Saturday 28 November 2015

The Good Dinosaur Review by Carleton Rutter


Directed by: Peter Sohn
Starring: Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright, Steve Zahn and A.J. Buckley
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

So, in a nutshell?
An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.

So, what are my thoughts?
Pixar's summer entry Inside Out earned in excess of $850 million dollars worldwide. In fact it only sits behind Jurassic World and Avengers Age of Ultron who occupy the top two spots of the year so far.
 
With Jurassic World being far and away the summer's most commercially successful movie, it proved that the public still has a healthy appetite for dinosaurs on the big screen. 

So take that subject and marry it with the most successful animation studio in the world, and you've got a sure fire hit?!...
​Er no... Well in actual fact whether it will be a hit is another thing but as for it being a good film, which for me is more important, it certainly is not. 

Trouble for The Good Dinosaur started to brew in 2013 when the studio dumped the director and producer. Then add to that a complete cast overhaul earlier this year, due to a major change in the story's direction, it was obvious things were looking rocky.
 
The problems with The Good Dinosaur are firstly it has a very weak generic story. Our main protagonist gets lost and has to get home to his family whilst meeting friends and foe, well that's never been done before.

Also the whole tone of the movie is sad from fairly early on and has quite a dark edge for a movie aimed at such young audiences. 

The other issue I have are the characters. With the exception of Arlo and the human Spot, none of the other dinosaurs they meet in their adventure are particularly nice. The best are perhaps some T-Rexes who play friendly Ranchers, a nice change from being constantly lumbered with being a movie's main bad guy or gal. Other animals though, such as the Pterodactyls and raptors are not funny bad guys, they are just horrible.

This is all a great shame as The Good Dinosaur may well be Pixar's most lusciously animated movie ever. The natural vistas are breathtaking. It is stunning to look at. I would say though that Arlo himself at time had too much of a rubbery look, but now I'm just nitpicking! Also, add to that a good score and the movie from a visual and soundtrack point of view deserved a much better movie to support it, rather it being as was the case, the other way round.
 
The Good Dinosaur has been on my radar since last year and I took my six-year old son. He enjoyed it for the most part but not even he missed that the movie was sad. This movie should have been an uplifting "Fun for all the family" kind of movie for the festive holiday but it's just not.
 
It's such a shame that coming after Pixar's triumphant summer blockbuster that their year has to end on this note.

My Rating 
2*/5*

The Good Dinosaur has to be chalked up as one of this year's disappointments. With a weak story, unnecessary dark edge with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and loss, this is Pixar's biggest misfire to date, and yes I'm counting Cars 2. It looks and sounds beautiful though but this is not enough for me to recommend you see it on the big screen. Catch it on stream or Blu-Ray. 

The Good Dinosaur Review by Carleton Rutter

Friday 27 November 2015

Kung Fu Panda 3 - First Clip - In Cinemas March 11‏


IN CINEMAS MARCH 2016

In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, KUNG FU PANDA 3. When Po's long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible - learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!

Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson and J.K. Simmons


Thursday 26 November 2015

Joe Calzaghe - From Humble Beginnings to Household Name

Most celebrities do not become famous merely by chance. One can only reach celebrity status by a combination of hard work, dedication and heart with a little luck mixed in. Joe Calzaghe, like many others, started his boxing career with nothing but his two fists and a lot of drive, and he reached his goals through sweat, blood and tears.

Rags to riches stories are always encouraging and uplifting. In celebration of the release of the sports documentary, Mr. Calzaghe (in cinemas 20th November and Blu-ray & DVD 23rd November), we take a closer look at Joe Calzaghe’s transition from humble beginnings to becoming one of the world’s most well-known names in professional boxing.

Getting Started

Joe Calzaghe was born on March 23, 1972 to Sardinian father, Enzo Calzaghe and Welsh mother, Jackie Calzaghe. He grew up in Newbridge, Wales with his humble, working-class family.


One Christmas his father, Enzo, gave him a punching bag, and that’s where it all began. In 1980, at age nine, Joe entered his first boxing match and lost, but because of his passion for the sport he trained tirelessly and did not give up on succeeding. Joe only lost 9 out of 130 amateur fights.  His father, Enzo, saw his son’s natural talent and dedicated his time to training Joe to become the best boxer possible.


Joe was verbally bullied in school and as a consequence struggled with low self-worth. He began to use boxing as an escape. He found boxing as a successful way to help him release his aggression and find confidence. From the beginning he had dreams of becoming the world champion in boxing.

Career Success

By 1993, Joe became the first British boxer to hold titles in three different weight categories in the Amateur Boxing Association. This is the year he also turned professional with a win in his first professional match. In 1997, he became the World Super Middleweight Champion after defeating Sir Chris Eubank.


Joe won the International Boxing Federation title in 2006, and in April of 2007 defeated Peter Manfredo, Jr. in front of a record breaking crowd for an indoor boxing event with 35,000 spectators. In November 2007, Joe became the world champion when he defeated Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler.


He made a trip to America in April 2008 leaving with a win against Bernard Hopkins. In November of the same year, he fought and defeated American and former world champion in four weight classes, Roy Jones, Jr., in a unanimous decision after a gruelling 12 rounds.


Joe Calzaghe finally put his fists down in February 2009 when he retired. He left his profession with an amazing undefeated record of 46 wins and 32 by knockout, but this legend did not gain the title of greatest Welsh boxer of all time by pure luck.  He proved to the world that hard work, dedication and passion can help you to succeed your wildest dreams.


In Cinemas and on-demand 
20th November

Available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download
23rd November 2015


Competition: Win Mr Calzaghe on DVD

MR. CALZAGHE will be in select UK cinemas and On Demand on 20th November and available on DVD, Blu-ray™ and Download on 23rd November, and to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away!

Synopsis:
From director Vaughan Sivell comes the critically acclaimed sports documentary MR. CALZAGHE. This intimate portrayal tells the extraordinary story of JOE CALZAGHE and his father ENZO, an unusual father-son team who, from humble beginnings in Wales and through sheer grit and determination, have travelled the globe from Cardiff to Las Vegas to take on the vicious world of boxing, beating the best fighters that America could throw at them and showing the world they are a force to be reckoned with.

With a mix of archive footage and home videos along with extensive interviews from family members, champions and opponents including Chris Eubank, Mikkel Kessler and celebrity fans Michael J. Fox, Matthew Rhys and James Dean Bradfield of The Manic Street Preachers, MR. CALZAGHE is the real life Rocky tale that is not only a thrilling and pulse-pounding account of an amazing career but a moving celebration of a unique father-son relationship and an absolute must watch for all boxing and sporting fans.

Win This:
Mr Calzaghe [DVD] [2015]

To enter all you have to do is answer this easy question...

Competition Closed

Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - Trailer


PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is a fresh twist on Jane Austen's widely celebrated novel. A mysterious plague has fallen upon 19th century England, the land is overrun with the undead and feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is a master of martial arts and weaponry. Casting aside personal and social prejudices, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy must unite on the blood-soaked battlefield to rid the country of the zombie menace and discover their true love for one another.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES will be released by Lionsgate UK in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on 11th February 2016.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Captain America: Civil War - Trailer World Premiere


This is the worldwide exclusive trailer debut for Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.

After the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, another international incident involving Captain America and the Avengers results in collateral damage, prompting politicians to form a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to call in the Avengers, which results in the fracturing of the team while they attempt to protect the world from a new enemy.

Cast:
Chris Evans
Robert Downey, Jr.
Scarlett Johansson
Sebastian Stan
Anthony Mackie
Emily VanCamp
Don Cheadle
Jeremy Renner
Chadwick Boseman
Paul Bettany
Elizabeth Olsen
Paul Rudd
Frank Grillo
Daniel Brühl
William Hurt

Tuesday 24 November 2015

Award-winning comedy Humble Pie is served up on Download Dec 7


From the producer of Napoleon Dynamite, starring William Baldwin, Hubbel Palmer & Kathleen Quinlan, award-winning, comedy HUMBLE PIE is now available to download in the UK courtesy of TriCoast UK and The Movie Partnership.

At nearly 400 pounds, Tracy Orbison (Hubbel Palmer) is a wide target. When he sets out to pursue his dream of acting, the grocery clerk finds that his acting coach (William Baldwin), has designs on his sister Peggy (24’s Mary Lynn Rajskub); his friends suck him into their petty crimes and then there’s his God-fearing mother (Kathleen Quinlan). Through it all, Tracy remains irrepressibly upbeat, convinced he’s destined for something big.

Humble Pie is the debut film from BYU film grad Chris Bowman, and it is written by leading actor Hubbel Palmer. Palmer is one of the writers on Mastermind, staring Owen Wilson, yet to be released,

Official Trailer:

The film will be released in the UK on Download on Dec 7, available on iTunes, Amazon Video and Google Play.

Running Time:  84 min, Language: English

Spectre Becomes The UK's Highest Grossing Imax Film Of All Time


LONDON – Nov. 24, 2015 – IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) today announced that Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions’, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios’ and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s SPECTRE is now the highest-grossing IMAX film of all time in the UK. The twenty-fourth installment in the James Bond franchise grossed a record-setting £6.66m ($10.1m) within the four weeks following its October 26 debut.

SPECTRE beat the previous IMAX record-holder, Avatar, which grossed £6.55m during its time in the UK IMAX box office in 2009. Skyfall — the last James Bond installment — also broke IMAX records in the US when it debuted in 2012 with a $12.75 million box office, demonstrating the international appeal of the films.

“In cinema history, there is nothing quite like James Bond, and SPECTRE in IMAX again raised the bar for this iconic franchise in a spectacular way,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “It’s serendipitous when a well-loved British film resonates better than ever with UK audiences and our company is thrilled to now be embedded in this legacy.”

 “We congratulate our longtime friends and partners Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and Sam Mendes as well as MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment on this phenomenal achievement and look forward to the film’s continued smash success in IMAX theatres both in the UK and worldwide.”

The IMAX release of SPECTRE has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 - Review by Carleton Rutter


Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson and Donald Sutherland
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, War
Strapline: "The Fire Will Burn Forever"

So, in a nutshell?
After being symbolized as the "Mockingjay", Katniss Everdeen and District 13 engage in an all-out revolution against the autocratic Capitol.

So, what are my thoughts?
The Hunger Games franchise for me falls in with the same crowd as The Maze Runner and Divergent series' of movies. Not on the obvious point that they are all adaptations of Dystopian teen novels, but inasmuch as I never caught the first installments at the cinema. So in preparation for this last chapter,  I caught the three previous entries at home at the start of September. 

The were good if unremarkable. I happen to catch the Divergent films first though, this was unfortunate as many parallels can be drawn between the two franchises,  i.e. a gifted and gutsy heroine front and centre who becomes a symbol of hope against an autocratic government. The Hunger Games of course came first, so in retrospect this is the order in which I should have seen them.

Anyhoo, Jennifer Lawrence did well in the lead, but again parallels in real life can be drawn with Shalene Woodley in the Divergent series in the sense that an entire franchise seems to rest singularly on their shoulders. Both though, are more than up to the task.

So here we are with the inevitable last part of the final book, which has been the norm now in Hollywood for sometime, Harry Potter, The Hobbit and Divergent being just three examples. Only with The Maze Runner has it been decided will keep the last book to one film. 

Of the three first installments on balance my favourite was probably Catching Fire with The Hunger Games clearly being the set up movie and Mockingjay Part 1 being too much talking and not enough action. 

This last installment certainly readdresses the lack of action in Mockingjay Part 1, but to be honest little else. Mockingjay part 2 is a dark final chapter as one would expect. However I did not expect it to be so boring, flat and predictable. I really wanted Part 2 to rise above the relative mediocrity of the series thus far, but alas it does not. 

The first issue I have with the movie is the pacing, it's all over the place. The first act is a real slow burn as it seems to take ages to distance itself from the pacing of Part 1. This portion of the movie could have been expedited and we would have been none the wiser. The second act where Katniss and her crew commence their assault on the Capital and President Snow is the movies best part, but it was rushed! As for the last act, I found this to be very disjointed, to the extent I was thinking, "Have they cut out scenes here?" I found it also to be frankly predictable and boring. 

As I say the best part of the movie is the middle act, as our band of rebels do their best to navigate the Capital as the games makers throw obstacles in their path called "Pods". These pods take the shape of several things such as a wave of tar, underground monsters known as "Mutts" and a wall of fire. All very nice I'm sure but not really original and rather bland. It's very much the case of the best bits are in the trailer.

My other issue with the movie is the cast. Jennifer Lawrence front and centre provides another strong central performance but at this stage in her career the role offers her no real challenge so she kind of phones in the performance. Josh Hutcherson is good in support as the troubled Peeta, but the two have zero chemistry. 

All other central returning characters like Gale, Finnick, Cressida, Ross and Henson get their share of screen time as does newcomer Michelle Forbes (Star Trek's Ro Laren) But the big hitters are woefully brushed over. Donald Sutherland's deliciously evil President Snow is rendered impotent in this movie, his gravitas is missing. This trend of under using the main returning actors does not stop with Sutherland. Woody Harrelson, Jeffrey Wright and Elizabeth Banks all fall into this camp. Finally, as for Stanley Tucci's brilliantly creepy TV host Caesar Flickerman, he is literally just shoehorned in for a few scenes. 

My Rating  
2*/5*

Far from the rousing finale, Mockingjay part 2 is a let down with a very anticlimactic ending. It features a descent series of action sequences in the middle chapter but that's all really. Jennifer Lawrence continues to hold this franchise together with sticky tape. I was very disappointed with the under utilisation of the major players in particular President Snow. If you've watched the previous entries then you might as well see this last chapter. However for any of you thinking of checking this one as a movie in its own right, avoid it. It's more lukewarm than flaming hot. 

Review by Carleton Rutter

Bridge of Spies - Review by Carleton Rutter


Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda and Amy Ryan
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Strapline: "In the shadow of war, one man showed the world what we stand for"

So, in a nutshell?
James Donovan (Hanks) an American lawyer is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union.

So, what are my thoughts?
Steven Spielberg is my favourite director of all time. There are other great directors in Hollywood today such as J.J Abrams, Christopher Nolan, and Ron Howard to name just three. However nobody can quite capture the magic of Spielberg himself. So whenever he releases a movie it is always an event. Tom Hanks is also perhaps my favourite actor in Hollywood as well. The two men have collaborated over the years on many projects most notably Saving Private Ryan (1998). ​Their partnership however can be traced all the way back to 1986, when Spielberg produced Money Pit which starred Hanks.

​Bridge of Spies marks the fourth time Spielberg has directed a movie starring Tom Hanks. The others being, Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me if You Can (2002) and finally The Terminal (2004). ​

So, what do I make to their fourth collaboration? Well I enjoyed it, based on a true story, Bridge of Spies is an excellent film which perfectly captures the tense existence during this unprecedented time in history. One of the beauties of this movie is I knew very little about it going in, so this really aided to the general level of suspense. Although the movie clocks in at a lengthy 2 hours 20 mins, for a drama based on the Cold War, it flew by.

This was largely due to Spielberg's brilliant and confident direction. Tom Hanks in the central role excels. He is as this stage of his career like Morgan Freeman someone who now just plays himself, or at least our personification of him. This is fine though as he fits like a glove. Special mention should also be mentioned to the writers Matt Charman and the Coen Brothers, yes the Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men, True Grit, Fargo and The Big Lebowski) wrote this movie.

Bridge of Spies ​also features a great cast, with the likes of Alan Alda and Amy Ryan but without doubt the star player is Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel the Russian spy. I wouldn't be surprised if he was shortlisted as Best Supporting Actor come the awards season. Such an understated but subtle performance.

The movie looks stunning and is very well shot, this is no surprise when you learn it was shot by Janusz Kaminski who has provided some of the most startling and memorable images from Spielberg's movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List. Kaminski has done for the Cold War in this movie what he did for the beach landings in Ryan and the concentration camp in Schindler's List. The movie is extremely evocative of the Cold War era.

As for the movie itself, it essentially has two main acts, Hanks defending Rylance and then the story of the shot down U2 Spy plane Air Force Pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) and how the two are exchanged by the authorities. Bridge of Spies is very much a Spielberg movie for adults, not for the masses. There is hardly any "action" as you might call it but there are welcome sprinklings of humour.

It's not for everyone, but for me this is an old school spy movie. This is what it would have been really like, forget the gadgets, girls, and humour of other spy entries this year, this is what a spy movie should be like, suspenseful and intriguing. It's very much the thinking man's spy movie.

My Rating 
4*/5*

Bridge of Spies is as good as I had hoped it would be. Featuring assured confident direction from Spielberg with an equally assured central performance from Tom Hanks, this movie did not disappoint. Add to that a strong quality cast with a great performance by Mark Rylance in support, and a movie that is so evocative of the era, this is one movie which I hope you will enjoy. It will prove too slow for some people and given the nature of the movie, is equally effective on the small screen as the big, but if you are looking for a classy quality drama this month, you will do well to check this out. You won't catch a cold.

Bridge of Spies is released in the UK on Friday 27th November

Review by Carleton Rutter
http://www.carletonrutter.com


Horror Channel reveal 4 UK premieres for December viewing


Friday nights on Horror Channel get bloody as the UK’s only dedicated TV destination for horror fans, ushers in four UK TV premieres for December, including a Christmas Day offering of Steven C. Miller’s demented Santa slasher SILENT NIGHT, which stars Malcolm McDowell and Jaime King.

The other knuckle-whitening premieres are Kaare Andrew’s CABIN FEVER 3: PATIENT ZERO, Todd Levin’s home-invasion chiller STATIC and John Geddes much admired Zombie film EXIT HUMANITY, with Brian Cox and Bill Mosely. Plus, the Boxing Day film is the Network Premiere of Steven Spielberg’s heart-pounding road-chase thriller DUEL.

Full details:

Fri 25 Dec @ 10.55pm – SILENT NIGHT (2012) *UK TV Premiere

A remake of the horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night, Malcolm McDowell and Jaime King star as a small-town sheriff and deputy on the hunt for a murderous Santa Claus terrorising their community on Christmas Eve. But with the streets full of Santas for the annual Christmas parade, the killer is hiding in plain sight. He's made his list and the naughty are going to pay with their lives. It’s also loosely based on the real life Covina massacre of 2008.

Fri 4 Dec @ 22.45pm – CABIN FEVER 3: PATIENT ZERO (2014) *UK TV Premiere

A group of friends planned the perfect vacation in the Caribbean, but when they head ashore to explore a remote island, their ultimate bachelor weekend devolves into their worst nightmare. After an ill-fated swim in contaminated water, they stumble upon a seemingly abandoned research facility where a deadly, flesh-eating virus has been unleashed. Directed by reputed comic book artist Kaare Andrews and starring Sean Astin, Currie Graham and Ryan Donowho

Fri 11 Dec @ 9pm – STATIC (2012) *UK TV Premiere

Grieving writer Jonathan (Milo Ventimiglia) and his wife Addie (Sarah Shahi) have moved to an isolated village to get over the death of their three-year-old son. Relying on work and alcohol to get over the tragedy, they're surprised to find a terrified young woman (Sarah Paxton) on their doorstep one night. She claims she's been chased a gang of masked men... but there's more to her than meets the eye. Directed by Todd Levin, this is a worthy addition to the home invasion genre.

Fri 18 Dec @ 9pm – EXIT HUMANITY (2011) *UK TV Premiere

Returning home after surviving the horrors of the American Civil War, Edward Young (Mark Gibson) enjoys only the briefest amount of happiness with his family before tragedy strikes. His farmland is overtaken by a swarm of the living dead costing him his wife and child. As he hunts for his missing son, Edward struggles with his own sanity, his fate and the future of mankind as he begins his personal journey encountering a power crazed madman, General Williams (Bill Moseley). Narrated by Brian Cox.

Sat 26 Dec @ 6.40pm – DUEL (1971) *Network Premiere

Duel was Steven Spielberg’s second full length feature and the one that ignited his career. Based on a true short story and originally aired as a TV film, it follows (quite literally) salesman David Mann (Dennis Weaver), as he drives cross-country. He encounters a tanker driven by an unseen driver and unable to escape the demonic big rig, David finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the monstrous truck. When the pursuit escalates to deadly levels, David must summon his inner warrior and turn the tables on his tormentor.

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138 | Freeview 70
www.horrorchannel.co.uk | twitter.com/horror_channel

Friday 20 November 2015

A Monster Calls - First Trailer

A Monster Calls

A visually spectacular drama from acclaimed director Juan Antonio Bayona (“The Impossible”), based on the award-winning children’s fantasy novel. 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) attempts to deal with his mother’s (Felicity Jones) illness and the bullying of his classmates by escaping into a fantastical world of monsters and fairy tales that explore courage, loss, and faith. Also featuring Liam Neeson who will star in performance-capture and voiceover as the nocturnally visiting monster of the title, and Sigourney Weaver as the maternal grandmother.

A Monster Calls is in cinemas October 2016.

Thursday 19 November 2015

Zoolander 2 Trailer (2016) - Paramount Pictures


Ben Stiller is back as Derek Zoolander in the new Zoolander 2 trailer. Zoolander 2 is coming to theaters February 12, 2016.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Now You See Me 2 - Official Trailer


SYNOPSIS
THE FOUR HORSEMEN [Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan] return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe.

One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than WALTER MABRY [Daniel Radcliffe], a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet.

Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

Now You See Me 2 is released in cinemas on June 10th 2016

Dragon Blade - Official International Trailer (2015) Jackie Chan, John Cusack [HD]


IN CINEMAS AND ON DEMAND FROM JANUARY 15th, 2016

The living martial arts legend that is Jackie Chan makes his long awaited return to the big screen when DRAGON BLADE is released at cinemas and on demand from January 15th, 2016, courtesy of Signature Entertainment.

Two thousand years ago, a mysterious legion of extremely fearsome warriors galloped along the famous Silk Road. Dressed in exquisitely carved amour, the legion used weapons and battle formations that had never been seen in China.

The soldiers are part of a Roman legion led by General Lucius (John Cusack; Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity), marching east to protect Publius, the youngest son of Consul Crassus, from his vicious brother Tiberius (Adrien Brody; The Pianist, The Grand Budapest Hotel). It is publicly known that Tiberius had assassinated his father and blinded his own brother, so Lucius rescues Pubilus and heads east.

After becoming lost in the desert they arrive at Wild Geese Gate, where Lucius meets Huo An (Jackie Chan; Rush Hour, Drunken Master), the Commander of the Silk Road Protection Squad of the Western Region. The two men - who have each been framed for treason - earn each other's respect and form an allegiance as Tiberius eventually arrives with his army, demanding Huo An hand over Lucius and Publius or witness his forces annex China. To protect his country and to clear his name of treason, Huo An gathers all the allies of China to unite together and take on Tiberius in an epic battle that will be remembered forever…

A soaring epic where east brutally meets west, DRAGON BLADE unites some of Hollywood’s most respected acting talent with Jackie Chan’s inimitable style and energy to unforgettable effect, delivering the New Year’s first essential appointment for action epic fans everywhere.


Competition: Win "Hot Pursuit" on Blu-Ray - Released November 23rd


Comedy duos don’t come much funnier than Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara who are on the run in Hot Pursuit. It’s nearly time to join their escape as they adventure through Texas and with Hot Pursuit released on Blu-RayTM and DVD from November 23, we’re giving you the chance to win a Blu-RayTM copy of the film.

In “Hot Pursuit,” Reese Witherspoon plays an uptight and by-the-book cop who tries her best to protect the sexy and outgoing widow (Sofia Vergara from TV’s Modern Family) of a drug boss, as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.

WATCH THE TRAILER


Own Hot Pursuit on Blu-RayTM and DVD from November 23. Pre-order now: 
Amazon Links
Hot Pursuit [DVD] [2015]
Hot Pursuit [Blu-ray] [2015]

To be in with a chance of winning this awesome prize, simply answer the question below.

Competition Closed

Closing date for competition entry is 30th November 2015, any and all entries after this date will not count.

--

For further information on Hot Pursuit join us here https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosuk/ 
follow us @WarnerBrosUK or visit here

© 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

The understated roles of Russell Crowe


An Oscar winner, renowned for his tough-guy roles, Russell Crowe is no stranger to the Hollywood blockbuster. Despite his early acclaimed work in films such as Romper Stomper and LA Confidential, his heroic performance in Gladiator showed that he was capable of tackling a nuanced character in an action-packed environment, establishing him as a bonafide A-list actor. The iconic movie opened doors, allowing him to display his versatility in character studies and low key fare, such as A Beautiful Mind and State Of Play, which showcased a more reserved, but no less powerful Crowe. Fathers and Daughters sees him in his latest role, playing a Pulitzer-winning novelist and widower, struggling with mental illness as he tries to raise his 5-year old daughter.

The film is packed with acting talent such as Amanda Seyfried (Lovelace), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Jane Fonda (Klute), Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), Octavia Spencer (The Help) and Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts Of The Southern Wild), and to celebrate the release, we take a look at some of Russell Crowe’s most understated roles.

Cinderella Man (2005)
The story of a washed-up boxing champion, Cinderella Man saw Russell Crowe playing blue-collar hero James Braddock. Struggling to keep a job in the Great Depression and unable to pay the bills, the ex-prizefighter is at rock bottom, but is offered one last chance to keep his family together and make his dream come true. Inspired by the true story of a sporting legend, Crowe’s journey from rags-to-riches is one that remains a real treat for film fans.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)
A performance sitting in the shadows of his other well-known Western, The Quick and the Dead, 3:10 to Yuma sees Crowe as small-time rancher Ben Wade in this underrated battle of wills. Finding himself on a hazardous journey filled with ambushes by Indians, Wade’s demeanor is both convincing and stealthy in this intense, yet underestimated ride.

Body of Lies (2008)
Receiving mixed reviews, Crowe helped to bring this otherwise unexceptional film to note, with praise for stellar performances from its leading men. Standing alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Body of Lies saw the pair elevate the conventional political thriller, hatching a complicated plan to capture the cleric who led a group placing bombs all over Europe. Swapping his physical dominance for one where his strength lies with intelligence, Crowe’s brain was shown to be more powerful than his brawn in this modest role.

The Next Three Days (2010)
While the critical consensus stated Crowe’s performance to be solid, The Next Three Days remains a film unrecognised within his impressive collection. The story of John Brennan, who becomes obsessed with finding a way to break his wife out of jail when she is convicted of murder, Crowe showed great versatility as he moves from passive professor, to determined husband, to calculated mastermind in this fast-paced thriller.

Fathers and Daughters (2015)
Drawn to a script of such tenderness as Fathers And Daughters, Crowe was taken by the simple story of a parent-child relationship and the complications that can arise from life to tear it apart.
Playing a widower, novelist and loving father resolutely trying to raise his daughter as he fights mental illness, he brings a truly moving performance to an understated, character piece and, despite the wealth of acting talent around him, is the heart of the film.

FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS IS IN CINEMAS NOW