Tom Cruise Will Rock Your World in ‘Rock of Ages’

Tom Cruise Will Rock Your World in ‘Rock of Ages’

Tom Cruise, one of filmdom’s brightest superstars, plays the fictional Stacee Jaxx, one of music’s biggest stars, in New Line Cinema’s epic musical “Rock of Ages.”

In the film, Stacee Jaxx is the rock god that every guy wants to be and that every woman wants to bed. The lead singer of Arsenal, Stacee is at a turning point in his career, and in his life. He’s about to go solo, and his final show with the band is at The Bourbon Room. It’s a homecoming of sorts, as he played his first gig there back in the day. But fame and fortune may have come too easily to the front man who, after years of indulgence, has become boozed up and blasé to the point of bored, and less than reliable when it comes to showing up for his own shows.

The casting of Stacee Jaxx turned out to be somewhat serendipitous. “I was thinking to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we got one of the biggest movie stars in the world to play one of the biggest rock stars in the world?’” Shankman reflects. “And, as luck would have it, I ran into Tom Cruise, told him I was directing this movie, that it was a musical, and that I was going to offer him this part. He said, ‘Are you serious?’ I said I was. Then I described Stacee to him and he laughed really hard. The next thing I knew, he was in, and I was making a musical with Tom Cruise.”


To play the role, Cruise underwent a complete transformation, and Shankman admired his diligence. “From the moment he signed on, Tom started training his voice with an incredible vocal coach, Ron Anderson. I remember the first time we heard him sing. He’s got this outrageous, four-octave range—turns out he has opera singers in his ancestry, so he’s probably genetically predisposed to sing, but no one’s ever asked him to before. I’m just the lucky recipient of this revelation, I suppose,” he smiles.

“The joy at having discovered that he can sing was a huge relief,” Shankman admits, recalling that both he and the actor had long wanted to collaborate on a project when “Rock of Ages” came along. “There was a moment when we were looking at each other and Tom said, ‘Well, what if I can’t sell this? Because I won’t do it if it’s not me singing.’ With everything he does, from stunts to performing in front of an audience, it has to be him doing it. He believes his audience has come to expect that, and why bother doing it otherwise? But this is what he loves. He loves making movies and he wants to be really good, so he works harder than anybody at it.”

“Tom is a rock god because he brings all of the star power that comes along with being Tom Cruise, and he’s found a character that audiences have never seen before,” Shankman concludes. He describes Stacee Jaxx as being “one of those man-children that no one ever says ‘no’ to. He’s not a bull in a China shop. He’s just a guy who doesn’t even know what boundaries are. And his go-to has just become sex because that’s the only thing he really knows anymore, but it’s not because he wants anything.”


Opening across the Philippines in June 14, 2012, “Rock of Ages” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Search for Dad Sets Superhero Course in “The Amazing Spider-Man”

Search for Dad Sets Superhero Course in “The Amazing Spider-Man”

It's not just a random mutant spider bite that sets Hollywood's new Peter Parker on the superhero career track.

From the trailers of "The Amazing Spider-Man" (and the six-minute extended footage now playing with “Men In Black 3”) it's clear that something dark and deep is at the heart of Peter's fateful encounter with that spider. He may even be a Spider-Man of destiny.

The footage offers glimpses of the orphan boy's natural father (Campbell Scott), a man shrouded in a mystery that Peter (Andrew Garfield) needs to unravel as a youth.

Garfield, co-star Emma Stone and director Marc Webb would not divulge details, but they did acknowledge that a personal quest puts Peter on a collision course with the spider whose bite imparts superpowers.

"I love the idea of destiny having a hand in Peter Parker's fortune, and not just being a slip and a fall," Garfield said in an interview. "I love the idea of him being meant to assume this symbol."

"The Amazing Spider-Man" maintains the classic Parker family structure of the Marvel Comics and the three previous big-screen blockbusters that starred Tobey Maguire as Peter. Garfield's Peter is raised by his upright Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and loving Aunt May (Sally Field).

In Maguire's version, a school field trip took Peter to the lab where that spider gave him the momentous nip. In the new film, Peter's on a mission when fate strikes.

"There's a lot that leads him to that spider bite in this one," Stone said. "It's not just a school field trip. He snuck in there for some reason."

The footage also showed some significant portions setting up Peter's transformation into the web-slinging hero, along with the mutation of a one-armed scientist (Rhys Ifans) into a hulking green villain known as the Lizard.

Though Scott as Peter's father appears only briefly, the footage indicates that his character is pivotal to the fortunes of his son.

"It's about a kid who goes out looking for his father, and he finds himself," Webb said. "I don't want to get too specific beyond that, but that's certainly a big part of what the story's about, my angle on the Peter Parker character. The fact that he's sort of an orphan, I think that's something really interesting to explore."

(Audiences who watch “Men in Black 3” in Digital 3D will get to screen an extended 6-minute sneak peek of “The Amazing Spider-Man” as an added attraction. 2D screenings of “MIB 3” will play a new trailer of “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

Opening across the Philippines on June 29 in Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.)

Nothin’ But a Good Time in ‘Rock of Ages’

Nothin’ But a Good Time in ‘Rock of Ages’

Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip, 1987. Rockers wail and heads bang inside the packed and pulsating walls of a rock ‘n’ roll institution, The Bourbon Room. Heart strings are plucked and electric guitar sparks fly to the beat of some of the greatest hits of the `80s…the “Rock of Ages.”

The Broadway hit now goes from stage to screen with Warner Bros.’ epic musical “Rock of Ages” under the direction of Adam Shankman (“Hairspray”). Shankman, who grew up in Los Angeles, felt right at home in the setting. “My dad was a music business manager, and his office was on the Strip,” he says. “I knew a lot of artists. I was choreographing music videos in 1987 and it was a world that I really understood and loved, so turning back that clock was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

At the core of the film is a boy-meets-girl love story woven into classic, only-in-Hollywood dreams of fame. Shankman’s sister and producing partner, Jennifer Gibgot, elaborates, “Like so many people in L.A., the young lovers in ‘Rock of Ages’ have come here hoping to make it big and thinking it’s going to be easy. But it turns out to be a lot harder to stay on the path, to keep believing in the thing that led them there in the first place.”


Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta portray the young couple with stars in their eyes at the center of the story. They are joined by an all-star cast that includes Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Mary J. Blige, Malin Akerman and Catherine Zeta-Jones. And playing the rock god of “Rock of Ages,” Arsenal lead singer Stacee Jaxx, is Tom Cruise.

For Shankman, the journey began when he went to see “Rock of Ages” on the stage. He recalls, “The audience was having the best time I’d ever seen at a show. Everybody knew the lyrics to all the songs and was out of their seats and singing along and having the time of their life. That enthusiasm, that sheer emotion, convinced me to make the movie.”

It wasn’t his only reason for revisiting the era, however. “I thought it would be an interesting challenge to make a movie musical that guys would drag their girlfriends to for a change.”

Shankman’s “Rock of Ages” is based on the Broadway smash, which earned five Tony Award nominations and is still entertaining audiences on the Great White Way as well as in touring productions around the world. The show’s book was written by Chris D’Arienzo, who is also a writer and executive producer on the film.

The story, about pursuing your heart’s desire, is backed by incredible songs and set on the iconic Sunset Strip, a place emblematic of the time, a place where fantasies could become reality, and did. Where a band from nowhere could perform at the Whiskey or The Roxy and wind up with a record deal.

Writer Justin Theroux enjoyed working on the screenplay for the jukebox musical, an opportunity he describes as “a totally different experience. In a weird way, you write backwards from the point of view of the song. The song is always the emotional center for the characters in any given scene, so it’s fun to try to get them to that specific destination. The song does a lot of the emotional heavy lifting for you, but you have to build ramps up and down, to and from, that centerpiece.”

Writer Allan Loeb also took pleasure in fiddling around with the script’s musical moments. “At times there are two songs playing off each other, going back and forth between the different storylines, with a lot of intercutting, to enable the song to serve more than one set of characters,” he details. “So the challenge was to shuffle the story and the verses, while also allowing for the choreography, until everyone explodes into a mash-up of the songs’ choruses. That’s how they did it on stage and how we handled it in the screenplay, and it was great fun to write.”

Says Shankman, “What’s often the most difficult and compelling thing about a musical like ‘Rock of Ages’ is that half of a song is played as performance and the other half as dialogue or inner monologue. I think the writers did a great job of turning a terrific stage show into a real cinematic experience. I’d like to see the movie-going audiences jumping out of their seats just like the theater audience did, and I think this story and these characters and this rockin’ music, performed by our unexpected and unbelievably talented cast, just might get them on their feet.”


Opening across the Philippines in June 14, 2012, “Rock of Ages” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Teen Wolf Season 2, The Rachel Zoe Project, The Real Housewives of New York City, Touched by an Angel Air on beTV this June

Teen Wolf Season 2, The Rachel Zoe Project, The Real Housewives of New York City, Touched by an Angel Air on beTV this June

Fuel your passion for romance, fashion, career or motherhood with beTV’s exciting line-up of shows this June!

Expect more transformations and forbidden, romantic love in TEEN WOLF Season 2. The first season told the story of an ordinary teenager, Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), whose life was forever changed overnight because of a vicious bite. Becoming a werewolf, Scott gets caught in the middle of a war between his kind and werewolf hunters, but managed to win back Allison Argent (Crystal Reed), the girl he loves who is also a member of a family of werewolf hunters at the end of Season 1. Season 2 sets off with a new member of the Argent family arriving in Beacon Hills, forcing Scott and Allison to continue their blossoming romance in secret. At the same time, Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin), obsessed with gaining strength as a new Alpha, begins recruiting for his pack, including newly-bitten Jackson Whittemore (Colton Haynes). While Derek’s final goal includes bringing Scott into his fold, the Argents have begun molding Allison into a skilled werewolf hunter. Don’t miss Teen Wolf Season 2’s exciting double-episode premiere on June 8, 2012, at 9:15 PM, with subsequent regular episodes (same-week-as-US simulcast) airing every Friday at 10:05 PM, first and exclusively on beTV.

Hollywood style and fashion is taken to a whole new level as THE RACHEL ZOE PROJECT returns with a fresh start and big changes. This fourth season features the incredible star power behind Zoe’s business, which is expanding to include her own exclusive clothing line. As her business continues to grow, so does her family. In this newest season, Rachel, together with her husband Rodger, and her new team, scramble to juggle her expanding business and attending to her baby. Can the couple find the essential balance of expanding their company while raising a family? Find out starting June 11, 2012, weeknights at 8:25PM on beTV.


Continue to follow the busy lives of a group of driven and ambitious Manhattan women as they juggle their demanding careers and motherhood in the fourth season of THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY. The Real Housewives of New York City are Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Alex McCord, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin and new this season – Cindy Barshop. Join them as they navigate the world of jam-packed social calendars, children and city life beginning June 21, 2012, weeknights at 8:25 PM on beTV.


Meanwhile, watch all new inspiring and heartwarming episodes of the eight season of TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL airing weeknights at 6:40 PM beginning June 12, 2012 on beTV.

Catch all these new programs and more on beTV this June: SkyCable (Channel 35), Dream Satellite (Channel 36) and Cignal Digital TV (Channel 37).

‘Men in Black 3′ Grosses P68.73-M, Opens at No. 1 in PHL

‘Men in Black 3′ Grosses P68.73-M, Opens at No. 1 in PHL

Alien-hunting black-suited secret agents have invaded the top of the box office.

Columbia Pictures' sci-fi action comedy “Men In Black 3” starring Will Smith opened at No. 1 in the Philippines, amassing a nationwide gross of an out-of-this-world P68.73-million for the five-day opening weekend May 23-27 frame. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Columbia Pictures Philippines.

“Men In Black 3's” first weekend haul in the Philippines is the second best opening of 2012 for a foreign movie, behind only “Marvel’s The Avengers” and beating the bows of “Wrath of the Titans” (P62.5-million), “The Hunger Games” (P62.3- million) and “Battleship” (P46.3-million).
In the U.S., the sequel which reunited Smith with co-star Tommy Lee Jones and director Barry Sonnenfeld, effectively wrestled away the box-office crown from “Marvel's The Avengers” which has dominated the North American tills for the past weeks. "Men in Black 3" debuted as the No. 1 movie over the Memorial Day holiday weekend with $55 million. Distributor Sony estimates that by the end of the four-day holiday weekend Monday, "Men in Black 3" will have pulled in $202 million worldwide.

Back in the Philippines, “MIB 3” rolled out on 260 screens, with SM Mall of Asia getting the lion's share of sales with P3.95-M, followed closely by SM North EDSA (P3.86-M) and Trinoma (P3.55-M).

Other top performing cinemas are Power Plant (P2.64-M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.41-M), SM Megamall (P2.40-M), Newport (P2.12-M), Glorietta 4 (P2.05-M), SM Cebu (P1.95-M) and Alabang Town Center (P1.93-M).

Rounding out the Top 20 cinemas are Eastwood (P1.79-M), Greenhills (P1.429-M), Gateway (P1.42-M), Robinsons Ermita (P1.36-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.33-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.11-M), SM Southmall (P1.08-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.05-M), SM Fairview (P1.03-M) and Festival Mall (P978,423).

In “Men In Black 3,” Agents J (Smith) and K (Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.
Audiences who watch “Men in Black 3” in Digital 3D also get to screen an extended 6-minute sneak peek of Columbia Pictures’ next super-blockbuster “The Amazing Spider-Man” as an added attraction. 2D screenings of “MIB 3” will play a new trailer of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” opening in Philippine cinemas June 29.


“Men In Black 3” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

‘Men in Black 3′ Grosses P68.73-M, Opens at No. 1 in PHL

‘Men in Black 3′ Grosses P68.73-M, Opens at No. 1 in PHL

Alien-hunting black-suited secret agents have invaded the top of the box office.

Columbia Pictures' sci-fi action comedy “Men In Black 3” starring Will Smith opened at No. 1 in the Philippines, amassing a nationwide gross of an out-of-this-world P68.73-million for the five-day opening weekend May 23-27 frame. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Columbia Pictures Philippines.

“Men In Black 3's” first weekend haul in the Philippines is the second best opening of 2012 for a foreign movie, behind only “Marvel’s The Avengers” and beating the bows of “Wrath of the Titans” (P62.5-million), “The Hunger Games” (P62.3- million) and “Battleship” (P46.3-million).
In the U.S., the sequel which reunited Smith with co-star Tommy Lee Jones and director Barry Sonnenfeld, effectively wrestled away the box-office crown from “Marvel's The Avengers” which has dominated the North American tills for the past weeks. "Men in Black 3" debuted as the No. 1 movie over the Memorial Day holiday weekend with $55 million. Distributor Sony estimates that by the end of the four-day holiday weekend Monday, "Men in Black 3" will have pulled in $202 million worldwide.

Back in the Philippines, “MIB 3” rolled out on 260 screens, with SM Mall of Asia getting the lion's share of sales with P3.95-M, followed closely by SM North EDSA (P3.86-M) and Trinoma (P3.55-M).

Other top performing cinemas are Power Plant (P2.64-M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.41-M), SM Megamall (P2.40-M), Newport (P2.12-M), Glorietta 4 (P2.05-M), SM Cebu (P1.95-M) and Alabang Town Center (P1.93-M).

Rounding out the Top 20 cinemas are Eastwood (P1.79-M), Greenhills (P1.429-M), Gateway (P1.42-M), Robinsons Ermita (P1.36-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.33-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.11-M), SM Southmall (P1.08-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.05-M), SM Fairview (P1.03-M) and Festival Mall (P978,423).

In “Men In Black 3,” Agents J (Smith) and K (Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.
Audiences who watch “Men in Black 3” in Digital 3D also get to screen an extended 6-minute sneak peek of Columbia Pictures’ next super-blockbuster “The Amazing Spider-Man” as an added attraction. 2D screenings of “MIB 3” will play a new trailer of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” opening in Philippine cinemas June 29.


“Men In Black 3” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

Snow Series "Dark Knight Rises" Banners Released

Snow Series "Dark Knight Rises" Banners Released

After the debut of the “Rain” banners last week, Warner Bros. now shares three character banners for Christopher Nolan's “The Dark Knight Rises.”

The banners again individually feature Batman, Catwoman and Bane in what the studio calls “Snow” series.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman reprises the role of Lucius Fox.
The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer.


“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release beginning July 19, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

‘Shedding for the Wedding’ to Air Soon on Velvet

‘Shedding for the Wedding’ to Air Soon on Velvet

Another reality television show that will give a new life, new goal, and new body shape to its contestants – Shedding for the Wedding, will reach the Philippines through fun party channel Velvet.

Shedding for the Wedding is hosted by American TV actress Sara Rue who has burned unwanted calories away before her own wedding. Rue has lost 50 pounds since she began her gruesome workout for a fit and fab body. She aims to share this fulfillment to other brides in the reality show. “I want them to feel great in their wedding dresses, the same way as I did.”

Shedding for the Wedding follows nine overweight couples in their quest to lose weight and win the ultimate dream wedding. Rue will be joined by Brian Worley (Wedding Planner), Nicky Holender (Fitness Trainer), Jennifer Cohan (Fitness and Health Expert) and Ashley Koff (Dietitian).

Join these couple’s journey towards walking down the aisle. Workout begins this May 29, Tuesday at 10:00PM only on Velvet.

Warner Releases “Dark Knight Rises” Banners

Warner Releases “Dark Knight Rises” Banners

Warner Bros. has just unleashed three character banners for Christopher Nolan's “The Dark Knight Rises.”

The banners individually feature Batman, Catwoman and Bane in what the studio calls “Rain” series. Another series dubbed as “Snow” is set to follow.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release beginning July 19, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

First-Look: “The Great Gatsby” Trailer

First-Look: “The Great Gatsby” Trailer

From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby.” The filmmaker will create his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks.

Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits.

As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Academy Award® nominee DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby, with Tobey Maguire starring as Nick Carraway; Oscar® nominee Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton as Daisy and Tom Buchanan; Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke as Myrtle and George Wilson; and newcomer Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker. Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan will play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim.

Oscar® nominee Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!”) directs the film in 3D from a screenplay co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, based on Fitzgerald’s book. Luhrmann produces, along with Catherine Martin, Academy Award® winner Doug Wick (“Gladiator”), Lucy Fisher and Catherine Knapman. The executive producers are Academy Award® winner Barrie M. Osborne (“Lord of the Rings – Return of the King”) and Bruce Berman.

Two-time Academy Award®-winning production and costume designer Catherine Martin (“Moulin Rouge!”) designs as well as produces. The editors are Matt Villa, Jason Ballantine and Jonathan Redmond, and the director of photography is Simon Duggan. The music is by Craig Armstrong.

Opening across the Philippines on January 2013, “The Great Gatsby” will be distributed in IMAX® 3D, Digital 3D and regular format by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

The Great Gatsby - Trailer:

Liam Neeson Back in “Taken 2”

Liam Neeson Back in “Taken 2”

Shot in Istanbul, Turkey and directed by Olivier Megaton , “Taken 2” reunites Liam Neeson with his co-stars Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace in this rocket-paced action sequel that rivals some of the greatest gun-handlers in cinema history.

Neeson reprises the role of Bryan Mills, a father and an estranged husband who would do anything for his family in the movie. Mills’ daughter having been kidnapped the first time. But he faces a different kind of conflict in “Taken 2.” Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, the retired CIA agent with a particular set of skills who stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim from Albanian kidnappers. When the father of one of the kidnappers swears revenge, and takes Bryan and his wife hostage during their family vacation in Istanbul, Bryan enlists Kim to help them escape, and uses the same advanced level of special forces tactics to get his family to safety and then systematically take out the kidnappers one by one.

“In the first movie he's really a guy with nothing to lose. He's divorced, he's lost his daughter, and you see his reaction when she's kidnapped,” explains Megaton. “In this movie, he's got that relationship back and he's even flirting with his ex-wife. It's almost cheesy, but that makes him all the more human at the beginning of the movie, because he's not thinking about his training, he's thinking about his family.”

But being kidnapped once is unfortunate; twice is just careless. Rest assured, then, that things play out differently in this sequel. “The powers-that-be–namely our gracious leader Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen - have come up with a much better plot than that,” assures Grace. “Someone has the notion of attempting to abduct Bryan. It's a personal vendetta; someone bent on extracting recompense from a man with a particular set of skills, as ill-advised as that might be. So it's not a random second abduction of my character, Kim, which I think would be everyone's first concern.”


“Taken 2” opens October in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The Wanted's "Chasing the Sun" is the Featured Track in “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift” Soundtrack

The Wanted's "Chasing the Sun" is the Featured Track in “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift” Soundtrack

Continental phenomenon male group The Wanted have joined forces with Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios to celebrate the return of one of the world’s most beloved franchises when “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift” hits cinemas on July 12 in Phils. theaters.

Following the success of their single “Glad You Came”, which was a number one hit in the UK & has sold over 2 million copies in the US alone, the UK pop sensation announce their brand new single ‘Chasing The Sun’ will be a featured track on this year’s most anticipated animated feature film.


In “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift,” Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences – a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home.

From schools tours to arena tours, since they burst on to the pop scene just 2 years ago, The Wanted have rapidly become one of the world’s biggest and best pop bands. They’ve sold over 4 million records, 1 million albums and have sold out venues all over the world including London’s O2 Arena.

Charlize Theron’s Monsters Turns to Evil Queen

Charlize Theron’s Monsters Turns to Evil Queen

The first role cast was also the wickedest: Queen Ravenna in Universal Picture’s Snow White and the Huntsman. The daughter of a sorceress, Ravenna slowly found her way to the dark side. Abducted by a vicious master when she was a girl, the only power Ravenna wielded was her astonishing beauty. Though her mother bestowed upon her an enchantment to protect her from the ravages of time, Ravenna is forced to maintain it by consuming the life force of young maidens. After she bewitched and killed Snow White’s father, King Magnus, Ravenna stalled her death and threw off the balance of life with an evil that spread like cancer across the kingdom. But her cruelty did not end there. To become truly immortal, Ravenna must consume the heart of Snow White…the moment her stepdaughter becomes the fairest in the land.

Reflects director Rupert Sanders on the power of this creature in our minds, as well as her role in this interpretation of the iconic story: “The Queen symbolizes death, and she is trying to stop her own from arriving. She is seeking immortality, so everything in the kingdom is thrown off balance. Oppositely, Snow White is the beating heart of life, and the Huntsman’s job is to take that life. If the Queen fails, life and death may fall back in sync and the kingdom will return to how it once was.”

Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron was brought aboard to play the fabled monarch. Discussing his decision to cast Theron, Sanders commends: “Charlize has given such staggering performances in her career, but she is also such an incredibly beautiful woman. She encompasses, more than any other actor out there, both power and beauty personified. She is Margaret Thatcher-meets-Kate Moss.”

Expounding upon the film’s symbolism and Theron’s decisions in bringing those tropes to life, Sanders adds: “When you are dealing with archetypes, you can play them big. People want to relish when the Queen says, ‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall.’ We want to see them coming from someone of this stature and beauty.”

Producer Joe Roth walks us through the team’s casting process: “Choosing Charlize was the idea right from the start. I’d worked with her in the past. We went over to the commercial shoot she was on and waited for her to take a break. When she came over, in four-inch stiletto heels and dressed in a very commercial way, I thought, ‘Rupert is going to be blown away!’”

The producer was just as pleased when she arrived on set to begin filming and was game for the most intense of situations to get into character, including an uncomfortable swim in a tub of black oil. “Charlize gives a performance as ferocious as the one she was asking for,” adds Roth. “It’s an interesting amalgam: She’s always in control, she’s magnificent to watch and she’s fearsome.”

Theron was attracted to the part because of the complex humanity of a betrayed and wounded creature - one that easily could have been drawn as a screeching stereotype. She explains a bit of the Queen’s backstory: “Ravenna’s mother instilled into her at a very young age that she can only be her true best self if she remains young and stays beautiful. She realizes that her magical powers are her survival. And that’s the road she travels.”

Though Ravenna has, according to Theron, “brutal instincts” and “an obsession with needing Snow White’s beating heart to give her immortality,” the reigning monarch hasn’t completely lost all traces of her humanity. Like Sanders, the actress appreciated the difficult lessons inherent in this timeless story. Theron shares: “Ravenna realizes that she wants something that, if she made different choices in her life, she could have had. But because of how she decided to live and the bed that she made for herself - one that she’s lying in right now - she can’t. It’s not even an option for her.”

When Snow White’s mother died and her father married Ravenna, the young princess found her innocence and compassion to be qualities the new Queen loathed. Locked away in a tower for seven years, Snow White grew up watching her father’s murderer rule the kingdom with an iron fist. But the young beauty, who had begun training as an archer, falconer and horsewoman, has escaped and now trains with an uneasy ally. The time has come for her to defend her people from the one who’s been crippling them. She makes an oath that she will become their weapon and challenges her fellow outcasts to ride with her against Ravenna.

Sanders knew that they had to walk a fine line with the character of Snow White. In adapting the centuries-old fairy tale, originally about a little girl who is more victim than fighter, it was important to the filmmakers that Snow White and her journey remain identifiable for contemporary audiences across the world. The hurdles and problems that she faces are issues with which girls and women grapple in modern day: loneliness and maturation, plus issues of trust, love and the power (as well as the ultimate fading) of beauty.

Sneak Peek: New Trailer of “The Campaign”

Sneak Peek: New Trailer of “The Campaign”

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis join the political fray in Warner Bros.' new comedy “The Campaign” from director Jay Roach (“Meet the Fockers”).

Catch the movie's new trailer here which has just been premiered by Warner :



Synopsis: When long-term congressman Cam Brady (Ferrell) commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a pair of ultra-wealthy CEOs plot to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center.

At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest possible choice but, with the help of his new benefactors’ support, a cutthroat campaign manager and his family’s political connections, he soon becomes a contender who gives the charismatic Cam plenty to worry about.

As election day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other, in this mud-slinging, back-stabbing, home-wrecking comedy that takes today’s political circus to its logical next level. Because even when you think campaign ethics have hit rock bottom, there’s room to dig a whole lot deeper.

“The Campaign” stars Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott and Katherine LaNasa, with John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd and Brian Cox. Directed by Jay Roach and written by Chris Henchy & Shawn Harwell, from a story by Adam McKay & Chris Henchy & Shawn Harwell, it is produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jay Roach and Zach Galifianakis. Amy Sayres, Jon Poll and Chris Henchy serve as executive producers.

Opening across the Philippines this August, “The Campaign” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Official Poster

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Official Poster

Warner Bros. has just released the main one-sheet art of its upcoming blockbuster “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer.

In helming the film, Christopher Nolan is utilizing IMAX® cameras even more extensively than he did on “The Dark Knight,” which had marked the first time ever that a major feature film was partially shot with IMAX cameras.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release beginning July 19, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Barry Sonnenfeld Talks About “Men in Black 3”

Fifty-nine-year-old filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld returns this week with the eagerly anticipated third instalment in the billion-dollar Men In Black franchise, bringing back the original tandem of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

In the film, Agents J (Smith) and K (Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.


Question: When did you settle on time travel as the backdrop for the movie?
Barry Sonnenfeld: It was Will Smith’s idea on the set of Men In Black 2. One night Will Smith came up to me and said – he calls me ‘Baz’ he said, ‘You know, Baz, I’ve got an idea for Men In Black 3. I think that I should go back in the past and do something that has to do with saving Agent K. And by doing that we learn secrets that we didn’t know and J learns secrets about K. It would be great to do a time travel version.’ And I said, ‘Let’s get through 2!’ Then we all went off and did our own thing for many, many years but when Sony decided to do Men In Black 3, we all decided it shouldn’t be another episode of some villain on the loose, so the idea of time travelling came up again. It is such an exciting idea. They called me to ask me what era we wanted, and 1969 seemed perfect, especially as that was the advent of space travel, the start of our own adventure visiting planets in our own solar system. Also the music was great and the era was great. What I personally did not want to do was a movie that took place in ’69 with hippies and drugs.

Q: Scripting a time travel movie must be very difficult…
Sonnenfeld: Yes, to begin with only the first act was really good. With the second and third acts, especially with a time travel movie, we were constantly thinking that we had it all done and then one of us would wake up in the middle of the night and go, ‘Wait a minute, if we kill this guy then that guy is dead’. We watched Back To The Future dozens of times because that was our Bible for how a movie set the rules of time travel and succeeded. Also, we all felt that it was really important that we had Will Smith’s next movie after him having several years off as a producer. He was circling a bunch of movies but we wanted the next Will Smith movie and I knew that we’d get there. Will and I always said that the only way we could screw up is if we didn’t, in the past, have someone that was so good that you didn’t miss watching Will and Tommy, because the movie is about that great relationship.

Q: You obviously work terrifically with Will Smith, but what’s it like directing Tommy Lee Jones?
Sonnenfeld: It is funny because it was a little bit difficult directing Tommy Lee Jones on the first movie. We had a difference of opinion about his performance but the second and third movies were joyful. Tommy was always happy. He loves working with Will. He totally trusts me. I have photos of Tommy Lee Jones and me laughing! Miracles can happen! It wasn’t fake, because Tommy won’t fake anything. He loves the role, because the reaction shot is always funnier than the action shot. I was the cinematographer on When Harry Met Sally and as funny as Meg Ryan is faking an orgasm, every time you cut to Billy Crystal doing nothing it becomes funnier.

Q: Was Tommy upset that he’s not in all of Men In Black 3?
Sonnenfeld: I think Tommy wished he was in the whole movie but I think a) Tommy respected the script, b) he respected Josh [Brolin] as an actor and c) he loves the final result, has seen the movie and thinks it is really good. He wishes he was in the whole movie but understands the plot did not allow for that. It worked great because I think the audience does not view it as Tommy or Josh. I think they just view Agent K and it’s not like ‘I didn’t like Tommy but I liked Josh’, or ‘I didn’t like Josh but did like Tommy’. We were saying that Josh might not get the praise he deserves because some people will think that they saw the one same guy play the whole movie!

Q: Was it difficult convincing Josh Brolin to take on Tommy’s character?
Sonnenfeld: It was easy to convince him to play the character. I always knew that I wanted Josh as soon as I read the script. I saw him in W and thought he was extraordinary. He played George Bush and he wasn’t doing an impersonation. He really created a version of George Bush. That wasn’t exactly his accent. He created this amazing tension by eating in every scene in W. If you see it again, there’s this tension of him eating French Fries and talking or eating a tuna sandwich. It was extraordinary. I said, please let’s hire Josh Brolin.

Q: Men In Black 3 has great emotional depth. Do you worry about where you might take the franchise afterwards?
Sonnenfeld: I don’t worry about where we are going afterwards. It does feel like the end of a trilogy and it is kind of fun to go back and watch the first movie with the knowledge of what we now know at the end of the third movie. In fact, it is kind of fun to watch this movie again with the knowledge of what is going to come! I think the second movie didn’t have enough emotional depth so maybe this one makes up for the previous one. And Brolin is pretty great.

Q: Is it true that shooting the first scene on Men In Black 3 made you cry?
Sonnenfeld: The truth is, I did break into tears, tears of joy when I watched the first scene of Will and Josh together, which is the scene where Will is being interrogated at HQ by Josh. I was weeping because it had worked. I was weeping saying, ‘Oh, my God, we’ve got a movie!’


(Opening across the Philippines on May 23 in 3D and regular theaters, Men in Black 3 is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.)

New “Amazing Spider-Man” Footage to be Shown with “Men in Black 3”

New “Amazing Spider-Man” Footage to be Shown with “Men in Black 3”

Columbia Pictures has just announced that a never-before-seen footage from The Amazing Spider-Man™ will be shown as an added attraction to Men In Black 3 when it opens across the Philippines on Wednesday, May 23 in Digital 3D and regular theaters.

One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man™. Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field.

The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia.

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.


Opening across the Philippines on June 29 in 3D and regular theatres, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Prometheus (3D) Finally Landing on June 6

Prometheus (3D) Finally Landing on June 6

Ridley Scott returns to the sci-fi genre in Prometheus (3D), a genre he’s best known for starring an all-power cast headed by Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Logan Marshall-Green, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce.

The team of scientists and explorers aboard the Prometheus are on nothing less than a journey to discover answers to some of life’s most profound questions. Two brilliant young scientists, Shaw (Rapace) and Holloway (Green) possessing contrasting motivations, lead the expedition. Shaw is a believer: she wants to meet these “gods” as a way of getting closer to her more traditional religious views, while Holloway is looking to debunk these kinds of spiritual notions. In their work as archeologists, they have discovered clues in cave pictograms from ancient civilizations across the world, all of which point to the same location in distant space, and have persuaded a corporation, Weyland Industries, to fund the mission.

Neither scientist was prepared for the unimaginable terrors they would encounter. “When Shaw and Holloway conceived the mission, their expectation was they would discover a benevolent species that might provide answers to some of our greatest mysteries,” says executive producer Michael Ellenberg. “In other words they were hoping to meet gods. But these beings prove to be anything but compassionate. They are a dangerous race of superbeings.”

“The crew of the Prometheus thinks they’re headed to paradise to discover answers to the ultimate questions. But what they find is a dark and twisted and frightening world – a way station for these beings,” adds scribe Jon Spaihts. “The cold and implacable environment is more like hell than heaven.”

In Ridley Scott’s films, including Prometheus, the protagonists’ discoveries often defy expectations. “That’s what makes good drama,” states the filmmaker. “Our story circles the truth of what might be out there and therein lays its most frightening aspect. Feasibility always creates the finest and most dangerous drama and the opportunity for me to scare the hell out of everyone.”

Available in 3D, Imax 3D and 2D platforms, “Prometheus” will open June 6 nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

"Rock of Ages" Premieres “Anyway You Want It” Music Video

"Rock of Ages" Premieres “Anyway You Want It” Music Video

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. have just shared the new “Anyway You Want It” music video from the feature film adaptation of the smash hit Broadway musical “Rock of Ages.” Watch the heart-pounding video below:





Directed by “Hairspray’s” Adam Shankman, “Rock of Ages” tells the story of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the heart-pounding hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, and more.

The movie musical stars Julianne Hough (“Burlesque”), with actor/singer Diego Boneta in his feature film debut, Russell Brand (“Arthur”), Oscar® nominee Paul Giamatti (“Cinderella Man”), Academy Award® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Chicago”), Malin Akerman (“The Proposal”) and R&B queen Mary J. Blige, with Oscar® nominees Alec Baldwin (“The Cooler”) and Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx.

Shankman directs “Rock of Ages” from a screenplay by Justin Theroux and Chris D’Arienzo and Allan Loeb, based on D’Arienzo’s musical of the same name.


Opening across the Philippines in June 14, 2012, “Rock of Ages” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Kristen Stewart from Twilight to Snow White

Kristen Stewart from Twilight to Snow White

In Snow White and the Huntsman, a breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale begins. Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron).The casting of Ravenna’s nemesis was slightly trickier than finding her pursuer. The filmmakers were searching for an actress who could capture both sides of the archetypal character: the innocence, naiveté and tenderness that Snow White demonstrates in the first half of our story, and the tough, physical warrior princess that she becomes in the second half. They discovered a number of younger actresses who could play the first half of the movie brilliantly but had trouble convincing the team that they could carry off the tougher persona. Likewise, when older actresses auditioned, they could well portray the battle-hardened soldier but were unconvincing as the recessive captive that the film’s early scenes demanded.

After a worldwide search for a performer who could fulfill the demands of this expansive role, Kristen Stewart, known for her role as Bella Swan in the blockbuster Twilight saga, was cast in the much coveted role of Snow White. Comments director Rupert Sanders of the team’s choice: “Kristen is such an incredible talent. She has obviously done amazing work in her projects to date, but this opens her up to an even larger audience and gives her a classical role. She’s previously been in films that are of our era and not done a film quite like this. This is her chance to rise, and to shine as well. The two track well together.”

Producer Joe Roth gives a bit of background on her casting: “We all felt convinced that Snow White was not shy but somebody who was an aggressive, assertive, positive Joan of Arc-like figure. We originally were looking for an unknown to play the character, in the same way we did on Alice in Wonderland, where we found Mia Wasikowska. However, Rupert and I decided to fly down to New Orleans, where the last Twilight film was being shot, and sat and talked to Kristen. We felt great about casting Kristen. She really did her homework for this role. She spent four months riding horses and four months with an English accent.”


Stewart introduces us to a young woman we thought we had long known: “We’re not trying to take Snow White and turn her on her side; we stay very true to who she is in the story. She represents a reminder of just how great people can be to one another.” Agreeing with Theron, the actress appreciated the material’s thoughtful take on beauty and power. Stewart says: “It’s been interesting to play a young girl who is completely unaware of any vanity. She just has none. In almost every other role you play, you’re at least aware of yourself and might have to play a girl dealing with vanity as she grows into a woman. The fact that Snow White has absolutely none of that, and Ravenna has the ultimate opposite, says something very nice about what people find beautiful in life.”

The performer appreciated the writers’ take on Snow White, a character initially trapped in a forest that draws its strength from any weakness. Stewart reflects: “I do admire strong characters, but this wasn’t strong for the sake of strong. It was so feminine and so human, and I love playing a character who is someone that you’re going to root for and throw your drink on the ground and stand up and go, ‘Yeah!’”

This part represented Stewart’s first time as an action heroine, albeit a conflicted one. She says: “Snow White is initially this disconnected martyr. After she escapes, she’s becoming this human being again, but she’s not necessarily fighting for herself. It’s like there’s a hole that can’t be filled. Most action characters are so self-righteous and vindictive, but she won’t do that. I’ve never seen that before, and I think it’s awesome.”

Stewart knew there would be much stunt work involved in a production of this size and scope, and she was more than ready for the challenge. For example, during Snow White’s escape scene, the actress was required to be literally up to her shoulders in an enclosed sewer set with dozens of live rats. As well, she had to jump off of a two-story building into a pool on a chilly London day to make this daring escape.


“Snow White and the Huntsman” is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp. Showing on June 1, 2012 nationwide.

9/11 Takes Centerstage in CSI: NY Season 8

9/11 Takes Centerstage in CSI: NY Season 8

Brace yourself for an emotionally powerful premiere episode this May when CSI: NY Season 8 returns to AXN every Wednesday 10PM starting May 16. The premiere will touch on a global catastrophe close to the hearts of viewers and especially so for Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) – the 9/11 attacks which took place in New York in 2001.

For the first time in eight years, fans will get to see Mac’s wife, Claire, (Jaime Ray Newman/ General Hospital, Eastwick) appear in the series through flashbacks in the Season 8 premiere, which honours the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Mac lost Claire on that fateful day as the planes crashed into the Twin Towers where she worked and her body was never found again. With Mac considering retirement in last season’s finale, the tragedy has prompted him to leave the crime lab for the DNA lab, where he pitches in to identify the remains of 9/11 victims. He also sets up a memorial that honours the first responders that were killed - the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance.

“We’re taking all of our characters back to that day,” executive producer Pam Veasy explained. “You will get to see them together. You see why Claire loved Mac, and why Mac loved her.” Indeed, the premiere episode brings us back to a very different Mac Taylor, from a hardened detective who has seen the world; to a man who had much more joy and hope, a man who was in love. Viewers get a glimpse into where the sentimental Mac came from, the one who could not bear to get rid of a beach ball his late wife had blown up, simply because ‘her breath is still in there’.

There is an interesting crossover between reel and real in this tribute episode, as Gary Sinise (a recipient of the Presidential Citizen’s Medal who has been involved in several 9/11 charities) had a personal involvement in setting up the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance. His band, Lieutenant Dan Band, raised money to complete the memorial back in 2006. Sinise, like millions of people all over the world, had his life changed by the tragedy in a profound way.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) and Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) meet for the first time amidst the rubble, while Jo Danville (Sela Ward) shows her perspective from the FBI office in Washington D.C.

Beyond the premiere, Jo will have to face demons from her past in Washington. A former crime lab agent Frank (Michael Weston, House) reappears in her life again, following their fallout over the rape case of a US senator’s daughter. This was Jo’s last case before she moved to New York, and Frank’s mistake in processing the evidence resulted in the serial rapist going scot-free.

Danny and Lindsay (Anna Belknap) also face new trials in their relationship as Danny’s promotion to Sergeant puts him back on the streets, as well as some extra distance between them. And who knows, Mac might be ready to love once again, for it is New York, the land of new seasons and new beginnings…

First-Look: “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” Trailer

First-Look: “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” Trailer

Walt Disney Pictures has just premiered the Trailer B of its upcoming drama-comedy “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” starring Jennifer Garner (“Valentine's Day”) and Joel Edgerton (“Warrior”).

Watch below:

Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Garner and Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like.

When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim - and their small town of Stanleyville - learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.



Opening across the Philippines on August 2012, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Big Reveal: New “Total Recall” Photos

Big Reveal: New “Total Recall” Photos

Columbia Pictures has just unveiled a batch of new production stills from its upcoming action-thriller “Total Recall.” Directed by Len Wiseman (“Underworld”), the film stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho and Bill Nighy.


“Total Recall” is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick.


Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs.

But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Nighy) and stop Cohaagen.


The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.


Opening across the Philippines in August 2012, “Total Recall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.