Movie Movies and Movie News

Movies Opening This Week (January 18^th)

Last Stand

Mama

Broken City

Luv

New Previews

The Call

The Last Exorcism

42

To the Wonder

First, It’s award season. Here’s the good news.

Check out all of the Oscar Nominations here. 

Today it’s been 5 years since Heath Ledger’s death. Can you believe it? This is my favorite scene from 10 Things I Hate About You.

Alfonso Cuarón's 'Gravity' Finally Set for an October 2013 Release

If you've seen Alfonso Cuarón's excellent Children of Men - and really, all of you should - you should be just as excited as we are about his follow-up project, Gravity. The sci-fi movie stars Sandra Bullockand George Clooney as two astronauts who experience a catastrophe in space. The film relies heavily on visual effects, and early rumors suggested that the movie will even open with a 20 minute long take. So yes, we're pretty damn stoked about it. After delaying it from its original November 2012 calendar spot, The Playlist has noticed that Warner Bros has officially set an October 4th, 2013 release date for the anticipated film. Click to read more.

Anne Hathaway to Star in New 'Taming of the Shrew' Film Adaptation

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is one of the playwright's most famous works, having been adapted for film as far back as 1908 when the first movie version was directed by D.W. Griffith. Those who never read Shakespeare in school might recognize the story from the 1967 Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton film, or the modern update in 99's 10 Things I Hate About You, which starred a few of Hollywood's biggest future stars. Now The Wrap reports that another young Hollywood A-lister, Anne Hathaway, is in talks to play a lead role in a new modern adaptation of the play from screenwriter Abi Morgan (Shame). Clickto read more.

Warner Bros. is Taking Homer's Classic 

Tale 'The Odyssey' to Space

The classic Greek epic The Odyssey, Homer's follow-up writing to the equally famous tale of The Illiad(which was already turned into the Brad Pitt led film Troy), is getting a Hollywood makeover at Warner Bros. Deadline reports James DiLapo, a fresh graduate from NYU, has been hired to write this adaptation of the tale that will take the action to space. DiLapo might be a newcomer, but his first script, Devils at Play, won the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' Nicholl Fellowship for screenwriters. In addition, that same script made the Black List at the end of last year, so this guy knows what he's doing. Read more here.

Universal Confirms June 2014 Release Date for 'Jurassic Park IV' 3D!

 2014 just got a lot more prehistoric. Out of nowhere this Friday evening, Universal has confirmed a release date, and nothing else, for the long-rumored, long-delayed sequel Jurassic Park IV. We've been hearing about this one for nearly as long this site has been in existence, and most recently we expected that it was completely dead. But now official Jurassic Park pages on Facebook and Twitter are confirming the news, stating: "Just announced! Jurassic Park 4 is coming to theaters on June 13, 2014!" It looks like it's real and happening - but Steven Spielberg will only be producing it, not directing. At least according to reports. Readthe story here. 

A Capella

Recently I’ve discovered how cool a capella music can be. It’s something that I wish I was able to do, but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Not only is this a capella but it’s a mash up too. I love it. If you haven’t seen this movie, Pitch Perfect, you should!

This is from that competition called the Sing Off. These boys are from Utah. Even if you are not a fan of the song you have to give them credit. Wait until you get to the key change.

I have always liked this song. Book of Love.

Both Sides

Snowfall

The time of year, the air turns cold, rain becomes snow.
Small snowflakes, large snowflakes.
White specks fill the sky, gently falling to the ground.
Day or night, disappear to reappear.
Snowfall, light or heavy, layer upon layer.
Snow covered tree branches.
Everything covered under a blanket of snow.
The wind begins to blow, wind driven snow; swirling, blowing, drifting snow.
Snowdrifts sculpted by the wind, what's hidden underneath.
The snow subsides, the forest still, so cold, so bright.
Outside at night at times so bright under a moonlight sky until the mornings' dawn.

The mornings' frost upon the ground, among the branches of the trees.
Like stars that sparkle in the sky.
Soon to disappear, to reappear on yet another day.

During the day, sun cast shadows across the surface of the snow.
To disappear, reappear as the sun travels across the sky.
In time the snow becomes dry, soiled, weathered; until covered by new fallen snow.

The snow being silent witness to that which passes through.
Freezing, thawing until the air turns warm, when the snow becomes rain.
The snow will disappear, for it is the time of year. 

Alvin Schaut

This is a really nice poem but I have a confession to make. I am deathly afraid of driving in the snow. I grew up in Utah, I learned to drive in Utah, and I still live in Utah. You would think I would feel more comfortable driving my car during the winter months. Not even close. I am terrified I am going to take out a stop sign. I am afraid of sliding and hitting another car.  Yes I am the type of driver that usually makes other people on the road very angry because I drive so slowly. I drive like an old lady and I am not ashamed. Now, for your enjoyment:

Weekly Movie 411

Movies Opening This Week

A Haunted House

Gangster Squad

Quartet

Promised Land

Struck By Lightening

New Trailers

Dead Man Down

Ginger and Rosa

Unfinished Song 

Scary Movie 5

Video: What About Bob-Sailing

The Potential Superhero Line-Up for 'Justice League' Now Revealed?

It's 2013, which means this is finally the year for Superman to rise to the big screen again in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (watch the most recent stunning trailer right here). That also means we'll finally know whether or not Snyder's take on The Big Blue Boy Scout will be the same version taking to the skies along with the superhero ensemble Justice League, which Warner Bros is still hoping to release in 2015. Well, someone at Cosmic Book News has a source at DC Entertainment that has revealed a few details on the superhero line-up that will be used. It's basically the line-up that everyone would expect from DC Comics. Read On.

Michael Keaton Wanted to Make a Third Batman Movie as a Prequel

By now many Batman fans have taken to writing off Tim Burton's first dark, successful adaptation of DC Comics' hero because of Christopher Nolan's more successful and critically acclaimed trilogy with Christian Bale. However, Batman and Batman Returns deserve a little more credit than they've been given for making comic book films more acceptable to audiences and also giving them a much less fantastical style and presence in cinema. Part of that success was the surprisingly good casting ofMichael Keaton as Bruce Wayne, and for those who aren't aware, he was going to team with Burton for a third film before it fell apart and Warner Bros. decided to go in a different (and terrible direction) with Joel Schumacher. Read on!

Maggie Gyllenhaal to Sing with Fassbender in Rock Comedy 'Frank'

While Michael Fassbender has taken on a good mix of serious projects and blockbusters since his ascent to the A-list, we're very curious about Frank, his upcoming attempt to step into more comedic territory. We don't know much about the film so far aside from the fact that it stars Domhall Gleeson (Bill Weasley from the Harry Potter series) as a young musician who joins a band full of crazy performers, with Fassbender as the wild title character who is the frontman of the group. Now Varietyhas a bit more info as they're reporting The Dark Knight star Maggie Gyllenhaal has just signed on as Frank's sidekick. Read More Here

Legendary's 'Godzilla' Getting a Darabont Rewrite & New Producers

While we anxiously await Guillermo del Toro's Godzilla-esque monsters movie this summer, Pacific Rim, there's an update on the Godzilla front that doesn't sound too good. I'm referring to Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros new Godzilla movie, scheduled for 2014 with Monsters director Gareth Edwards at the helm, teased at Comic-Con last year. Last we heard in October, Drew Pearce was being brought on to rewrite Max Borenstein's script. Now Deadline has confirmed a report from HitFix that two producers, Dan Lin and Roy Lee, are being ousted by the studio and instead, they've brought on the Frank Darabont for a rewrite. Click here to read more.

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT GETS LEAD ROLE IN 'SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR'

Though Johnny Depp had once been rumored for a part in the long-gestating sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, his role has been taken by another big name instead. Deadline has word that The Dark Knight Rises and Looper star Joseph Gordon-Levitt is taking the role of Johnny, one of the core characters in the ensemble graphic novel adaptation. The sequel is already in production and Gordon-Levitt will shoot his role sometime this month. This means Gordon-Levitt will reunite with Bruce Willis, who Deadline says is returning for the comic book sequel along with Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson and Jessica Alba. Read More Here.

"Les Miserables" Star Samantha Barks in Talks for 'Walking on Sunshine'

Click here to read the story or visit the IMDB page.

Sunday Social 31

1.Do you plan to change any of your eating habits in the new year?

I want to eat more fruits and veggies.

Eating Less Fast Food.

We all still need a good hamburger or treat every once in a while, right?

2. Any workout tips to get us back in shape after the Holidays?

Work in Weight/Strength Training with your cardio. It’ll help you tone up and help strengthen your bones.

3. What is your favorite thing you did over the Holidays?

We went to Denver to visit my sister which was way fun, but I also finally got to see Les Miserables.

4. What is something you hope that you accomplish in 2013 that                         you did not in 2012?

Find me a guy!

My cousin’s little girl, she is 6 or 7, was visiting over the holidays. She asked me how old I was and if I had a boyfriend. I told her that I didn’t. She was confused and said that people my age usually have a boyfriend. Story of my life. 

5. Name 3 things happening this year you are excited about and why.

1) My sister is having baby No. 3 and she is due in March.

Bianca and Henry are getting a new baby sister! Love them!

2) Taylor Swift is coming to Salt Lake City and I really want to find tickets.

3) I am a bit obsessed but there are some stage productions I would love to go see.

Jersey Boys in Salt Lake

Over the Summer The OutdoorTuacahn Theater is putting on

                             And Brian Regan. I would love to see him live!

And an unofficial number 4-The Second Annual Crook Refunion in Colorado. I can’t wait for the whole family to get together. 

They Walk Among Us

I hope these brighten your day!

Taking Action

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. 

Pablo Picasso 

The beginning of the year is a great time to think about our goals and aspirations and to have a fresh start on life. This is the time of year we hear people talk about losing weight, eating healthy, or going to the gym. But I want to point out that our goals can encompass so much more. Our goal could be to save up and buy something we’ve always wanted, doing something extreme that we would never normally do, or going on vacation to see a place where we have never been before.

For example, on Sunday I heard a great story. It was probably the silliest thing I’d ever heard but it was also weirdly inspiring.  At church, one of the talks/messages was about setting goals. B, the kid speaking, told us a story that was admittedly embarrassing for him. B had had this strange dream/goal since he was a little boy. B wanted to be beat up by Jackie Chan. B, wanted to learn how to be stunt man. So did he just talk about doing dangerous tricks and stunts? No. B and a couple of his friends saved up enough money to attend a stunt man school in Washington. B and his friends sacrificed. They lived a room with only one bed and every night they would rotate who slept on the floor, and who got to enjoy the bed. B had the motivation to work and accomplish his goal and make it a reality. I really admire that.

It makes me wonder what I could get done this year if I sat down and made a plan to accomplish some of my goals. Could I save enough money to take that trip to New York. Decrease the time it takes to run a mile? Find more opportunities to play or perform music? 

 I recently read an article that lists 7 ways to help you make goals that result in real change.

1. Dream Big

Most of us only accomplish small things because we don’t dream big. We settle for less. We are content with the status quo. Don’t just imagine yourself a little better than you are now, imagine the way you should be. Who do you want to become? Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? Answer these questions and then go make it happen. Do the impossible.

2. Be specific.

Dreams give us a vision for the future, but they won’t happen without a plan for today.  In addition in knowing where we want to head, we need to be specific about what to do next. Setting the goal of losing weight won’t work. We have to change our lifestyles. Instead of saying, “I need to exercise more,” your goal could be, “I will go to the YMCA at 6:00am on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays before work and run.” Being specific makes it harder to let yourself off the hook.

3. Be incremental.

In addition to having a bigger goal, determine steps that you can take to get there. If your goal is to run a marathon, but you haven’t run in years, the distance of 26.2 miles seems to great. Gradually build up to the distance by first getting in shape for a 3 mile race. Then build up to 5 miles followed by a half marathon. Then getting ready for a marathon is an easier task. Setting your goals in stages will give you confidence through early success and prepare you to take on the bigger distances. 

4. Use a timeframe.

Goals without  a deadline are a set up for failure. Deadlines keep us on track. They help us to make sure we are making progress. They give us an extra motivator, a sense of urgency. Would you ever have finished a term paper if your teacher hadn’t given you a deadline? Instead of saying that you want to write a book, be sure to develop a timeframe fore each step. Set a goal of writing an outline by the end of the week. Write the first chapter by the end of January. The second chapter in February and so on. Eventually you will have written a book.

5. Constantly revise.

Our resolutions often fail because we are not flexible. We set a goal and then when we do not achieve it, we feel like a failure. Instead of viewing our goals from a  black and white perspective, see it as a process that constantly needs to be refined. The end goal may need to change. The means we use may be different. The timeframe may be off. It is not a failure to change our goals, but it is a failure to not make them.

6. Be accountable.

If you have a close friend you can trust, it is also helpful to tell them about your vision and resolutions so that they can help keep you on track. Accountability only works, though if you make yourself vulnerable. Be honest. Be humble. Be open. Knowing that you will have coffee with a friend next week will help you make better decisions today.

7. Develop a review process.

Establish a system to constantly evaluate your progress. Go over each specific goal and the steps you are taking to get there. Are you keeping up? What can you do to help yourself get there? What needs to change? Do this weekly, quarterly, and of course yearly.

Goals are valuable. They give us clarity and help us to know what direction we want to head.