Posts Tagged ‘Harry Potter’
Page to screen: children’s books make great films
How to Train Your Dragon 2, the sequel to the hugely popular 2010 animation from DreamWorks, has been released in England behind the rest of the United Kingdom, but did you know the world Toothless and Hiccup inhabit is originally based on a book series? A lot of our favourite family films are based on children’s literature. For years the...
Book adaptations: To stay faithful or not to stay faithful
Sitting down to watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug made me ponder about book adaptations. More specifically, it made me wonder whether or not it is better to keep the film faithful to the source material, or if a little creative input and additional exposition makes for a better film? It's a difficult one to call because not all...
Swedish cinemas tackle gender bias head on
When you head to the cinema to watch a new movie, what kind of warning do you expect to be included? Sex, profanity, nudity and violence are all a given, but now it seems that gender bias could be next on the list. Cinemas in Sweden are introducing a brand new rating which highlights if a movie is gender biased. In the new system, to get...
Family-friendly Halloween movies
Halloween is almost upon us, and with the day of spooks and trick or treating falling on an unlucky year, there's every chance you'll struggle to find family appropriate films on the TV this year. Luckily you can prepare and bring together a collection of scary classics which will not frighten your kids (or you) too much. So what kind...
Kiki’s Delivery Service – Review
Another day, another Ghibli anime for Blu-Ray. This time we're going back to 1989, when Hayao Miyazaki took inspiration from a novel by Eiko Kadono, and decided stereotypical broomstick wielding witches with black cats, evil plots and spine-chilling cackles were yesterday's news. Take away the schemes and cauldrons, and you're left with Kiki's...
Potter fans get printed goodies
If there's one thing I absolutely love, it's merchandise that doesn't feel like merchandise. What I mean by that is, say, t-shirts from GameTee that subtly reference videogames rather than say something glaringly obvious, or a framed print of some concept art from Lord of the Rings rather than an inflatable Gollum. In this case, it's...
Emma Watson to play Cinderella
We're used to seeing Emma Watson with a wand in her hand, but soon we could see the actress with a broom instead, since she's been courted to play Cinderella in Kenneth Branagh's new fairytale project. The Harry Potter starlet, who's known for her role as fuzzy-haired Hermione, will be filling the glass slipper to portray Cinders in...
Angelina Jolie eyes up 50 Shades role
There are many actresses eyeing up a role in the saucy 50 Shades film adaptation, and Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is just one of them. The athletic Tomb Raider actress is rumoured to be snooping after the role of saucy Shades character Anastasia Steele in the erotic novel written by E L James. According to The Mirror, Angelina Jolie...
Re-enter the Wizarding World with the Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection
We thought we'd heard the last from the wizarding world of Harry Potter, however all is not lost in the depths of the Whomping Willow and Hogwarts dungeons. Warner Home Video has announced an exclusive Harry Potter box set, with special features and collectibles, as well as all eight films. Many of us have been on the journey from the very...
What makes a film quintessentially British?
It's good to be British right now. The four day Diamond Jubilee weekend has just come to an end with a flypast over Buckingham Palace, and we've got the London 2012 Olympics to look forward to (or not dependent on your view). If you don't want to put the Bucks Fizz away just yet, then fear not. To celebrate everything that makes our film industry...
Avengers Assemble box office takings are … wow!
Avengers Assemble (known as The Avengers in every other country) has had some inter-dimensional hype for a lot of the last year, and it has finally made its expected impact on the box office. It took $178.4 million in ticket sales before the US release. We were expecting it and we're still speechless. Joss Whedon's blockbuster...
Sneaky on-set look at Daniel Radcliffe as Allen Ginsberg
Daniel Radcliffe is continuing his quest to leave the boy-wizard behind by looking extremely un-Harry-like on the set of Kill Your Darlings. TFR reported some time ago that Daniel had been cast as beat generation poet, Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings. Now we have a batch of on-set images of him in full costume. We must say, Dan...
Dickens biopic brings the author’s love life to light
Charles Dickens fans are sure to have great expectations for the upcoming British movie, The Invisible Woman, based on the adulterous love life of the author. The biopic will star Ralph Fiennes, who is set to take on the role of Dickens, whose 200th birthday was this month. Fiennes, who is internationally known for playing...
Top Tens: Animal actors that deserved an Oscar
Animal actors have been in the press a lot recently. Martin Scorsese started a campaign to get the giant doberman Blackie, who stars in his movie Hugo, a Golden Collar nomination. Meanwhile Uggie, the scene-stealing dog from The Artist is not allowed to attend the Oscars due to the Academy not allowing animals at the ceremony. Even Miss...
Daniel Radcliffe to personally introduce Woman In Black
Fans of Daniel Radcliffe will be pleased to know the actor will introduce his new film, The Woman In Black on Saturday 11th February, at a special screening in Leicester Square. The star of Harry Potter has been extremely busy since he left the franchise behind last year. He's just finished his leading role in How To Succeed in Business...
Potter director & Emma Watson collaboration?
Harry Potter director David Yates is set to take on an adaptation of Emma Forrest's book Your Voice in My Head, and if rumours are true he wants to hire Emma Watson to star in it. David Yates has been busy for the past few years, making the last four Harry Potter movies a roaring success, but it would seem he is still attached to the stars...
John Hurt: BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema
Veteran British Actor John Hurt has been singled out by BAFTA to receive the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema! Thoroughly deserved and a long time coming! British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) made the announcement on the 27th January ahead of their awards ceremony next month. And John himself seems...
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower images, starring Emma Watson
The first images have been released from The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, starring Emma Watson. This coming of age film follows the story of high school student, Charlie, who struggles to fit in. He'll be played by Logan Lerman, who you might recognise from his performances in the title role of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The...
David Yates to direct Emma Forrest’s memoir
Harry Potter director David Yates' next project looks set to be Emma Forrest's memoir, Your Voice In My Head. Yates might be best known for directing the last four Harry Potter films, but since the franchise has come to an end, he's quickly become attached to a number of other film projects. For some time he was rumoured to be directing...
“Rickman should get Oscar nod,” says Radcliffe
The Academy doesn't tend to give recognition to performances in franchises, but Daniel Radcliffe is adamant his Harry Potter co-star Alan Rickman should get a Best Supporting Actor nod. The actor who plays the most multi-layered and unpredictable character in the entire franchise, Professor Severus Snape, has been there since the...
“Doctor Who movie won’t be Americanised”, says Moffat
Head of Doctor Who, Steven Moffat took to Twitter to dispel worries the planned film adaptation of the hit BBC series, would be an Americanised version unfaithful to the source material. We reported last month that the Doctor's adventures in the Tardis are to be made into a film with Harry Potter director David Yates at the helm. Yates...
Daniel Radcliffe to play Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings
Ex-Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe, is set to take on the role of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in upcoming thriller, Kill Your Darlings - the first feature-length film to be directed by John Krokidas. Kill You Darlings, which was also co-written by Krokidas, is expected to detail the formation of the Beat Generation in mid-1940s New...
Interview: Director Simon Curtis talks My Week with Marilyn
My Week with Marilyn is certainly a incredible story with a star-studded cast, so it's little wonder that the film is already being heavily tipped for Oscar nominations. We interviewed My Week with Marilyn's director, Simon Curtis, to find out about the making of the film. After pursuing the rights to Colin Clark's two books (The...
Breaking Dawn: Part 1 nabs #5 spot on biggest opening weekend
Love it or hate it, you can't deny how popular it is: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 has claimed the fifth biggest opening weekend of all time. Team Big Profits! The film stormed the box office charts, pulling in $139.5m on its opening weekend - cancelling out its $110m production budget and putting it firmly in the clear. Although...
Harry Potter Director Confirmed for Doctor Who Film
It has been confirmed that iconic BBC sci-fi series, Doctor Who, is set to hit the big screen, with Harry Potter director, David Yates, at the helm. However, it appears unlikely that latest incarnation of the Doctor, Matt Smith, will be cast in the lead role, despite his popularity with TV viewers. Yates has indicated that the film will not...
British Academy Scotland Awards honour Robbie Coltrane
Harry Potter fans will recognise Robbie Coltrane for his memorably gruff performance in the films as Hagrid while others might recognise him as the lead in Cracker. Whichever role you think of him most frequently, Coltrane has been honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Film Award at this year's British Academy Scotland Awards. After...
Reuniting the Rubins – Review
If you are a fan of cheesy comedy and heart-warming morals then Reuniting the Rubins is the film for you. Timothy Spall leads an all-star cast in this family-friendly tale directed by Yoav Factor. Expect cheesy comedy, family politics, heavy-handed morals and unexpectedly heart-warming scenes. This is not another Meet The Parents-esque...
My Week With Marilyn trailer arrives
The trailer for the highly anticipated film, My Week With Marilyn, has finally arrived... My Week With Marilyn is directed by Simon Curtis and stars Michelle Williams as the iconic singer and actress, Marilyn Monroe. The film is based on two books by filmmaker Colin Clark, who assisted Laurence Olivier during the making of The Prince and...
Harry Potter screenwriter set to work on Akira remake
Yeah, the Akira remake is still going ahead. Put down the torches and pitchforks for a second. Now, you may want to sit down, but if you're worried about this remake, the latest news might not assuage those fears. Sitting comfortably? Okay, then I'll begin. Steve Kloves, the man behind every of the Harry Potter film bar one - hey, come on! Come...
The BAFTAs – who won what
Awards season is now really in full swing but we have to say it's all rather predictable isn't it? Last night the Bafta's took place at London's Royal Opera House and surprise surprise The King's Speech came out on top. The film scooped seven awards in total, including Leading Actor for Colin Firth, Supporting Actor for Geoffrey Rush...
Lingerie wearing Ashley Greene in The Apparition
The first pictures have appeared for upcoming film The Apparition, staring Ashley Greene, where she appears to be wearing very little indeed. The Apparition is a supernatural film where the Twilight actress plays Kelly, one half of a young couple, who experience terrifying events in their own home, after a presence was accidentally...
The Lowdown: A pre-loaded Harry Potter iPad
The gap between the last Harry Potter film and the latest, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows seemed like ages. I don't know about you but before watching it I wanted to reconnect with the previous ones and remind myself what they were all about and give myself a chance to think about where this next one would go. What better way to do this,...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 – Review
After what feels like years of waiting and reading, the final Harry Potter book has been turned into a film and finally released. But oh yeah, because the book itself is so epic, director David Yates felt the only way to do it justice was to make it into two films. That's all very well and good but when books are turned into films, they are...
The 10 most memorable Harry Potter moments
Tomorrow the first part of the final instalment of the Harry Potter films is released, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1. Even those who haven't read the books, get excited about the films and you can see why. We've watched as the characters have grown older, been through good times and bad, grown closer, some have died and they have...
Skyline: A Review
Skyline, in a nutshell, is about aliens which invade LA, harvesting human brains for God-knows-what purpose. Actually, that's pretty much the extent of this underwhelming plot, nutshell or no nutshell. Jarrod, played by 24's Eric Balfour, heads to the City of Angels with his girlfriend for a big party being held by an old friend, and...
Harry Potter Quiz
If you're more than just a muggle, give our Harry Potter quiz a shot and prove you're good enough to be an Auror! [QUIZZIN...
Nick Acott and Gary Scullion make their own movie
You love the movies right? You'd love to make your own? Well, Nick Acott and Gary Scullion are so passionate about films and film-making that they've decided to make their own. On a budget of £900. As The Film Review are interested in up-and-coming talent, and British movies in particular, we thought we'd catch up with the guys and...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows world première
Last night was the world première of the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in London. The cast looked a far cry from how they did ten years ago when they first walked the red carpet. Emma Watson, who plays Hermonie Granger, stole the show with her short crop, which was drastically different to her...
First pictures of Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black
The first images from Daniel Radcliffe's upcoming supernatural thriller, The Woman in Black, have officially been released. Radcliffe was spotted a couple of months back filming in both Peterborough and Essex, but now the first official misty shots have finally been unveiled by Hammer Films, who are producing the movie. The film is based...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part one trailer now online
Muggles, wizards and witches alike - the prodigal son of the magic world and his two best friends are back, and it's time for their darkest hour yet. The Harry Potter films are massive, and full to the brim with incredibly talented British actors, lending themselves to arguably the most accessible modern fantasy tale of the last two decades....
Hermonie Granger loses her hair
Harry Potter star Emma Watson revealed a very short crop as she announced the 100 day countdown to the final instalments of the films. Wearing black lacey hotpants, Emma who plays Hermione Granger, unveiled the new poster for the penultimate film Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1, which will be released on November 19th. It was also...
First film role for Daniel Radcliffe since Harry Potter
Daniel Radcliffe's first film role after Harry Potter has been confirmed, as he wraps up filming on the final two films. The 20-year-old actor is keen to put his child actor days behind him by staring in supernatural thriller The Woman In Black. Daniel will play Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor who travels to a deceased client's house to settle...
Sneak peak at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer
Cooo- ey Harry Potter fans, want to take a look at a sneak preview of the highly anticipated new film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? Well, keep reading. The first instalment of the film will reach us on November 19th and the final part will be in July the following year. Seeing this trailer has made us realise just how much we'll miss...
Doing it for the kids.
Children's television, books and films - or those few that succeed at the book shop, the ratings and the box office - are timeless classics, and integrate themselves into pop culture as we mature. However, many of the simple, enjoyable tales we immersed ourselves in as children are rapidly being resurrected for the sake of making a lot of money...
The National Movie Awards 2010
And just when we thought the awards season was over, another one creeps along The National Movie Awards. However there is a slight twist to this one as it voted for exclusively by the public. The ceremony held at London's Royal Festival Hall drew in some big A-listers, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kylie Minogue and Orlando Bloom to...
Harry Potter hits Chicago
Chicago (the city, not the musical - although both are applicable) is just about as far as you can get from Hogwarts, but that's the location of the new Harry Potter exhibition. Held at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, the 10,000-square-foot exhibition which launches this weekend will be displaying props, costumes and other various...
Lots of love for Harry Potter as romance hits Hogwarts
It's the penultimate Harry Potter flick (well, the final film in the series is being divided in two so really this is the third from last cinema release), and it's been a long, long time coming. The fact that The Half-Blood Prince was originally pencilled for release last November could seem concerning - such a major delay normally spells...
