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With Tyler having the clarity, gumption, and downright insight to throw the first live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie at us as a gateway horror movie, it got me thinking about other movies that aren’t really horror movies but maybe got us thinking about dipping our toes into that now beloved genre. It got me thinking past things like A House with a Clock in its Walls, The Monster Squad, or other kids’ movies that are actually horror movies for kids. It got me thinking of late summer in 1995 and the old Charter Center theater off of Beach Blvd in Huntington Beach, California. It got me thinking of the first time I saw Mortal Kombat (watch it Here) and what that meant to both me and the state of video games as movies. Turn on your Techno Syndrome from the soundtrack and let’s revisit one of the...

Benicio del Toro's diverse acting range shines in blockbuster hits and independent films alike. Del Toro's chilling performances in iconic movies like "The Usual Suspects" and "Sicario" leave a lasting impact. Collaborations with acclaimed directors like Steven Soderbergh in "Traffic" showcase del Toro's award-winning talent.

Over an extensive and eclectic career, Puerto Rican star Benicio del Toro has appeared in dozens of great movies. After making his debut in the late 1980s, del Toro has established himself as a chameleonic performer, capable of transforming from charming to terrifying – occasionally within the same scene. As such, his acting resumé includes some of the most significant releases of the past four decades.

Such is the diversity of his portfolio that many of del Toro's most famous performances don't even feature in his top 10 all-time movies. Roles in projects like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Che, and Inherent Vice – while celebrated...

The Daniel Craig era of James Bond movies started strong with Martin Campbell's "Casino Royale" in 2006. Audiences reacted incredibly well to the gruffer, more brutal version of the character, as he fit handily into the world's post-9/11 political hopelessness. A dandyish cartoon James Bond did not fit into the zeitgeist of the '00s, and the character became Dionysian and brutish rather than Apollonian and refined. 

The Craig Bond films also introduced a novel concept into the franchise: each film was a direct sequel of the one that preceded it. Ordinarily, Bond films stood on their own, not requiring much knowledge of the films that came before. Now, bad guys could be set up in one picture only to pay off in a later chapter. 

Sam Mendes' 2015 film "Spectre" was a prime example of this. Throughout the preceding three movies, James Bond discovered increasingly suspicious clues that a massive...

Being an international super spy comes with its share of drawbacks, which apparently include upsetting censors around the world. While James Bond has faced numerous censorship struggles throughout his more than 60-year on-screen run, he's often had a particular issue in his home country. For example, the original ending of 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever" was a little too S&m for the British censors, and was initially supposed to depict Jill St. John's Tiffany Case being tied to a bed by the charmingly bizarre Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (Bruce Glover and Putter Smith respectively). That was very quickly nixed by UK censors who felt it was a little too kinky even for Bond.

But kink was less of a concern for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) than violence. In a 2006 interview with Caped Wonder, "Diamonds" writer Tom Mankiewicz explained how "largely, the Brits cared a great...

For this month’s installment of “TV Terrors” we revisit the ambitious small screen project “Roger Corman Presents,” which aired from 1995 through 1999 on Showtime.

Not many remember this, but back in the nineties, the cable network Showtime was extremely centered on science fiction and horror genre fare. They were the original launch pads for “Stargate Sg-1” and “Poltergeist: The Legacy” before they became syndication mainstays. Hell, even their marketing was catered to the science fiction and horror aesthetic.

Like Cinemax, Showtime sought to work out distribution deals while releasing their own original films for primetime and late night slots. While Cinemax and HBO worked with Stan Winston, Showtime collaborated with the one and only Roger Corman. With him and his studio Concorde Pictures, they would produce a series of low budget films that would air over the course of two seasons. With the banner “Roger Corman Presents,” Corman and company...

With the Academy Awards not arriving until March 12, 2023, the term “long lead time” takes on a whole new meaning. But that’s not stopping anyone from getting on the campaign trail early.

It’s time, time for the parade of Oscar winners and multiple-time nominees to reveal their latest work and start the drums beating across the industry to get the buzz going. Who knows if these early contenders can beat out the Christmas releases? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, TV networks and streaming services are hard at it, showcasing their stars in a profusion of places to keep their shows at front of mind. Join us on a trip exploring the most interesting parties and premieres in recent weeks.

“Amsterdam”

Alice Tully Hall, New York

Rami Malek, Andrea Riseborough, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale attend the European Premiere of 20th Century Studios and New Regency “Amsterdam” at Odeon Luxe...

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Despite a more than 20 year gap in between the last “Mortal Kombat” film and the upcoming release, fans of the franchise have remained loyal to the movies and video games. The latest film in the series will arrive in theaters and on HBO Max on April 16. If you’re not already subscribed to HBO Max a monthly subscription costs $14.99 a month which grants you access to thousands of blockbuster films, hit TV series, and a myriad of classic movie titles, plus exclusive programming including “Mortal Kombat” and a slate of films on the Warner Bros. roster, all of which will be available to stream for the first month after the films are released in theaters.

One of Mortal Kombat 11’s initial creative blunders ended up being one of its greater strengths in the long run. As a bit of stunt casting, NetherRealm decided to replace Mortal Kombat X’s Tricia Helfer with Mma and WWE star Ronda Rousey as the voice of series mainstay Sonya Blade. Considering the excess of dialogue in the game’s story mode and countless pre-fight exchanges, Rousey’s questionable delivery turned a lot of people off on the character. It’s no wonder the studio didn’t bother giving Sonya any lines when Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath added a second story mode campaign.

Belgian DJ Dimitri Vegas also became a Sub-Zero skin and also recorded voice lines for the classic fighter for some reason. As you’d expect, Vegas’ delivery is bad but also hilarious in a “Why does this even exist?” kind of way.

That’s not to say...

As it turns out, Mortal Kombat 11 fans haven’t had to wait long in order to get their hands on the popular fighting game’s latest update.

Earlier today, NetherRealm head Ed Boon finally confirmed previous leaks outing the existence of new skins based on the classic 1995 movie, all of which are available in-game as a standalone purchase. The Klassic Mk Movie Skin Pack is up for download right now for $5.99 and contains three alternate costumes, one for Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage and Earthrealm’s protector, Raiden. As the name suggests, these outfits are particularly special as they swap current in-game models for each character for those that bear the likeness of Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Linden Ashby and Christopher Lambert, respectively.

Unsurprisingly, what with Mk 11 being by far the most visually impressive brawler on the market right now, NetherRealm has perfectly recreated every actor as they appeared 25 years ago, and you...

If you thought Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa reprising the role of Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11 nearly 15 years after the original film’s release was already the ultimate fan service, it might be time to take a seat for this latest reveal.

Breaking the news over on Twitter, NetherRealm’s Ed Boon posted an image, earlier today, of several characters in the game, accompanied by the phrase “Mk Movie skins!” The teaser, which you can see below, depicts Raiden, Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade bearing the likeness of actors Christopher Lambert, Linden Ashby and Bridgette Wilson, respectively. Yes folks, a long-haired version of Earthrealm’s protector will finally be playable in a Mortal Kombat title, and the best news is arguably yet to come.

Back in September, data miners discovered unused audio files containing newly-recorded voice work from Lambert, Ashby and Wilson which, at the time, was largely dismissed as cut content.

Licence to Kill

Directed by John Glen

Screenplay by Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum

UK, 1989

With the release of Skyfall this month, critics have cited the major departures from the Bond formula taken by that film. They credit Daniel Craig for bringing a modern edge to a character that had become ridiculous in the Brosnan years. It’s easy to forget that similar claims were made about Timothy Dalton back in the late ‘80s. The classically trained actor brought grace to the role with his first appearance in 1987’s The Living Daylights. That film retained the look and feeling of the Roger Moore films while starting the shift towards a more realistic hero. The change became a lot more dramatic in Dalton’s second outing two years later. Licence to Kill pared down the excesses of the typical Bond film and crafted a more personal tale of revenge. While...

Get over here! From the movie's memorable theme to some killer fight choreography, "Mortal Kombat" was a force to be reckoned with when it opened on this day 20 years ago. Sure, the performances were stiff and the fatalities didn't match the bloody extremes of the games, but the film adaptation was still a major hit for New Line Cinema, raking in over $120 million off of an $18 million budget. Fans of the brutal games finally got to see favorites like Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden and Goro brought to life, the women sporting slightly less revealing outfits than their arcade counterparts.  Fun Fact: Did you know Cameron Diaz was originally supposed to play Sonya? According to the game's co-creator, Ed Boon, she broke her hand during karate lessons and was replaced by Bridgette Wilson-Sampras shortly before filming.  With a rumored reboot in development with "The Conjuring" director James Wan producing,...

Mortal Kombat

Written by Kevin Droney

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

USA, 1995

Self-exiled Shaolin monk and martial arts pupil Liu Kang (Robin Shou) awakens one night from a nightmare in which a strange and powerful sorcerer named Shang Tsung (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) brutally murders Kang’s younger brother before looking directly into the camera and claiming Kang’s very soul. Shaken by the experience, the hot-headed youth returns to his former home among the temples to learn the truth of his brother’s demise. Much to his surprise, there is more at stake than family matters, or so explains the god of lightning, Raiden (Christopher Lambert), who magically makes an appearance. His brother’s death granted Shang Tsung, ambassador of an evil dimension called Outworld, a ninth consecutive victory in an ancient tournament named Mortal Kombat. A tenth successive win for the vile Outworld grants Tsung and his minions ownership of the Earth realm.

Title: Elysium Director: Neil Bolmkamp Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, Talisa Soto, William Fichtner. The South African-Canadian Neill Blomkamp has established himself as film and advertisement director, writer, producer and animator with a flair for documentary-style, cinéma vérité, hand-held technique. His upcoming science-fiction action movie, ‘Elysium,’ blends naturalistic and photo-realistic frames with breathtaking computer-generated effects. We are in the year 2154. The third world slum is confined on planet Earth, that is overpopulated and ruined, whilst the very wealthy live on a utopian setting: Elysium, a high-tech space station, which includes access to private medical machines that offer instant cures. Max DeCosta [ Read More ]

The post Elysium Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Check out the third clip from the upcoming science fiction action film Elysium written, co-produced and directed by Neill Blomkamp and starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. In the movie, set in 2154, humanity is divided into two castes: the rich and privileged live on paradise-like Elysium, while the poor toil away in a dark, depressing future Earth. William Fichtner, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Faran Tahir, Michael Shanks, Talisa Soto and Diego Luna round out the cast. Here’s the synopsis for the film In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on Elysium, a Stanford torus high-tech space station governed by President Patel (Faran Tahir),...

Click to read original and full article: Elysium Clip No3 on http://www.filmofilia.com...

If you need a bit of a sci-fi pick up today then this new gun toting clip from upcoming thriller 'Elysium' should appease. Matt Damon ('The Bourne Identity') gets caught up in a futuristic gun fight in this latest clip from the Neill Blomkamp helmed epic which sees Damon escaping the overpopulated Earth in the year 2159 to head for the space station 'Elysium' in order to bring equality to all. Sharlto Copley ('Europa Report'), Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs), William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope all co-star. Check out the new clip below....

Matt Damon ('The Bourne Identity') faces a new minimalistic 'Elysium' one-sheet. The latest poster from the Neill Blomkamp ('District 9') helmed sci-fi epic features Damon's mug shamelessly stamped with an oversized font. Not too long to wait now if you reside stateside for the release of the latest in a year full of apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic sci-fi themed horrors. Sharlto Copley ('Europa Report'), Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs), William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope all co-star. Check out the new poster below....

Neill Blomkamp’s latest sci-fi, Elysium, already has us eagerly anticipating release. This new featurette, with the cast and director discussing the world of the film, just adds fuel to that fire. Check it out at Moviefone.Elysium takes place in a future where the world has become the polluted, dirty, overpopulated, crime-ridden nightmare we all think it’s headed for anyway. Orbiting above the surface, tantalisingly out of reach to all but the mega-rich, is the eponymous space platform, a haven for the moneybags, boasting clear air, plentiful food, advanced medical technology (cancer? Sorted) and laughing, happy people.Getting to Elysium is no easy task: it’s protected by weaponry and troops and the sniffy Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster) decides who gets in and who gets shot down. Max De Costa (Matt Damon) a former criminal-turned-working schlub needs what Elysium has to offer. But can he get there?With Sharlto Copley,...

This is more like it. After the release of the first official trailer plus TV spot for 'District 9' director Neill Blomkamp's newest sci-fi fare 'Elysium' we were excited yet slightly disappointed also. Of course word was we hadn't seen the best yet by far and that certainly rings true when checking out this latest new official trailer from the project. The new trailer literally blows its predecessor away and gives us a much broader look at the movie which almost looks to be squeezing in every single piece of awesomeness from every top class sci-fi movie from years gone by. Sci-fi fest 'Elysium' stars Matt Damon ('The Bourne Identity'), Sharlto Copley ('Europa Report'), Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs), William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope.

Neill Blomkamp's latest sci-fi thrill ride comes in the form of the post-apocalyptic 'Elysium' and the first TV spot has arrived bringing with it futuristic visions, action and more of the skin headed Matt Damon ('The Bourne Ultimatum'). Sadly the new spot doesn't feature a great deal more footage than what we've already seen in the previously released teaser trailer. Sharlto Copley ('Europa Report'), Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs), William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope all co-star. Check out the new spot below....

It's certainly the year for sci-fi what with 'Pacific Rim', 'Oblivion', 'Star Trek into Darkness' and more on the agenda. The La Times have revealed the newest still from Neill Blomkamp's ('District 9') latest venture into science fiction. Matt Damon ('Contagion') features on the latest image from 'Elysium' the highly anticipated feature from the acclaimed South African director. And we have to assume the other bearded fellow in the image alongside Damon is the excellent Sharlto Copley ('Europa Report', 'The A-Team'). Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs), William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope also star in the project. Check the new still below....

A new Sony selection box of 'Elysium' stills have been unwrapped, opened and shared online for us all to enjoy and to accompany the new epic trailer unleashed earlier this week (shown below). The stills, posted up by ScreenCrush and EW, feature stars Matt Damon ('Contagion'), Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs) and Sharlto Copley ('District 9') amongst others. Damon plays Max, a guy living on an overpopulated Earth in ruins, who attempts to escape to the neighbouring 'Elysium', a huge space station built for the rich. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi comes from the capable hands of 'District 9' helmer Neill Blomkamp and will hit theatres in the Us this August. William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope all co-star. Check out all the new images below.

Following on from the release of the new one-sheet for Neill Blomkamp's exciting 'Elysium' comes a fresh first look trailer from the sci-fi feature courtesy of TriStar Pictures and Media Rights Capital. The new trailer certainly ups the scale of the whole event moreso than we had ever imagined it to be but what with Joseph Kosinski's 'Oblivion' hitting theatres this month and M. Night Shyamalan's 'After Earth' eyeing a June opening the post-Earth humanity struggle yarn may be wearing thin come this Summer when 'Elysium' finally lands. It stars Matt Damon ('Contagion') and Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs), Sharlto Copley ('District 9'), William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope. Check the trailer as well as the new one-sheet below....

Well what have we here? An intriguing new one-sheet for Neill Blomkamp's upcoming sci-fi action flick 'Elysium' has arrived giving us another glimpse of a new look Matt Damon ('Contagion'). This time its his backside we can gander at, a shot which reveals some futuristic mechanics attached to the star. Damon stars alongside Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs) in the flick scheduled for an August release. Sharlto Copley, star of Blomkamp's previous (and awesome!) effort 'District 9', also stars along with William Fichtner ('Drive Angry'), Michael Shanks ('Saving Hope'), Alice Braga ('I Am Legend'), Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope. Head below to cast your peepers over the new one-sheet....

Yesterday Latino Review was invited to a special presentation revealing the first footage from the film ‘Elysium’ written and directed by Neill Blomkamp (‘District 9′). Joining Blomkamp at the ArcLight theaters in Los Angeles was producer Simon Kinberg, Sharlto Copley and Matt Damon via satellite from Berlin Germany. At the theater, the audience was treated to the first trailer and a 10-minute montage scene which revealed more of the film’s plot.

Synopsis:

From Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9).

Stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura and William Fichtner.

In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. The people of Earth are desperate to escape the planet’s crime and poverty, and they critically need the state-of-the-art medical care available on...

"Miss Anders... I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on."

It's been 50 years this month since James Bond first made the leap from the printed page to the silver screen with the release of Dr. No in theaters. Six different actors — Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig — have played Ian Fleming's timeless character over the decades and, while his spy gadgets and cars may change, you can always count on Bond to surround himself with beautiful, resourceful, and downright deadly women.

Considering February is Bond Month on Reelz, we thought this would be a great time to look back at the sexy women who have helped to make James Bond the cultural icon of masculinity he has become. Is Ursula Andress's Honey Ryder still the top Bond Girl, the pinnacle of spy intrigue sex appeal, or is it time to christen a new queen?...

The first look at Jodie Foster ('Silence of the Lambs) as Secretary Rhodes from Neill Blomkamp's latest action sci-fi 'Elysium' have been posted up on Twitter. The actress puts on her best stoney face whilst posing for the 3 new photos. Perhaps she's already in character as her role as Rhodes will be the antagonist in this particular movie. Foster stars alongside the head shaven Matt Damon ('Contagion') and Sharlto Copley whom previously worked with Blomkamp on the fantastic sci-fi flick 'District 9'. William Fichtner, Michael Shanks, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Carly Pope all co-star and 'Elysium' lands in Us theatres from 9th August 2013. Check the new photos below....

Here’s your first look at Sharlto Copley in “Elysium”. He plays the film’s bad guy Kruger, and from the looks of him, Kruger is one man you don’t wanna mess with in a dark alley. Then again, with a name like Kruger, I guess he better be dangerous looking. Wouldn’t it be ironic if there was a really sweet, nice guy name Kruger? Blow your mind, right? Anyways. First look at Copley, reuniting with his “District 9″ writer/director Neill Blomkamp in the Matt Damon-fronted “Elysium”, due out later next year. Also starring odie Foster, William Fichtner, Michael Shanks, Diego Luna, Alice Braga, Faran Tahir, Carly Pope, Talisa Soto, Ona Grauer, and Terry Chen.

A trio of sci-fi movie goodness for you this post-Christmas Day. The first features our first look at Sharlto Copley in Neill Blomkamp’s latest sci-fi-as-allegory flick “Elysium”, this time taking on the whole “the 1% have everything, while the 99% have nothing” angle. Having read the script, this thing is like getting hit in the face with a sledgehammer. It is not exactly subtle stuff. Here’s Copley playing the film’s villain, an evil looking fellow by the name of Kruger. Matt Damon, of course, stars as our oppressed hero. Also starring Jodie Foster, William Fichtner, Michael Shanks, Diego Luna, Alice Braga, Faran Tahir, Carly Pope, Talisa Soto, Ona Grauer, and Terry Chen, “Elysium” arrives August 9, 2013. Meanwhile, here are four new looks at the main men of J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek Into Darkness”, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Pine as Empire Magazine’s latest cover boys and a new pic...

One of the more anticipated films hitting theaters next year is Neill Blomkamp‘s Elysium. The sci-fi epic is the director’s long-awaited (well, since 2009 anyway) follow-up to his breakout hit District 9, and it follows a similar path melding action, science fiction and social commentary. It stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, William Fichtner, Diego Luna, Talisa Soto and Sharlto Copley. He played the hero in District 9, but Copley’s turn here is of a far darker flavor. Empire Online has just debuted the first glimpse above of Copley in full bad guy gear, and he’s nigh unrecognizable. Elysium is set in the year 2159, and pits the oppressed people of the ruined planet Earth against the privileged elite aboard the Elysium space station. Matt Damon is ex-convict man-on-a-mission Max, fighting with the Terrans for equality, and Jodie Foster is the dastardly government official intent on enforcing anti-immigration laws and keeping Elysium for the Elysians; Kruger...

Matt Damon continues to be ready for battle in a new pic from his upcoming sci-fi epic “Elysium”, directed by “District 9′s” Neill Blomkamp. It looks like a variation of an earlier official shot of Damon from the movie taht we’ve already seen earlier. Set in the year 2159, where the very wealthy lives on a man-made space station while the rest of population reside on a ruined Earth, a man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds. The movie co-stars Jodie Foster, William Fichtner, Michael Shanks, Diego Luna, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Faran Tahir, Carly Pope, Talisa Soto, Ona Grauer, Terry Chen, and saves the world of inequality August 9,...

Licence to Kill

Directed by John Glen

Screenplay by Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum

UK, 1989

With the release of Skyfall this month, critics have cited the major departures from the Bond formula taken by that film. They credit Daniel Craig for bringing a modern edge to a character that had become ridiculous in the Brosnan years. It’s easy to forget that similar claims were made about Timothy Dalton back in the late ‘80s. The classically trained actor brought grace to the role with his first appearance in 1987’s The Living Daylights. That film retained the look and feeling of the Roger Moore films while starting the shift towards a more realistic hero. The change became a lot more dramatic in Dalton’s second outing two years later. Licence to Kill pared down the excesses of the typical Bond film and crafted a more personal tale of revenge. While...

Contemporary World Cinema in Toronto International Film Festival is screening the world premiere of The Lesser Blessed, directed by Anita Doron and starring Benjamin Bratt. High school is especially harsh for Larry Sole (Joel Nathan Evans), a teenaged metal-head living in a remote community in the Northwest Territories. Shy and ruminative, he’s taunted daily by his town’s golden boy and resident bully, Darcy (Adam Butcher). This is because of Larry’s tortured past, and his aboriginal roots: he, his mother Verna (Tamara Podemski) and her sometime boyfriend Jed (Benjamin Bratt) are all members of the Tlicho First Nation.

Director Anita Doron is remarkable in her own right. She was born in Transcarpathia, in the former Ussr, and later defected to Canada. Her first feature, The End of Silence (06) won the Best Feature Film award at the Canadian Filmmakers’ Festival. She was a co-director of the interactive feature Late Fragment (07), which played the Festival. Her other features include Europa, East (10), Mystico Fantástico! (11) and The Lesser Blessed (12).

In a brief roundtable discussion with Benjamin Bratt and three other reporters (from Berlin, Sydney and Budapest) and yours truly, Benjamin Bratt, looking as young as a teenager, spoke about his transition to pater familias in his own private life with Talisa Soto and thier two children as well as in his part in this film. He likes helping lead the way for the young who are ruderless, for the ones with no voice whose culture has been cut away unceremoniously from their lives by conquering civilizations.

He speaks for himself and his own Peruvian people (Qechua) when he begins to discuss the issue of disenfranchisement and how it affects the youth and how, as in this film, if they can be shown how to reconnect with their cultures then they can begin to open new pathways in their personal and social lives. His own mother, a native American activist, took her five children along when she was part of the Alcatraz prison takeover in 1970, so he has learned this from the cradle. When he saw the script to The Lesser Blessed, he immediately sent it to his brother Peter Bratt with a note saying that this is the sort of story he wishes he could make with his brother. He considers himself blessed for being able to sustain a television series which allows him to make the small independent features like The Lesser Blessed.

James Bond isn’t always smooth. James Bond isn’t always cool. As a lifelong fan, it pains me to say it — but, sometimes, James Bond = total pants. Over 22 films (oh, all right, Bond geeks: 23 including the non-Eon produced Never Say Never Again) there have been some excruciating hands-over-the-eyes moments that make you go (for want of a better word): “Bleh.”

I don’t mean continuity errors or bloopers. I mean those scenes which make you slap your forehead in disbelief and shout ‘No, no, No!’ at the screen.

You know what I mean: Roger Moore snowboarding to the sounds of The Beach Boys; Roger Moore climbing into a submarine that’s disguised as an iceberg. Roger Moore climbing into a submarine that’s disguised as a crocodile. Roger Moore in space. Roger Moore (do you sense a theme here?) driving a motorised gondola. Grace Jones doing anything. Eric Serra...

Netflix has revolutionized the home viewing market for movies with their instant streaming service. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about films of all genres worth holding a spot on your instant viewing queue. (Release dates are subject to change.)

007 Heaven…

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Streaming Available: 09/01/2011

Synopsis: When he discovers that his evil nemesis, Blofeld (Charles Gray), is stockpiling the world’s supply of diamonds to use in a deadly laser satellite, secret agent James Bond (Sean Connery) sets out to stop the madman, with the help of beautiful smuggler Tiffany Case (Jill St. John). Connery’s final turn as Bond (until 1983′s unofficial outing, Never Say Never Again) boasts the gadgets, gunplay and girls that symbolize the heyday of the 007 series.

Average Netflix Rating: 3.8

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Streaming Available: 09/01/2011

Synopsis: In the 12th film in the series based on Ian Fleming’s short stories, British...

Matt Damon Elysuim Set Photos, Armadyne Video. The first Elysium Matt Damon set photos, Armadyne video for Neill Blomkamp‘s 2013 sci-fi film show a bleeding Matt Damon on set in Vancouver, Canada. Little is known of the plot of Elysuim right now but what is will be very enticing to sci-fi movie fans, especially with Matt Damon sporting what looks like a metallic exoskeleton in these set photos.

On some of the stars in the film and a little on Elysium‘s plot:

Jodie Foster will portray “a head of state on an alien planet.” It’s not known what role William Fichtner is taking in Blomkamp’s project, but we know that Damon is portraying an ex-con and actor Wagner Moura will be the film’s main villain, who is described as having “a crazy sense of humor.” Not much else has been revealed about Elysium, other than a...

Mortal Kombat (1995)

Stars: Robin Shou, Christopher Lambert, Linden Ashby, Talisa Soto, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Bridgette Wilson | Written by Kevin Droney | Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

Based on the video game of the same name, Mortal Kombat tells the story of a group of martial artists plucked from Earth by the mysterious Lord Rayden to fight in an ancient tournament that sees otherworldy realms compete for the right to conquer the losing realms. So far Outworld has nine wins against Earth, so… so what!

To hell with a synopsis. Just know this: a bunch of good guy martial artists take on a bunch of bad guy martial artists in a collection of some of the best videogame-inspired fight scenes ever committed to celluloid. All the key characters from the game are here – Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Rayden, Johnny Cage, Kano, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, even the ridiculous Goro.

One of the best movies ever made from a videogame,...

Chicago – The video game world of “Mortal Kombat” has been reinvigorated for a new generation through Warner’s excellent new release and the company wisely saw the opportunity to provide something for fans who need to put the controller down every once in a while but don’t want to leave the universe with Blu-ray releases for Paul Anderson’s “Mortal Kombat” and John R. Leonetti’s “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.”

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0

1995’s “Mortal Kombat” hasn’t aged particularly well but, then again, it was never that great to begin with. Fighting games, even ones with character backgrounds as potentially rich as Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, don’t exactly translate to the big screen and the cast of Paul Anderson’s action flick is lackluster at best. No offense meant to Bridgette Wilson or Christopher Lambert, but there’s a reason that “Mortal Kombat” wasn’t exactly a breakout hit.

In 1992, there may have been nothing bigger and more exciting than the video game Mortal Kombat. Wisely, Midway Games created their own universe with six realms which have unique backstories, all created by the Elder Gods. Players could manipulate their favorite surviving warrior — Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, and Jax, — and fight for survival in do-or-die tournaments.

The phenomenon was huge, spawning follow-up games, merchandise, and, of course, movies. Now available for download this week is the first Mortal Kombat film from 1995. The movie can be downloaded from iTunes and played on your iPod, phone, or tablet.

Released on August 18, it grossed $23 million and was proven critic proof. After earning over $70 million, it gave birth to 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. The first film had the benefit of Paul W. S. Anderson’s early work, showing us what the director can do with action and other realities.

Warner Digital describes...

After grossing over $125 million in the Summer of 1995, the popularity of the hit arcade/console game Mortal Kombat was apparent beyond the joystick. Obviously, due to its success, a sequel was made and released in November 1997, but the same type of success eluded Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Critically ripped apart, the film did go onto gross $51 million, which on a budget of $30, was a minor success still.

John R. Leonetti took over as director for Paul W.S. Anderson, who went on to direct Event Horizon as this film followed the events of the closing moments of the first film. Shao Kahn (played by genre vet Brian Thompson) has ignored the sacred rules of the tournament, and with the defeat of Shang Tsung, has entered the Earth Realm to seize his control. With the help of Raiden (Dexter‘s James Remar filling in for the departed Christopher Lambert), Liu Kang (Robin Shou...

Mortal Kombat is now avaiable for download on iTunes: http://bit.ly/DD_Mortal and to help celebrate this digital release we are giving away one Free download of the cool-ass movie! All you need to do is tell us who your favorite character is from Mortal Kombat (movie or game) and why.

The contest ends this Friday (April 22nd) and we'll pick our winner and get you hooked up! Plot:

For nine generations an evil sorcerer has been victorious in hand-to-hand battle against his mortal enemies. If he wins a tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, desolation and evil will reign over the multiverse forever. To save Earth, three warriors must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, their own inner demons, and superhuman foes in this action/adventure movie based on one of the most popular video games of all time. Starring Christopher Lambert ("Highlander," "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan"), Bridgette Wilson (“Shopgirl,...

Hitting movie theaters this weekend:

African Cats – Samuel L. Jackson (Narration)

Deep Gold – Bebe Pham, Jaymee Ong, Michael Gleissner

Madea’s Big Happy Family – Tyler Perry, Loretta Devine, Bow Wow

Water for Elephants – Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz

Movie of the Week

Water for Elephants

The Stars: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz

The Plot: A veterinary student (Pattinson) abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.

The Buzz: This period piece looks to be a well put together romantic drama. I enjoyed Pattinson’s general vibe in the trailer; thankfully a far cry from his brooding ham-bake of the Twilight films. Witherspoon is winsome, I typically love her in her more dramatic pieces — aside from the laborious Vanity Fair. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of on-screen magic this pair can conjure up. Happy to see Christolph Waltz again,...

It is Mortal Kombat week as the new video game arrives from Warner Bros. Taking advantage of the buzz, the two theatrical films based on the game are being re-released on Blu-ray as well.

The first Mortal Kombat was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and stars Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby and Bridgette Wilson while the sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, was directed by John R. Leonetti and stars Robin Shou, Talisa Soto and James Remar.

If you need help with the gameplay, don't forget the Mortal Kombat Prima Official Game Guide, both paperback and hardcover editions.

Don't fret; there are a couple other less-than-notable horror titles dropping this week, too. You can decide for yourselves if Tokyo Gore Police and Hyenas are worth the space on your library shelf.

Mortal Kombat (Video Game)

By Warner Bros

The newest chapter of the iconic fighting franchise marks a triumphant return to...

Warner Brothers' Mortal Kombat Annihilation is the obvious follow up to Mortal Kombat.  This movie lacks on so many levels and seemed rushed. It does follow the video game characters and their tricks and weapons they use but doesn't introduce them well and the story is very weak.  The Blu-ray runs 95 minutes of PG-13 special effects cheesy action.

John R. Leonetti directs this follow-up that is a visually enjoying watch on Blu-ray but it just doesn't have any new character development. Robin Shou reprises his role as Liu Kang who leads almost an entirely recast group of heroes in this sequel, we still have Talisa Soto as Kitana who joins Kang and also Chris Conrad (Johnny Cage) for about a minute unitl he meets his early doom. To me the Blu-ray is still entertaining simply to watch the special effects. The Blu-ray offers a much clearer watch and any...

Maya Entertainment, which specializes in movies for Hispanics, has acquired international rights to La Mission, a drama starring Benjamin Bratt. International rights will be available at the Berlin International Film Festival, which began today. The film, written and directed by the actor's brother, Peter Bratt, also stars Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Jesse Borrego, and Talisa Soto. “Maya Entertainment is very pleased to bring such a well-regarded and critically- acclaimed film to the International market," Elias Axume, Evp, International Distribution for Maya, said in a written statement. “Benjamin Bratt delivers an amazing performance in...

Peter Bratt has signed on to direct The Silent Spring of Rachel Carson, according to The Hollywood Reporter this morning. The biopic of the bravely outspoken environmentalist has been written by Gail Brice, based on Carson's personal papers, archived at Yale.Carson was a marine biologist who turned her attentions to conservation in the late 1950s. Her discovery of the environmental damage caused by synthetic pesticides resulted in her famous book The Silent Spring in 1962, which led directly to both the banning of some harmful pesticides, and the creation of The Environmental Protection Agency. She died in 1964. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980, and The Society for Social Studies in Science has awarded an annual Rachel Carson Prize for science and technology studies with political relevance since 1998.Bratt's most recent film was La Mission, with Talisa Soto and his brother Benjamin, which has been around on...

Actor Benjamin Bratt made his new drama "La Mission" a real family affair - he stars alongside his wife in a film written and directed by his brother. The former "Law & Order" star's older brother Peter penned the script for the hard-hitting movie, about a father who struggles to come to terms with the fact his son is homosexual.

The Bratts shot "La Mission" in their native San Francisco, California and even recruited some old pals as extras while filming in the Mission District. Benjamin tells People magazine, "It's a place that's been our backyard since we were born. It was very much like a block party."

Peter Bratt adds, "A lot of friends we grew up with did cameos. It was a family affair." Benjamin enjoyed working alongside his actress wife Talisa Soto, but admits he struggled a little with her role, revealing "(It was) incredible. The only difficulty...

Actor Benjamin Bratt made his new drama La Mission a real family affair - he stars alongside his wife in a film written and directed by his brother.

The former Law & Order star's older brother Peter penned the script for the hard-hitting movie, about a father who struggles to come to terms with the fact his son is homosexual.

The Bratts shot La Mission in their native San Francisco, California and even recruited some old pals as extras while filming in the Mission District.

Benjamin tells People magazine, "It's a place that's been our backyard since we were born. It was very much like a block party."

Peter Bratt adds, "A lot of friends we grew up with did cameos. It was a family affair."

Benjamin enjoyed working alongside his actress wife Talisa Soto Bratt, but admits he struggled a little with her role: "(It was) incredible. The only difficulty was that she was playing someone else's wife!"...

Benjamin Bratt and Talisa Soto will be celebrating their bronze anniversary on April 13 - but the couple has a connection that's golden. "We're going on our eighth year of our marriage," the former Law and Order star told People at the New York premiere of La Mission, "and it feels like six months because we're so aligned." The couple, who were cast as lovers in 2001's Pinero, have another shared passion: Parenting. They love staying at home with their two children, Sophia Rosalinda, 7, and Mateo Bravery, 4. "Honestly, they're at this incredible stage where what comes out of their mouths is such a joy,...

Some of the most rhythmic and romantic names around have Latin roots, but nameberry.com co-founder Linda Rosenkrantz says you need not be of Latin decent to choose one for your own baby-on-the-way.

What’s more — while Isabella and Sophia remain rampantly popular — there are a variety of other monikers which are worthy of consideration. With growing frequency, Linda notes, “parents are opting for Lucia over Lucy and Mateo rather than Matthew.” She adds,

“Other names, like Gianna and Giovanni, have started to rank high on popularity lists.”

Michael Williams/Startraks; Antonie Brzostoski/Inf

Celebrity babies with Latin-influenced names can be divided into two groups,...