PARAMOUNT AND CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TO PARTNER ON "CIRQUE DU SOLEIL WORLDS AWAY"

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ANDREW ADAMSON, AND PRESENTED BY JAMES CAMERON - Studio to Release the 3D Event Film, Worldwide in 2012

HOLLYWOOD, CA (January 10, 2012) – Paramount Pictures and Cirque du Soleil jointly announced today that the studio has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the Cirque du Soleil 3D feature film entitled "Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away". Written and directed by Andrew Adamson ("Shrek," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"), and executive produced by Academy Award ® winning filmmaker James Cameron, the 3D film event features artistic and acrobatic performances from some of the most elaborate Cirque du Soleil productions.  The film was produced by Adamson, Aron Warner, Cirque’s Martin Bolduc and Ed Jones and Cary Granat. Vince Pace oversaw the 3D stereo production aspect of the film.

A number of production companies collaborated to bring the film to life.  In addition to Cirque, Warner and Adamson’s Strange Weather Productions, Reel FX and Cameron Pace Group all contributed to this groundbreaking production.

"The coupling of filmmaker James Cameron’s groundbreaking 3D visual accomplishments and Andrew Adamson’s beautiful direction, combined with a timeless original story written especially for this movie, will make for a truly amazing movie going experience for audiences of all ages " said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures.

Said Jacques Méthé, Executive Producer, General Manager, Images, Events, Lifestyle of Cirque du Soleil, “This 3D event brings the spectator beyond what they could see at a show, it takes them on the stage. This unique point of view allows the audience to discover the artistic details of our productions and reveal the human spirit that our artists bring to the audience in their performances. Jim and Andrew have masterfully captured what a Cirque du Soleil 3D experience could offer and Paramount will present it to the world.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Cirque du Soleil

From the 20 or so performers the company featured when it all began in 1984, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has become a leading provider of quality entertainment with 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists who hail from some 50 different countries.  Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to over 100 million spectators in nearly 300 cities on six continents.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

TT3D: Closer to the Edge, the review

5 Stars all the way round the circuit.

TT3D: Closer to the Edge is a class documentary,

that immerses itself in the life and times of those competing and those who help and support all that goes on on the isle of Man, as they prepare for the greatest street race in the World.

It follows the main riders, Guy Martin, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson, Conor Cummins and Michael Dunlop.

Guy is the maverick of the circuit and we follow him from his day job of a lorry mechanic 6 weeks before the race to his new bikes and sponsor.

He doesn't always pay full attention so mistakes are made which always seem to hinder him, but this makes him more likable and his shooting from the lip only helps the situation.

The filming and editing is impressive and keeps the appeal and the edge of your seat warm, as you follow the trials and tribulations of all the riders and their families, through triumph and tragedies and there are a few.

Running time: 1Hr 36mins.
Review is of one disk, the main feature.

A must see film, available to buy now on Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray and DVD

The Bourne Legacy gets a first images

We have just been sent over the first image for the 4th bourne Film, The Bourne Legacy. This time Jason Bourne Aaron Cross does things that Bourne may be able of doing...

The film has been described as a "sidequel". Focusing on a new character to forward the Treadstone conspiracy.

The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office: The Bourne Legacy. The writer/director expands the Bourne universe created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films.

For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles.

In UK Cinemas August 17, 2012

The Descendants get a clip and new images

A new set of images for George Clooney's upcoming film, The Descendants, has just hit my in-box. Not only that, we also get a clip to go with the trailer that was released back in November.

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From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar®-winning SIDEWAYS, THE DESCENDANTS is set in Hawaii and follows the unpredictable journey of an American family at a crossroads. Matt King (George Clooney), a husband and father of two girls, must re-examine his past and navigate his future when his wife is in a boating accident off Waikiki. He awkwardly attempts to repair his relationship with his daughters - 10 year-old precocious Scottie (Amara Miller) and rebellious 17 year-old Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) - while wrestling with a decision to sell his family’s land. Handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries, the Kings own some of the last priceless virgin parcels of tropical beach in the islands.

The Descendants hits cinemas nationwide on 27th January 2012.

Arrietty DVD and Blu-ray release review

Arrietty is a fabulous film, truly stunning and as such I have given it 5 stars.

This is the latest offering from Studio Ghibli (Howls Moving Castle, Spirited Away) and it is every bit as impressive as all of their previous films. Arrietty is the directorial debut of Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Studio Ghibli's star animator) and was originally released in Japanese under the title "The Borrower Arrietty".

This version has been translated beautifully into English and stars Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, Tyrannosaur), Mark Strong (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) and Tom Holland (Billy Elliot the stage show).

As you would expect from a Studio Ghibli production, the animation is gorgeous, colourful and vibrant and drawn with incredible attention to detail. The story itself is an adaptation of "The Borrowers", written by Mary Norton and is a heartwarming tale suitable for all age groups that will entertain the whole family, adults and children alike.

In terms of extras, if you purchase the Blu-ray Double Play or Deluxe edition (well worth it in my opinion) you get various special features: Storyboards, Trailers and Japanese TV spots, Interviews with Hayao Miyazaki and Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Cecile Corbel- Arrietty's song, Promotional video.

All in all I can't recommend this film enough. It is a thoroughly enjoyable watch and something that you can sit down to again and again.

Arrietty is now available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray.

Agneepath gets more images

We have already seen the trailer and some images before. This time, however, we have a ton of new images for your viewing pleasure.

In a small Indian village Mandwa, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan (Hrithik Roshan) is taught by his principled father about the path of fire - Agneepath. His life is completely shattered when the evil drug dealer Kancha (Sanjay Dutt) hangs his father to death. Vijay leaves for Bombay with his pregnant mother and has only one mission in life- to come back to Mandwa and bring back the glory of his father’s name.

In Bombay, 12-yr-old Vijay is taken under the wings of the city gang lord Rauf Lala (Rishi Kapoor). From then on it is a journey of revenge where he makes and breaks many relationships only to get closer to his aim. Vijay finds support only in his best friend Kaali (Priyanka Chopra), who stands by him at every moment in his life. Fifteen years later his hatred for Kancha takes him back to Mandwa where life comes full circle.

In cinemas internationally January 26, 2012.

Haywire gets more images

Bourne with boobs, sorry, Haywire gets some more images. We have already seen more more action oriented shots as well as a trailer. This time we have some more, static, images.

Stephen Soderbergh directs an all star cast in action thriller HAYWIRE, including mixed martial arts supremo Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, a highly-trained black ops specialist, contracted for hazardous covert missions by the US Government. When her paymaster’s point-man (Ewan McGregor) teams her with fellow agent (Channing Tatum) to extract a Chinese journalist held hostage in a Barcelona safe house, the mission swiftly unravels and she barely escapes with her life. During her next assignment in Dublin, with Irish assassin Paul (Michael Fassbender) Mallory is violently betrayed and pursued across the city by the local police and assorted ruthless hitmen.

Now the target of an international manhunt, spearheaded by the CIA official who hired her (Michael Douglas), Mallory realises she can trust no one and is forced to flee across the US from upstate New York to the New Mexico desert. There, she seeks refuge in the home of her ex-soldier father (Bill Paxton), but danger is not far behind her. As she confronts her heavily-armed pursuers, she begins to understand the cause of her betrayal, and the part played by a shadowy Spanish official (Antonio Banderas). Battling with her superiors to uncover the truth behind their deception, she sets out to exact revenge on those that want her dead.

Haywire hits UK cinemas January 20, 2012 from Momentum Pictures.