The Flickcast

War Movie Mondays: ‘Memphis Belle’

Posted on June 20, 2011

This week’s pick is another salute to our WW II flyboys in Michael Caton-Jones’s Memphis Belle (1990). The film stars Matthew Modine (Captain Dennis Dearborn, Pilot), Tate Donovan (1st Lt. Luke Sinclair, Co-Pilot), D.B. Sweeney, (Lt. Phil Lowenthal, Navigator), Billy Zane (Lt. Val Kozlowski, Bombardier), Top Turret Gunner), Eric Stoltz (Sgt. Danny “Danny Boy” Daly, Radio Operator), Sean Astin (Sgt. Richard “Rascal” Moore, and John Lithgow (Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer, an Army publicist writing a story on the crew of the Memphis Belle).

The film is set in the spring of 1943 where American B-17 heavy bombers of the 8th USAAF have been practicing daylight strategic bombing for almost a year against targets within Hitler’s Fortress Europe. The crew of one bomber the Memphis Belle, are the first ever crew to successfully complete their twenty-fifth and final bombing mission before they are allowed to rotate home for R&R.

The film opens where the crew of the Belle are grounded due to their plane under repairs after their last severe mission. As the twenty or so planes from the group arrive back, personnel on the ground can see the battle damage inflicted on the bombers due to enemy guns and shrapnel from air bursts over the target. The last returning bomber’s landing gear is damaged and the plane crash lands on the field. They can hear the men on board screaming as they are trying to get out and then the plane explodes. The men look on as fire and ambulance crews respond to the fiery wreak.

Sega Is the Latest Victim, Admits User Accounts Hacked

Posted on June 20, 2011

The spree of hacking attacks against video game publishers continues. This time around Sega is the victim. Today, the company has confirmed that personal data from 1.3 million user accounts was stolen during a recent security breach, according to reports.

During the attack, hackers were able to obtain email addresses, encrypted passwords, birth dates and names of Sega Pass network users. The hackers did not access credit card data, however. As a result of the attack, Sega’s Sega Pass network has been taken offline.

“We are deeply sorry for causing trouble to our customers. We want to work on strengthening security,” Yoko Nagasawa, a Sega spokeswoman, said. As yet, no group has taken credit for the attack.

With all this hacking going on, you have to wonder who’s next?

Finally, The First Official Trailer for ‘The Muppets’ Arrives

Posted on June 20, 2011

For a little over a month now, we’ve been getting teased with posters and fake teasers for Jason Segel’s upcoming fanboy dream come true, a brand new Muppets movie. For the longest time, we didn’t even know what the film would be called, as names like The Most Expensive Muppet Movie Ever Made and others to that effect were thrown around.

It looks like Disney has settled with the idea of simply The Muppets. Here’s the premise.

When Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater, they help Kermit reunite the Muppets to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.

The film has got just about everything a true Muppet fan would want, and now we’ve got it all in one awesome trailer. Check it out after the jump, and catch The Muppets in theaters November 23rd.

‘Aliens: Colonial Marines’ First Trailer and Screen Shots

Posted on June 20, 2011

One of the greatest sci-fi horror films of all time is undoubtedly James Cameron’s Alien franchise. Though the series seemed to lose focus as sequels progressed, there is no denying the gasp inducing moments that still hold up over twenty years since the original film’s release. Not surprisingly, there have been a number of movie tie-in video game titles as well. While some were critically received better than others, there is no question of the selling power of the franchise that has created over 20 titles over a handful of different consoles.

In Spring 2012, SEGA will be unleashing the next installment in the Alien series with Aliens: Colonial Marines. Written by Battlestar Galactica writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle, Aliens: Colonial Marines will follow the events of the film series, specifically those of Aliens as a search and rescue team of marines tries to find Ellen Ripley and the rest of the missing crew from the Aliens film.

Aliens: Colonial Marines will be a first person tactical squad based shooter. Players will control a team of four marines, each with specific skills and weaponry that they can control by issuing commands as well as swapping on the fly between teammates. The game will also feature two player split screen co-op gameplay and four player online co-op as well. Competitive multiplayer has been announced but details are yet to be revealed.

Take a peek below at the first screens and trailer for this upcoming title and stick to the Flickcast for more on Aliens: Colonial Marines as more information becomes available.

Box Office: ‘Green Lantern’ Shines Bright at #1 Spot

Posted on June 20, 2011

Here we are, less than a month into one of the biggest summer blockbuster seasons we’ve had in years, and not a single big-studio film has failed to live up to the expectations set forward by those studios.

It seems that the mid $50 million range is just where every film hits in the first weekend, as Warner Bros’ Green Lantern pulled in an estimated $52 million against its $200 million production budget. Not a complete letdown, as Warner’s are still looking to move forward with this toyetic film franchise.

In second place this weekend, Super 8 had less than a 50% dropoff from last week, pulling in an estimated $21 million this weekend, and topping the film off at $72 since its debut.

Another first weekender, Mr. Popper’s Penguins rose to the occasion in third place this weekend with an estimated $18 million, which isn’t bad considering the film was one of the only non-franchise family films hitting theaters this summer.

Finally, Fox’s X-Men: First Class is still holding strong in its third week, with an $11 million pull for the weekend and over $280 million worldwide since the release. With a turnout like that, you can expect to see Fox prepping Matthew Vaughn and his cast for a second film in the very near future.

All things considered, next week looks to be quite tame. Pixar’s Cars 2 will likely take the weekend, with upwards of 4,000 theaters showing the film. On the other end of the spectrum, adults get Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel in Bad Teacher from Sony.

Film Review: ‘Green Lantern’

Posted on June 18, 2011

Green Lantern is a comic-book movie that’s ripped straight from the comic book. To some people, that will be a plus, to others a minus; more specifically, those who enjoyed the cartoonyness of The Fantastic Four movies can appreciate it; those who didn’t and want a half-hearted “message” to justify their camp will not.

The premise is ridiculous: The Green Lanterns are a gang of buff aliens sworn to protect the 3,600 sectors of the universe. One day a nasty alien called a “Parallax” shows up and starts bumping off the Lanterns, including one Abin Sur, apparently the protector of earth’s sector, who escapes to our planet, mortally wounded.

Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is a test pilot and “man without fear” (fearlessness being a big plus to the Lanterns) who’s chosen by Abin Sur to take up his mantle, or ring, or lantern, or whatever. Soon after Hal’s traveling through the galaxy to the planet Oa, where fish men and talking brick shit-houses explain the origins of the Lanterns.

There’s the obligatory scenes of Hal’s cross-training, which introduces us to the power of the Lanterns—basically anything goes so long as it’s green and comes from the ring all Lanterns wear; they can fly, construct objects of any size and shape, and, presumably, whip up some dynamite green eggs and ham.

Doc Review: ‘Rejoice and Shout’

Posted on June 17, 2011

I’m not the biggest fan of gospel music. Actually, I’m not really a fan at all, so I’m not the target audience for Rejoice and Shout, but you don’t have to be once you’ve heard the little black girl in the opening scene belt out a killer rendition of “Amazing Grace.” And I can’t stand “Amazing Grace.” Rejoice has its show-stopping moments—a 1902 recording from one of the first gospel groups, named “The Dinwiddie Colored Quartet”; a gospel-off between two groups; the sad history of Clara Ward and her domineering mother—but they’re too scarce to foster a sustained interest.

And that’s largely the movie. I can’t quite recommend it save for gospel fans, but I can’t really write it off either. Director Don McGlynn constructs something squarely aimed at fans but occasionally offers moments that will appeal to anyone.

It’s nice enough, and, in bits and pieces—the evolution of gospel is interesting, particularly when the interviewees discuss how the blend of African music with Christian hymnals created the genre, or some of the stories of the gospel singers themselves are intriguing, however the singular focus is on the music, and these are simply compelling asides. McGlynn also chooses to play many of the songs in their entirety, which, at five-to-seven-plus minutes in length, combined with 200+ years of history, is pleasant at first but drags after the first hour, and even more so when you realize that there’s another hour to go.

SDCC 2011: Fox Releases Comic-Con TV Schedule with ‘Terra Nova,’ ‘Awake,’ Futurama,’ ‘Glee’ and More

Posted on June 17, 2011

With Comic-Con in San Diego coming next month it stands to reason we will start to get a better idea of what film, TV and comic book creators and studios are going to be bringing to the show. Today the news comes from Fox, who will be brining 13 shows down to San Diego and in particular will be showing off their brand new Steven Spielberg pre-historic time travel drama Terra Nova.

Other shows making an appearance at the Con include the animated Napoleopn Dynamite, Awake, Bones, Bob’s Burgers, The Finder, Allen Gregory, Glee, Bones, Family Guy, The Simpsons, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, and Futurama. So basically, it’s pretty much the Seth McFarland show with a bit of Spielberg thrown in for good measure. Plus, it will be nice to see Stephen Lang get to play a good guy finally.

Oh yeah, those kids from Glee will be there too. Plus, and this isn’t related to Fox, Twilight will also be in attendance and taking over Hall H this year as well. Good times.

Click through for Fox’s schedule. Comic-Con in San Diego goes from July 21 – 24. Of course, as we were last year, we’ll be there this year to bring you all the fun.

So, check back early and often right here for all your Comic-Con 2011 news, reviews, interviews and more.

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