People can see this story over and over again, and I can watch it at my house, too (laughs). It was just amazing, the whole experience, since I got the casting call all that way up until now.

AG: Any last words for the readers about yourself or the movie?
MK: There is actually something funny that happened on set, and the scene got cut from the movie. They’re probably going to put it on the DVD. Andy Garcia throws me a gun in a scene, and I needed to catch it. I was looking the other way when he threw me the gun, so when I look up, the gun lands on my nose. It was so heavy! It was made of metal, so my nose cracked open. It was really cool, though, because now I have a scar on my nose that I can say Andy Garcia gave to me!

2012
08/14
CATEGORY
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For Greater Glory Dominates ALMA Nominations

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — FOR GREATER GLORY dominated nominations announced July 9 for the 2012 American Latino Media Arts (ALMA)Awards®, sponsored by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). The epic action adventure about Mexico’s Cristero War for religious freedom earned five nominations – including Favorite Movie – for ALMA Awards®. NBC will air the 2012 ALMA Awards® at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT Sept. 21.

In addition to the film itself, four cast members are up for ALMA Awards®. Andy Garcia earned nomination as Favorite Movie Actor, and Eva Longoria is a candidate for Favorite Movie Actress – Drama/Adventure. Rubén Blades and Oscar Isaac are competing against each other and three more actors in the Favorite Movie Actor – Supporting Role category.

FOR GREATER GLORY’s five 2012 ALMA® nominations are the most earned by any film.

Fans decide the winners through online voting that is open now through Sept. 7 at http://almaawards2012.com/. Fans may vote once daily in a variety of film, TV and music categories.

FOR GREATER GLORY, which opened June 1 across the country, has earned more than $5.4 million at the box office. Itbrings the brutal truth of the Cristero War, which rocked 1920s North America, to the big screen with vivid accuracy. Academy Award® and ALMA® nominee Garcia and Golden Globe winner and ALMA® nominee Longoria lead a stellar multinational cast that includes legendary Oscar® winner Peter O’Toole, ALMA® nominee Isaac (DRIVE), ALMA® nominee Blades (SAFE HOUSE), Bruce Greenwood (STAR TREK, SUPER 8), Nestor Carbonell(THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, “Lost”), Bruce McGill (LINCOLN), Santiago Cabrera (“Heroes,” CHE), Oscar®-nominated Catalina Sandino Moreno (MARIA FULL OF GRACE), and Eduardo Verástegui (BELLA). FOR GREATER GLORY also features teenager Muricio Kuri in a stunning portrayal of Blessed José Sanchez del Rio, who joined the Cristeros at 14 and served as a flag bearer before being martyred by Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles’ Federales.

Many of the Cristero martyrs were Knights of Columbus, and theorganization has spearheaded production of a behind-the-scenes look at the movie that includes historical background on the Cristero War. Anyone can watch the 30-minute program online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnPi5cXlVHo.

In addition, Ignatius Press has published the official companion book to the film, For Greater Glory: The True Story of the Cristiada. Written by noted Cristero War historian and expert Ruben Quezada, English and Spanish editions of the book are available now at http://www.ignatius.com/.

FOR GREATER GLORY is a production of Dos Corazones Studios, and isdistributed by ARC Entertainment. For interviews with Producer Pablo Barroso, other members of the cast and crew, or official-companion-book author RubenQuezada, please contact Alexis Walkenstein (561-445-5409 or AWalkenstein@MaximusMG.com), Tim Lilley (678-990-9032 or TLilley@MaximusMG.com) or Kevin Wandra (678-990-9032, or KWandra@MaximusMG.com) of The Maximus Group.

Visit the online newsroom at www.MaxOnDeadline.com/ForGreaterGlory for backgrounders, still images and other media resources.

Like and share the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ForGreaterGlory.

Follow the Twitter feed at www.Twitter.com/ForGreaterGlory.

2012
07/30
CATEGORY
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Spider-Man vs. The Amazing Spider-Man

The original Spider-Man was released on May 3, 2002

So I am just now posting about this, because it wasn’t until I re-watched the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man from 2002 yesterday that I finally realized why I was disappointed with the Marc Webb reboot. I’ll try not to be completely negative about The Amazing Spider-Man and begin with the things I did like about it.

THE GOOD:

The reboot was released exactly 10 years and 2 months later on July 3, 2012

First of all, Andrew Garfield was a great Spidey. He was much more like the comic book version of Peter Parker, more of a loner and misunderstood than a full-on nerd. Tobey Maguire‘s Peter Parker was a little goofy and a caricatured nerd, always picked on and made fun of. I enjoyed that, but Garfield gave Parker layers. He was better at the emotional, tortured soul thing than Maguire for sure.

Second, I enjoyed that the screenplay-writers kept this new version of the film closer to the comic books. The mystery surrounding Parker’s dad with Dr. Connors, dating Gwen Stacy instead of Mary Jane, the mechanical web launchers, etc. Which by the way, while re-watching Spider-Man, when Peter walks into his apartment and Harry and Norman Osborn are waiting for him, they ask him where he’s been and he says, “I was late this morning, and Dr. Connors fired me.” Easter egg! Anyway, to re-iterate my point, keeping it closer to the comic books is the second thing I like about the reboot.

Lastly, the special effects were awesome. It has been 10 years since the first Spider-Man, so obviously special effects have come a long way. The Lizard was pretty crazy, and Rhys Ifans did a good job of not being inherently evil, just a little obsessed with getting his arm back. I also almost forgot to mention that I noticed Peter Parker took his mask off more and way more people knew he was Spider-Man in the reboot than in the original, but I didn’t want to make a whole paragraph about that. That was about it for that point.

THE BAD:

Okay, so now that I’ve listed the things I enjoyed about the reboot, here are my criticisms. One of my favorite things about the original was when Peter found out he had radioactive spider powers and toyed with his new abilities and created his Spidey suit. In the reboot, I feel like all of that was fast-forwarded. There was not nearly enough time spent on it, and Andrew Garfield could definitely have done great stuff with that material. To top it off, the 5-second montage of Peter testing out his new-found powers is set to “Til Kingdom Come” by Coldplay. Don’t get me wrong, I love that song, but really? The last time that song was relevant was back when it was released in 2004, and even then, it was a closet hit. My point is, it really felt like everything that made Peter Parker into Spider-Man was just thrown together like the last-minute Power-Point presentations I used to give in college after staying at the PCL until 2 a.m. perusing Facebook.

Garfield and Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) steam up the screen more than Maguire and Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson)

My second criticism is still related to story development. Peter’s relationship with Aunt Mae and Uncle Ben was not given nearly enough time to build. SPOILER ALERT: When Uncle Ben died, I hardly felt sad, unlike when I wept like a baby watching the original on a field trip with my eighth-grade class. Martin Sheen was a good choice, and he could’ve been a great Uncle Ben had they given him enough script and screen-time. Unfortunately, they spent more time developing Peter’s romance with Gwen than they did the relationship between Peter and his aunt and uncle.

I guess my beef with the reboot is that it seemed so much more superficial than the original. I was thinking it would be the opposite. My expectation was a “Dark Knight”-like reboot, darker and more realistic than the cartoon-ish originals. While Garfield does a great job of giving Peter Parker/Spider-Man emotional layers, the rest fell flat and forced. It was entertaining, though, and I did enjoy it, just not as much as the original. I like them both for different reasons, and I would recommend Spidey-lovers everywhere give the reboot a chance. This was just my personal opinion! Below are some visual comparisons.

Tobey’s take on discovering his Spidey powers

Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker discovers his Spidey powers on the way home from the lab on the subway

Tobey played Spidey a little goofier than Andrew Garfield, but it worked for him

Garfield as the more sarcastic and obviously ganglier Spidey

2012
07/16
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Adrian Grunberg talks Get the Gringo

In stores July 17, 2012

In April, Mel Gibson‘s Get the Gringo was released on DirecTV Video on Demand. Gibson stars as Driver, an American criminal who crashes his car into the border wall while being chased by police. He learns his way through the town-like prison, “El Pueblito,” with help from “The Kid,” a 10-year-old boy. The Kid (Kevin Hernandez) is special, because he has the same rare blood-type as a Mexican crime boss in the prison who needs a liver transplant. Driver takes it upon himself to save the Kid’s life and break out of El Pueblito.

Get the Gringo is Adrian Grunberg‘s directorial debut after having been First Assistant Director on various films, including Man on Fire, The Legend of Zorro, and Edge of Darkness. Grunberg talked about what it was like directing his first film, the research that went into creating El Pueblito, and what you can expect on the DVD, BluRay and digital download combo pack which hits stores on July 17, 2012.

(L-R) Adrian Grunberg, Kevin Hernandez, Stacy Perskie & Mel Gibson

AG: Hi Adrian, how are you?
Grunberg: Very well. Yourself?
AG: I’m good! Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today.
Adrian: On the contrary, thank you.

AG: You’ve been assistant director on some great movies like Traffic, Jarhead, Apocalypto, and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, just to name a few. What was it like finally directing your own film?
Grunberg: It was great. It felt amazing. I had wanted to for a while, and I finally got the chance, which was an incredible chance. It felt great.

AG: Is there anything you took from your experience as an assistant director that you applied to this film?
Grunberg: Oh, I’m sure there are many, many, many things. I don’t think I can pinpoint any now. There is nothing overt or conscious about it, but I’m sure I picked up plenty of things from all of those directors.

AG: How did this opportunity come about?
Grunberg: It was Mel’s idea. He had been reading about some prisons in various parts of the world, and he had this idea about putting an American in a Mexican prison. He offered me to direct it, and that’s how it all began.

AG: This movie’s release was different in that it was through an agreement with DirecTV and Video on Demand. More and more films are starting to do this, so how did that happen and what did you do differently?
Grunberg: Differently, nothing. I mean, that happened way after the movie was finished. Mel is known in the past to have boarded different distribution platforms for his movies. He’s done it before, obviously not on DirecTV, but with alternative means of distribution. Like you said, it’s slowly becoming a very feasible way for many movies to come out with the size of the screens at home and the quality of them. It is now more than just a valid way, it’s a part of the future for a large number of movies. I think Mel took a chance by doing it that way. I don’t think any movie of this size or this type of movie had ever done it. He took a chance, and we’ll see if it pays off or not. I think it definitely was a ballsy and gutsy move on his part to decide to come out this way.

AG: What drew you to this story?
Grunberg: Well, like I said, originally it was Mel’s idea, and the more we started to develop and research and everything, it just became a cooler story. All along that whole process, it grew into our own. It became a very personal project. It has elements of a lot of people in there who were involved, and that’s very satisfying.

AG: What kind of research did you all have to do for this film?
Grunberg: The main story, the original idea was Mel’s, and then Stacy Perskie, who’s the main producer and co-writer and myself basically took it from there. We would all get together and sort of throw ideas around, but it was basically up to us to get more involved in the research. We researched prisons all over the world, like in Thailand, Colombia, and obviously Mexico, because this is where we live, and found some amazing places to base this story on. The research was actually of great help in writing the script, because the prison itself created scenarios and scenes on its own. Interviews with people who were inmates or prison officials created characters and events within the movie. So in this kind of movie, it’s really important to have done good research.

AG: With all of the violence and controversy in and around Mexico these days, how important is it to release a film like this? Was it tricky in any way filming over there?
Grunberg: Not really. I mean, the movie was shot two and a half to three years ago. The first thing to understand is that it’s a fictional movie, and the thing is that the backdrop for the story is a very real place and active reality in the Mexico that we live in today. I think every shoot ends up having its own little quirks and things that happen during the shoot. It was a peaceful event, and we had a great time doing it.

AG: What would you like people to walk away from this movie with?
Grunberg: Hopefully they’re entertained, because that’s the main attribute of the movie. Then I think they’re going to see a world and characters that they probably have never seen portrayed like this before, an interesting symbiosis between the Mexican and the American that is, I think, usually not created in this way very often.

AG: Is there anything that is going to be included on the DVD that we didn’t get to see in the film when it was released?
Grunberg: Oh, for sure. Definitely. There are certain things you will find of interest, but I’ll leave it up to you to buy it and see it. One thing we did that we were eager to, is we had a behind-the-scenes crew the whole shoot. They were able to build some amazing pieces around this prison setting. Interviews and stories with some of the lesser players, the extras, people who were in the prison, ex-convicts who have life stories that were beautifully documented by the behind-the-scenes crew. You’re going to see some of that there, which would be very hard for you to see in any other scenario.

AG: Any last words for the readers here in Houston about you, the movie, or the DVD?
Grunberg: I think that the big thing about the DVD and the fact that it’s coming out on other platforms like iTunes and Amazon to download, is I think that a lot more people are going to have a chance to see it than they did when the movie came out. Take a chance, you’re really going to enjoy it. It’s a different kind of movie, and it’s very entertaining. You won’t miss anything.

AG: Well thank you so much for your time, it was a pleasure speaking with you.
Grunberg: Thank you, same here.

2012
07/13
CATEGORY
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Breaking Dawn Part 2: New Official Images

Now that you’re able to watch the full-length trailer over and over again (you know you have), new official images have also been released in order to get a better look at the new characters being introduced in this last chapter of the saga.

The second half of the book (the part the movie is based on), is mostly about how the Volturi find out about Edward and Bella’s half-human, half-vampire baby, Renesmee, and wish to dispose of her. They are convinced she will not be able to control her blood-lust like an immortal child, a child who has been turned into a vampire. Edward and Bella, who is now a vampire herself, travel the world to gather support from other vampire families to show the Volturi that Renesmee is not a threat.

Below are the images of Renesmee as well as other vampire families and enemies we will get to know in Breaking Dawn Part 2.

(L-R) Kellan Lutz as Emmett and Kristen Stewart as Bella arm-wrestling now that Bella has the strength of a vampire

(L-R) TRACEY HEGGINS and JUDITH SHEKONI as two of the Amazon sisters

(L-R) CASEY LaBOW and MyANNA BURING as two of the Denali clan from Alaska

(L-R) CHRISTIAN CAMARGO and MIA MAESTRO as Eleazar and Carmen of the Denali clan in Alaska

KRISTEN STEWART and MACKENZIE FOY as Bella and her daughter Renesmee

(L-R) TAYLOR LAUTNER and MACKENZIE FOY as werewolf Jacob Black and Renesmee

(L-R) DAKOTA FANNING and CAMERON BRIGHT, members of the Volturi

(L-R) KRISTEN STEWART, MACKENZIE FOY, ROBERT PATTINSON and TAYLOR LAUTNER as Bella, Renesmee, Edward and Jacob

 

2012
06/22
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