Author: Martyn

Trailer- Miss Virginia

Based on the inspiring true story of Virginia Walden Ford’s fight to create positive educational opportunities for African-American students in Washington D.C., Miss Virginia is a gripping drama about community empowerment with a powerhouse central performance from Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black).


Virgina Walden (Uzo Aduba) an impoverished single mother who is losing her fifteen-year-old son to the rough streets of Washington D.C. Unwilling to see him drop out and deal drugs, she places him in a private school. But when she can’t afford tuition, she launches a movement to change the system that is destroying him and thousands like him. Attacked and threatened by those who don’t want change – from a corrupt politician to the local drug lord, Virginia must discover depths of strength she never knew she had.


Because of Virginia Walden Ford’s tireless campaigning, in 2002 the United States’ government enacted the first-ever Opportunity Scholarship Program for low-income children, leading to a complete overhaul of Washington D.C.’s education system.
Miss Virginia stars Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) in the titular role, Niles Fitch (Roman J. Israel, Esq., This is Us) as her son James, as well as Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), Vanessa Williams (Shaft), Adina Porter (American Horror Story) and directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna.

Trailer-The Batman

Warner Bros. has released the first teaser trailer for Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ and it’s pretty outstanding.

The Batman will be a noir-style story, that will heavily on Batman in his detective mode. Which is something no other Batman movie has done yet. In the comics, he’s the world’s greatest detective. Director Matt Reeves has said that it’s going to tell a deep and psychological story and confirmed that the movie will not be an origin story. We’ll be seeing Batman in the second year of his

The film stars Robert Pattinson as Batman, Zoe Kravitz as Cat Woman, Andy Serkis as Alfred, Paul Dano as Edward Nashton/The Riddler, Jayme Lawson as Bella Reál, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone and Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson. Gil Perez-Abraham (Orange is the New Black), Charlie Carver (Teen Wolf), and Max Carver.

The Batman is now scheduled for release on October 1, 2021.

New dates for landmark Ray Harryhausen exhibition

A thrilling and immersive exhibition on the pioneering and unparalleled work of Ray Harryhausen (1920-2012), the cinematic titan whose movies shaped the face of modern cinema, will arrive at the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS), as part of the late filmmaker’s centenary celebrations. Working in close collaboration with The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, the National Galleries are proud to present Ray Harryhausen: Titan ofCinema, which will lead the reopening of Modern Two at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art from Saturday 24 October.

The exhibition is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition  of the art of the legendary trailblazer Harryhausen to date, who elevated stop-motion to an art-form between the 1950s-1980s, and whose exhilarating movies inspired a generation of the world’s greatest living filmmakers, among them Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Sir Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro.

The exhibition, originally scheduled for May this year and delayed due to COVID-19, will now lead the reopening of Modern Two with an extended run from October 2020 until September 2021. Visitors can secure their tickets via the new online booking system, available from www.nationalgalleries.org

Ray Harryhausen was responsible for some of twentieth century cinema’s most magical moments. The Titan of Cinema exhibition will showcase the original models at the very centre of these classic moments, such as the iconic skeletons from Jason and the Argonauts(1963), the Cyclops from his highly-influentialSinbad series of the 1950-70s and his landmark UFOs from 1956’s Earth vs the Flying Saucers. Among the models on show, are ones that would later inspire movies such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Pan’s Labyrinth andMars Attacks!

Also on display will be a young Harryhausen’s very first models, including his marionette inspired by the gorilla from Willis O’Brien’s film King Kong, as well as models from Mighty Joe Young, the first film Harryhausen and O’Brien worked on together and the movie which effectively launched Harryhausen’s career.

These miniature monuments to cinematic history are joined by a bounty of posters, memorabilia, never-seen-before photographs, storyboard illustrations and the drawings and art that inspired Harryhausen’s creatures and films, all taken from his remarkable collection.

The Academy Award-winning filmmaker’s life, work and boundless imagination will be told through an immersive showing of sights, sounds and shadows, which caters not only for steadfast film enthusiasts, but for visitors of all ages and interests.

The exhibition also traces Harryhausen’s unique connection to Scotland. Not only did Ray and his lifelong partner Diana have an affinity for Scotland, but Diana was also the great-great granddaughter of the Scottish explorer David Livingstone. One of Harryhausen’s final projects was designing a statue of the legendary missionary, which now resides in Blantyre.

Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema is presented in collaboration with The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) to celebrate what would have been his centenary birthday year. 

As part of a series of events and initiatives under the banner #Harryhausen100, the exhibition will be accompanied by screenings, workshops, talks and more, bringing his creations to life once again and celebrating the legacy of the filmmaker who shaped cinema as we know it today.

Vanessa Harryhausen, daughter of Ray Harryhausen and a Trustee of The Ray and Dianna Harryhausen Foundation, said: “Our plans to celebrate Dad’s centenary at the National Galleries in Edinburgh are so exciting; if he was still around, he would be so enthused by all the centenary celebrations and plans! It’s wonderful that we are able to display so much of Dad’s collection: the space at the Galleries gives us great scope to display as many of his models and artworks as possible, as well as personal items which have never been exhibited before.”

“We at the Foundation are thrilled to work with the National Galleries on displaying Dad’s collection and celebrating his legacy. He established the Foundation in order to encourage future generations to enjoy stop-motion animation, and we hope the celebrations and activities in Edinburgh will encourage fans of all ages to be inspired by his creativity”.

Ray Harryhausen | Titan of Cinema runs at Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two) from Saturday 24 October 2020 – 5 September 2021. Tickets on-sale from 2 September via www.nationalgalleries.org

Olivia Wilde to direct a Silk movie?

Olivia Wilde has reportedly signed a deal to direct a new Marvel film for Sony Pictures.

The ’Booksmart’ director will make a movie about a female superhero, but neither Disney or Sony has officially commented.

When Marvel were in financial trouble in the 1990s, they sold off the film rights to their superheroes. Sony bought the rights to Spider-Man. Which also grants them use of any Spider-Man related characters.

Wilde posted a spider emoji on Twitter, leading most people to assume she’s making a Spider-Woman movie. But, my money is on Silk.

https://twitter.com/oliviawilde/status/1296224309896126464?s=21

Silk AKA Cindy Moon made her debut in 2014, in The Amazing Spider-Man issue 1. She’s a Korean-American, who was bitten by the same spider on the same day as Peter Parker.

Cindy gained similar abilities to Peter when she was bitten, though her spider-sense (dubbed by her as “Silk Sense”) is far stronger than Peter’s. On their first meeting, Peter observed that she was even faster than him, though not quite as strong. She also has the ability to shoot webs out of her fingertips, and she has an eidetic memory.

Ben Affleck is Batman returning

According to Vanity Fair, Ben Affleck is set to don the Batman cowl again. It’s thought to be a cameo role and it will be alongside Michael Keaton, who is also reprising his role as Batman from the 1989 Tim Burton film. Both will appear in The Flash, starring Ezra Miller.

The Flash director Andy Muscietti said:

“He’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck’s Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before. It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in.”

I honestly didn’t see this coming, I thought Affleck was done with the character. It’s nice to see he’s willing to come back to give the character a proper send-off.

The Flash is scheduled for release on June 3, 2022.

Listen to our review of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Big Finish review-Torchwood: Red Base

Mars may be the next giant leap for mankind, but Starr Base is the first small step. This practice Mars base, located in a quarry in Neath just off the A474, is designed to test humanity’s ability to survive on the red planet. Unfortunately, the crew members are dying and the remaining survivors are terrified, paranoid, and questioning whether something alien has infiltrated Starr Base. To investigate, Sgt. Andy Davidson has been dispatched to determine what has gone wrong.

Torchwood: Red Base, a murder mystery by the talented James Goss, is difficult to review without spoilers. It is a whodunit loosely based on the reality show Eden, which followed 23 participants attempting to build a self-sufficient community in a remote part of Scotland for a year. Unknown to them, broadcasting ceased after only four episodes due to poor ratings.

The Torchwood range has become a personal favourite, and releases like Red Base cement my belief that Torchwood on Big Finish is at its best. James Goss delivers a solid mystery that pays homage to classic whodunits while also providing an original twist. Lisa Bowerman’s direction is as polished as ever, and Blair Mowat’s music is perfectly complemented by Joe Meiners’ sound design.

Tom Price delivers an outstanding performance as Sgt. Andy Davidson, brings humour, empathy, and understanding to the character. It’s been a joy to see Andy evolve over the years and continue to be a fan favourite.

Torchwood: Red Base is now available to own as a collector’s edition CD at £10.99 or on download from the Big Finish website for £8.99.

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New Promo Teaser For ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE

Director Zack Snyder has shared a new teaser promo for his highly-anticpated cut of Justice League.

The teaser shows us a bit of footage, ahead of the DC FanDome presentation this weekend where a full trailer is expected to be revealed.

DC FanDome is a first-of-its-kind, immersive global fan experience in nine languages featuring exclusive reveals with our biggest stars across the DC Multiverse—free for all fans to join for 24-hours only on August 22nd. No lines, no badges.

The event, aimed at fans of DC Comics, will feature online panels, cosplay, fan art and comics, as well as special events for kids. The devoted DC fandom will be especially excited for looks at some long-awaited DC properties, including the Snyder Cut of Justice League, Robert Pattinson as The Batman, The Rock as Black Adam, a look at James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and much, much more.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter to reopen on Thursday 20th August

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will reopen to visitors from Thursday 20th August, allowing fans to step back into the Wizarding World and discover the behind-the-scenes magic. From tomorrow at 1pm, fans will be able to book tickets online for visits up to 31st June 2021.

To help keep everyone safe, a number of additional measures and changes have been made to the Studio Tour experience. The updates are designed to prioritise social distancing and enhanced cleaning.

Geoff Spooner, SVP & General Manager, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London says: 

“We’re thrilled to be able to open the doors to the Hogwarts Great Hall to visitors once again. While the Studio Tour experience may differ from previous visits as we introduce additional safety measures, we’re looking forward to welcoming fans back into the world of Harry Potter for a truly magical day out.”

Upon reopening, visitors will experience the Studio Tour’s special feature, A Celebration of Slytherin. For the first time ever, visitors will be able to walk through the Great Hall decorated in Slytherin colours before being the first to see the Slytherin Common Room up close.

A 25-ft section of the set complete with authentic props and imposing stone walls will be on display for fans. A Celebration of Slytherin has been extended until 12th November and more details can be found here.

Safety Measures  

  • Visitors aged 11 and up will be required to wear a face mask or covering for the duration of their visit.  
  • The Studio Tour will open with a reduced capacity to help encourage social distancing. Additional signage and floor markings will be in place to promote social distancing and allow visitors to navigate the Studio Tour safely.  
  • Enhanced cleaning will take place throughout the day and hand sanitiser stations will be positioned throughout the Studio Tour.  
  • Some areas of the Studio Tour may be unavailable to limit contact and maintain social distancing.  
  • To further limit contact, the Studio Tour’s shops and cafés will only accept cashless or contactless payment options such as credit and debit cards or mobile payments. 
  • For more information on the Studio Tour’s safety measure, visit the website. 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London has achieved Visit England’s ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard by demonstrating that clear processes are in place and industry and Government COVID-19 guidance on cleanliness and social distancing are being followed. 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter opened its doors on 31st March 2012. The unique attraction offers visitors the ultimate chance to get up close to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series. Visitors can explore the original Great Hall, step into the Forbidden Forest and discover the newly opened Gringotts Wizarding Bank all before marvelling at the breath-taking miniature scale model of Hogwarts castle. The Studio Tour has welcomed over 14 million visitors and has been well-received with 96% of the 40,000+ reviews on TripAdvisor rating it as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’. Tickets must be pre-booked at www.wbstudiotour.co.uk and cannot be bought at the attraction.

Artwork revealed for Titan’s Time lord victorious

A thrilling new adventure for the Tenth Doctor (as played by fan-favorite David Tennant) that sees the shocking return of his deadliest enemies: the Daleks! But things aren’t what they seem – time is all wrong, and something is coming that terrifies even the Daleks… The first of two oversized issues kicking off the BBC’s highly anticipated multi-platform Doctor Who epic, Time Lord Victorious!

Pre-order now from your local comic shop, Forbidden Planet
and ComiXology.

Trailer-Get duked

Below please find the world premiere of the trailer for Amazon Studios’ GET DUKED!, an anarchic satire of generational politics, hip-hop loving farmers and hallucinogenic rabbit shites that pits the youth of tomorrow against the status quo of yesterday.

Dean, Duncan and DJ Beatroot are teenage pals from Glasgow who embark on the character-building camping trip — based on a real-life program — known as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, where foraging, teamwork and orienteering are the order of the day. Eager to cut loose and smoke weed in the Scottish Highlands, the trio finds themselves paired with straight-laced Ian, a fellow camper determined to play by the rules. After veering off-path into remote farmland that’s worlds away from their urban comfort zone, the boys find themselves hunted down by a shadowy force hell-bent on extinguishing their futures. From writer-director Ninian Doff — making his feature debut after a slew of award-winning music videos and short films for artists including Run the Jewels, Miike Snow, Migos, and Mykki Blanco — comes an anarchic satire of generational politics, hip-hop loving farmers and hallucinogenic rabbit droppings that pits the youth of tomorrow against the status quo of yesterday. Get Duked! stars Eddie Izzard, Kate Dickey, Georgie Glen, James Cosmo and a breakout young cast featuring Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja, Rian Gordon, and Lewis Gribben.

GET DUKED! will open Friday, August 28 worldwide on Amazon Prime Video