REVIEW: RENO 911 The Hunt for QAnon

 

Review by Jon Donnis

When I heard that they were gonna make a RENO 911 film about QAnon, I rolled my eyes, and expected it to be yet another ridiculous, far left, Hollywood attack on anyone vaguely to the right of Bernie Sanders.

However in RENO 911 The Hunt for QAnon I think they may have actually done the opposite to what they intended. (or the opposite of what the media is telling you the film is about)

Someone wants to sue Q, the mysterious secretive figure that supposedly knows all the secrets of the Government and elites, and also a big Trump supporter. So the Reno Sheriff's Department decide that they need to find Q so they can serve him papers.

They find themselves on a Q Booze Cruise, throw in your usual Reno 911 sillyness, and you can pretty much guess the kind of set pieces that go on.

Note: There is Q, and there are "Anons", there is no such thing as QAnon, that is a media creation.

The interesting point I started to consider while watching this, is that if I was Q or one of his followers the "Anons", and I wanted to make a movie, this is the exact kind of movie I would make.

A self mocking film, that the ultra liberal actors who star, have no idea that the very thing they represent is what is really being mocked.

For example, when on the Q Booze Cruise, it quickly becomes apparent that virtually everyone is an undercover cop, CIA, FBI etc, or undercover journalists, and there isn't really many real Anons on the cruise.If any at all.

This is literally what such people claim happened at the January 6 Protest, it was all undercover cops and agitators who caused it. How many times have we seen stories break that seem to target so called Right Wingers of crimes, racism and so on, and it turns out that it was either the FBI involved, or liberal journalists?

Another interesting thing is that the film very early on clearly names Tom Hanks as an alleged pedophile, and later on David Copperfield as having a sex dungeon, all part of what the Anons believe, yet the film only alludes to other characters within the movement, "a pillow guy" is one example. Why would you not fear Tom Hanks suing you, but fear Mike Lindell suing you?

They even end up on Jeffrey Epstein's pedo island. Way to expose a secret elite pedophile ring as no more than a far right conspiracy!

The question therefore has to be asked. Is the film maker really a secret Q believer? Is he an Anon?

Remember when South Park would often accuse celebrities of crimes, and then years later the truth would come out and South Park was correct. Kevin Spacey a perfect example. Is this what is going on with Reno 911? Only time will tell I guess.

The Good

If you are a Reno 911 fan, and like the sillyness of the TV series, then this is more of the same.

The Bad

Some of the jokes fall flat, and the subject matter will instantly put many people off as they will just see this as yet another hollywood attack on anyone who dared to support Donald Trump.

Overall

Any time you try to use major political events as a plot line in a film, you risk alienating a huge portion of your potential viewers. And I fear that Reno 911 has done just that.

The film is not going to go down as a comedy classic, but it is also not all bad, it does have some genuine laugh out loud moments and any fan of the show should enjoy this, just dont let any pre-conceived ideas of what you think this film is about stop you from giving it a chance to entertain.

I score RENO 911 The Hunt for QAnon a fair 6/10

REVIEW: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Review by Jon Donnis

Following on directly from the previous film, Spider-Man's identity has now revealed, and with that Peter Parker sees his life and the life of his friends starting to unravel, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. Create a spell that will make people forget that Peter Parker is Spider-man, however when Peter tries to change the spell in the middle of it being cast, everything goes wrong, and now the multiverse has been opened.

Enter some of the baddies from previous incarnations of the Spider-Man franchise, and eventually previous incarnations of Spider-Man himself, and you have one of the best Marvel films ever made and a bunch of Spider-men, although Holland refers to them as Spider-mans.

However one major problem with opening up the past in this way, is it really makes you realise how good the Tobey Maguire Spider-man was, and how terrible the Andrew Garfield one was. Not to mention the Maguire Spider-man has by far the best looking suit, as well as being the only one who could fire real webs from his wrists.

Tom Holland however has cemented himself as the modern day Spidey and being way closer in age to what the character is supposed to be helps massively.

Big action scenes, decent story, old faces and new ones. Potentially a good reset for Tom Holland's Spidey with regards to future films, it is hard not to recommend Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The Good

Great to see Tobey Maguire again in the Spidey suit, easily the highlight of the film.

The Bad

Rehashing old villains seems a bit lazy.

Overall

The best Marvel film in a while.

8/10

Quick Review: Venom Let There Be Carnage

A short film that is light on laughs (despite trying really hard to be funny) but heavy on action.

Pointless plot and lackluster ending left me feeling unsatisfied, this film is a quick cash in. No more, no less.

A poor 5/10

Synopsis

Eddie Brock attempts to reignite his career by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady, who becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and escapes prison after a failed execution.

First Look character images and teaser poster revealed for The Amazing Maurice

First Look character images and teaser poster for The Amazing Maurice, a Sky Original to mark the 20th Anniversary of the book by Sir Terry Pratchett.

This animated family film is based on the wildly popular Discworld ® novels and will star Hugh Laurie (Avenue 5) as Maurice, Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) as Malicia, David Thewlis (Wonder Woman) as Boss Man, Himesh Patel (Yesterday) as Keith, Gemma Arterton (The King's Man) as Peaches, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) as The Mayor, David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Dangerous Beans, Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) as Darktan, Rob Brydon (Roald & Beatrix: The Tale of the Curious Mouse) as The Pied Piper, Julie Atherton (Avenue Q) as Nourishing and YouTuber Joe Sugg as Sardines.

In The Amazing Maurice, a Sky Original, Maurice is a streetwise ginger cat who comes up with a money-making scam by befriending a group of self-taught talking rats. When Maurice and the rodents reach the stricken town of Bad Blintz, they meet a bookworm called Malicia and their little con soon goes down the drain.

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a children's fantasy by Sir Terry Pratchett, published by Doubleday in 2001, who and has sold nearly 100 million books worldwide. It was the 28th novel in the Discworld ® series, but the first written for children. The Amazing Maurice is a lively and entertaining adventure inspired by the German fairy tale about the Pied Piper of Hamelin and a parody of the folk tale genre. Pratchett won the annual Carnegie Medal for the book – children's literature's highest award. Despite many other awards, honorary degrees and the knighthood that followed, Sir Terry Pratchett always emphasised that this was the award of which he was most proud.

The Amazing Maurice, a Sky Original will be released on Sky Cinema in 2022. The film will also be available on streaming service NOW via the Sky Cinema Membership.

You can see all of the images, full screen on our Facebook page at Facebook.com/BeenToTheMovies

Make sure to give us a like and follow too.

Principal Photography Begins On IMMORTAL

Principal photography has begun on IMMORTAL, a nerve-crunching World War II action film, from Rare Exports director Jalmari Helander, in which one man goes to war against the Nazi German army in the Finnish wilderness. Filming will take place in Lapland and Helsinki, Finland.

IMMORTAL (Sisu in Finnish) is written and directed by Helander (Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, Big Game) and produced by Petri Jokiranta and Subzero Film Entertainment. Executive producers are Mike Goodridge, Gregory Ouanhon and Antonio Salas. 

After years of searching in vain, Aatami Korpi finally finds gold in the wilds of Lapland. To get his loot home, he must travel through wilderness occupied and destroyed by German troops.

Jorma Tommila (Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale) will play Aatami. Cast members joining Tommila include Aksel Hennie (The Martian), Jack Doolan (The Hatton Garden Job) and Onni Tommila (Big Game).

Jalmari Helander, Writer & Director

“It is more than exciting for me to be starting production on IMMORTAL. A few months ago, I woke up at five in the morning so excited about this day. Now it’s here, it’s a hell of a good feeling. I have long cherished the idea of a bang ‘em up action movie set in the last days of World War II in Finland, and we have assembled a dream team of crew and cast to bring it to life. It’s great for me to be working with my long-time acting collaborators Jorma Tommila and Onni Tommila, but also exciting to have new players Aksel Hennie and Jack Doolan join us."

The creative team includes director of photography Kjell Lagerroos, production designer Otso Linnalaakso, costume designer Anna Vilppunen, makeup designer Salla Yli-Luopa and editor Juho Virolainen.

The Manor - Official Trailer

https://youtu.be/kKIhdhesFTk

A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in The Manor, a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davison), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith's frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.

 

Written and Directed by: Axelle Carolyn

Starring: Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larsen, Fran Bennett and Katie Amanda Keane

Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sandy King and Richard J Bosner

Madres - Official Trailer

https://youtu.be/GNusqV6dUfY

Beto (Tenoch Huerta) and Diana (Ariana Guerra), a young Mexican-American couple expecting their first child, move to a small town in 1970's California where Beto has been offered a job managing a farm. Isolated from the community and plagued by confusing nightmares, Diana explores the rundown company ranch where they reside, finding a grisly talisman and a box containing the belongings of the previous residents. Her discoveries will lead her to a truth much stranger and more terrifying than she could have possibly imagined.  

 

Directed by: Ryan Zarazoga

Written by: Marcella Ochoa & Mario Miscione

Starring: Tenoch Huerta, Ariana Guerra, Evelyn Gonzalez, Kerry Cahill, and Elpidia Carrillo

Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sanjay Sharma and Matthew Myers

Black As Night - Official Trailer

https://youtu.be/iuXnGbxTxDE

A resourceful teenage girl leaves childhood behind when she battles a group of deadly vampires in Black as Night, an action-horror hybrid with a strong social conscience and a biting sense of humor. Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, a new threat leaves its mark on the Big Easy in the form of puncture wounds on the throats of the city's vulnerable displaced population. When her drug-addicted mom becomes the latest victim of the undead, 15-year old Shawna (Asjha Cooper) vows to even the score. Along with three trusted friends, Shawna hatches a bold plan to infiltrate the vampire's mansion in the historic French Quarter, destroy their leader, and turn his fanged disciples back to their human form. But killing monsters is no easy task, and soon Shawna and her crew find themselves caught in a centuries-old conflict between warring vampire factions, each fighting to claim New Orleans as their permanent home.

 

Directed by: Maritte Lee Go

Written by: Sherman Payne

Starring: Asjha Cooper, Fabrizio Guido, Mason Beauchamp, Abbie Gayle with Craig Tate and Keith David

Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Maggie Malina and Guy Stodel

Sky to release Fran Kranz’s critically acclaimed film debut Mass, a Sky Original

Sky today announces its release of Sky Original film Mass, starring Emmy Award winner Ann Dowd (The Handmaid's Tale), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Martha Plimpton (The Goonies) and Tony Award winner Reed Birney (House of Cards). Mass, a Sky Original is produced by Fran Kranz (Dollhouse, Cabin in the Woods) in his first writer-director debut and will release in cinemas and on Sky Cinema in 2022 across the UK & Ireland.

Fran Kranz, writer, director and producer of Mass comments: "I could not be more excited or proud to be working with Sky on the release of Mass in the UK and Ireland. While it's a small and intimate film it grapples with large and urgent themes. The leading actors give four unforgettable performances of such emotional scale, and it all comes together in one very formidable experience. More than anything, I am honoured to share their work with the world."

Set predominantly on one set, this visually unique film looks at two sets of parents (Birney and Dowd, Isaacs and Plimpton), who years after an unspeakable tragedy tore their lives apart, agree to talk privately in an attempt to move forward. In Fran Kranz's writing and directing debut, he thoughtfully examines their journey of grief, anger, and acceptance by coming face-to-face with the ones who have been left behind.

Julia Stuart, Director of Original Films at Sky comments: "It is a great privilege for us to bring Kranz's writer-director debut Mass to a wider audience, as it joins our Sky Original film line-up for 2022. Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton and Reed Birney's stellar performances of Kranz's powerful script creates a rare and powerful film and I can't wait to share it with our customers."

Mass, a Sky Original is produced by Kranz, Casey Wilder Mott, JP Ouellette and Dylan Matlock. The film will be available on Sky Cinema and streaming service NOW via the Sky Cinema Membership.  

New documentary explores the magazine that shaped British culture

How one magazine transformed British photography

 

Ship Of Life Films have announced the release of their new documentary, Picture Stories, about the life and legacy of Picture Post, the revolutionary magazine which shaped perceptions of British life during and after the Second World War.

 

Ahead of its UK theatrical release on the 24th September, the documentary will also have special screenings at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol on 15th September, and the Photography Show (NEC Birmingham) on 18th September. Following the UK theatrical release, Picture Stories will be released on digital download on 30th September.

 

Britain's best-selling magazine during the Second World War, and hugely influential for years after, Picture Post revolutionised the picture magazine, showing Britain to the British in a fundamentally new way.

 

Using the freedom of new camera technology, Picture Post's photographers portrayed the lives of ordinary people, at home, on the street, unposed - in a way they had never been seen before.

 

Through its powerful, socially committed picture stories, Picture Post helped to transform post-war Britain, and change the face of British photography.

The story of this iconic magazine is told by its photographers, writers and editors. Leading contemporary photographers reflect on Picture Post's extraordinary images and influence.

 

Commenting on the release, film director Rob West stated; "Picture Post is arguably the most important magazine in British social history. It was born under the threat of War, and survived and flourished under the intense bombardment of the Blitz. Extraordinarily, during the height of World War II, Picture Post was looking ahead to post-War life and to the possibility of fundamental social reform.

 

Picture Post had a huge impact on national awareness of social conditions in Britain and of the need for a comprehensive welfare state and a national health service. It brought cutting-edge photography, and the picture story, to a mass audience. It changed people's understanding of their own country by showing, vividly, what British life was really like.

 

I wanted to bring the extraordinary story of Picture Post and its photographers to modern audiences. Many of things we take for granted in photography, and our understanding of photographs and picture layout, started with Picture Post. Many of our ideas about British society were forged by Picture Post and its unique group of creators."

 

UK screenings of Picture Stories will take place from 15th September and will be available on Digital Download from 30th September. More info can be found at picturestoriesfilm.com

From the Vine - Poster and release details

Parkland Entertainment has confirmed that their feelgood drama From The Vine, will be heading to UK Cinemas on 10th September and on Digital Download from 13th September.

 

Directed by Sean Cisterna, the film stars Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix / Midnight Run) alongside Wendy Crewson (Air Force One / Sixth Day), Marco Leonardi (Once Upon A Time In Mexico) and Paula Brancati.

 

The film sees Mark Gentile, an attorney and automotive company executive, travel to Italy after a major humiliation in business. He returns to the tiny village of Acerenza, visiting the vineyard where he grew up and finds it in a state of disrepair. Mark gets an idea to bring the overgrown property back to life and start producing wine again. Mark convinces various the citzens of Acerenza to aid him in this seemingly impractical effort, promising everyone a share in the business if it is successful.

 

Commenting on the release, Tom Stewart, Acquisitions Director at Parkland Entertainment commented; "We're delighted to bring this charming feel-good film to our audience."

 

From The Vine will be in UK Cinemas from 10th September and Digital Download from 13th September

Channel 4 commissions Rachel Nickell; My Mother’s Murder

Channel 4 has commissioned Monumental Pictures, Angel Station & Hatchling Films to make the 1x60 min documentary Rachel Nickell:  My Mother's Murder. This deeply personal authored film looks at the high profile murder of Rachel Nickell from her son Alex Hanscombe's  perspective and will also reveal the impact on the adults around him.  For the first time on television Alex revisits the events around his mother's murder, considering how this shaped the man he is today.

Alex was just two years old when he was the sole witness to his mother's brutal murder on Wimbledon Common.  After Rachel's death in July 1992, press and public alike became obsessed with the 'tragic tot' who witnessed his mother's murder just weeks before his third birthday.  Family, friends and professionals involved in the investigation worried about the impact it had on the young child, and many have not seen him since.

Months after Rachel's death, Alex and his father Andre fled the country to escape the public gaze.  Now, for the first time, they return to the UK and to Wimbledon common together.  Alex revisits this period of his life as he meets key people from the time, some of them friends of the family and relatives, others professionals involved in the case.

Whilst revisiting incredible trauma experienced by a young boy, we get to know Alex Hanscombe the man, offering hope that a life after unimaginable loss is possible.

"Diana" and "Diana’s Decades" - a definitive portrait of the princess from 72 Films

ITV has commissioned from 72 Films a new feature-length film "Diana" marking what would have been Princess Diana's 60th birthday, aiming to tell the definitive story of the most famous woman in the world.

ITV also announced a second commission Diana's Decades, a 3x60 series, from Spun Gold, taking in each stage of the princess's life as it played out against and influenced the spirit of the times.  

Told in the present tense, the 1x90 film Diana draws on never-heard-before testimony and rarely-seen archive footage to immerse viewers in the most iconic moments of the Princess's life.  

Using a rich tapestry of footage, photos and letters from those who were closest to the Princess, it pieces together her incredible journey from being a teenage Pimlico nursery assistant to finding her voice as the Princess of Wales.

The epic documentary, directed by the Bafta award winning Jemma Chisnall, also goes behind the scenes to provide a vivid insight into the complex woman behind the media image, who was by turns a global superstar, tabloid obsession, a wife in a tumultuous marriage, a devoted mother, a humanitarian icon and arguably the world's most hunted person.

Executive Producer for 72 Films, David Glover, says:  

"There is something a bit magical about Princess Diana – and despite the difficulties in her personal life she managed to use her connection with people to do huge amounts of good. Her 60th birthday feels like the perfect time to re-examine her life and legacy and explore just how she went from a relatively unknown teenager to the most mourned person who ever lived."

The programme is commissioned for ITV by Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual Entertainment, who says: 

"This year would have been Diana's 60th birthday, and the intention with this landmark documentary is to offer the definitive account of her life - both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. It is a difficult undertaking to shed new light on the most emotional, dramatic and pivotal elements of the life of Diana, when that light still burns brightly. But by delving deep into her relationships with friends, colleagues and staff, our aim is to provide a vivid portrayal of the woman who became known as the Queen Of Hearts."

Diana's Decades will take a fresh approach to the princess's life – showing how she channelled as well as influenced the zeitgeist at the end of the 20th Century.  Each episode highlights how an era of her life encapsulated the spirit of the age and inspired profound social change. The series tracks down people – some who have never given interviews before - who met her or whose lives intersected hers in some way from her early Royal life as a shy bride, through her high-profile work for HIV charities and much publicised contact with Hollywood and pop royalty in the 1980s, through to her becoming the 'People's Princess' and emblem of a new public emotional candour in the changing face of Britain under New Labour in the 1990s.

The series includes extraordinary, rarely seen archive footage from the Princess's life alongside iconic scenes from the changing social, fashion and economic cultures Diana lived through during the 1980s and 90s – from the "big bang" in the City, the transition from Thatcherism to the Blair era and changing attitudes to sexuality, 24-hour news channels and the confessional TV of Oprah Winfrey, to the rise of the Spice Girls during "Cool Britannia".

Daniela Neumann, MD of Spun Gold TV says: 

"Nearly 25 years on from her tragic death, Diana, Princess of Wales continues to lead our news bulletins and conversations not just in Britain but around the world. Diana's Decades takes a fresh approach to recounting her life and legacy by looking at how she was shaped by the changing world around her and as a result transformed not just the monarchy but also society more widely as her legacy."

Diana's Decades is a Spun Gold TV production for ITV. The series is filmed and directed by Nick Angel, produced by Jim Boyers and executive produced by Teresa Watkins. It was commissioned by Jo Clinton-Davis.

Pop Up Screens - London's Outdoor Cinema returns for Summer Screenings

Pop Up Screens have announced their return to London with an enormous season of outdoor cinema packed with feel good movies, guilty pleasures, and cult classics that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

A great time for you and your family to indulge in an evening that you won't forget with your loved ones. Its 'relaxed atmosphere and friendly vibe', praised by critics across the country will have you coming back year after year.

 

This year, Pop Up Screens will span across eight London parks and open spaces over three months, launching on 9th July at Coram's Fields with the fan favourite, The Craft.

 

There will be films for fans of all genres; including smash hit musical dramas such as The Greatest Showman, A Star Is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. For audiences wanting nostalgia, fans will be able to revisit fan favourites Back To The Future, The Goonies and Dirty Dancing and many more.

 

Check it out and you'll find a great environment, along with a bar, and some of London's best street food traders.

 

Pop Up Screenings Full Listings

9 July – Corams Fields – The Craft

10 July – Corams Fields – The Greatest Showman

11 July – Corams Fields – Bill & Ted Face the Music

16 July – Bishops Park, Fulham – 10 Things I Hate About You

17 July – Bishops Park, Fulham - Dirty Dancing

18 July – Bishops Park, Fulham – The Goonies

23 July – North Greenwich – 500 Days of Summer

24 July – North Greenwich - Grease

25 July – North Greenwich – Back to the Future

30 July – Hillyfields, Brockley – The Goonies

31 July – Hillyfields, Brockley – Dirty Dancing

1 Aug – Hillyfields, Brockley – Greatest Showman

6 Aug – Corams Fields – JoJo Rabbit

6 Aug – Corams Fields - Pretty Woman

6 Aug – Corams Fields - Ghostbusters

13 Aug – Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Jaws

14 Aug – Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Bohemian Rhapsody

15 Aug – Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – The Greatest Showman

16 Aug – Guildhall, City of London – The Greatest Showman

17 Aug – Guildhall, City of London - Moonlight

18 Aug – Guildhall, City of London - Philadelphia

19 Aug – Guildhall, City of London – The Beach

20 Aug – Guildhall, City of London - Dreamgirls

21 Aug – Guildhall, City of London – Priscilla Queen of the Desert

27 Aug – Manor House Gardens, Hither Green – Bohemian Rhapsody

28 Aug – Manor House Gardens, Hither Green – The Greatest Showman

29 Aug – Manor House Gardens, Hither Green – A Star is Born

3 Sept - Bishops Park, Fulham – Rocket Man

4 Sept - Bishops Park, Fulham – A Star is Born

5 Sept - Bishops Park, Fulham – The Greatest Showman

10 Sept - Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Dirty Dancing

11 Sept - Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Jurassic Park

12 Sept - Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Rocket Man

17 Sept – Kennington Park, Oval – The Greatest Showman

18 Sept – Kennington Park, Oval – Notting Hill

19 Sept – Kennington Park, Oval – A Star is Born

 

Tickets for Pop Up Screens can be bought at popupscreens.co.uk

Second Sight Films announce Standard Edition Blu-rays: In Bruges, Flight of the Navigator, World on A Wire and Upgrade this April

Second Sight brings a slew of their must have cult classic to Standard Edition Blu-ray, following their successful Limited-Edition releases. 

In Bruges - https://amzn.to/2PgZqBg

The hilariously dark hitman movie with a heart, In Bruges, gets its Standard-Edition Blu-ray release, complete with special features on 19 April from Second Sight. The film from award-winning director Martin McDonagh (Three Bill Boards Outside Ebbing Missouri), the film was originally released in 2008 and has gone on to earn cult status. It sees Brendan Gleeson (Cold Mountain) and Colin Farrell (The Lobster) in career defining, critically acclaimed performances, as a pair of hired heavies.

Flight of the Navigator - https://amzn.to/2Pi4qFX

Take a journey back in time to re-live family sci-fi classic Flight of the Navigator starring Joey Cramer, Sarah Jessica Parker and Paul Reubens, as it arrives on Standard Edition Blu-ray in an outstanding restored version, that was supervised by director Randal Kleiser (Grease, The Blue Lagoon), on 19 April from Second Sight.

The year is 1978 and 12-year-old David Freeman is knocked unconscious while playing. He wakes up and discovers it's now 1986 and he's been missing for eight years. NASA believes he's been abducted by aliens and want to use him for their research. But with the guidance of a strange unseen entity he discovers a hidden spaceship and with the help of MAX the computer sets off on an incredible mission to get back to the past where he belongs…

World on a Wire - https://amzn.to/3tEDLBO

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's dystopian sci-fi epic World on a Wire was way ahead of its time, with fascinating themes that would later be explored in films such as The Matrix. Now this hugely influential classic arrives in a stunningly restored Standard Edition Blu-ray on 26 April from Second Sight.

Simulacron 1 is a highly advanced project, designed to elevate conventional computer technology to a new level by creating a virtual reality inhabited by computer-generated people or 'identity units'. When the head of the project dies mysteriously after showing signs of mental disturbance, Dr Stiller becomes his successor. As he begins to probe deeper into Simulacron, the line between the real and virtual world becomes increasingly blurred and his own existence is questioned.

 

Upgrade - https://amzn.to/3ca0hN0

The critically acclaimed breakout Sci-Fi hit, Upgrade from director Leigh Whannell (Insidious, Saw) and the team behind Get Out, gets a new Blu-ray release in Standard Edition complete with an enhanced slew of special features.

In a near-future world, where technology controls everything, technophobe Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green - The Invitation, Spider-Man: Homecoming) is the victim of a brutal mugging that leaves his wife dead and him paralysed. A reclusive billionaire inventor offers him an experimental cure, an A.I. implant called STEM. Grey accepts and is immediately transformed into an unstoppable killing machine with enhanced strength and agility. Now it's payback time. Genre specialist Blumhouse and the visionary creator of the Saw franchise team up to create an instant cyberpunk classic.

Sky Studios launches Transistor Films

Sky Studios has launched Transistor Films, a new, wholly-owned factual and unscripted production company headed by award-winning producer, Danny Tipping.

With a remit to produce documentary and unscripted programming that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat, Transistor Films promises bold, new content that appeals to broadcasters around the world.

The company, based in London, launches under the new label this week with Executive Producer Ned Parker, Series Producer Zoe Hines and Development Executive Jason Oates joining the company. The name is inspired by the company's focus on finding and amplifying new stories for a global audience.

Most recently, Tipping and the team that forms Transistor Films delivered Sky Original documentary series The Murderer & Me for Sky Crime, plus two series of the global smash hit series I AM A KILLER which instantly became a Top 10 series for Netflix upon launch.

The first project to deliver under the Transistor Films banner will be a series of 3 x 90' feature length documentary specials titled Living With A Serial Killer for US broadcaster Oxygen. 

Transistor Films is already in active development on a range of new projects with US & UK broadcasters including projects for Sky's new factual channels, Sky Crime and Sky Documentaries.

Danny Tipping, CEO of Transistor Films, said, "The Transistor Films team and I couldn't be more excited to get going this week under our new banner. Building on the success of our recent true crime series, we'll be pushing further into documentary and factual entertainment programming over the coming months. We are pleased to have a number of active developments underway already, and excited to become the newest member of the Sky Studios family of production companies."

Caroline Cooper, Chief Operating Officer, Sky Studios, said: "The market for unscripted content has never been stronger. With a remit to produce premium factual content for broadcasters around the world, Transistor Films, perfectly complements Sky Studios' existing range of production companies. Danny's eye for new, untold stories and his global network make him ideally placed to lead Transistor Films in this new chapter."

"Zack Snyder's Justice League" Will Be Made Available Worldwide in All Markets Day

ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE will be made available worldwide in all markets day and date with the US on THURSDAY, MARCH 18 (*with the exception of China, France and Japan, where the release dates are TBD). The feature film will be available in each market via one of the following distribution options - PVOD, PEST, EST, SVOD, TVOD, HBO linear and on HBO Go (in HBO Europe and HBO Asia territories), or via a local TV provider. Additional details for each specific market will be shared in the upcoming weeks.

ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J.K. Simmons. The screenplay is by Chris Terrio, story by Chris Terrio & Zack Snyder and Will Beall, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film's producers are Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, with executive producers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Wesley Coller, Jim Rowe, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck.

Interview with documentary filmmaker Paul Allen Hunton

Paul Allen Hunton, General Manager of Texas Tech Public Media, and a 3 time Emmy winning nonfiction filmmaker, tells us about his versatile, admirable career and film work.

Hey Paul, can you tell us a bit about Texas Tech Public Media?

Sure, we are a public media hub that broadcasts and streams NPR and PBS throughout West Texas. We focus on serving our communities but also telling stories that connect to all people. We love documentary filmmaking because it helps teach people about the world around them and their place in it. It is important to discover new places, people, thoughts, and ideas, as it helps you empathize with others. That's what we strive for, to create empathy for others through the stories we tell.

How many of the films releasing through the company did you direct?

I've directed lots of shorts, created some TV shows, but have directed 2 feature length documentaries with a few more on the way. Between Earth and Sky is about climate change in the arctic of Alaska and how it effects native people. Narratives of Modern Genocide is about the survivors of modern genocide and what their stories can teach us about the world.

You gravitate towards documentaries but is there a certain type – or subject -  of documentary that you find you gravitate towards?

I've done a lot of didactic, interview based documentary. Lately I've been more interested in art documentaries, or more specifically, documentaries that tell stories through abstract visuals and ideas of image, sound, and perspective.

Can you tell us about some of the research, and researchers conducting it, involved in the film?

We worked with the Baylor genocide oral history project, the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission, as well as the researchers in the movie, Ron Milam, Aliza Wong, and other professors. We leaned on their expertise to better understand genocide in history and in the present time.

What do you believe is the film's significance?

The film tells the story of former Ambassador to the UN under President George W. Bush, Sichan Siv, and Gilbert Tuhabonye. Both survived genocides in their home countries of Cambodia and Burundi. Both are strong survivors who succeeded greatly for themselves after an arduous journey to America. They both embody the American dream, to come to this country and work hard and find your place, it is a pretty special thing. They also teach us something about survival, what it means to survive and continue living. I think that's important.  

What happened to Tuhabonye wasn't that long ago. How do you feel he and Siv have recovered since their ordeal?

I wouldn't want to answer for them, but I'd say through my experience working with them that the tragedies and pain they've endured will be with them forever. Yet, somehow they've survived and continue to show strength, hope, love and inspiration.

NARRATIVES OF MODERN GENOCIDE is now available on DVD and Digital

https://amzn.to/3oFiDcF

REVIEW: Skylines / SKYLIN3S / Skyline 3 - New Trailer

Review by Jon Donnis

I was a fan of Skyline, I was an even bigger fan of Beyond Skyline, so much so that my review even made it on to official posters, so now the third film in the franchise has been released, and I am excited.

This film pretty much carries on where the last film finished, so if you haven't seen the previous film, go watch it now, it is great.

Now, in Beyond Skyline, the 1st half was SciFi horror and the 2nd half of the film was Kung Fu SciFi action, in Skylin3s, the film is back to being mainly a SciFi film, but that does not mean the action scenes are any less, there is still some great Kung Fu scenes, mainly towards the end of the film.

So to the film itself, basically there are now friendly alien hybrids (red eyes) living peacefully on Earth, unfortunately there is a virus spreading and it is slowly turning the aliens back to their original selves, so that would be evil (blue eyes). Earth Defense have a way to save the aliens, but need to travel to the alien's home world to collect the very thing that can save them. For this journey they need Captain Rose Corley, played by the gorgeous and talented Lindsey Morgan, who is now an outsider, they convince her to help and off we go.

I wont spoil any more of the plot itself don't worry.

The Good

Action packed, great fight scenes, and fun scifi. What more do you want?

The Bad

In these kinds of films we all know there will be a twist, and this one you will see a mile away, but it doesn't really affect the film or your enjoyment of it.

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, everything that a good scifi should be. Is it as good as Beyond Skyline? Not sure, but I will score this film a solid 8/10

Out Now on  Apple TV

https://apple.co/2WZsT3j

Review by Jon Donnis

Synopsis

When a virus threatens to turn the now earth-dwelling friendly alien hybrids against humans, Captain Rose Corley must lead a team of elite mercenaries on a mission to the alien world in order to save what's left of humanity.

Lindsey Morgan as Rose Corley

Rhona Mitra as Dr. Mal

Alexander Siddig as General Radford

James Cosmo as Grant

Daniel Bernhardt as Owens

Yayan Ruhian as Huana

Jonathan Howard as Leon