PATERSON

Jim Jarmusch's Paterson is a special kind of inspirational film. While many movies of the same class motivate you to live a better life; take care of the people you love; or have appreciation for what you have,Paterson is a story that calls to everyone's inner artist and begs them to let that side of them out. It's a powerful piece of work that amounts to not just one of the greatest titles of Jarmusch's career, but one of the best films of 2016.

Based on an original screenplay by Jarmusch, Paterson is a name shared by both the film's lead and its setting, centering on a bus driver named Paterson (Adam Driver) as he lives out a literal week-in-the-life in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. Inspired by his hero William Carlos Williams, Paterson is a poet in his spare time, and while he constantly hesitates sharing his work - despite insistence from his live-in-girlfriend, Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) -- it is clearly what drives him through the repetitive nature of his day-to-day existence. He's constantly scribbling in a little book kept in his pocket, inspired to write by his love for Laura and the beautiful town in which he lives, though through the events of the film he's forced to face the question of what it means to express himself as an artist and the vitality of revealing his passion to the world.

Many fans of Jim Jarmusch's body of work will find a lot of familiar themes and ideas in Paterson, from the influence of poetry to twins to (funny enough) repetition -- but it doesn't in any way feel like a greatest hits album. Instead, it feels almost like a culmination, and, in so being, a call to arms for artists everywhere. The movie is as much about repression as it is about expression, pulling into focus the consequences of a life without that essential freedom, and by extension feels very much like a beautiful articulation of who Jarmusch is as an artist himself.

In the film, this is best illustrated through the arcs of both Paterson and Laura: both artists, but also very different in their approach to their work. As we see each day throughout the week-long narrative, Paterson's poetry and his everyday life are two things that are kept mutually exclusive -- his pen operating in moments of solitude, but no part of the conversation as he visits his favorite watering hole and makes small-talk with the chess-loving bartender (Barry Shabaka Henley) and a pair of lovers on the outs (Chasten Harmon and William Jackson Harper).

In contrast, Laura's day is spent fully immersed in her art, painting her favorite black and white patterns wherever she can, and fully indulging every exciting impulse she comes across -- including baking specialty cupcakes and dreams of becoming a guitar-playing country music star. She's flighty in her pursuits, but commits herself fully to them, and is taken through a fascinating arc in the story as a result, right alongside Paterson.

These two very different characters present special and significant challenges to the actors playing them, but both Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani do magnificent work bringing Paterson and Laura to life in vibrant and fascinating ways. In the case of the former, an extension of Paterson's stifled artistic expression is that he's also a stoic, which presents its own issues as far as connecting with him as a protagonist. That being said, it's a roadblock Driver overcomes with a divine subtlety in his performance -- as while he may demonstrate it to the world, you can sense his zeal and passion physically as he takes in the world around him and filters it into his poetry. Laura is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum, as her ambitiousness and capriciousness earn a certain level of contempt -- particularly when she gets her boyfriend to pay for a specialty guitar with his money from driving the city bus. But not only does Jim Jarmusch's script provide redemption, Farahani plays her with such spritely and charismatic energy that you not only understand Paterson's feelings for Laura, but ultimately root for her as well. These are roles that demanded a great deal, but they are perfectly cast.

Of course, Jim Jarmusch has always been as great a director as he is a writer, and with his lens he exposes what it was that so greatly inspired William Carlos Williams in the creation of his most famous epic poem. This includes not only the stunning photography of The Great Falls of the Passaic River, which Paterson regularly uses as a backdrop in his writing time, but even just in the poetry-narrated montages as the protagonist drives his bus around the small New Jersey city. It's methodical, specific, and beautiful filmmaking, and while it admittedly requires a certain level of patience on behalf of the audience, Patersonreally is one of the writer/director's great triumphs.

One could argue that the film flirts with pretension, and needs an audience with an open-mind to more poetic expression - but those who are game will be treated to what is a tremendous piece of art about the importance of art, and within that it's universal. Like most Jim Jarmusch films, it will likely get totally overlooked by mainstream audiences; but also like most Jim Jarmusch films, it's absolutely worth hunting down for any passionate cinephile.

RATING: 

FENCES (review)

FENCES (REVIEW)

Fences is unapologetically theatrical, in everything from its truly towering performances to its scant settings, elongated structure, and heavy use of metaphors and drama.

Considering that it's an adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, with its screenplay having been written posthumously by Wilson before he died in 2005, and is directed by and stars Denzel Washington, who won a Tony in 2010 for his portrayal as Troy Maxson, it's understandable whyFences is so loyal to its source material.

It's also exactly what sets Fencesapart as such an idiosyncratic drama compared to its cinematic peers. But, at the same time, there are also moments where the drama feels heavy-handed and overzealous, especially with Denzel Washington's hammy direction. More of that later, though. Because while Denzel Washington's direction might leave a little to be desired, his acting has never been more relentless and fierce. But even that pales in comparison to his co-star Viola Davis, who is able to wrestle Fencesaway from Denzel to deliver a truly tour-de-force portrayal as the proud stoic housewife, Rose Maxson.

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) is a loud and overly proud waste collector who works alongside his best friend Jim Bono (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and lives at home with his wife Rose (Viola Davis) and their son Cory (Jovan Adepo). Over the course of the first act, we're also introduced to his estranged son from a previous relationship Lyons Maxson (Russell Hornsby) and his older brother Gabe Maxson (Mykelti Williamson), who received a severe head injury in World War II that has left him mentally impaired. But it's between Troy and Cory that the main conflict resides, as Cory's burgeoning college football career is hampered by Troy, who believes that he failed to achieve a career in Major League Baseball because of the color of his skin.

Fences' trailer does a stunning job of highlighting its many, many, truly glorious positives. There's a rat-a-tat-tat to the dialogue that means it zings by, and even leaves you struggling to keep up at times, while Washington and Davis fill up the screen with a power and ferocity that you just can't take your eyes off of. In an age where trailers often ruin or dampen the impact of a film's best scenes, it says a lot about Fencesthat the two most eye-catching scenes that bookmark its trailer (Washington's "like you" and Davis' "standing with you" speeches) are even more impactful when placed within context of the film.

Viola Davis and Denzel Washington are able to blend the ruthlessness of boxing with the elegance of ballet when they're going toe-to-toe together on screen, as they throw everything that they've got at each other knowing that they other can withstand it, before then ducking, diving, and allowing room for their co-star to shine. They're vivid, unsentimental, and able to ramp the performances all the way up to 11 without it coming across as over-acting or contrived.

It also helps that August Wilson's script is littered with an explosion of conflict and drama that explores and confronts the human condition in a no-nonsense, almost seismic manner. First and foremost, you get a real sense of the human damage caused by institutionalized racism in the United States, something that feels deeply prescient. But at the same time Wilson's script dives deep into themes of discontent, pride, family, responsibility, stubbornness, money, and satisfaction, all with the quaint Americana of a Bruce Springsteen song. One scene right at the end of Fences even made me realize that, as much as anything, it's about sports retirement and being unable to relive the glory days.

Unfortunately, Denzel Washington is unable to add to or take Fences up another echelon with his direction. While he spends most of the time keeping the camera still and allowing the performances to do the work for him, any directorial flourishes he shows feel forced and take away from the moment. There's a run-of-the-mill musical montage, and one particular shot of a rose dropping down to the ground made me duck for cover for fear of being knocked unconscious by the metaphor.

That's the only disappointment withFences. Because even though it's out of its natural theatrical habitat,Fences is a rousing celebration of drama and acting at its finest. Denzel Washington stuns, Viola Davis proves she's one of the greatest of her generation, while Fences is such a captivating and bruising cinematic gut-punch that it will make you a glutton for punishment.

RATING: 

HIDDEN FIGURES (review)

HIDDEN FIGURES (REVIEW)

Ted Melfi's Hidden Figures is exactly the kind of movie you think that it is, based on the trailers and TV spots. It's a sentimental, inspirational crowd pleaser lifted from the glossed-over corners of our nation's history books, telling a true tale of underdogs overcoming adversity to accomplish something extraordinary. Only,Hidden Figures is an excellent example of this specific type of film, an exceptional film bolstered by sensational performances that stands apart from soft and simple biopic pap because it wrestles complicated social issues to the ground and sets its lessons to a winning beat of original Pharrell Williams tunes. In general, everything about Hidden Figures works, and it all works very, very well.

Set during the tense and turbulent days of the Space Race being waged between NASA, the United States and our international rivals overseas,Hidden Figures spotlights three African-American women who helped move mountains behind the scenes as our nation's top minds worked to orbit John Glenn (Glen Powell) around the Earth. We are shown a young Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) testing off of the charts in her early education classes, meaning she'd be a no-brainer asset for NASA's space program. Only, obviously, Katherine and her colleagues are African-American, and segregation trumps education during these divided times.

Toiling alongside Katherine Johnson -- and facing their own work-related hurdles -- are Dorothy Vaughan (portrayed by the stoic and patient Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (played by feisty newcomer Janelle Monae). The former, despite years of on-the-job dedication, can't seem to qualify for a managerial position at NASA, for which she's practically overqualified. The latter is pursuing a degree in engineering, but has to wage war in the legal system to simply earn the right to attend classes for which she's more than prepared to dominate.

Melfi spends enough time with these ladies to keep us invested in the outcomes of their struggles, but the bulk of Hidden Figures is dedicated to Katherine Johnson. And to borrow a celestial analogy apropos of the story, Taraji P. Henson holds court like a planet around which everyone else in Hidden Figures orbits, attracted by the gravitational pull of her dramatic intensity. I don't watchEmpire, but Hidden Figuresconvinced me to start giving it a try. Henson is spectacular here, plugging into the wide range of emotions needed to illustrate the steps of Katherine's realistically complicated journey. First, she's a woman, trying to succeed in the brainy Boys' Club that is NASA in the 1960s. Second, she's a Black woman trying to carve her niche in a segregated nation. Melfi tries to round out Katherine's calculated personality by giving her a love interest (Moonlight's Mahershala Ali), but it's unnecessary. Everything we really need out ofHidden Figures happens in the hallways and offices of NASA as Katherine helps crunch numbers to get John Glenn into orbit and back.

In this effort, Henson is met by two white, male actors counterbalancing her uphill battle. Big Bang star Jim Parsons brings a shade of that nerdy character to Hidden Figures to play a colleague who doubts Katherine's abilities... until he doesn't. The meatier part goes to Kevin Costner, who's "boss" character is a composite of several real scientists at NASA, which Costner molds into a warm gel of support and superiority, pushing Katherine to be the best that she can be. Hidden Figures is at its absolute best when Henson and Costner bubble their conflict to a boiling point and argue about where Katherine spends the bulk of her time... racing across NASA's campus to use a Colored's Only restroom. It's a Movie Star scene, and they each give Movie Star performances in it. I wouldn't be stunned if that scene, alone, earns them Oscar nominations.

The rest of Hidden Figures falls in line, pushing the right buttons and pulling the right strings to deliver a winning, crowd-pleasing historical drama that's American in its unabashed pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps and overcome tone and mentality. Again, it's probably exactly the type of movie that you think that it is. Only, it's better at being that type of movie than you probably expected.

RATING: 

UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS (review)

UNDERWORLD :BLOOD WARS REVIEW

For over a decade, Sony's Screen Gems imprint has been known for two go-to horror franchises: Resident Evil and Underworld. Both have extremely dedicated leading women, and have slowly but surely diminished in returns, ultimately wearing out their welcome. With Resident Evil: The Final Chapterheading to theaters at the end of this month, one lame franchise will be put out of its misery, leaving Underworldall of the room to suck. And boy, does Underworld: Blood Wars prove that there's still a fair amount of suck left in this franchise.

Selene (Kate Beckinsale) has gone through a lot since the firstUnderworld film. She's turned her back on her own kind, lost her lover, and hidden her own child away for her own protection. And yet, that doesn't seem to be quite enough, as a new Lycan militant, Marius (Tobias Menzies) is hell bent on capturing Selene to find the location of her daughter - the only hybrid Lycan / Vampire in the world. Allied with her vampire kin once more, she'll have to fight harder than she's ever fought before, becoming something entirely different to face the challenges ahead.

Don't worry if you haven't seen any of the Underworld films, as Underworld: Blood Wars will catch you up to speed on the events of the previous films in Selene's story. Multiple times, in fact, as the film uses not only a monologue that dumps a ton of exposition at the head of the picture, but also through several "genetic memory" sequences that see characters drinking blood to view one's life history, or to prove one's identity is in fact as they claim. If only there were some sort of drink that could have summed up the events of Underworld: Blood Warswithout having to sit for the hour and a half to watch it, as I would have vastly preferred that method.

Omitting the clips from previous films, Underworld: Blood Wars barely makes the cut as a feature film, with a story so thin you'd think it was allergic to ultraviolet lights and script editing. Which would normally mean that the action quotient of the film would try and somehow make up for whatever was lacking in the narrative department. Here's whereUnderworld: Blood Wars lets us down again, as the action is incredibly pedestrian, playing it safe with the usual shoot outs, slo-mo, and hand to hand combat that action films trade in. So with a lackluster story, and abysmal action, just what is there to show up for with Underworld: Blood Wars?

Well, as per usual, a good number of the cast members assembled to take part in the latest Underworld film are too good for this drek, and you can see it in their attempts to elevate the material they're given. Franchise newcomer Lara Pulver, she ofSherlock fame, happens to be an interesting frenemy to Kate Beckinsale's Selene. Also giving it all they've got is respected actor, and generally pleasant presence Charles Dance, whose Thomas actually makes you want to pay attention to what's going on in the film. It's actually Dance's absence through parts of this film that sinksUnderworld: Blood Wars', and that's keeping in mind that franchise lead Beckinsale is absent for a good portion of the film, particularly through the second act and climactic battle.

If the Underworld franchise was ever any good, that era has long since past. These films have gone from cult joy to guilty pleasure to just plain stupid, and Underworld: Blood Warsis the film that's brought the entire endeavor to the station of stultifying shame. Oh, and pay no mind to the trailers that keep teasing "Every Blood Line Must End," as the film promises at least one more entry on the way. Please, Sony, end this franchise while you still can. Let's hope Resident Evil: The Final Chaptercan somehow outdo this static piece of garbage that barely qualifies as a horror and/or action movie, as well as a movie in general.

THE X-MEN TV SERIES COULD BE HAPPENING SOONER THAN WE THOUGHT

If you're a comic book fan or merely someone who has paid a minimal amount of attention to the summer blockbuster schedule, you know that Marvel's X-Men universe has maintained its mostly steady film franchise for 17 years now. But the time may finally soon come for the mutant heroes (and their foes) to take over the small screen for some live-action adventures, as Fox CEO and Chairman Gary Newman delivered an incredibly positive update at this year's TCA concerning the network's in-development X-Men series from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix.

We're deep into development on that.. We're expecting a script shortly. The materials we've seen so far have been very, very promising. Development across the board this year is a little slower than usual, so we're not, unfortunately, ready to make an announcement about it, but we're very encouraged.

That's seemingly as optimistic as news could possibly get from Fox's head honcho, and though we know that higher-up execs aren't always the most dependable when it comes to updates on series, he's not just spouting generalizations. Speaking about the comic-related project at TCA (via IGN), Gary Newman even made it sound like things would really ramp up behind the scenes if it moves forward, saying not only is everyone interested in getting the X-Men show into the 2017-2018 TV season, but also that it's actually possible.

Beyond his general announcement, Fox's Gary Newman told Deadlinethat he's expecting a pilot for the X-Men project to be picked up in the next week or two. If that happens, then Fox could easily grant the mutant-friendly drama a spot in the fall lineup. Hopefully one of the show's main characters has a power that can convince network execs to order pilots to series, as that could come in handy.

One would hope that the development situation is a "deep" on by now, too, since Fox first put the wheels in motion on its X-Men project over the summer. That announcement ran parallel to Foxhalting progress on the plannedHellfire series, also from Marvel, which would have had looser ties to the X-Men. Still no details have been released as far as what the show will actually be about, but it will indeed tie into the currently existing film franchise in some presumably hyper-complicated way.

Hopefully we'll get word on the X-Men show moving forward in that aforementioned week-or-two window, and hopefully that pilot order will come with a somewhat detailed synopsis for us to completely pick apart. Until that happens though, as well as when that other X-Men-related show Legion will begin.

THIS IS US JUST HIT A RATINGS MILESTONE

To date, filmmaker Dan Fogelman has created six TV shows to complement his successful big screen career, and he landed the biggest hit of the bunch with NBC'sThis Is Us, a consistent winner with both audiences and critics. In fact, the hit freshman drama returned from its winter hiatus this week and topped its own already impressive stats. The episode set a new ratings record for This Is Us in the key 18-49 demographic with a 3.0, and it also received the show's third biggest Same Day+7 audience yet, with around 10.5 million viewers.

Now that This Is Us is back in our lives on a weekly basis, NBC is touting just how excellent the timeline-jumping drama has been for the network. The latest episode saw a 7% jump from the show's previous demo rating record, which was the December 6 episode's stellar 2.8 mark, and it's the ninth telecast in a row that put This Is Us on top of the 18-49 demo ratings for all the Big 4's entertainment shows on Tuesday nights.

As far as This is Us being compared to other NBC shows, it is currently the most-watched original scripted series in more than seven years to air in that timeslot; you'd have to go back to a June 2009 episode of Law & Order: SVU to find something bigger. This Is Us has also earned the highest ratings in the 18-49 demo for the timeslot since Parenthood got a 3.1 rating back in March 2010. Plus, the show is growing immensely in delayed Live+7 viewing, earning an average demo rating of 4.5 and adding around 5 million viewers per episode. Lots to be happy about at NBC.

I'm sure it doesn't surprise regular viewers to know that Tuesday night's "The Right Thing to Do" ended up pulling out a ratings benchmark forThis Is Us. It was the episode that resolved the big cliffhanger that had fans going into Super Fret Mode over what happened to Toby. (More on that here.) The fact that the episode got shifted around to make room for President Obama's farewell speech makes the big audience turnout even more impressive. To be clear, also, these stats included unduplicated viewers from the Pacific time zone who got the episode in back-to-back airings.

For anyone confused, the demo rating is sometimes more important than total viewers as far as advertisers are concerned, so getting bigger numbers with adults 18-49 basically guarantees This Is Us will be an NBC staple for years to come. Assuming everyone continues watching, of course.

With more family-fueled drama to come in its standout first season,This Is Us airs Tuesday nights on NBC. To see what else NBC and more will bring to your TVs soon, head to our midseason premiere schedule.

10 Best Movies to See in January

Ah yes, January – when Oscar hopefuls platforming into wide release meets the sort of stuff that studios treat like dumpster fires. (Monster Trucks, coming soon to a theater near you!) But this upcoming month has more to offer than you might assume, with a number of worthy prestige films getting bigger audiences and well-pedigreed indies making their debuts. That, and Vin Diesel motorbiking off of a moving truck. Here's what you'll be plunking down ticket-money for at the theater over the next few weeks.

The Founder (Jan. 20th)
Imagine The Social Network, but with Big Macs instead of clicks. Here comes ruthless businessman Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton, battery acid running through his veins), who meets a pair of good ol' boys by the name of McDonald and sees the potential for boundless profit in their tightly-run fast-food shack. After a little fast-talking and some confusingly-worded contracts, he's successfully talked the brothers out of their life's work and begun construction on his automated empire. Aggressive corporate expansion, remorseless double-crossing, and automated cheeseburgers – what could be more American than that?

Gold (Jan. 27th)
Matthew McConaughey added 40 pounds and donned a heinous balding-combover hairpiece to play Kenny Wells, a hardscrabble businessman who comes upon an unexpected windfall. While journeying through the jungles of Borneo with a geologist (Édgar Ramírez), the pair discover a massive cache of gold; cue instantly shooting into the uppermost tax bracket. But sudden, hard-to-believe influxes of wealth and sketchy stock-market practices always attract the attentions of the FBI. Writer-director Stephen Gaghan (Syriana) marries a nature-set adventure with a rags-to-riches narrative ripped from the headlines. Did we mention McConaughey is wearing a fake-follicular nightmare on his dome?

Hidden Figures (Jan. 6th)
John Glenn got all the fame and glory for his historic full Earth orbit, but none of it would have been possible without three fiercely intelligent, trailblazing African-American women. The power trio of Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe star as mathematicians working in the segregated West Area Computers division for NASA, accelerating America's progress in the Space Race. They faced a double-whammy of discrimination, but with keen intellect and indomitable spirit, the women secured America's technological superiority while breaking down barriers for future generations in STEM fields. It's the fill-in-the-gap history lesson you need.

I, Daniel Blake (Jan. 6th)
Like a trip to the DMV that gradually slides into a Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare, director Ken Loach's latest social critique takes aim at the indignities of Britain's welfare system. A crusty but benign coot (Dave Johns) just wants to get his disability pay. The only thing that stands in his way are kilometers of red tape, a system designed to stymie payouts and an uncaring state. He makes the acquaintance of a down-on-her-luck single mother (Hayley Squires), and little by little, they find some small solace in one another. The film didn't take the Palme d'Or at Cannes for nothing; there's genuine rage in this screed against federal BS.

Live by Night (Jan. 13th)
Batman sheds the cowl and turns back into mild-mannered Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck. The writer-director-star gets back behind the camera for the first time since 2012's Argo, playing period tough-guy Joe Coughlin, a would-be Cagney plotting out a criminal kingdom of bootlegging, rum-running and general gangster activities. The heavy cast list collects Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Chris Cooper and R&B sensation Miguel; expect a handsomely photographed diorama of pinstripe suits, tommy guns, and compromised moralities.

A Monster Calls (Jan. 6th)
Kleenex should expect a bump in sales, given this fable is a nuclear-grade eye-moistener. Juan Antonio Bayona fires up the waterworks with the story of Conor (Lewis MacDougall), a boy coping with his mother's losing battle against cancer by summoning a gigantic monster made of gnarled tree branches. Felicity Jones shrinks down to a wisp of herself as his leukemia-stricken mom; Sigourney Weaver is the draconian grandmother who takes him in; and Liam Neeson lends his sonorous bass to the voice of the twig-monster.

Patriots Day (Jan. 13th)
They brought the hurt to insurgents and dissected an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; now Mark Wahlberg and director Peter Berg team up for a drama that details the ins and outs of the Boston Marathon bombing. Massachusetts' favorite son plays Tommy Saunders, a police sah-geant on the scene when tragedy strikes and the people of Boston go into a panic. Soon, the brave cop and the rest of the boys in blue are scouring the suburbs for the culprits. It's a tribute to everyday blue-collar heroism, though the recreations of the traumatic aftermath is like one long trigger warning for people who endured this domestic terrorist attack.

The Red Turtle (Jan. 20th)
As far as many folks are concerned, Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli is Hayao Miyazaki; here's the film that will correct that notion. Dutch-British animator Michaël Dudok de Wit delivers an uncommonly strong feature debut with this entirely dialogue-free desert island fantasy about a man washes up on an island paradise and encounters a certain oddly-colored marine reptile. Minimalism is the name of the game, both in the simple yet ravishing artwork and the stripped-down story – this is also comfort-food cinema, soothing in its quiet grace.

Split (Jan. 20th)
James McAvoy sets the bar on actor versatility for 2017 with M. Night Shyamalan's latest; he plays unstable young man with 23 distinct personalities (!), ranging from a playful nine-year-old to a mysterious feral force dubbed "The Beast." He's also just abducted three teenage girls (Jessica Sula, Haley Lu Richardson, and The Witch's Anya Taylor-Joy) for use in a ritual, though the sinister purpose remains unclear to the captives. Early reviews out of festival showings have inspired good word-of-mouth; McAvoy appears to be having the time of his life in the trailer. It's never too early in the year for a good scare, right?

XXX: Return of Xander Cage(Jan. 20th)
This ain't your grandpa's action franchise sequel, bro! Like a James Bond who spent his formative years mainlining Mountain Dew and watching BMX videos, Xander Cage (Vin Diesel, in the role he was born to play) combines a lifelong passion for extreme sports with deadly espionage skills. The necessity of a follow-up to an all-but-forgotten series may seem questionable to some; those people have clearly forgotten how goofily, shamelessly rad the originalXXX movies were. This time around, Cage squares off against a new villain (Rogue One's Donnie Yen) as they race to locate a powerful artifact known as Pandora's Box. Let's assume there will be at least one crackerjack snowboarding chase scene, if not half a dozen.

Most Anticipated Movies of 2017

by IMDb-Editors | last updated - 1 week ago

The IMDb audience has spoken: Here are the 10 most anticipated movies of the year according to traffic to our title pages. — Michael Rosser

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10. Logan

Hugh Jackman is hanging up his claws, 17 years after he first played Wolverine in X-Men, and fans are clearly excited to see the character go out with a bang. A gritty trailer, which showed an older, broken version of Logan, certainly promises a darker and more violent take on the comic book favorite. Fans who have longed for a more R-rated portrayal of the mutant look set to get a satisfying swansong.

Logan opens on Friday, March 3, 2017

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9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Marvel scored a surprise hit withGuardians of the Galaxy, ranking third at the worldwide box office in 2014 with takings of more than $733 million. So anticipation is high for the return of Star Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket and Baby Groot. The first teaser trailerpromises more wild adventures in space with the same light-hearted approach that helped the first film achieve blockbuster status. And Baby Groot is already a leading contender for most adorable character of 2017.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens on Friday, May 5, 2017

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8. The Fate of the Furious

The Fast franchise gets bigger with each instalment, with Furious 7 taking a staggering $1.52 billion at the worldwide box office in 2015. And there is no sign of the series losing traction, with the first look at the next film becoming the most-viewed trailer in 24 hours ever with 139 million views. The twist in the upcoming movie is that Vin Diesel’s character betrays his crew for a mysterious woman played by Charlize Theron. Something tells us there’ll be more than one U-turn in this story.

The Fate of the Furious opens on Friday, April 14, 2017

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7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

It has been nearly six years since Captain Jack Sparrow last set sail. But after Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides took more than $1 billion in 2011, it was only a matter of time before Johnny Depp weighed anchor for another supernatural voyage. This time, Captain Jack is hunting the trident of Poseidon whileJavier Bardem continues his run of playing creepy bad guys.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales opens on Wednesday, May 26, 2017

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6. Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Superhero fans have long hoped to see Spider-Man swing into the Marvel cinematic universe. So after stealing the show in Captain America: Civil War, the web slinger’s first full foray into the MCU is highly anticipated by both film and comic book fans. Add in Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Michael Keaton as supervillain The Vulture, and all the parts are there for a potential summer blockbuster.

Spider-Man: Homecoming opens on Wednesday, July 7, 2017

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5. Baywatch

Nostalgia for the '90s TV show and the muscular pull of Zac Efron andDwayne Johnson has proved popular with the IMDb audience looking to the year ahead. Sunshine and swimsuits with a healthy dose of comedy could spell box office success for this glossy reboot this summer.

Baywatch opens on Wednesday, May 26, 2017

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4. Wonder Woman

One of the best things to come out ofBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicewas the debut of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Aside from beating Marvel to the punch in terms of centering on a female superhero, the DC Comics character will offer have a unique approach by taking place during World War I. It will also pave the way for the even more highly anticipated Justice League movie.

Wonder Woman opens on Friday, June 2, 2017

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3. Beauty and the Beast

Fans of Disney’s 1991 animated musical classic have helped this live-action remake become one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2017. The casting of Harry Potter starEmma Watson as Belle has also boosted its prospects, with its trailerbecoming the second most viewed in 24 hours ever with nearly 128 million views. Disney will hope to continue its hugely successful run of live-action remakes after scoring blockbuster success with The Jungle Book andCinderella.

Beauty and the Beast opens on Friday, March 17, 2017

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2. Justice League

After Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice topped last years most anticipated movies on IMDb, this superhero team-up just missed out on claiming the top slot. But DC Comics have film fans excited to see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg join forces. We’ll have to wait nearly a year to see if these super friends can match the pull of The Avengers. 

Justice League opens on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

10

1. Power Rangers

Following the blockbuster successes of Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers is the latest kids TV series to get the big screen treatment. More than 800 episodes across 19 different themed series since 1993 have generated an enormous following, leading to the high anticipation for the movie from the IMDb audience. The casting ofElizabeth Banks as the villainous Rita Repulsa and Bryan Cranston as the Rangers’ mentor, Zordon, adds extra weight to the feature -- an origin story about high-school kids infused with unique superpowers who harness their abilities in order to save the world.

Power Rangers opens on Friday, March 24, 2017by IMDb-Editors | last updated - 1 week ago

The IMDb audience has spoken: Here are the 10 most anticipated movies of the year according to traffic to our title pages. — Michael Rosser

1

10. Logan

Hugh Jackman is hanging up his claws, 17 years after he first played Wolverine in X-Men, and fans are clearly excited to see the character go out with a bang. A gritty trailer, which showed an older, broken version of Logan, certainly promises a darker and more violent take on the comic book favorite. Fans who have longed for a more R-rated portrayal of the mutant look set to get a satisfying swansong.

Logan opens on Friday, March 3, 2017

9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Marvel scored a surprise hit withGuardians of the Galaxy, ranking third at the worldwide box office in 2014 with takings of more than $733 million. So anticipation is high for the return of Star Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket and Baby Groot. The first teaser trailerpromises more wild adventures in space with the same light-hearted approach that helped the first film achieve blockbuster status. And Baby Groot is already a leading contender for most adorable character of 2017.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens on Friday, May 5, 2017

8. The Fate of the Furious

The Fast franchise gets bigger with each instalment, with Furious 7 taking a staggering $1.52 billion at the worldwide box office in 2015. And there is no sign of the series losing traction, with the first look at the next film becoming the most-viewed trailer in 24 hours ever with 139 million views. The twist in the upcoming movie is that Vin Diesel’s character betrays his crew for a mysterious woman played by Charlize Theron. Something tells us there’ll be more than one U-turn in this story.

The Fate of the Furious opens on Friday, April 14, 2017

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

It has been nearly six years since Captain Jack Sparrow last set sail. But after Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides took more than $1 billion in 2011, it was only a matter of time before Johnny Depp weighed anchor for another supernatural voyage. This time, Captain Jack is hunting the trident of Poseidon whileJavier Bardem continues his run of playing creepy bad guys.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales opens on Wednesday, May 26, 2017

6. Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Superhero fans have long hoped to see Spider-Man swing into the Marvel cinematic universe. So after stealing the show in Captain America: Civil War, the web slinger’s first full foray into the MCU is highly anticipated by both film and comic book fans. Add in Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Michael Keaton as supervillain The Vulture, and all the parts are there for a potential summer blockbuster.

Spider-Man: Homecoming opens on Wednesday, July 7, 2017

5. Baywatch

Nostalgia for the '90s TV show and the muscular pull of Zac Efron andDwayne Johnson has proved popular with the IMDb audience looking to the year ahead. Sunshine and swimsuits with a healthy dose of comedy could spell box office success for this glossy reboot this summer.

Baywatch opens on Wednesday, May 26, 2017

4. Wonder Woman

One of the best things to come out ofBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicewas the debut of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Aside from beating Marvel to the punch in terms of centering on a female superhero, the DC Comics character will offer have a unique approach by taking place during World War I. It will also pave the way for the even more highly anticipated Justice League movie.

Wonder Woman opens on Friday, June 2, 2017

3. Beauty and the Beast

Fans of Disney’s 1991 animated musical classic have helped this live-action remake become one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2017. The casting of Harry Potter starEmma Watson as Belle has also boosted its prospects, with its trailerbecoming the second most viewed in 24 hours ever with nearly 128 million views. Disney will hope to continue its hugely successful run of live-action remakes after scoring blockbuster success with The Jungle Book andCinderella.

Beauty and the Beast opens on Friday, March 17, 2017

2. Justice League

After Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice topped last years most anticipated movies on IMDb, this superhero team-up just missed out on claiming the top slot. But DC Comics have film fans excited to see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg join forces. We’ll have to wait nearly a year to see if these super friends can match the pull of The Avengers. 

Justice League opens on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

1. Power Rangers

Following the blockbuster successes of Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers is the latest kids TV series to get the big screen treatment. More than 800 episodes across 19 different themed series since 1993 have generated an enormous following, leading to the high anticipation for the movie from the IMDb audience. The casting ofElizabeth Banks as the villainous Rita Repulsa and Bryan Cranston as the Rangers’ mentor, Zordon, adds extra weight to the feature -- an origin story about high-school kids infused with unique superpowers who harness their abilities in order to save the world.

Power Rangers opens on Friday, March 24, 2017

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR MAY BE ADDING A MAJOR GAME OF THRONES STAR

 

NEWS

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR MAY BE ADDING A MAJOR GAME OF THRONES STAR

Avengers: Infinity War is being set up as the biggest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet, which means it needs just as big of a cast. With Thanos finally arriving to unleash chaos, almost all of the Marvel heroes have been reported or confirmed to appear, and several characters of their supporting cast will follow behind. However, it won't just be established players showing up. Some newcomers will appear as well, and now there's word that Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage is being eyed for one of those roles.

According to Variety, Peter Dinklage is in early talks for a "key role" inAvengers: Infinity War. No details were provided about who he would play, but this character would also reportedly appear in Avengers 4 the following year. Apparently becauseGame of Thrones moved from a summer to fall shooting schedule, that made room for the actor to potentially jump into the MCU. If cast, this would be Dinklage's second comic book movie role, having previously played Bolivar Trask in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Since plot details are almost nonexistent for Avengers: Infinity War _right now, it's hard to speculate on who Peter Dinklage might be playing. All we know so far is that the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and other heroes will finally fightThanos, who is expected to obtain all six Infinity Stones. One guess that's making the rounds online is that Dinklage would play Pip (seen below), a troll-like alien who adventured with Adam Warlock, one of Thanos' arch-enemies. Since _Infinity War is inspired by The Infinity Gauntlet storyline, many fans have speculated that Warlock will show up. If that does indeed happen, it wouldn't be surprising to see Pip hanging out with him. However, don't assume that Dinklage's role will be restricted solely by his height. Bolivar Trask, the creator of the Sentinels, was a man of normal height in the comics, but X-Men: Days of Future Past made the role work for him in this alternate continuity.

If these talks about Marvel work out, joining Avengers: Infinity War would be another way for Peter Dinklage to boost his geek fame even higher. Aside from X-Men: Days of Future Past, he's best known for playing Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones since the show began in 2011. His other notable credits include Elf, The Station Agent, Pixels, The Boss andThe Angry Birds Movie. We'll keep you apprised on Dinklage's possible involvement in Avengers: Infinity War as more news comes in, but since his character is also appearing inAvengers 4 (which is shooting back-to-back with Infinity War), expect it to be someone integral to the plot rather than a mere cameo.

Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on May 4, 2018, with Avengers 4 following on May 3, 2019.

Throwback Thursday : THE MATRIX

Our throwback movie for this week is... 

             The Matrix

Theatrical release poster
Directed by	The Wachowski Brothers
Produced by	Joel Silver
Written by	The Wachowski Brothers
Starring	Keanu Reeves Laurence Fishburne Carrie-Anne Moss Hugo Weaving Joe Pantoliano
Music by	Don Davis
Cinematography	Bill Pope
Edited by	Zach Staenberg
Production companies	Village Roadshow Pictures Groucho II Film Partnership Silver Pictures
Distributed by	Warner Bros.(United States) Roadshow Entertainment(Australia)[1]
Release date	March 31, 1999(United States) April 8, 1999 (Australia)
Running time	136 minutes[2]
Country	Australia[3] United States[3]
Language	English
Budget	$63 million[4]
Box office	$463.5 million[4]

The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction filmwritten and directed by The Wachowskis, starring Keanu Reeves,Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss,Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. It depicts a dystopian future in which reality as perceived by most humans is actually a simulated reality called "the Matrix", created by sentient machines to subdue the human population, while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Computer programmer "Neo" learns this truth and is drawn into a rebellion against the machines, which involves other people who have been freed from the "dream world".

The Matrix is known for popularizing a visual effect known as "bullet time", in which the heightened perception of certain characters is represented by allowing the action within a shot to progress in slow-motion while the camera's viewpoint appears to move through the scene at normal speed. The film is an example of the cyberpunkscience fiction genre.^[5] It contains numerous references to philosophical and religious ideas, and prominently pays homage to works such as Plato'sAllegory of the Cave,^[6] Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation^[7]and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.^[8] The Wachowskis' approach to action scenes drew upon their admiration for Japanese animation^[9] and martial arts films, and the film's use of fight choreographersand wire fu techniques from Hong Kong action cinema influenced subsequent Hollywood action film productions.

The Matrix was first released in the United States on March 31, 1999, and grossed over $460 million worldwide. It was generally well-received by critics,^[10][11] and won four Academy Awards as well as other accolades including BAFTA Awards and Saturn Awards. Reviewers praised The Matrixfor its innovative visual effects, cinematography and its entertainment. The film's premise was both criticized for being derivative of earlier science fiction works, and praised for being intriguing. The action also polarized critics, some describing it as impressive, but others dismissing it as a trite distraction from an interesting premise.

The film has since appeared in lists of the greatest science fiction films,^[12][13][14] and in 2012, was added to the National Film Registry for preservation.^[15] The success of the film led to the release of two feature film sequels, both written and directed by the Wachowskis: The Matrix Reloadedand The Matrix Revolutions. The Matrixfranchise was further expanded through the production of comic books, video games and animated short films in which the Wachowskis were heavily involved.

Source : Wikipedia