Posts

One movie that’s escaped us isAssassin’s Creed, the cinematic adaptation of the popular video game franchise. It’s opening in theaters next month, but with everything going on fromDoctor StrangetoRogue One: A Star Wars Storyto the DC films and beyond, chances are you might’ve forgotten about this one. (Psst! I did.) Well, now there’s a featurette that delves deeper into the mythology the film is trying to create, while reminding us all that, yes, this is still happening....

With an estimated $64 million across five days, Disney’sBlack Panther: Wakanda Forevertopped the extended Thanksgiving weekend at the box office, exceeding expectations by a couple of million dollars. On the other hand, the House of Mouse’s latest animated release, the action-adventureStrange Worldbombed with just $18.6 million. Wakanda Foreverdebuted with $181 million in its opening weekend, and earned $66 million in its second weekend. A $64 million third weekend takes its running domestic total to $367 million, and over $650 million globally....

InThis Week in Animation News, I’ll take a look at the previous week in the world of animation in order to get you caught up on everything you might have missed. It’s your one-stop shop for news regarding cartoons, anime, and animated web series. We’re talking movies, TV shows, digital shorts, and everything in between! For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, take a look at the following links....

In 2002,Danny BoyleandAlex Garlandcame together as director and writer to create28 Days Later, now regarded asone of the best horror movies of the 21st century. The haunting film, set in the aftermath of a zombie-like apocalypse in London, becamean unintentional message about 9/11, and has become even more poignant after the COVID pandemic. It also served as the big breakthrough role for its star,Cillian Murphy. With its success, it came as no surprise that there would be a sequel, the aptly titled28 Weeks Later, in 2007....

Netflix has released a new clip forDeath to 2021that pokes fun at the Facebook servers going down, taking some of the world’s most popular social networks offline. The comedy special mixes archival footage and commentary from fictional characters to joke about every shocking event of the last year. The new clip presents some of the stars involved withDeath to 2021, includingStockard Channingas Penn Parker,Joe Keeryas Duke Goolies,Lucy Liuas Snook Austen, andDiane Morganas Gemma Nerrick....

Regeneration(sometimes referred to asBehind The Lines) did little box office on its release in 1997, but hindsight shows it to have beenan underrated, accomplished portrayal of the horrors of the First World War. It is all the more surprising because — unlike, say,Sam Mendes’1917, which takes place in the battle zone, orEdward Berger’sAll Quiet On The Western Front, which is mostly set in the trenches —Regenerationshows life at the front in only the briefest of snapshots....

Walt Disney Animationexperienced an interesting era between 1970 and 1989 in which the studio began taking more risks with the films that they had released. Following the end of the “classical” era, but before the beginning of the “renaissance,”Disney started to produce slightly edgier, darker filmsthat tackled more adult themes, such asRobin Hood, The Fox and the Hound, The Sword in the Stone,andThe Great Mouse Detective,among others. WhileThe Rescuersis not always considered to be on the same level asWho Framed Roger RabbitorOliver & Company, it’s a surprisingly entertaining heist adventure that showed Disney’s willingness to make an action-heavy heist adventure....

Executive produced by film franchise creatorJames DeMonaco,Jason Blumand Platinum Dunes’Brad FullerandAndrew Form, the USA Network TV seriesThe Purgerevolves around a 12-hour period when all crime, including murder, is legal. In a country ruled by the totalitarian political party New Founding Fathers of America, or NFFA, class and wealth still rein supreme and keep the population divided, as each character is forced to reckon with their past, understand how that’s lead them to their present path, and decide just how far they will go to survive the night....

For a film that was set to anchor 20th Century Fox’s post-Wolverine Marvel slate,Gambitis off to a bit of a rough start. First there were rumors that the film’s starChanning Tatumwould walk away from the project over budget disputes. Shortly after, directorRupert Wyatt(Rise of the Planet of the Apes) had to drop out of the film due thanks to consistently pushed start dates that eventually brought him into conflict with prior commitments....

Netflix’s latest drama,Gypsy, is a 10-part psychological thriller that starsNaomi Wattsas a therapist who gets a bit too involved with her patients' lives. As we saw in theteaser trailer, Watts' Jean has some impulse control issues with it comes to both her sexual appetite and her desire to emotionally manipulate her clients. As stellar as Watts is, there’s something a little tired about this premise, which as I’ve noted before feels like a Skinemax production from a decade ago....

After its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Focus Features has added a film to its schedule this year with the release ofArmageddon Time, set for a theatrical debut later this fall. The film will have a limited theatrical release starting on October 28 and will expand domestically on November 4 until it reaches a nationwide release on November 11. The film initially premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and received a seven-minute standing ovation....

It seems likeJames McAvoyhas done it all, and one look at his filmography would confirm this assessment. The actor broke out with a British period drama, dove into the world of superhero cinema, and now appears to have established himself as a horror star. McAvoy debuted as a teenager in the filmThe Near Room, but first gained global recognition as Mr. Tumnus in the big-budget fantasy filmThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe....

Emmy-winning actressJessica Walter, who starred inClint Eastwood’s directorial debutPlay Misty for Meand went on to play Lucille Bluth onArrested Development, died in her sleep at home in New York City on Wednesday, March 24. She was 80 years old. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Walter was a teenager when she began to study acting, making it all the way to Broadway before she even turned 20. From there came a string of TV roles, including guest stints onNaked CityandThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour, before Walter made her movie debut alongside fellow newcomerGene Hackmanin the 1964 dramaLilithstarringWarren BeattyandJean Seberg....