Building a Universe with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ VFX Crew

December 8, 2023 Mike Manalo

Crafting any studio blockbuster is a challenging endeavor. Worlds and galaxies begin with the ideas of a gifted writer or director (or both in the case of James Gunn), but have to become reality. And that’s really where so much time, energy, and effort from hard working individuals, such as the VFX team from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 come into the picture.

Marvel, MoviesLeave a comment

Lessons in High Evolution with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Hair and Makeup Team

December 7, 2023 Mike Manalo

Gamora. Nebula. The High Evolutionary. Humanimals. Believe it or not, these specific larger than life characters aren’t made using VFX. They’ve been meticulously brought to life by some of the most unsung heroes in the entire entertainment industry: the incredible hair and makeup crew of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3!

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HCA Announces Nominations for 2024 Astra Film & Creative Arts Awards

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 Mike Manalo

‘Tis the season, everyone! And by that I mean Awards Season! That’s right! It’s that special time of year where cinephiles everywhere put aside their differences to rejoice and bask in the golden glow of Scorsese, Nolan, Gerwig, and all the greatest filmmakers working in the industry today, then pelt them with heavy engraved statues representing true fortune and glory! And today, the Hollywood Creative Alliance was pleased to announce this year’s nominees for its newly rebranded 2024 Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards!

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Paramount+ Reveals ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Teaser & Key Art

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 Laura Sirikul

Paramount+ has announced their next original animated film — The Tiger’s Apprentice. Based on the popular children’s book series of the same name by Laurence Yep, The Tiger’s Apprentice is set to release on the streaming service on February 2 in the U.S.

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Disney Gives Proper Theatrical Releases to ‘Soul,’ ‘Turning Red,’ and ‘Luca’

December 5, 2023December 6, 2023 Michael Lee

For the past three years, Soul, Turning Red, and Luca — three of Pixar’s biggest films — made their way to Disney+ due in large part to the pandemic. While the move took away the theatrical experience, it was imperative for public safety then. Now Disney has plans to re-release all three on the big screen for a limited time.

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Spotlight on Spectacular SWANASA Stars

December 4, 2023December 5, 2023 Edward Hong

This will be the first of many posts whose purpose is to provide a spotlight on some rather amazing SWANASA (South West Asia, North Africa, and South Asia) actors that you should know, whether they are well known or not. What they have in common is that not only are they are all terrific artists but wonderful human beings that have come to my attention recently in their art and advocacy. Here are the eight (in the many to come) to kick it off:

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Check Out the Character Posters for ‘Dune: Part Two’

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 Sophia Soto

Next year, audiences will get to experience Dune: Part Two thanks to award-winning filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. The film, which serves as the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s Dune, will be the next chapter in the ongoing adaptation of Frank Herbert’s influential sci-fi novel.

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First Trailer for ‘Godzilla x Kong’ Announces a New Empire!

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 Mike Manalo

It has been one hell of a monster year for the King of the Monsters! First we got Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Then we got Godzilla: Minus One! And now, everyone, we finally have the first trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire!

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‘Fingernails’ Actress Amanda Arcuri Talks Graduating From ‘Degrassi’ to Indie Films

December 2, 2023December 4, 2023 Kelly Martinez

Amanda Arcuri was in high school when a single voicemail from a casting director changed the entire trajectory of her life. The Toronto native first dove into the world of acting in 2014 when she landed the role of fan-favorite Lola Pacini on the acclaimed Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. What started with a casual “sure, why not?” after-school audition would eventually snowball into a full-blown career.

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Watch the Official Trailer for ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’

November 30, 2023December 1, 2023 Sophia Soto

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which serves as the highly-anticipated return to the dystopian world that he created over 30 years ago with the Mad Max movies. Today, Warner Bros. Pictures has excited fans by dropping the official trailer!

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Here’s All the Details on ‘The Beekeeper’

November 30, 2023December 1, 2023 Sophia Soto

David Ayer’s The Beekeeper is set to hit theaters and IMAX on January 12, 2024 and Amazon MGM Studios has just shared two new posters with Jason Statham, who stars and produced the film.

Interview, Movies, StreamingLeave a comment

Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers, and Brady Noon Talk Netflix’s ‘Family Switch’

November 30, 2023 Sophia Soto

Jennifer Garner, who is also a producer, Ed Helms, Emma Myers, and Brady Noon make up the Walker family in Family Switch! The new holiday movie, based on the book Bedtime For Mommy, is now streaming on Netflix.

Interview, Movies, StreamingLeave a comment

‘Family Switch’ Director McG on Making a Holiday Film for the Whole Family

November 29, 2023 Sophia Soto

McG directed and produced the new holiday comedy Family Switch, which is based on the book Bedtime For Mommy. The movie begins streaming tomorrow, November 30 on Netflix.

Horror, MoviesLeave a comment

New Trailer for ‘Night Swim’ Emerges from the Deep End

November 29, 2023November 29, 2023 Mike Manalo

These days, so many critics of the current film landscape like to point out the lack of originality in storytelling. But the horror genre is and always has been a breeding ground for that originality to flourish. Many directors are able to tell their stories in short film form, and go on to adapt them for feature-length films. David F. Sandberg did this with Lights Out. And now Bryce McGuire is doing it with his and Rod Blackhurst’s short film, Night Swim.

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Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie Share Why ‘Eileen’ Intrigued Them

November 28, 2023 Sophia Soto

Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie star in Eileen, which is based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel of the same title. Neon will release the film in theaters on December 1.

Horror, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

Jess McLeod on Their Role in ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’ and the Fun of the Horror Comedy Genre

November 25, 2023November 26, 2023 Sophia Soto

Jess McLeod portrays Bernie in It’s A Wonderful Knife, which is in theaters and will begin streaming on Shudder on December 1. This interview will contain spoilers for the new horror comedy.

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A ‘Madame Web’ Trailer Exists and None of You Jerks Told Me About It?

November 25, 2023November 26, 2023 Dominic Mah

I mean, I’m a Spider-Man/Spider-Verse person, seriously. Not in the sense that I saw Venom, or the one with Leto, or know when Kraven the Hunter comes out, but I’m still shocked that an official Madame Web trailer has been live for a whole week and I’m just watching it today. Internet! What’re you doing, man?

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NOC Review: ‘The Holdovers’ is a Delightful Holiday Present

November 22, 2023November 24, 2023 Mike Manalo

It’s been a while since we’ve seen director Alexander Payne team up with the always welcome presence of Paul Giamatti. The duo previously collaborated on eventual Best Picture nominee, Sideways way back in 2004, almost 20 years ago. And after seeing The Holdovers, one thing is surely apparent: These two are a match made in heaven!

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NOC Exclusive: Trailer & Key Art for ARRAY’S ‘WHO WE BECOME’

November 22, 2023December 1, 2023 Laura Sirikul

The past three years have been a troubling time for people. With the pandemic and the murder and hate crimes against Black and Asian Americans, it can make or break you as a human being.

DC Comics, MoviesLeave a comment

New Spot and Character Posters Wash Up for ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023 Mike Manalo

It’s been quite the journey for our man, Jason Momoa. Achieving full A-list status with the sole $1B grossing outing in the DCEU, the actor known as Aquaman is returning to the big screen this Christmas with what may be the final outing in this franchise, before James Gunn and Peter Safran press the hard reset button.

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Director Todd Haynes and Charles Melton Talk ‘May December’ Inspirations

November 20, 2023 Sophia Soto

Charles Melton stars as Joe in Todd Haynes’ May December. The movie is currently playing in select theaters and will begin streaming on Netflix December 1.

Horror, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

‘Night Swim’ Director Bryce McGuire Previews His New Horror Film

November 18, 2023 Sophia Soto

This year at New York Comic Con, I interviewed Bryce McGuire, who wrote and directed Night Swim. The supernatural thriller, which is also based on his short film, is coming soon to theaters.

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NOC Review: ‘Saltburn’ is Emerald Fennell’s ‘Mr. Ripley’

November 17, 2023November 19, 2023 Mike Manalo

Second features are difficult when you’ve knocked it out of the park with your directorial debut (just ask Olivia Wilde). In the case of the remarkably talented Emerald Fennell, one could say the task might seem almost impossible, given how good her film Promising Young Woman was. Easily one of my favorite films of 2020, Fennell has followed that future classic up with her latest feature Saltburn. And the good news is Saltburn is just as darkly and devilishly clever as her previous endeavor, even if, comparably, it’s not quite as stellar.