Thompson on Hollywood

Warners Cancels 3-D on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

In a welcome sign that the studios are recognizing the hazards of retrofit 3-D--even if done well--Warner Bros. is dumping the idea of releasing Deathly Hallows Part I, the penultimate film in the Harry Potter series, in 3-D on November 19. (An IMAX release will proceed.) Smart move--although the studio blames a lack of time for the change in conversion plans. With time to spare, they say they'll still release Part II in 3-D on July 15. I'll believe it when I see it.

By Anne Thompson
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October 9, 2010 4:19 AM
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Oscar Talk: Diane Lane vs. Annette Bening vs. Julianne Moore, Inception, Hereafter, The Way Back

There's still a long way to go in the Oscar race. Kris Tapley and I debate whether Secretariat is this year's mainstream Blind Side, Diane Lane is this year's Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore and Annette Bening will both make it for The Kids Are All Right, and if Chris Nolan's Inception, John Cameron Mitchell's Rabbit Hole, Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, Pixar's Toy Story 3, Peter Weir's The Way Back, and Clint Eastwood's Hereafter have a shot at the top ten.

By Anne Thompson
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October 9, 2010 1:39 AM
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Mid-Summer Box Office Wrap: Top Ten Chart, Studio Report Card

At mid-summer, the box office is lagging just behind last year's pace and ticket sales are flat, reports Anthony D'Alessandro, who charts the season's winners, losers and studio market shares so far (as of last weekend). Will red-hot Inception take the number one box office crown from Toy Story 3? Stay tuned, as numbers and rankings will change by Labor Day.

By Anthony D'Allessandro
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August 5, 2010 5:37 AM
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5 Comments

Harry Potter, Lord of the Mashup

The new Harry Potter 7 Trailer seems vaguely reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. Granted, both are fantasy films, but the sweeping helicopter shots of magical warriors running across fields and mountains seem a little too similar. Well there's a reason! Harry Potter will be traveling to Middle Earth this fall. Just kidding, but check out the trailer for a fictional HP vs. LOTR after the jump:

By Cameron Carlson
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July 15, 2010 8:02 AM
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Trailer Watch: More Harry Potter

A new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer shipped with the collector's edition of LEGO videogame, Harry Potter: Years 1-4. Revealed scenes include Daniel Radcliffe suffering from chest pain in downtown London, and aerial shots of the intrepid gang running across mountain ridges, reminiscent of LOTR. HP7 fever rages unabated. Trailer after the jump:

By Cameron Carlson
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July 2, 2010 7:36 AM
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Trailer Watch: Harry Potter Finale Looks Very Lord of the Rings

The trailer (below) pushing Warner Bros.' November 19 release of the Harry Potter finale Deathly Hallows: Part I (Part II comes July 15, 2011) looks dark, dangerous and epic: Lord of the Rings scale. (It looks even more expensive than the last one, which was $250 million.) Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort chills my spine.

By Anne Thompson
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June 28, 2010 11:09 AM
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This Means War Casting Saga, WGA vs. IMDb, Boyle directs Olympics, Fairy Tales are New Vampires

- McG can't make up his mind on casting vidgame-to-film This Means War. While Reese Witherspoon is set to play the femme at the center of a dispute between two spies--best friends turned enemies in this action-comedy--the two male leads are up in the air. In-demand Bradley Cooper has bailed on the role originally intended for Martin Lawrence, while Seth Rogen and Chris Pine were both reported as attached at some point. Now Vulture asserts that McG has offered his Terminator Salvation star Sam Worthington the lead. The Playlist, which has been tracking the This Means War casting saga, writes that Justin Timberlake was being considered for the film, and filmmakers may go to Colin Farrell if Worthington is a no-go.

By Sophia Savage
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June 17, 2010 3:40 AM
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Tonys Go Hollywood, Red's Logan Pens Miraculous Year, Nolan Hates 3D, It's a Wrap for Harry Potter

The Tonys went Hollywood Sunday night, from winners Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in best revival winner Fences to best featured actress and actor Scarlett Johansson and Eddie Redmayne, respectively, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as best actress (in musical revival A Little Night Music). The Tonys also favored two 50s-set shows as Memphis -- a rocking musical about underground Tennessee dance clubs and interracial love -- won best musical, and Red --starring Alfred Molina as artist Mark Rothko --won Best Play. Vanity Fair posted a gorgeous gallery of black and white portraits of select nominees.

By Sophia Savage
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June 14, 2010 2:27 AM
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Oscar Watch: Final Nominations Predictions

Today, I picked up my credential to attend the Oscar nominations announcement bright and early Tuesday morning. I'll bring my laptop and file from there. I like getting the information packet that has all the stats and info about all the nominees. I have posted my final predictions, front runners and one long shot in all the categories except the shorts, which I have not seen.

By Anne Thompson
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February 2, 2010 2:01 AM
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Oscar Watch: Visual Effects List of Seven Led by Avatar

Seven movies have made the short list of the Academy Visual Effects branch. They will vote for the final three nominated films on January 21 at the annual bake-off, where 15-minute reels of each film are screened for the VFX voters. I'm always at Sundance for this; I'd love to go one day.