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New Jurassic World Trailer – Chris Pratt tracks down Indominus Rex

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When it was revealed Jurassic World would be set in a fully functioning dinosaur theme park many decided the film would be rubbish, but ever since the first images emerged many have changed their mind and decided it might actually be quite awesome.

That feeling certainly continues with this very cool new trailer which is full of dinos, plenty of harks ack to earlier movies as well as the suggestion the addition of genetically manipulated animals may be a very good idea – including the super-predator, Indominus Rex.

Here’s the brief synopsis: ‘Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next instalment of his ground-breaking Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow directs the epic action-adventure based on characters created by Michael Crichton. The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Trevorrow & Derek Connolly. Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers.’

The film is out in the UK on June 11th 2015.

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Mr. Holmes Trailer – Ian McKellen turns detective as Sherlock Holmes

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What happened to Sherlock Holmes after he retired? That’s the premise of Mr. Holmes which sees Ian McKellen as an aged version of the famed detective who’s drawn into one last case. Now the first full trailer has arrived, which you can watch below.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Academy Award nominee Ian McKellen takes on the iconic role of Detective Sherlock Holmes, one of the British literature’s most revered characters in the forthcoming film MR HOLMES.

‘In 1947, the world famous sleuth has retired to a remote Sussex farmhouse, living in relative anonymity with only his housekeeper Mrs Munro and her young son Roger for company. Cantankerous, demanding and frustrated with the mis-representation of him in Watson’s best-selling novels, he diverts his attention to an unsolved case. As the mystery deepens, Sherlock tries desperately to recall the events of 30 years ago that ultimately led to his retirement.

‘Starring Academy Award nominee Laura Linney (The Savages), Frances de la Tour (Harry Potter)and newcomer Milo Parker, MR HOLMES is adapted from Mitch Cullin’s 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind and is directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters).

MR HOLMES will be released in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on June 19th.

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New Fantastic Four Trailer – A far better look at the superhero reboot

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20th Century Fox had a fairly late start marketing their reboot of Fantastic Four and when the first trailer arrived, it didn’t show us much. However now a new one has arrived and it gives us a much better look at the movie, including a proper look at The Thing, Doctor Doom and the heroes various powers.

It suggests a far less jokey take than the movies from a few years ago, but one that’s still fun.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.’

The movie is due out in August.

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Big Eyes (Blu-ray) – Tim Burton takes Amy Adams into a world of art

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Except for a few moments, Big Eyes is Tim Burton’s least Tim Burton-y movie for a long time. In fact it’s a relatively low key and straightforward affair which relies on the fact it’s got an interesting story to tell and knows that when you have actors like Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, it’s often best to just get out of their way and allow them to shine.

The film tells the true story of Margaret (Adams), who leaves her husband and heads for San Francisco with her young daughter where she hopes to make money from her art. That proves difficult, until she meets Walter Keane (Waltz), who also selling paintings and charms her with his stories of studying at a prestigious Parisian art school.

After a whirlwind romance they marry and Walter sets out to make his name in the art world. However he discovers that rather than people liking his rather staid street scenes, people respond to his wife’s images of children with massive eyes. Rather than saying his wife painted them, Walter takes the credit, with Margaret upset but cowed by the fact the lie has already been told, along with weak arguments about people not taking women’s art seriously.

Soon the big eyed paintings become a massive pop culture phenomenon, with ‘Walter Keane’ becoming the biggest selling artist in the world – despite the fact he hasn’t actually painted a single one of the pictures.

As their success grows Margaret becomes increasingly aware of what a fantasist Walter is and that there may be little about him that’s based on the truth. He’s also extremely volatile, which sets things up for a courtroom showdown where Walter insists to the world that he is the artist, but Margaret knows she has truth on her side.

It’s a great story, especially for those who know Keane’s work and/or who can remember the phenomenon around them in the late-50s and early-60s. Indeed Burton’s involvement in the movie came because he is a huge fan and has a number of Margaret’s big eye pictures.

Adams and Waltz are great. Indeed it’s a role that was almost made for Adams, who has an incredible knack for playing characters whose meek sweetness and innocence hides a fire within. Waltz sometimes goes a little too far towards slapstick with Walter (but the way the script is written, you can understand why), but he’s generally extremely good as a man for whom no lie is too big, and who seems to genuinely believe that a compelling fantasy is superior to any semblance of the truth.

We also have to thank the real-life Hawaiian judge who came up with the ending. It’s almost as if he was sat on the bench and thought, ‘You know, someone want to make a movie about this one day, so we’d better give them a good conclusion’. It’s the sort of thing that you’d think was a filmic conceit but in this case it’s actually true.

The movie’s main limitation is that it feels very small. It’s interesting and entertaining, but there’s not much more to it than that. Part of the problem comes from the script, which is sometimes clumsy with a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach and the fact that nearly all the characters except Walter and Margaret are thinly disguised ciphers to allow the main characters to tell you their thoughts.

Despite these problems it is a fun movie, and while it’s not a particularly Burton-esque film, it is visually quite beautiful and the Blu-ray certainly brings that out. There are also a couple of minor special features that are worth a look.

Overall Verdict: A fairly small film that thanks to its interesting true tale and great performances from Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz manages to entertain and amuse, even if it doesn’t manage much more.

Special Features:
‘Making Of…’ Featurette
Q&A

Reviewer: Tim Isaac

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Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice Trailer – Not everyone is happy the Man Of Steel is around

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Now here’s an interesting one. Coming a few days early due to a bootleg showing up online, the official teaser trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has now arrived, and it shows that the ‘v’ in Batman v Superman isn’t just for show, as the Caped Crusader doesn’t seem very happy with the Man Of Steel.

Indeed, a lot of people don’t like Superman, who is seen as a Messianic saviour by some, but as a False God by a lot more. It’s certainly an interesting set-up and suggests there’s going to be plenty of social metaphor in the movie.

You can take a look at the trailer below, complete with glowing eyed Ben Affleck Batman. The film is due out March 25, 2016.

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The Gallows Teaser – This year’s Paranormal Activity?

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Over the last few years Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions company have had huge success turning low budget horror films into major successes with the likes of Insidious, Paranormal Activity, and Sinister.

This year he’s got a new one which is hoping to go from micro-budget to box office hit, The Gallows.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Twenty years after an accident caused the death of the lead actor during a high school play, students at the same small town school resurrect the failed stage production in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy — but ultimately find out that some things are better left alone.’

The teaser itself doesn’t show us much, but it does look creepy. Take a look below.

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