The Playlist

Weekend Box Office: 'Gnomeo' Leapfrogs 'Hall Pass,' Audiences Not 'Angry' Enough To 'Drive'

By Gabe Toro
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February 27, 2011 5:51 AM
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1 Comment

Rats off to ya, “Gnomeo And Juliet.” After two weeks in release, the ‘toon has vaulted into first place, generating $14 million this weekend on its way to a 3D-boosted $100 million+ gross. The Disney Touchstone release, populated almost entirely by British actors, is something of a surprise hit, since it looked like a throwaway purchase along the lines of “Planet 51” or “Hoodwinked.” Consider this something of an anomaly: who knew animated lawn gnomes would generate such business?

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Review: 'Drive Angry 3D' Is a Hellzapoppin' Blast Of B-Movie Ridiculousness

By Leah Zak
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February 26, 2011 6:20 AM
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1 Comment

"Drive Angry 3D" is everything it wants to be. And slightly more. If one wonders to what extent filmmakers have NOT been using 3D, director Patrick Lussier answers with this picture, a crazy, bad dudes-and-fast-cars camp classic in the making. Shocking, grotesque, and completely ridiculous, audiences will get what they paid for. Or at least what they sneak in for using their leftover 3D glasses from "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never." Between this and his surprisingly satisfying remake of "My Bloody Valentine," Lussier might be shaping up to be the first genuine post-millennial 3D exploitation auteur... or something.

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Everyone Loves Neil Diamond & More Things We Learned From The Filmmakers Of 'Drive Angry 3D'

By Leah Zak
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February 25, 2011 6:09 AM
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2 Comments

Patrick Lussier & Todd Farmer Call Amber Heard The "Anti-Damsel In Distress" & Espouse The Emotional Impact Of 3DExclusive: We recently had the opportunity to sit down for an interview with “Drive Angry 3D” director Patrick Lussier (henceforth occasionally referred to as PL) and writer Todd Farmer (henceforth occasionally referred to as TF). We reported on what they had to say regarding their some upcoming new projects yesterday, but we learned a few more things during the chat that we thought you should know. Read on for more on the emotional impact of 3D, William Fichtner’s embodiment of a truly odd antagonist and Amber Heard’s anti-Damsel in Distress character.

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Watch: Red Band 'Drive Angry 3D' Teaser Promises Boobs, Blood & F-Bombs This Awards Season

By Kevin Jagernauth
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February 3, 2011 7:34 AM
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6 Comments

What is it about Nicolas Cage and his fabulous festival of wigs that makes us want to sit through whatever shitty movie he cranks out to support castle buying and IRS debt payments? We have no idea but dammit all, as dumb as it looks, we still want to see "Drive Angry 3D." At the very least, it looks like 10 times more fun than "Sanctum."

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The Long Road To 'The Green Hornet': Clooney, Kevin Smith, Wahlberg, Gyllenhaal & More Once Involved

By Edward Davis
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January 12, 2011 5:15 AM
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2 Comments

"The Green Hornet" Finally Arrives On Screen... What A Long Strange Trip It's Been; Greg Kinnear, Jet Li and Jason Scott Lee Were All Once AttachedHere's a major understatement: the life of "The Green Hornet" feature film adaptation has been a long and drawn out process. In the most recent issue of EW (not online), producer Neal Moritz said, "It's certainly been a tumultuous road." Now the film has finally arrived thanks to Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Michel Gondry and Sony and well... you've probably read our review by now, but it hasn't been easy.

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Michael Gondry Says Nic Cage Wanted To Play 'The Green Hornet' Villain With A Jamaican Accent

By Kevin Jagernauth
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January 10, 2011 4:01 AM
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2 Comments

Director Says He Was "Relieved" When Cage No Longer Wanted The RoleAt one time, "The Green Hornet" looked very different. Seth Rogen was still on board in the lead, crime-fighting role but Stephen Chow, the star of "Kung Fu Hustle" was signed up to direct and play Kato and Nicolas Cage was in talks for the villain. He eventually walked from the part and at the time, gave a very sober account of an actor struggling to ensure the integrity of the character he was looking to play. Interesting coming from the guy with "Season of the Witch" now in theaters, but anyway....

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Review: 'Season Of The Witch' Provides Swordplay, Ghouls And Ron Perlman's Forehead

By Gabe Toro
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January 6, 2011 10:01 AM
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0 Comments

There's black magic everywhere in "Season of the Witch." Be prepared for winged demons taking to the sky. Gird yourself for the specter of zombie monks. Secure your temperament against the threat of mutant werewolves. And mind the massive forehead of veteran character actor Ron Perlman. No stranger to swords, forests and monsters, Perlman -- all upper body and grunts -- smirks his way through the production, setting the tone in that he's not going to take anything all that seriously. But when a supernatural monster comes at him, you can be sure he will headbutt said demon several times.

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Watch: Trailer For Delayed Nicolas Cage Vehicle 'Season Of The Witch'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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November 11, 2010 6:14 AM
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2 Comments

Wait, didn't this already come out? You might have seen the trailer for "Season of the Witch" late last year before Lionsgate pulled the film from its previously scheduled March 19, 2010 release date. No reason at the time was given for yanking the film, but now that a trailer has arrived it's pretty obvious why it was taken out of a prime spring date and dumped in the wasteland of early January.

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Nicolas Cage Will Be Playing Two Parts In 'Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance', But Won't Be Villain

By Oliver Lyttelton
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October 29, 2010 12:48 PM
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1 Comment

One of your most eagerly-anticipated films of 2012, if you recently suffered a significant injury to the brain, or have only ever watched films with the words "Rider" and "Ghost" in the title, is probably "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," the sequel to the disastrous 2008 Marvel Comics adaptation "Ghost Rider." Nicolas Cage will once again be playing stuntman Johnny Blaze, who makes a deal with the devil to become the fiery-headed demon-hunter Ghost Rider, and the plot will involve the hero in Europe, going up against his employer, who's trying to possess the body of a child.

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