Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/'Potter' IMAX Update and Bill Nighy Finally Nabs a Rolehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/01/potter-imax-update-and-bill-nighy-finally-nabs-a-role/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/01/potter-imax-update-and-bill-nighy-finally-nabs-a-role/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/01/potter-imax-update-and-bill-nighy-finally-nabs-a-role/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



With his film due out in a couple of weeks, Harry Potter is beginning to make some waves. First up is an update on the Potter IMAX delay. Long story short, Half-Blood Prince won't be arriving on IMAX screens the same day the film hits conventional theaters because of a deal IMAX made with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen for an exclusive four-week run. However, three theaters will be getting Harry Potter in IMAX on opening day, July 15th, but if you don't live in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, you're out of luck. Collider tells us those three theaters are as follows: Century City IMAX (Los Angeles), Henry Crown (Chicago), and AMC Loews Lincoln Square (NYC). The first 12 minutes of the movie have been converted to IMAX 3D, and so I'm sure it's worth the trip for those who live in the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, everyone else will have to wait another two weeks.

Read the rest over at SciFi Squad

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]]>bill nighyBillNighycinematicalharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceCinematical staffWed, 01 Jul 2009 10:45:00 ESTThe Harry Potter Oscar Buzz Beginshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-harry-potter-oscar-buzz-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-harry-potter-oscar-buzz-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-harry-potter-oscar-buzz-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Now that the Academy Awards have extended the best picture category to include ten nominees instead of five, you bet your bottom half we're going to start seeing some pretty bold claims when it comes to fan favorites, like Star Trek, Watchmen and the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. With a couple weeks still to go before Half-Blood Prince finally hits theaters, Hollywood.com's Paul Dergarabedian looks to be the first to champion the film for a possible best picture nomination.

Having watched the movie at an advanced screening, he says, "... the Potter loving beast in me has been unleashed after having witnessed a film that was not only exquisite in its production values, but was also charming, funny, scary, enchanting, moving (stop me, the adjectives could go on and on) and dare I say, sexy. Brilliantly directed by David Yates (he directed 2007's "Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix"), "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is a tour-de-force that combines style and substance, special effects and heart and most importantly great performances from all of the actors young and not-so-young. Not only that, half-way through I'm thinking the unthinkable - "ten academy awards nominations are available this year, hmm I wonder...."

Granted, the folks from Hollywood.com could be angling themselves for some Potter quotes in print and in future trailers, but seeing as Lord of the Rings had its time in the Oscar spotlight -- coupled with the fact that Potter is nearing his big-screen finale -- I wouldn't be surprised if Half-Blood Prince nabbed one of those ten spots. You?

Gallery: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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]]>academt awardsAcademtAwardscinematicalfeaturedharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceoscarsErik DavisMon, 29 Jun 2009 15:35:00 ESTDavid Yates Teases 'Deathly Hallows' Splithttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/david-yates-teases-deathly-hallows-split/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/david-yates-teases-deathly-hallows-split/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/david-yates-teases-deathly-hallows-split/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With so many disappointments this summer, it's easy to forget that we'll finally get to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and that we'll finally start hearing more about the final chapter as it makes its way to the big screen.

But of course, the biggest question about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows still centers on where they'll make the split between Film 1 and Film 2. Director David Yates dropped a hint to the LA Times, and if you haven't read the book, here be spoilers:

"We're here in the forest, we've just finished the scene where Harry, Hermione and Ron are captured by the Snatchers after being chased through the woods. The Snatchers are brutal and scary but they aren't the most intelligent of creatures.They're trying to figure out exactly who it is they've caught ... Things can change when you edit, of course, but the idea now is that it will be not long after the sequence that we are filming here today. That's what we're experimenting with. We've had three or four different ideas about where to cut off the seventh film. Traditionally, the movies have ended with a death or a bereavement, some sort of passage or arrival. This time we think we will end with more a cliffhanger. Again, though, that's the thought as of this moment."

I haven't read Deathly Hallows since it came out (and oh, I still remember pulling an all nighter at ComicCon for fear someone would spoil it) , so I had to go back and check this part out. The book is chock full of cliffhangers, but ending it here would definitely give Part 1 a terrifying conclusion, the kind I'm still disappointed Peter Jackson didn't go with in The Two Towers.

Continue reading David Yates Teases 'Deathly Hallows' Split

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]]>David YatesDavidYatesHarry Potter and the Deathly HallowsHarry Potter and the Half Blood PrinceHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsHarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrinceElisabeth RappeWed, 24 Jun 2009 16:32:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Our Most Anticipated Films of Summer '09http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/cinematical-seven-our-most-anticipated-films-of-summer-09/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/cinematical-seven-our-most-anticipated-films-of-summer-09/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/cinematical-seven-our-most-anticipated-films-of-summer-09/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Not many movie-going summers have had the good sense or fortune to formally kick themselves off with the likes of Hugh Jackman and his razor-sharp jazz hands, but as these are the times in which we live in, it's a clear indication that we're in for about eighteen weeks of spectacular spectaculars worth gulping down popcorn and guzzling down pop* with.

Eugene's already shone the spotlight on a fair amount of smaller titles worth your while, so our staff tried to keep the focus on that which we haven't seen, those spectacles for which we're most excited and least likely to text during. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: sit down and shut up, because these are the seven movies that we're fairly f**kin' pumped for.

(*Okay, I pretty much never call soda that, but you get the idea.)

Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Our Most Anticipated Films of Summer '09

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]]>adam sandlerAdamSandleralison lohmanAlisonLohmanbrad pittBradPittcate blanchettCateBlanchettchris pineChrisPinechristian baleChristianBalecinematical sevencinematical summerCinematicalSevenCinematicalSummerdaniel radcliffeDanielRadcliffedrag me to hellDragMeToHelleric banaEricBanafunny peopleFunnyPeopleharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrincehayao miyazakiHayaoMiyazakiinglourious basterdsInglouriousBasterdsj.j. abramsJ.j.Abramsjohnny deppJohnnyDeppjudd apatowJuddApatowjustin longJustinLongmichael mannMichaelMannpixarpixars upPixarsUpponyoponyo on the cliffPonyoOnTheCliffpublic enemiesPublicEnemiesquentin tarantinoQuentinTarantinosam raimiSamRaimiseth rogenSethRogentiny feyTinyFeyupWilliam GossThu, 30 Apr 2009 23:02:00 ESTExclusive: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Character Banners!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/exclusive-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-character-ba/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/exclusive-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-character-ba/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/exclusive-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-character-ba/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



Cinematical has just received these four very cool (and haunting) character banners for this summer's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which just topped an AOL Moviefone poll as the film readers were most looking forward to seeing. But that shouldn't surprise anyone; folks has been itching to see Half-Blood Prince ever since its release date was pushed back several months from last November to this July 15, and it seems fans are desperate to spend as much time as they can with Potter and the gang before their big-screen adventures come to an end (after Half-Blood Prince, all that's left is the two-part Deathly Hallows finale). Check out larger versions of all four character banners in the gallery below.

Gallery: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Banners



Directed by David Yates, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince finds friends Harry, Ron and Hermione a bit older, wiser and, well, more attracted to the opposite sex. As Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, our hero discovers a mysterious book that helps him learn more about the evil Lord Voldemort's dark past.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will arrive in conventional theaters and on IMAX screens on July 15, two days earlier than the previously scheduled July 17.

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedharry potter and the half-blood princeharry potter character bannersHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceHarryPotterCharacterBannersErik DavisThu, 30 Apr 2009 13:05:00 ESTCatherine Keener Is Loved By the Gods and 'Percy Jackson'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/17/catherine-keener-is-loved-by-the-gods-and-percy-jackson/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/17/catherine-keener-is-loved-by-the-gods-and-percy-jackson/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/17/catherine-keener-is-loved-by-the-gods-and-percy-jackson/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't know if Chris Columbus' Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief will be the next Harry Potter, but it certainly has a cast that can rival the one living at Hogwarts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the latest to sign on is the always lovely Catherine Keener, who will be playing Sally Jackson, mother to Logan Lerman's Percy.
Of course, Sally isn't just any ordinary single mother, she's one beloved by at least one Greek god. A forbidden love affair with Poseidon produced Percy, who just might be the boy to fulfill a prophecy. Sally tries to conceal Percy's identity from the gods and from himself, but of course that never works.

The Olympians cast so far include Uma Thurman as Medusa (I know, right?), Pierce Brosnan as Chiron, Melina Kanakeredes as Athena, Kevin McKidd as Poseidon, and Sean Bean as Zeus. They're still looking for a Hades and probably annoyed Clash of the Titans nabbed Ralph Fiennes as theirs.

I share Peter Martin's doubts that this will be the next Potter (I think that's a one time thing), and I'm so-so on the story because it flouts mythological convention and gives the man-disdaining Athena a daughter. But I am a sucker for a lot of the cast members (especially McKidd and Bean), and the idea of McKidd and Keener being so overcome with passion that they flouted the decrees of the gods? That is the stuff Greek myths are made of, so who knows? It might be pretty fun.

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]]>Catherine KeenerCatherineKeenerChris ColumbusChrisColumbuskevin mckiddKevinMckiddlogan lermanLoganLermanmelina kanakaredesMelinaKanakaredespercy jacksonpercy jackson and the lightning thiefPercyJacksonPercyJacksonAndTheLightningThiefpierce brosnanPierceBrosnanrick riordanRickRiordanSean BeanSeanBeanUma ThurmanUmaThurmanElisabeth RappeFri, 17 Apr 2009 14:03:00 ESTUpdate: Exclusive Screengrab from New 'Harry Potter' Trailer!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/16/exclusive-screengrab-from-new-harry-potter-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/16/exclusive-screengrab-from-new-harry-potter-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/16/exclusive-screengrab-from-new-harry-potter-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Click below to enlarge image

UPDATE: Check out the new trailer below ...

Cinematical has just received this exclusive screengrab from the brand spanking new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer, which premieres online tonight at around 9pm EST over on AOL Moviefone. It's taken awhile for this latest Harry Potter installment to reach theaters (after the original release date was pushed from November '08 to July '09), but knowing the boy wizard and his wild cohorts, this sixth (!) adventure will definitely be worth the wait.

Directed by David Yates, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince finds friends Harry, Ron and Hermione a bit older, wiser and, well, more attracted to the opposite sex. As Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, our hero discovers a mysterious book that helps him learn more about the evil Lord Voldemort's dark past.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will arrive in conventional theaters and on IMAX screens on July 15, two days earlier than the previously scheduled July 17. Check out a larger version of the above image in our official Half-Blood Prince gallery below ... and make sure you tune in later on tonight for that new trailer.

Gallery: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince



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]]>cinematicaldaniel radcliffeDanielRadcliffefeaturedharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceErik DavisThu, 16 Apr 2009 21:31:00 EST'Half-Blood Prince' Release Date Moved Up!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/14/half-blood-prince-release-date-moved-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/14/half-blood-prince-release-date-moved-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/14/half-blood-prince-release-date-moved-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

No doubt you recall the dark days last August when Warner Bros. announced that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was being pushed from its Nov. 21, 2008, release date all the way back to July 17, 2009. Surely you still bear the emotional scars of those troubled times, and I apologize if my mentioning it has reopened old wounds.

But you will pleased to know that Warner Bros. has heard your plaintive weeping and done the honorable thing. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is being moved up -- all the way from July 17 to July 15! That's two whole days sooner that we'll get to see Harry, Henrietta, Rob, Haggard, Prof. Mumblecore and all the gang do battle with Vadermort!

Astute readers might notice that July 17 is a Friday, making July 15 a Wednesday. Those readers might also recall that pretty much ALL of the biggest summer blockbusters have been coming out on Wednesdays lately. Cynical readers might wonder why HPATH-BP was ever scheduled for a Friday in the first place, and if indeed it was the plan all along to "change" it to Wednesday as a means of drumming up a little extra publicity now, in April, when most people wouldn't be thinking about the movie otherwise.

To those readers I say: You're probably right. Still, good news. A Wednesday release date means it's really coming out late Tuesday night, at midnight, maybe even 10 p.m. No word yet on when the pirated copy will be avilable on the Internet.

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]]>featuredhalf-blood princeHalf-bloodPrinceharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceEric D. SniderTue, 14 Apr 2009 19:03:00 ESTFirst Image of Harry from 'Deathly Hallows'!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/09/first-image-of-harry-from-deathly-hallows/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/09/first-image-of-harry-from-deathly-hallows/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/09/first-image-of-harry-from-deathly-hallows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The first image of Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has surfaced online via The Daily Mirror. As seen above, the choppy image is a direct scan from the newspaper (and not the Mirror's website), so that's why the quality is so poor. However, what we do see is an aging wand-less Potter who appears sad and tired as he walks through a forest.

The caption from the Mirror's article reads as follows: "The mist thickens around wand-wielding Daniel Radcliffe in a forest scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The final film based on the JK Rowling books is expected to be released in November 2010 and become a worldwide hit. By then Daniel will be 21 but the magic of make-up will keep him a schoolboy for as long as it takes."

Check out the full image by clicking below. The first part of the much-anticipated two-part Harry Potter finale is scheduled to hit theaters on November 19, 2010.

Gallery: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows



[images via SnitchSeeker]

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]]>cinematicaldaniel radcliffeDanielRadcliffefeaturedharry potter and the deathly hallowsharry potter and the deathly hallows movie photosHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsMoviePhotosErik DavisMon, 09 Mar 2009 11:24:00 ESTDiscuss: The Action Flicks of 2009http://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/05/discuss-the-action-flicks-of-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/05/discuss-the-action-flicks-of-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/05/discuss-the-action-flicks-of-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So Erik-with-a-k covered the coming comedies of 2009, Scott was all over the horror picks (though his inclusion of Race to Witch Mountain still boggles my mind), Eric-with-a-c nabbed the family-friendly fare, and Elisabeth went over the geek fodder that awaits. But while I respect their calendar years and made-up math alike, I've opted to divide my list of 2009's action and adventure flicks into four categories: Action Flicks I Couldn't Care More About, Action Flicks I Couldn't Care Less About, Action Flicks That I Hope Surprise Me, and Those Which Fell In Between. Enjoy!

Action Flicks I Couldn't Care More About: First and foremost -- Watchmen (March 6th). It's one hell of a graphic novel and looks to be one hell of an adaptation (with or without the Giant Blank), but the only problem is it may not hit theaters on time if 20th Century Fox has anything to say about it. Both Fox and Warner Brothers are fighting over who actually owns the rights, and if a judge favors Fox comes January 20th (when the court date is set), we're looking at a delayed release and a whole ton of angry fans. Then there's Public Enemies (July 1st), which has me sold on not the subject matter, but sheer pedigree: Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp and Christian Bale as '30s gangsters. (It doesn't hurt that the earliest word ranges from damn good to great.) On the skimpier side, I can only hope that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17th) streamlines its source material as the previous one had, and I can only hope that Crank 2: High Voltage (April 17th) lives up/down to the depravity of its predecessor. There's one last action movie that I couldn't care more about because, well, I've already seen a version of it. The international cut of Taken (January 30th, though reportedly opening with some R-dodging trims) is about as brisk and butt-kicking as one might hope out of a man-on-a-mission kidnapping thriller, and if you disagree, I'll send Liam Neeson to change your mind.

Gallery: Watchmen

Continue reading Discuss: The Action Flicks of 2009

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]]>12 rounds12Rounds2009preview2012actionamanda peetAmandaPeetarmoredavatarbruce willisBruceWillischris evanschris pineChrisEvansChrisPinechristian baleChristianBaleclive owenCliveOwencrank 2crank 2 high voltageCrank2Crank2HighVoltagedaniel radcliffeDanielRadcliffedenzel washingtonDenzelWashingtondiane laneDianeLanedragonballdragonball evolutiondragonball zDragonballEvolutionDragonballZdwayne johnsonDwayneJohnsonfast and furiousfast and furious 4FastAndFuriousFastAndFurious4g.i. joeG.i.Joegamegerard butlerGerardButlerharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrincehugh jackmanHughJackmaninglorious bastardsIngloriousBastardsinglourious basterdsInglouriousBasterdsj.j. abramsJ.j.Abramsjames cameronJamesCameronjason stathamJasonStathamjohn cenajohn cusackjohn travoltaJohnCenaJohnCusackjohnny deppJohnnyDeppJohnTravoltajonathan mostowJonathanMostowkillshotland of the lostLandOfTheLostliam neesonLiamNeesonmatt dillonMattDillonmichael mannMichaelMannmickey rourkeMickeyRourkeneveldinetaylornext day airNextDayAirnimrod antalNimrodAntaloliver plattOliverPlattoutlanderpreview2009public enemiesPublicEnemiespushquentin tarantinoQuentinTarantinorace to witch mountainRaceToWitchMountainroland emmerichRolandEmmerichstar trekStarTrekstreet fighterStreetFightertakenterminatorterminator 4terminator salvationTerminator4TerminatorSalvationthe fast and the furiousthe internationalthe surrogatesthe taking of pelham one two threeTheFastAndTheFuriousTheInternationalTheSurrogatesTheTakingOfPelhamOneTwoThreetom tykwerTomTykwertony scottTonyScotttransformerstransformers 2Transformers2underworldunderworld rise of the lycansUnderworldRiseOfTheLycanswatchmenwolverinex-menx-men origins wolverineX-menOriginsWolverinezack snyderZackSnyderWilliam GossMon, 05 Jan 2009 22:02:00 ESTHoly 'Harry Potter' Movie Marathon!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/17/holy-harry-potter-movie-marathon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/17/holy-harry-potter-movie-marathon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/17/holy-harry-potter-movie-marathon/#commentsFiled under: , ,



So what are you doing this weekend? If you're in or around the New York City area and happen to be a Harry Potter nut, you can head on over to the legendary (and quite awesome, if I may say so myself) Ziegfeld Theatre to catch a marathon of all five Harry Potter films. One would think a promotion like this might be better off arriving, say, right before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on July 17, 2009, but perhaps this is for those fans who are still pissed the release date for Half-Blood Prince was pushed back eight months and, subsequently, are itching for a big-screen Potter fix.

Now, the actual Potter marathon -- in which all five films are screened in order of when they were released -- is only taking place on Friday, December 19th, Saturday, December 20th, and Sunday December 21st ... and those shows begin at 10am with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The screenings, however, will run through Wednesday, December 24th. You can purchase advance tickets over at the Clearview Cinemas website, and you can check out a complete schedule after the jump. Trust me when I tell you that the Ziegfeld Theatre absolutely rocks, and is definitely a prime spot for this sort of marathon.

Extra Bonus: For those who don't live near New York City, the Potter fan documentary We Are Wizards is now available via Amazon VOD to rent or buy (our review is here). Check it out.

Continue reading Holy 'Harry Potter' Movie Marathon!

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]]>cinematicalclearview cinemasClearviewCinemasharry potter and the half-blood princeharry potter marathonHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceHarryPotterMarathonwe are wizardsWeAreWizardsErik DavisWed, 17 Dec 2008 14:32:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Best Sequel Replacement Actorshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/04/cinematical-seven-best-sequel-replacement-actors/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/04/cinematical-seven-best-sequel-replacement-actors/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/04/cinematical-seven-best-sequel-replacement-actors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector in 'The Silence of the Lambs'

I'm hoping that Ray Stevenson will dominate the screen completely as Frank Castle, setting wrongs to right and creating utter mayhem, in Lexi Alexander's Punisher: War Zone, which opens wide tomorrow. I loved Stevenson as Titus Pullo in HBO's Rome, an atypical brute with a little boy's heart and a joyous young man's full-bodied embrace of life. At the very least, he should erase memories of Thomas Jane, who glowered and scowled without ever embodying the role in 2004's The Punisher.

With so many sequels being made, it's inevitable that some actors will not reprise their original role. (Just think of all the fuss kicked up by Don Cheadle taking over the part of War Machine from Terence Howard, in the Iron Man sequel.) Whether it's death, Broadway, pregnancy, caring for a family member, money, or the realization that the sequel will suck, sequel replacement actors face the daunting task of replacing a familiar face in the role of a beloved character.

History has not been kind, and while it would be easier to list the worst, we thought we'd be positive and list the best sequel replacement actors. (James Bond and superheroes need a separate list.) We're also noting the role and the actor that was replaced.

1. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox)

Brian Cox played the flesh-hungry Dr. Lecter in Michael Mann's Manhunter (1986) effectively, but Hopkins added a whole new layer when he took over the role five years later in The Silence of the Lambs. Hopkins pushed Lecter right to the edge of camp ("fava beans and a nice kee-anti") yet kept him firmly rooted at the edge of humanity with his probing eyes and ultra-controlled body language.

Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Best Sequel Replacement Actors

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]]>anthonhy hopkinsAnthonhyHopkinselisabeth shueElisabethShueharrison fordHarrisonFordjulianne mooreJulianneMoorekane hodderKaneHoddermaria belloMariaBellomichael gambonMichaelGambonpunisher war zonePunisherWarZonePeter MartinThu, 04 Dec 2008 22:03:00 ESTDiscuss: What Do You Think of the New Harry Potter Trailer?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/discuss-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-harry-potter-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/discuss-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-harry-potter-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/discuss-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-harry-potter-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



That's the new two-minute trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince below, which Warner Bros. is hoping will help stave off death threats from fans who are still resentful that the film was pushed back to next July from its original release date of next week. (Just think! If it weren't for that, you'd be seeing the film less than seven days from now!) We featured it earlier today in Trailer Park, but come on -- a Harry Potter trailer deserves special attention.



One thing that's notable is that there is no reference, not even a hint, to the Big Surprising Terrible Thing that occurs near the end of the book and that presumably also occurs in the movie. (Although it would be funny if it didn't happen in the movie. "Oh, yeah, So-and-So's death? Eh, we cut it. No room. Maybe in the next film.") It's not exactly a well-kept secret anymore -- hard to do that when the book has sold 65 million copies -- but I appreciate that the trailer keeps a lid on it for those who watch the movies but don't read the books.

For those who have read the book, though, the trailer has glimpses of things that surely relate to the Big Surprising Terrible Thing: a shot of Draco Malfoy looking panicked and sickly, a shot of Snape firing his wand, etc. The scenes of Death Eater attacks on London look great, and I hope the film makes full use of how scary that aspect of the story is. (Magical people fighting each other, meh. Magical people fighting each other and harming innocent bystanders, yikes!)

Continue reading Discuss: What Do You Think of the New Harry Potter Trailer?

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]]>harry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceEric D. SniderFri, 14 Nov 2008 17:02:00 ESTIndie Spotlight: New Releases for Nov. 14http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-nov-14/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-nov-14/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-nov-14/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's a light weekend at the multiplexes, with just one new wide release to take in. The good news there is that once you're done watching James Bond kill and/or sleep with people, you'll have plenty of time to head to the art houses and see what the independent scene has to offer. The Indie Spotlight is here to round 'em up for you, and there are nine diverse choices opening today: Bohica, A Christmas Tale, Dostana, The Dukes, Faded Memories, House of the Sleeping Beauties, How About You, Slumdog Millionaire, and We Are Wizards.

Here's the lowdown on each of them:

Slumdog Millionaire
What it is: It's the feel-good sensation of the year that has critics raving, that's what! It's about a kid from the streets of Mumbai who somehow makes it to the final round of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" -- and in particular about the events of his life that brought him there.
What they're saying: Cinematical's Kim Voynar called it Danny Boyle's best film to date when she reviewed it at Telluride. It's rocking a 92% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.2 out of 10, making it one of the best-reviewed movies of the year. If this movie doesn't make you feel good it must be because your heart is gnarly and cankered.
Where it's playing: New York City (Angelika, Lincoln Plaza), Los Angeles (The Landmark), Chicago (Landmark Century Centre, Century Evanston 18), San Francsico (Embarcadero).
More info: The official site has a list of when it opens in other cities. Expansion starts next week.

Continue reading Indie Spotlight: New Releases for Nov. 14

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]]>a christmas taleAChristmasTalebohicadostanafaded memoriesFadedMemoriesfeaturedhouse of the sleeping beautiesHouseOfTheSleepingBeautieshow about youHowAboutYouindie spotlightIndieSpotlightslumdog millionaireSlumdogMillionairethe dukesTheDukeswe are wizardsWeAreWizardsEric D. SniderFri, 14 Nov 2008 08:02:00 ESTPoll: Your Most Anticipated Blockbuster of 2009http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/poll-your-most-anticipated-blockbuster-of-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/poll-your-most-anticipated-blockbuster-of-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/poll-your-most-anticipated-blockbuster-of-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



Pretty soon, the studios will bring the full court press in terms of marketing their big 2009 blockbusters. We've already seen Warner Bros. and Paramount try to one-up each other with regards to pushing Watchmen and Star Trek, and I've heard debut trailers for X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Night at the Museum 2 are literally right around the corner. Angels & Demons has already shoveled out a teaser, and I'm sure Harry Potter is just waiting for all this Twilight nonsense to go away before he starts bringing the pain. As per usual, we're not even done with 2008, and yet all we seem to care about is 2009. Go figure.

We'll probably run this poll a couple of times prior to the real beginning of the season, but we're curious to see what your radar looks like a few months out. Not all of these films have begun their big push yet, but it'll be interesting to see which ones are your most anticipated based on the very little we've seen so far. Below are, in our opinion, the 18 biggest blockbusters of 2009. If we left off your favorite, feel free to write her in down below. (Oh, and that's an image of my most anticipated blockbuster of 2009 up top.)

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]]>angels demonsAngelsDemonscinematicalharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrincenight at the museum 2NightAtTheMuseum2star trekStarTrekwatchmenx-men origins wolverineX-menOriginsWolverineErik DavisWed, 12 Nov 2008 12:10:00 ESTNew 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Trailer!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/26/new-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/26/new-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/26/new-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



A brand spanking new international trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has hit the internets, and since the voiceover uses the words "This year ...", one assumes this is an older trailer or one that wasn't meant to arrive until some point in 2009. Nevertheless, there's some new footage here -- some darkness, some romance, some running, some magic and a whole lotta fire. You'll remember how Half-Blood Prince was supposed to come out in just a couple of weeks from now, until Warner Bros. decided to pull a fast one and push the film's release date all the way back to July 17, 2009. With Potter and his cronies out of the way, the teen vamp flick Twilight moved up and has been trying to swipe whatever Potter thunder was left lingering. While Twilight may now own November, this new Potter trailer proves the boy wizard ain't exactly ready to give up his top spot on the teen fantasy totem pole just yet.

Check it out and let us know what you think.



Gallery: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedhalf-blood prince trailerHalf-bloodPrinceTrailerharry potterharry potter and the half-blood prince trailerHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceTrailerErik DavisSun, 26 Oct 2008 15:22:00 ESTIs Iconic Poster Artist Drew Struzan Retiring?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/06/is-iconic-poster-artist-drew-struzan-retiring/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/06/is-iconic-poster-artist-drew-struzan-retiring/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/06/is-iconic-poster-artist-drew-struzan-retiring/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

In a world where Don LaFontaine will no longer lend his voice to any trailers, and where floating heads and Photoshop skills are what passes for the 'art' in 'poster art', the prospect of Drew Struzan's retirement is almost too much to bear. The guys over at Ain't It Cool News got the initial news from TheRaider.net, and they get the fact that this makes the sun shine just that much less in this industry of ours.

In a message posted there, Struzan said: "Having been working at not working has produced a guy who could never return to illustration again. It took a lot to attempt the idea of retiring from my 40 years of effort and sacrifice but now that I have, I am delighting in life as never before. I had forgotten how to rest, to smell the proverbial roses and to see the future as opportunity. I am grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to do all the work I did. I am well pleased to have been able to give a gift of beauty and peace through my artwork to so many throughout the world. Now I have laid down the burden and have peace and happiness as the reward for my day's labor."

AICN aptly directs readers to Struzan's official site, and even if they hadn't, I'd advise the same course of action in an attempt to appreciate what iconic images he crafted a career out of.

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]]>drew struzanDrewStruzanharry potterHarryPotterpans labyrinthPansLabyrinthstar warsStarWarsthe mistthe thingTheMistTheThingWilliam GossSat, 06 Sep 2008 11:02:00 ESTNew Calendar Images from 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/26/new-images-from-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/26/new-images-from-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/26/new-images-from-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



Alejandro Martínez over at BlogHogwarts has sent us a bunch of images from the just-released Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince calender. I know, it's hard to get excited about anything associated with a movie we won't see until July, but a calender can help alleviate your pain by giving you a little dose of Harry Potter all through 2009. Right? Ok, maybe not. You have to hand it to Warner Bros -- of all the franchises to be delayed, none works so well as Harry Potter. It doesn't matter that we don't know the film incarnations of the characters, because we've been living with the Half Blood cast for years on the page. When you think of it that way, all this badly timed merchandise doesn't seem so ridiculous. There's some very cool stills here that I wish was bigger, particularly the troubled Draco Malfoy you can glimpse below. I've enlarged it, but at the cost of the quality -- if someone shells the bucks out for this (I'm looking at you, Emma Watson fans), feel free to send big scans along for your Cinematical friends.






Continue reading New Calendar Images from 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince'

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]]>Daniel RadcliffeDanielRadcliffeEmma WatsonEmmaWatsonHarry PotterHarry Potter and the Half Blood PrinceHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrinceRupert GrintRupertGrintWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeTue, 26 Aug 2008 13:03:00 ESTLatest James Bond Flick Bumped Back a Weekhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/21/latest-james-bond-flick-bumped-back-a-week/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/21/latest-james-bond-flick-bumped-back-a-week/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/21/latest-james-bond-flick-bumped-back-a-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In what appears to be part of a most thorough campaign to botch Entertainment Weekly's Fall Movie Preview, a recent press release wholly admits that the North American opening of the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, back from November 7th to the 14th marks an effort to capitalize on last week's sudden Harry Potter shift.

Although the removal of the 007th from any coming marketing blitz sure is a shame, it does place this film closer to the release of its predecessor, Casino Royale, which opened on November 17, 2006 to the tune of almost $600 million worldwide. Solace will still premiere in the United Kingdom on October 31.

For those keeping track at home, this now leaves Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and the just now shifted Paul Rudd comedy Role Models on November 7th, and the 14th is now between Bond, Baz Luhrmann's epic drama Australia, and Bernie Mac's final film, Soul Men.

Now, think fast! When does Something of Boris open again?!

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]]>daniel craigDanielCraigjames bondJamesBondmadagascar escape 2 africaMadagascarEscape2Africaquantum of solaceQuantumOfSolacerole modelsRoleModelsWilliam GossThu, 21 Aug 2008 19:33:00 ESTFanboy Bites: New Harry Potter Trailer and Fassbender Wants 'Inglorious Bastards'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/20/fanboy-bites-new-harry-potter-trailer-and-fassbender-wants-ing/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/20/fanboy-bites-new-harry-potter-trailer-and-fassbender-wants-ing/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/20/fanboy-bites-new-harry-potter-trailer-and-fassbender-wants-ing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



It's a lonely day in the neighborhood ....

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: I'm not sure whether Warner Bros. was prepared for the ridiculous fanboy (and girl) backlash that came with pushing the film's release date back several months to the middle of July, 2009, though it looks like they've re-grouped, dusted themselves off and are preparing to get that marketing machine up and running again. Following a statement from Warners chief Alan Horn (included after the jump) comes word from our friends at Bloghogwarts that Warner Bros. has sent in a new trailer (marked at a minute and a half) to the BBFC for approval. Could this be the studio's version of make-up sex? (PG rated make-up sex, of course.) Only time will tell ...

Inglorious Bastards: These days, when it comes to the cast of Quentin Tarantino's WWII flick Inglorious Bastards, nothing is set in stone (or badass, motherf**king stone, as QT would say). Thus, we want to be real careful about this latest news (via Variety) that Michael Fassbender is "in talks" to join the ensemble cast. Note that he's "in talks", as were a few other guys (Simon Pegg, David Krumholtz, though the latter is still mentioned by the trade) before they dropped out. Though they don't say who he'd be playing, the German-speaking actor would most likely take on the role of badass motherf**king Nazi in charge of total damage ... which sounds about right to me. Fassbender, of course, is best known for his role as Stelios in 300, and is still set to appear opposite Abbie Cornish in Wuthering Heights.

Continue reading Fanboy Bites: New Harry Potter Trailer and Fassbender Wants 'Inglorious Bastards'

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]]>cinematicalharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceinglorious bastardsIngloriousBastardsmichael fassbenderMichaelFassbenderquentin tarantinoQuentinTarantinoErik DavisWed, 20 Aug 2008 20:02:00 EST