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Matthew Broderick has enjoyed a long and notable career in Hollywood. The actor's career began in the 1980s with Max Dugan Returns, and he quickly evolved into a worldwide sensation. He starred in 1986's Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which earned $70 million on a $5 million budget and would eventually be preserved in the Library of Congress. He then went on to appear in The Lion King (1994), Godzilla (1998), and Inspector Gadget (1999). Throughout those years, he also appeared on stage, if only out of his love for theater. There, he won two Tony Awards within 15 years.

Related The Lion King Movies In Order

There have been all kinds of The Lion King movies since the 1994 original was released 30 years ago, and here is each one of the films in order.

Broderick's best movies may have come in the 20th century, but the new millennium also offered him new opportunities. He claimed...

Classic children's books like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and The Tale of Despereaux are still beloved by all ages. Children's literature shapes young minds and prompts adults to reflect on their favorite childhood media. Modern children's literature, with whimsical worlds and deep stories, demonstrates the genre's evolution for all audiences.

Plenty of children's fantasy books appeal to adults as well as children, whether they are reading it for the first time or returning to a childhood favorite. People are thinking about children's fantasy books that deserve TV shows in the wake of some successful adaptations, prompting discourse about what makes them suitable for all ages. Children's literature is typically categorized as such because of arbitrary criteria concerning what content can be included when the story and themes are still very mature.

Several classic kids' books from the '90s are still worth reading, arguably representing the golden age of children's fantasy literature.

Bite-sized fantasy reads under 300 pages offer intuitive storytelling with original elements. Standalone works by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett deliver impact in short lengths by using established tropes. Anthologies like Vampires Never Get Old provide fresh takes on classic fantasy themes, also within a reasonable number of pages.

There are plenty of lengthy fantasy book series worth committing to, but readers are sometimes in the mood for a bite-sized fantasy experience of 300 pages or less. Books like this face the challenge of cramming world-building into a much smaller read, so sometimes, they don't bother with world-building or exposition at all. The experience of reading them is much more intuitive; readers must give themselves over to the feeling of the story rather than demanding strict logic.

Fantasy legends Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett are the authors of some amazing standalone fantasy books, but only a select few titles from their careers...

"Noah" continued Emma Watson's poor Rotten Tomatoes streak since it has a 41 percent Audience Score on the website. The 2014 epic biblical drama received mixed reviews; critics praised it, but audiences disagreed. Watson redeemed herself in 2019 with "Little Women," earning critical acclaim and fantastic Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Noah was surely one of the downsides of Emma Watson's career, especially because it continued a poor Rotten Tomatoes streak for the actress that wouldn't be broken until 2019. The 2014 epic biblical drama film was directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel, and the movie chronicled the biblical story of Noah's Ark from the Book of Genesis and the Book of Enoch. Watson starred as Ila in the cast of Noah. Ila was an orphan whom Noah and Naameh, played by Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, took in and raised as their own in the movie.

Following its premiere on...

Actress Emma Watson poses for the Prada “Re-Nylon 2024” handbag collection, photographed by Willy Vanderperre:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modeling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge...

Take a look at actress Emma Watson in the January 2024 edition of "Vogue" (UK) magazine, wearing Balenciaga, Vivienne Westwood and Saint Laurent, photographed by Charlotte Wales:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modeling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge...

Take a look at actress Emma Watson in the January 2024 edition of "Vogue" (UK) magazine, photographed by Charlotte Wales:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modeling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge...

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Zachari Levi, Thandiwe Newton, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, David Bradley, and Miranda Richardson

Director: Sam Fell

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Movie Review Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

What’s Good: Aardman Animations continues to push their stop-motion art to a new level, and it is quite impressive what they have achieved 23 years after the original.

What’s Bad: The new voice cast does a great job, but they lack the raw energy of the original cast.

Loo Break: You can take a break during some of the musical sequences, they look great, but they are not that vital to the plot.

Watch or Not?: It feels like the right thing to watch the film, even if it is just to support Aardman Animations and their soon-to-be lost craft.

Language: English

Available On: Netflix

Runtime: 97 Minutes.

Twenty-three years after Aardman Animations hatched its stop-motion send-up to The Great Escape, Chicken Run is back for a sequel worthy of the original’s legacy! During the incubation period before Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget debuts on Netflix, JoBlo’s resident animation enthusiast, Steve Seigh, caught up with the sequel’s director, Sam Fell, and Rocky voice actor Zachary Levi.

During the interview, Fell discusses whether technological advances in the animation industry have changed his directorial approach. He also touches on the significant scope of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and digs into the franchise’s dark themes. How do you balance themes of incarceration with a light-hearted reverse take on The Great Escape? Sam knows, and he’s ready to spill the beans. We also reveal the moment Fell knew Dawn of the Nugget was something special and something fans could get excited about.

Meanwhile, Zachary...

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget Photo: Aardman / Netflix On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a...

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The NuggetPhoto: Aardman / Netflix

On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a result...

The last time (and only time) Aardman Animations made a sequel to one of its beloved stop-motion animated features, the result was "A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon," a pretty charming love letter to classic sci-fi cinema. So the bar is set even higher for "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," the long-awaited follow-up to "Chicken Run." The studio's 2000 riff on "The Great Escape" is still the highest-grossing stop-motion animated movie of all time and, for some animation enthusiasts, remains Aardman's crowning achievement, which is no minor feat. I mean, we're talking about the same studio that "28 Days Later" director Danny Boyle praised for creating "the best action sequence I've ever seen in a film" in "Wallace and Gromit -- The Wrong Trousers."

"Dawn of the Nugget" sees the feathered freedom fighter fowl formerly found flocking on Tweedy's Farm living out their dreams of paradise on a lovely island bird sanctuary.

Grant Gustin, longtime star of the CW’s The Flash, will make his Broadway debut in the new musical Water for Elephants, producers announced today.

Gustin, who also appeared in the TV series Glee, will portray main character Jacob Jankowski in a cast that also includes Isabelle McCalla, Gregg Edelman (City of Angels), Paul Alexander Nolan (Slave Play), Stan Brown (Homicide: Life on the Street), Joe De Paul (Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion), Sara Gettelfinger (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Wade McCollum (Wicked).

Watch Gustin and McCalla perform the song “Wild” from Water for Elephants in the newly released video above.

The musical, based on the Sara Gruen 2006 novel that was made into a 2011 film that starred Robert Pattinson in the Jacob role, begins previews on Saturday, February 24, at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre. Opening night is Thursday, March 21.

Water For Elephants features a book by Rick Elice and a score by PigPen Theatre Company (The Tale of Despereaux). Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo) directs.

Alliance Theatre production of ‘Water for Elephants’

The casting was announced today by producers Peter Schneider, Jennifer Costello, Grove Entertainment, Frank Marshall, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, and Seth A. Goldstein. Additional casting to be announced soon.

The synopsis: “After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life – and love – beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.”

Gustin’s stage credits include a touring production of West Side Story. He joined the cast of Glee in the musical series’ third season, portraying Sebastian Smythe, the lead of Dalton Academy’s singing group the Warblers. Film credits include Krystal and Affluenza. He’s played The Flash‘s Barry Allen since the series debut in 2014 and continued through its final episode in May of this year. He also made several crossover appearances on Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl.

McCalla is currently starring as Maizy in Shucked on Broadway, and she originated the role of Alyssa Greene in The Prom and played Princess Jasmine in Aladdin both on Broadway and the North American Tour. She originated the role of Marlena in the world premiere of Water for Elephants at the Alliance Theatre this past summer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first scripted TV series, the Jennifer Lopez-starring action film The Mother and documentaries featuring Anna Nicole Smith and Barack Obama are among the high-profile projects hitting Netflix this month.

At the end of May, the streamer is dropping the Schwarzenegger-starring spy comedy Fubar, in which the former California governor and Top Gun: Maverick’s Monica Barbaro play a father and daughter who discover they’ve each been secretly working as CIA operatives as they’re forced to team up and get to know each other’s true selves.

And earlier this month, in time for Mother’s Day, Lopez plays an assassin who emerges from hiding to protect a daughter she gave up for adoption years earlier in The Mother, streaming this Friday. The Niki Caro-directed action movie also stars Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael Garcia Bernal and was written by Andrea Berloff,...

Must-watch comedy series, eye-opening documentaries and an expansion of the “Bridgerton” universe are among the noteworthy additions to Netflix this month. May 12 sees the premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new Netflix original film “The Mother,” in which she plays an assassin lured back in for one last job. And on May 23, the documentary “Victim/Suspect” examines how sexual assault victims too often get turned into suspects when they report their assaults.

“Queen Charlotte,” the “Bridgerton” prequel series, arrives on May 4 while a new season of Tim Robinson’s sketch series “I Think You Should Leave” drops on May 30. And if you missed the most recent season of the niche (but delightful) comedy series “Documentary Now!,” you can stream that on Netflix starting May 9.

Check out the full list of what’s new on Netflix in May 2023 below.

Also Read:

The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now Arriving May 1

Above Suspicion

Airport...

Netflix recently announced it would be investing $2.5 billion into South Korean programming. Before Squid Game season 2 comes down the pike, however, the first seeds of that investment will bear fruit for Netflix in May 2023.

Netflix’s list of new releases for May 2023 is highlighted by the May 12 release of Korean series Black Knight. Set “in a dystopian 2071 devastated by air pollution,” this show will follow world-saving deliverymen known as “Black Knights.” Other international offerings this month include Japanese sumo drama Sanctuary on May 4 and Spanish crime thriller Muted on May 19.

Netflix’s domestic TV options this month include Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on May 4. That will be followed by post-apocalyptic animated comedy Mulligan on May 12 and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s TV debut Fubar on May 25. And for those hoping for “triples,” I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson premieres on May 30.

On the movie side of things, Netflix has an unusually busy month.

In May 2023, Netflix is bringing a prequel series to one of its most successful drama TV series, an action drama movie starring Jennifer Lopez, the return of the Fab Five, a documentary about an actress and model, a spy-adventure TV series starring a popular action star, and a lot more. April saw the arrival of the comedy-drama TV series Beef, the fantasy adventure movie Chupa, the miniseries Transatlantic, The Last Kingdom’s movie Seven Kings Must Die, the crime comedy-drama TV series Florida Man, the action movie Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, the TV series The Diplomat, and the documentary series American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing.

May will bring a variety of titles to add to Netflix’s extensive catalog of licensed content, such as the Austin Powers trilogy, David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the psychological drama Girl, Interrupted, the horror movies Dawn of the Dead...

As the calendar turns to May, the world’s largest streaming service is set to introduce a slew of new titles to the service. Perhaps most anticipated will be “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” when it debuts on May 4. Young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George of England sparks an epic love story and transforms high society in Netflix’s “Bridgerton” universe prequel. India Amarteifio plays Young Queen Charlotte.

Check out the trailer for “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”:

In the first series role of his career, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an undercover CIA operative ready to enjoy retirement. However, when he discovers a family secret, he is forced to go back into the field for one last job. What he doesn’t know is that his daughter — also a CIA operative — is on the case. The action comedy “Fubar” is set to debut on the service on May...

Bill Nighy is an English actor best known for his roles in films such as Love Actually, Underworld, Harry Potter, and Bill & Ted Face the Music. He has received numerous awards for his acting including Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations. He began his career on stage in 1979 with the Royal National Theatre’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout his illustrious career he has appeared in over one hundred films, television series, and stage productions.

He has a unique style of delivery which often combines humor and wit with a serious undertone. Bill Nighy is not just an accomplished actor but also a talented voice artist who regularly lends his voice to animated movies like The Tale of Despereaux, Rango, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, and A Monster Calls. Bill Nighy is also an avid supporter of several charities; he was appointed Officer of the British Empire...

The first trailer for Netflix’s upcoming animated adventure The Magician’s Elephant teases an enchanting adaptation of Newbery-winning author Kate Dicamillo’s 2009 novel.

In a nearly two-minute first look at the animated feature premiering globally on March 17 and helmed by first-time director and animation and vfx veteran Wendy Rogers (Puss in Boots, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), the streamer promises an emotionally heartfelt and visually stunning coming-of-age fable about the desire to connect and belong, embracing possibility and the power of hope and compassion.

“The first time I watched the movie, I was struck by the sheer beauty of it — it is a gorgeous film visually,” Dicamillo says of the Rogers-helmed adaptation. “But also, there is a real, genuine heart to the film. It is deeply moving. That is the true magic of it.”

Coming more than a decade after an adaptation was first announced with producer Julia Pistor...

Actress Emma Watson is the new 'face' of Prada "Pararadoxe" fragrance, posing for photographer Harley Weir, as well as directing a short campaign film for the Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter" movies, earning several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modeling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Watson's other notable film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge...

It looks as if Barry Allen has only one week to get his affairs in order, in the first teaser trailer for The Flash‘s season-opening, multi-episode “Armageddon” event.

Kicking off Season 8 of The CW’s The Flash on Nov. 16 at 8/7c, the team-up event — airing across five consecutive Tuesdays — finds Grant Gustin’s Barry recruiting a cavalcade of superfriends, including Brandon Routh’s The Atom (see photo), Cress Williams’ Black Lightning, Katherine McNamara’s Mia Smoak (from Arrow), Javicia Leslie’s Batwoman, Chyler Leigh’s Sentinel (from Supergirl) and Osric Chau’s Ryan Choi (from the “Crisis on Infinite...

“The final element that’s been missing” — golden speedster kicks — has at long last been added to The Flash‘s supersuit, Grant Gustin declared on Saturday at DC FanDome.

Reflecting on his costume’s years-long evolution, Gustin said during the online fan event, “I’ve loved all the versions of The Flash suit we’ve had on the show, but the suit we have now is the closest to the many iterations you see in the comic books — with the exception of those gold boots!” Now, though, the scarlet speedster will now motor around in his flashiest footwear yet. “I...

Nickelodeon is bolstering its executive team in its Animation Studio headquarters. Hired in the newly created senior positions are former Fox Animation executive Darlene Caamaño Loquet as Svp of Nickelodeon Movies; former 20th Century Fox TV Svp casting Liz Paulson as Svp of Nickelodeon Animation Casting & Talent Development; and former Walt Disney Animation Studios executive Camille Eden as Vice President of Nickelodeon Recruiting and Talent Development. All will be based at the Burbank headquarters and will report to Ramsey Naito, Evp of Nickelodeon Animation Studios.

“Nickelodeon Animation is focused on three vital elements to drive our business forward—building the culture, developing talent and creating great animated content for kids and families everywhere—and Darlene, Liz and Camille are the perfect leaders to bring our creative-lead mission into the future,” said Naito.

In the newly created roles, Caamaño Loquet will oversee Nickelodeon’s movie business, building and managing a slate...

Take a look at actress Emma Watson in a recent issue of "Elle" (Australia) magazine:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

Take a look at new images of actress Emma Watson ("Little Women") posing for the December 2019 issue of "Vogue" (UK) magazine, wearing Burberry, Balenciaga and Gabriela Hearst, photographed by Alasdair McLellan:

Watson attended the 'Dragon School' and trained as an actress at the Oxford branch of 'Stagecoach Theatre Arts'. As a child artist, she rose to prominence after landing her first professional acting role as 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series.

Watson then appeared in the 2007 TV adaptation of the novel "Ballet Shoes" and performing voice work in "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008). 

Following her last "Harry Potter" film, she appeared in "My Week with Marilyn" (2011), "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012), "The Bling Ring (2013), "This Is the End" (2013), "Noah" (2014), "Regression" (2015), "Colonia" (2015), "Beauty and the Beast" (2017) and "The Circle" (2017).

Watson's latest film "Little Women", opens December 25, 2019.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek...

Take a look at actress Emma Watson in "Vogue" (Australia) magazine, wearing Stella McCartney, Jil Sander and Rosie Assoulin photographed by Peter Lindbergh:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series, starting at the age of nine and appearing in all eight "Harry Potter" movies, earning several awards.

She made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign (2009), with subsequent film credits including "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

Other notable features include "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013), "Noah" (2014), "The Circle"...

..."Regression", "Colonia", "The Vicar of Dibley" and "Beauty and the Beast".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

Take a look @ Emma Watson in "Elle" (UK) fashion magazine, photographed by Kerry Hallihan:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

Watson made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009. Her film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

She also appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013), "Noah" (2014), "The Circle", "Regression", "The Colony" and "The Vicar of Dibley".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

Director Pete Dodd will pitch “King of the Swamp” at Bordeaux’s Cartoon Movie, kicking off March 5.

A 3D CGI comedy-adventurer, “King of the Swamp” follows Clive, a bad-tempered but endearing old Swamp Monster, in a place where Fairy Tale creatures live under human rules, expected to ignore the abilities that make them different. Along with Sam, a misguided fairy boy and Daisy, a human girl, the reluctant Swamp Monster hero becomes embroiled in a plan to replace humans as the dominant species.

“King of the Swamp” is produced by Dodd’s U.K.-based Mummysboy Ltd., and budgeted at $9 million. It will be Dodd’s second animated feature after 2011’s “Freddy Frogface.”

“This is an original story inspired by watching how children play, fantastically unprejudiced, naturally mixing all sorts of characters that ‘don’t fit’ with one other. There’s a kind of magic in not‘knowing any better...

Image Source: Disney

We can't decide what we're more excited for - all of our old Toy Story favorites to return in Toy Story 4, or all of the new characters we'll get to meet when the Disney/Pixar sequel hits the big screen. One of those new toys on the block is Forky, a spork-turned-craft-project created by Bonnie, who insists that he is not a toy, despite being treated like one. Though we're not sure you'll recognize his name, we know that you'll recognize Tony Hale's voice - and perhaps you'll know him better as Buster Bluth or Gary Walsh.

Tony Hale began his career making minor appearances on '90s hit shows such as Dawson's Creek, The Sopranos, and Sex and the City, but his big break actually came when he appeared in an iconic 1999 Vw commercial where Hale dances in his car to "Mr. Roboto" -...

Take a look at actress Emma Watson in a recent issue of "Elle" (Australia) magazine:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

In this edition of Canon Of Film, we take honor the release of ‘Ocean’s 8‘ by taking a look back at one of Gary Ross’ early screenwriting achievements in ‘Big‘. For the story behind the genesis of the Canon, you can click here.

Big (1988)

Director: Penny Marshall

Screenplay: Gary Ross & Anne Spielberg

Having seen ‘Big‘ so often, that the magic of it has worn thin on me, I notice on my latest viewing something I hadn’t thought of before, in that now that Josh has returned to being a normal 13-year old, what will happen to him. Is he a normal 13-year old anymore, after spending six weeks as an adult working in the corporate market, having sex with women, earning a paycheck, going on dates, exactly how will his life change after this experience? It’s probably not much of a point that people will observe watching the film,...

Take a look at new images of actress Emma Watson in the March 2018 issue of "Vogue Australia", wearing Stella McCartney, Jil Sander, Rosie Assoulin and Gabriela Hearst, photographed by Peter Lindbergh:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series, starting at the age of nine and appearing in all eight "Harry Potter" movies, earning several awards.

She made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign (2009), with subsequent film credits including "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

Other notable features include "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013), "Noah" (2014), "The Circle"...

..."Regression", "Colonia", "The Vicar of Dibley" and "Beauty and the Beast".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

In this edition of Canon Of Film, we look back at Gary Ross‘ directorial debut and instant classic, ‘Plesantville‘. For the story behind the genesis of the Canon, you can click here.

Pleasantville (1998)

Director/Screenplay: Gary Ross

As the nation heads towards another election shortly, the national debate has become strikingly philosophical. Phrases like “Family Values” and “The Role of Government” always come up, never has the divide, in my memory, been so drastic. It’s at times like these, that I find myself thinking about Gary Ross’s film ‘Pleasantville‘. Ross has one of the best resumes for someone with so few credits. Ross became known for co-writing the film ‘Big‘, which earned him an Oscar nomination, as did his second screenplay ‘Dave‘. He made the sports biopic, ‘Seabiscuit‘, the animated film “The Tale of Despereaux” and more recently, the ‘The Hunger Games‘ film as well as the Civil...

Take a look @ images of  actress Emma Watson in a recent issue of "Elle" (UK) fashion magazine, photographed by Kerry Hallihan:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

Watson made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009. Her film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

She also appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013), "Noah" (2014), "The Circle", "Regression", "The Colony" and "The Vicar of Dibley".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

Sneak Peek new images of "Beauty and the Beast" actress Emma Watson in the March 2017 issue of "Elle" (UK) fashion magazine, photographed by Kerry Hallihan:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

Watson made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009. Her film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

She also appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013), "Noah" (2014), "The Circle", "Regression", "The Colony" and "The Vicar of Dibley".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Emma Watson...

April is last call for some great movies on Netflix streaming, including "Flashdance," '"Leon: The Professional," and "Let The Right One In."

Also going bye-bye: several classic Frank Sinatra films including "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), "High Society" (1956), "On The Town" (1949), "Pal Joey" (1957) and "Some Came Running" (1958).

Here's a complete list of the movies and TV shows leaving Netflix in April:

Leaving April 1, 2016

"101 Dalmatians" (1996)

"2 Fast 2 Furious" (2003)

"Along Came a Spider" (2001)

"Along Came Polly" (2004)

"Amistad" (1997)

"Bad Johnson" (2014)

"Bandslam" (2009)

"Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Collection: Collection 1

"Berkeley in The Sixties" (1990)

"The Butcher's Wife" (1991)

"Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" (2003)

"Chuck's Eat The Street Collection: Collection 1

"Craigslist Joe" (2012)

"Dear Genevieve Collection: Collection 1

"Eureka": Season 4.0

"Flashdance" (1983)

"Hook" (1991)

"Hotel Rwanda" (2004)

"House of Wax" (2005)

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (1989)

"The Inexplicable Universe with Neil deGrasse Tyson" (2013)

"Leon: The Professional" (1994)

"M*A*S*H": Season 11

"Nanny McPhee" (2005)

"The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear" (1991)

"Nine to Five...

The new year is upon us, and it’s time to clean up Netflix once again. Don’t fear too much though, as much as we hate to see some of our favorites leave Netflix, they do a pretty good job at adding some great new content. We lose Almost Famous, A Clockwork Orange, American Psycho, The Graduate, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and all the Rocky movies – and we get Intolerable Cruelty, Training Day, The Rundown and a new Netflix Original for Degrassi: The Next Class.

All Title Dates are Subject to Change

Netflix U.S. Release Dates Only

Available 1/1/16

2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

Along Came Polly (2004)

American Girl: Grace Stirs up Success (2015)

Angry Birds Toons: Season 1

Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009)

Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007)

Catwoman (2004)

The Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills: Season 1

Constantine (2005)

Forensic Files: Collection 2

Friday Night Tykes: Season 1-2

The Good Road...

What to watch in the post-holiday doldrums of January? Coming to Netflix streaming next month are the Ben Stiller comedies "Meet the Parents," "Meet the Fockers," and "Along Came Polly" as well as "Intolerable Cruelty" and "The Ladykillers" from the Coen Brothers.

Also check out the new "we faked the moon landing" comedy "Moonwalkers," starring Rupert Grint and Ron Perlman, the Chelsea Handler special "Chelsea Does," and, of course, "Sharknado 3."

New on Netflix in January 2016

Available Jan. 1, 2016

"2 Fast 2 Furious" (2003)

"Along Came Polly" (2004)

"American Girl: Grace Stirs up Success" (2015)

"Angry Birds Toons:" Season 1

"Bring It On: Fight to the Finish" (2009)

"Bring It On: In It to Win It" (2007)

"Catwoman" (2004)

"The Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills:" Season 1

"Constantine" (2005)

"Forensic Files: Collection 2"

"Friday Night Tykes:" Season 1-2

"The Good Road" (2013)

"House of Wax" (2005)

"How to Change the World" (2015)

"Ice Age 2: The Meltdown" (2006)

"Intolerable Cruelty" (2003)

"Journey to Le Mans" (2014)

"Loins...

Exclusive: Cornerstone to sell comedy from ParaNorman director.

X-Files star Gillian Anderson is set to star alongside Kodi Smit-McPhee in the first live-action film from director Sam Fell.

Smith-McPhee is in final negotiations to star in Croak, which would reunite him with his ParaNorman director. The young actor, seen opposite Michael Fassbender in Sundance title Slow West, was recently cast as Nightcrawler in the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse.

Also cast is newcomer Tilda Cobham-Hervey (52 Tuesdays).

Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder’s new sales outfit, Cornerstone Films, is introducing the fantastical feature to buyers in Cannes. UTA is handling the Us.

Nicole Carmen-Davis, Rebekah Gilbertson and Philippa Campbell are producing the film, written by Lucy Moore, which centres on a world-weary 17-year-old Jenny (Cobham-Hervey) and mysterious, geeky Marcus (Smit-McPhee) - a young grim reaper living somewhere between the land of the living and oblivion.

Anderson is to play the character of the grim “Mistress” who keeps a watchful eye over...

What's leaving Netflix in March? Well, the streaming service is expiring a slew of movies and TV shows, with a big chunk of the departing titles belonging to the Cartoon Network -- you'll see those say bye-bye at the end of the month. From what we can tell, that's about it in terms of TV exiting Watch Instantly.

As for movies, the clock is ticking for favorites "Dumb and Dumber," "Fright Night," Desperado," "Seven," "Pretty in Pink," "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," and "The Muppet Movie," which will all be pulled in the monthly purge.

Here's the complete list of titles that will vanish from your streaming list (pending any sort of meddling time-travelers). And, just so you're not left empty-handed, here's a list of what's new on Netflix in March 2015.

Leaving March 1

"3 Ninjas: Kick Back" (1994)

"Air Bud" (1997)

"Anaconda" (1997)

"Arachnophobia" (1990)

"Brokedown Palace" (1999)

"Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams" (1981)

"Cool Runnings...

Take another look @ actress Emma Watson in a recent issue of "Elle" (Australia) magazine:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

She made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge...

Sneak Peek new images of actress Emma Watson in the April 2014 issue of "Elle" (Australia) magazine:

Watson rose to prominence playing 'Hermione Granger' in the "Harry Potter" film series starting at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight "Harry Potter", earning her several awards and millions of dollars.

Watson made her modelling debut for "Burberry's" autumn/winter campaign in 2009.

Her other film credits include "Ballet Shoes" (2007), "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), "My Week with Marilyn"(2011) and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012).

In 2013, she appeared in "This Is the End" (2013), "The Bling Ring" (2013) and "Noah" (2014).

Click the images to enlarge...

Contributed By: Michelle McCue and Melissa Thompson

Well, we’ve just returned from AMPAS with our credentials badge for Wamg to be among the many outlets covering the Academy Awards nominations tomorrow morning.

With the announcement less than 24 hours away, and for the Oscar obsessivas (like us), this has been one of the toughest years to call. Even those of us who compulsively watch the race 365 days a year, all the categories are wide open, with expected surprises and snubs. This is always the best type of Oscar race to watch and we’ll bring you the news of who gets in and who isn’t invited to Hollywood’s biggest party of the year.

Actor, and tall-drink-of-cool-water, Chris Hemsworth and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs will announce the 86th Academy Awards nominations on Thursday, January 16.

Boone Isaacs and Hemsworth will unveil the nominations at a 5:38 a.

Following a breakthrough role in American Pie, actor Seann William Scott eventually found a place as the comedic relief in action comedies like Evolution, Bulletproof Monk and The Rundown. But lately, the actor has been pretty low key with voice roles in the Ice Age franchise, smaller profile films like Goon, an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and, of course, a return as Stifler in American Reunion. Now we have word from THR that Scott is getting back into action in a film called Skiptrace, and this time he'll team up with action veteran Jackie Chan for Paranorman and The Tale of Despereaux director Sam Fell. In addition, Chan and Scott will be joined by Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing in the action adventure set up at Exclusive Media and China's own Talent International Film Col. Chan came up with the story which follows a good cop (Chan) whose...

Seann William Scott will star opposite Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing in Skiptrace, an action adventure movie being made by Exclusive Media and China’s Talent International Film Co. Sam Fell, who directed the animated films Paranorman and The Tale of Despereaux, will make his live-action debut on the English-language action comedy, which will go into production Jan. 13. The story, based on an idea by Chan, centers on a good cop (Chan) whose niece (Bingbing) gets into trouble with a crime syndicate run by a crime boss the detective has been chasing for a decade. The cop is

read more...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its 276-member-strong class of 2013.

The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.

Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.

"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the 276 members of the entertainment industry invited to join organization. The list includes actors, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, producers and more. Of those listed below, those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2013. "These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today," said Academy President Hawk Koch in a press release. "Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy." Koch also told Variety, "In the past eight or nine years, each branch could only bring in X amount of members. There were people each branch would have liked to get in but couldn't. We asked them to be more inclusive of the best of the best, and each branch was excited, because they got...

The Academy just added 276 Oscar voters.

That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.

AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.

Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.

Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013.

“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”

The 2013 invitees are:

Actors

Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”

Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”

Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”

Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”

Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”

Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”

Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”

Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”

Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”

Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...