DVD FEATURE: Hitman: Agent 47 Zachary Quinn Interview - 20th Century Fox

Hail Mighty Readers and Fellow Assassins,
With Hitman Agent 47 out on Digital Download on the  20th December (and DVD/Blu Ray on the 26th December) our friends at 20th Century Fox have let us have an interview with Agent 47's Zachary Quinto here's what he had to say:
Interview by Joe Utichi – www.joeutichi.com

Zachary Quinto is a multi-talented actor and producer who needs very little introduction. In fact, there’s a Quinto role for every taste, from his barnstorming turn as Spock in JJ Abrams two feature-film adaptations of STAR TREK, to his role as Sylar in HEROES and the part of Dr. Oliver Thredson in AMERICAN HORROR STORY.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Quinto’s career was that his first appearance of Spock, in 2009’s STAR TREK, marked his feature film debut. So assured and fully-formed was the role that it earned him a People’s Choice Awards nomination for Best Breakout Movie Actor and confirmed Quinto as a star in the making.

On television, Quinto played key recurring roles in 24 and So Notorious before being cast as Sylar in Tim Kring’s network hit HEROES, in which he starred between 2006 and 2010.

As a producer, and one of the partners in Before the Door Pictures, Quinto is responsible for bringing the work of J.C. Chandor to the big screen, resulting in the release of MARGIN CALL, ALL IS LOST and A MOST VIOLENT YEAR.

Today, Quinto’s diary is fit to bursting, with roles in production on Oliver Stone’s SNOWDEN, STAR TREK 3 and the NBC miniseries THE SLAP. His production company has recently wrapped production on YOU WERE NEVER HERE, starring Mireille Enos and Sam Shepard.

But right now, he’s to be found at a tool factory just outside Berlin, where he’s hard at work completing additional photography on HITMAN: AGENT 47. He sits down to discuss the film and his role.

You’re playing a character named John Smith. That doesn’t tell us very much.

I can’t tell you very much more either. [laughs] You know, it’s interesting. The structure of the film is such that you meet Katia, who is both in pursuit of something and also in retreat from something, and there’s a lot of uncertainty as to what the details of that are. My character intervenes in her life and tries to steer her in a specific direction, ostensibly away from Agent 47. And then other things become clearer as the story unfolds… How was that?

Cryptic. You’ve been fight training today. What has that involved?

Right now a lot of stunt choreography, reinforcing this fight that we’re going to shoot tomorrow. We’re back here now for this additional photography, and one of the things that we’re doing is reconfiguring one of the main fights in the movie. So I’ve been mostly working on choreography. That’s sort of the primary focus, to get the fight in our bodies and that way tomorrow, when we’re in front of the cameras, it’s just easier to pick up and break it down and get through it.

You’re back more than a year after principal photography, to shoot additional action sequences. How has it felt to reprise this character before the film is finished?

It’s not an ideal situation in terms of continuity, but it has actually been quite fun, I have to say. I’ve never gone back to a film so far after completing principal photography on it, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. But it was great to come back to Berlin, and the whole process has been been pretty smooth. I have the least amount of work to do of any of the three of us, so for me it’s been a little bit more about focusing on preparation.

You’re working with the team behind JOHN WICK – Chad Stahelski and David Leitch – on these Second Unit sequences. How have they been?

There’s a really excellent dynamic between them, melding action and tension, which I really appreciate. There’s efficiency to the way that they create their sequences that really serves the film as we’re trying to flesh it out.

Working with Aleksander Bach, our film’s director, last year was amazing, and I really enjoyed him and his process and it was very different. I feel like these guys are serving a very specific purpose that benefits all of us in the movie, so I’m happy to have the other kind of energy. They’re really cool and easy to work with. And I loved JOHN WICK. I thought it was really great.

What was your first reaction to the script? Were you familiar with the games?

No, not at all. I read the script and liked it. I’m not a gamer, so I didn’t have the burden of that comparison. For me it was just about responding to a character and the world of a studio action movie, which I was interested in exploring. I’d done a little bit with STAR TREK, but it had other elements to it, so for me this was an interesting and different opportunity.

Why were you interested in exploring the world of action movies?

I just had never done it to this degree. I was interested in expanding my experience and my exposure and all of those things that factor into decision making when you’re in the position that I’m in, but ultimately it came down to my response to the creative team; to Ali, and to Rupert who had already been cast. I had never met him, but had admired his work.

How much did you enjoy playing with the weapons?

Yeah, the gun training was pretty fun, actually. I’m not a huge gun nut but it was fun to get to roll around and shoot at things. There was one fight in particular where there was some really close range gunfire between Rupert’s character and my character and that was a little bit intimidating. And, for me anyway, there was some tension around that. [laughs] I was getting shot from a very close range and dodging bullets, and that was fun, but it was practical gunfire in like a tiny little room with the two of us and the camera crew, and that was our biggest fight until tomorrow. So the weapons were fun, but scary.

Tell us about the scene tomorrow.

It’s a pivotal turning point in the film. I would say things have come to a head and Katia and Agent 47 have been evading John Smith, and this is sort of where they all come back together for the first time in a while, so it’s a moment of weakness for John Smith in that he’s driven by this need to feel more powerful than Agent 47. And ultimately that’s his downfall. So tomorrow’s the beginning. The sequence that we’re doing is the beginning of that expression.

How have you found the experience of working with Rupert and Hannah?

I’ve really enjoyed it. I knew Hannah a little bit before this actually, just personally. We never worked together but I had known her slightly, so I feel like we’ve deepened our friendship. Rupert I’d never met, but I really enjoy working with him. He’s a consummate professional and we’ve developed a shorthand that allows us to work really easily and efficiently together, which in an action movie is really important. By and large you learn your part of the fight with the stunt team on your own and then you get plugged in with the other actor through rehearsal as much as you can, but he’s been so busy and I had to take a trip this week, so we haven’t had a lot of time to work together. But when we do work together it’s really easy and efficient, which makes it a lot smoother and more pleasant for everybody.

What do you think Ali’s brought to the film and what is his vision?

I really like his aesthetic. I think he and Óttar Guðnason, our DP, have worked together beautifully, and really captured both a sense and scope of the world, but also a depth of character that all of us are trying to bring. So there’s a bit of a balance; it’s not just one thing or another thing. My sense of when we were shooting last year is that they had a real understanding of what they wanted from each other and how to get that.

How did you feel when you watched the trailer?

I loved the trailer. I thought it was amazing, actually. I thought it extracted a lot of the most dynamic parts of what we had shot last year and then added a lot of effects like I’d never seen before. I remember shooting all the helicopter stuff, and we were in Bad Driburg - this little tiny town a couple of hours away - and I remember that felt so monotonous, those sequences of seeing the helicopter that was just a green screen. And then to see it actually fully executed out… I always marvel at the ability of special effects designers and the post-production process to affect the evolution of a film, even though I’m in it. I’ll always look at stuff and be like, “How did they do that?” But that was really impressive to me and I thought if I saw that trailer in a movie theatre, I’d be like, “Oh, I want to see that movie.” So that was cool. I don’t always feel that way! 

Deleted Scene:

 

HITMAN AGENT 47 Rupert Friend stars in this action-packed thriller based on the award-winning video game franchise. A genetically engineered assassin with superior intelligence and superhuman abilities, 47 (Friend), turns the tables on a sinister organization that’s out to create an army of unstoppable killers with his DNA. Teaming up with a mysterious young woman (Hannah Ware), he uncovers secrets about his origins and faces an epic battle with his deadliest foe. The film also stars Zachary Quinto.

Special Features
* Deleted Scenes
* The Hit Counter
* Re-Imagining Hitman
* Ultimate Action: Staging the Fights
* Hitman: Agent 47 Comic
* Making of the Comic Book
* Promotional Featurettes
* Gallery
* Poster Gallery
* Theatrical Trailers

DVD FEATURE: Fantastic Four (2015) - 20th Century Fox

Hail Might Readers and True Believers,
Our friends at 20th Century Fox have let us have an interview with actor Jamie Bell (Ben Grim/The Thing) from the 2015 Fantastic Four film released on Digital HD from the 29th November and Blu-Ray/DVD on 14th December.

Jamie Bell first came to prominence with his debut role in 2000’s British dance drama Billy Elliott. As the titular lead, Bell played 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring ballet dancer who has to face bullying and negative stereotyping. The film was set against the backdrop of the 1984-85 coal miners’ strike and its “feel-good” tone struck a chord with audiences worldwide. Both Bell’s acting and dancing received copious praise.

Since then he has been in several worldwide blockbusters - including Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Steven Spielberg’s Tintin and Doug Liman’s Jumper. He has also worked with acclaimed directors Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers), Edward Zwick (Defiance), and Lars Von Trier (Nymphomaniac), among others.

He has starred in period dramas such as Jane Eyre and Nicholas Nickleby, independent films, including Filth and Dear Wendy and now stars in the AMC series TURN: Washington Spies.

Bell also featured in 2014’s Snowpiercer, an international sensation and one of the best-reviewed films of the year.

Bell’s work on Tintin ensured he was familiar with motion capture filming, a technique used by the Fantastic Four’s director Josh Trank to help create The Thing.

……..

Jamie Bell sat down for the following interview in Los Angeles on March 25, 2015.

Q: Tell us about what you think we can expect from this version of the Fantastic Four.

A: An original vision. It’s a very unique take on a beloved comic book property. Familiar characters with familiar powers, but told with a very new lensing. With a director whose previous work, Chronicle, was very similar in that he took what was a familiar idea – what happens when kids somehow get super powers – and made something very different. With this movie, you’re going to see something you know and love told in a unique way. I'm excited to be a part of it because I haven't really seen a superhero movie quite like this.

Q: This film sort of dips into various incarnations of the Fantastic Four from the comic books, is that right?

A: Well, I am not a comic book mythologist, but I did pick up a few of the early editions just to see the origins of these people. Like most comic books, as they progress and evolve, there's always new incarnations, new versions of these people all the time. Fantastic Four has its own versions of those things. So I think Josh [Trank] as a filmmaker and Simon [Kinberg] as a writer are influenced by the source material, but I just don't think they're dependent on it. I don't think this movie is being lifted from one set of pages anywhere, but they're agreed on a tone and have taken these characters into that tone. They are the comic world’s first family. That idea still exists. I think that's the best thing about Fantastic Four is that idea of family, and we stay true to that. But the rest is not specifically lifted from anything.

Q: So the idea of family is probably core to the Fantastic Four’s appeal?

A: Yeah, that’s a universal theme. But I also think you can take some strides with that – there’s all kinds of social commentary you can get into there...

Q: Let’s talk a little bit about your character, Ben Grimm, The Thing. It seems like it would be a good challenge for an actor, to play someone so physically different. And presumably your experience of motion capture work on Tintin helped?

A: I’d met Josh previously and we’d talked a lot about Tintin – about the process – which he was really fascinated by. A year later, he calls me and says, how would you feel about doing this? Suddenly his interest made sense because it's the same process that we would need to use for this character. I was intrigued. I mean, if you look at the work of the great Andy Serkis you can see how powerful a tool it can be in terms of bringing a character to life. I talked to Josh about the character and his simplicity. There's nothing too complicated about any of these people, really, but especially my character, Ben Grimm – at least in this incarnation. He's a faithful servant to his best friend. He's someone who errs on the side of caution. In some ways he is a parental figure for Reed Richards, who is not understood by his own parents. He has a gift of higher intelligence that can't be controlled; a thirst for science exploration that doesn't really belong in a suburban Long Island residency. And I think Ben knows this. Ben's his protector, and I think he understands that his role is to take care of him. Ben doesn't come from much of a loving home. He’s likely encountered bullying in his life and he kind of carries himself with a bit of a hard exterior. Which is ironic.

Q: Is there a sense that in some ways the powers each character gets are reflections of who they were or what they needed?

A: I think maybe they're all versions of their internal struggles. You know, Reed is always reaching for greatness. Literally his body then stretches ever further... reaches beyond what we know our body is capable of doing. Ben is someone who is conflicted, who is inside himself, who's kind of stuck. Lacking a sense of purpose & belonging, he's confused. He thinks that maybe baseball is his way out. Ironically he then gets stuck and can't find a way out. The bullying in his past is reflected because he's become literally a monstrosity that people will never be able to relate to and always will judge and condemn. And maybe Johnny in some ways was always a bit sparky with his Father, always a little fiery in his home. And Sue was probably always trying to hide…

Q: In some versions of the comic, can’t Ben go back and forth between those states? And in other versions he's always ‘brick’ solid. In this version it’s the latter, yes?

A: Yes, he is condemned to this life. I mean, there are versions where Reed develops technology that can help change him back, which would be great But not in this version.

Q: Can you tell us a bit more about the process of creating this version of Ben?

A: Well, obviously there is so much physically that is beyond my capability. Ben's supposed to be 6'8" I think, which I'm certainly not! And then he's also as wide as he is tall. The one thing that Josh was unmovable on was that this character still retains his human soul, and the way we access soul is through the eyes. So on every setup where I would play The Thing, there was always six to 10 reference cameras shooting my face, sometimes even just the back of my head, just to get everything, to capture reactions. With Tintin, that was a movie based solely in an animated environment: so you have so much more control, you're in a Volume. This was trickier. But the performance aspect always remains the same, in that you 100 percent come to life as a different being. It's so immersive, and it kind of has to be. For the technology to really work, you have to focus on every tiny little physicality. I would say, “When I come to a stop, can we just make sure that dust comes off me?” I just wanted to make sure that we never lost his organic matter. Fortunately, Kevin Mack (Visual Effects Supervisor)’s kind of a genius with that stuff.

Q: Is it like the Hulk, in that you can ‘see’ Mark Ruffalo in it? Will we be able to see Jamie Bell?

A: With this character, because he is not flexible - he’s literally made of rock -- to some degree his facial articulation is complicated, painful almost. His face doesn't move; he's kind of paralyzed. So I think Josh very wisely is going to use certain moments where drops a bit of light down and suddenly you're going to see these eyes looking like there's a human being in there. I think it’s more effective. I think with Mark, there isn't any restriction, you can see a real face.

Q: What did you and Josh discuss in terms of the character and what you're trying to achieve – what did he want? What did you want?

A: The one thing he always wanted was that Ben was someone who was affected. He carries himself in a certain way, in a way which was defensive, a little aggressive. He’s been affected by people. He's been affected by his family. He doesn't come from a loving place, and he carries himself as such. He doesn't connect with people, and he doesn't want to connect with people. And the shame is that when he becomes The Thing, he cannot connect with people, so he’s always running this edge of not engaging, not really looking.

Q: So it all stems from his childhood?

A: Yeah… I went through a tiny bit of that, stuff in school where I was just different from the other kids. I remember just having to kind of ‘hide myself’ a little bit, just so that it wouldn't attract attention. I’d say Ben knows what that’s like: people say things to you and it affects you. You learn to protect yourself. I think it’s that kind of thing. Josh talks very cerebrally when he talks about characters. He doesn't talk in broad strokes. He's very particular.

Q: Is that something you welcome and respond to?

A: Yeah, you want to get a wealth of information right down to the way that person walks, and that does inform all those things. As the character progresses… everyone has a metamorphosis in this movie. There wasn't really a lot of talk about what kind of a character Ben becomes other than, you know, “For three years, this is the way you've lived. Just live that always.” So I feel like I'd have to constantly keep reminding other people on the set: “Look, I know I'm dressed in a Lycra suit right now, but when you see the movie, you're going to be looking at something that does not look human. You have to remember.” Josh had a cardboard cutout of The Thing in his office. Life size. And he didn't tell me. He said: “Come in my office.” I walked in, and was like, ‘Fuck!’ It really scared me because I remember that. That's how everyone feels when they look at you, and that informs everything.

Q: How does Ben relate to the other three members of the Fantastic Four?

A: For Ben, Reed is his way into everything, you know? His way into problems. His way into excitement. His way into friendship. His way into life really. The other two, we don't really know. It’s an origin story, an origin of character, an origin of how they get all these problems and powers and stuff. An event happens in the movie, and there's a bit of a time jump, so now these people have been living with these problems for this amount of time. But there must have been a moment where Ben comes out and sees everyone else and he's like, “I got landed with this and the rest of you look like that?” So they're not the happiest family, I don't think. They're all kind of sizing each other up. They
don't really know each other at all and have to get to know each other in the most extreme of circumstances.

Q: Did you know any of the other three beforehand?

A: I'd met Michael and I knew Kate.

Q: Did that help?

A: Yeah, it helps a lot. It also helps to know that you're working with good actors. I'd seen everyone's work pretty much, so when the cast was coming together, I was really excited. It’s not an ordinary piece of casting. It's such a specific way of making this film. And I really admired that. I admire Josh's tenacity to make sure of everything, and also his audaciousness in thinking he could do it. Truthfully.

Q: Looking back over the shoot, what would you say was the biggest challenge?

A: Without question trying to imagine what it would be like to have such a monstrous thing happen to you at such a critical moment in your life. I mean, these are teenagers – 18, 19, on the cusp of figuring out what they want to do with their lives. And that is not possible anymore, especially for my character. Dreams are just gone. And physically, how do you bring that to life? The way this person would move, how comfortable he is with his body, how comfortable he is with looking at people, making eye contact. There is so much shame and so much… you know, he probably makes himself sick, the idea of himself. Trying to get all of that into a character and then wear these stilts to kind of try and simulate the height of him. And I would kind of move my face around and try to restrict myself so stuff would be harder to articulate. Trying to get under the nails of that was tricky and kind of tiring.

Q: Did you reference any other films or characters?

A: My influences for the movie were all sorts of things from Elephant Man to Edward Scissorhands to, you know, just movies of people where something happens to them, but there's still so much soul in the person from the actor. That was really what I drew from.

Q: What do you think was the biggest surprise for you over the course of filming?

A: I think just how clear Josh was about his vision and how he never wavered from it. The other day I watched 2001 again. I wanted to watch Interstellar again, so I thought I’d watch 2001 first, then Interstellar. But as I was watching 2001, I was struck by the thought: “Oh there's so much Fantastic Four in 2001.” There really is. I could see where Josh is drawing from. Kubrick obviously is unwavering as a filmmaker; that's his way. I think this film is heavily influenced by that movie, by that director. I can’t speak for Josh, of course, but I imagine he picked up on a lot of stuff. I haven't called him on it, but I saw it and that's a great thing. From the level of thought in the details, to trying to ground the movie in a reality... For a property like Fantastic Four, which is maybe one of the more ‘out there’ kindof ideas, it’s such a bold move, and a testament to a great young filmmaker who is so determined and believes in himself and has a vision. I mean, right down to when we get to the Baxter Foundation, and I'm bringing Reed into his college dorm, and the sign on his dorm room was a bit too comic book movie. Like “Reed Richards”, da, da, da! And Josh was like, “No, no, no, just get rid of it and put some tape up as if someone's just left and they put tape up and wrote Reed Richards. Things like that made it feel so much cooler to me. That's a world that’s very tangible. So in answer to your question, bringing that quality to this kind of movie was surprising.

Q: Presumably, it's reassuring for an actor to see that the director has a singular vision?

A: 100 percent. What you want is someone who believes in something that you believe in. It works. It just filters down.

Q: Do you think there are any particular themes, maybe about modern families, that the film is tapping into?

A: Yes and no. I don’t think people need to be blood-related to be family. Families aren't 2.4 children these days. The new construct of family is whatever you want it to be. I kind of think this is a movie about orphans, and I think in some way we're all a bit orphaned these days. We make more of our own choices. You end up finding whoever you find. So I think it maybe reflects a contemporary culture that’s not so straightforward anymore. Family can actually be whatever you want it to be.

Q: We have seen very light, poppy comic book movies and very dark, tortured ones. Where on the scale would you say Fantastic Four sits?

A: That's a good question. I can’t say ‘the middle’ because this movie doesn't exist in the middle, and most things do. The truth is it’s a law onto itself.

Q: So, you’re rejecting the scale!

A: I think so. [Laughs] Get rid of that scale! What I think is, if a friend of yours sees the movie and you ask, “How was the Fantastic Four?” I think the answer will be: “You just have to see it.” Because it’s not doing what a lot of comic book movies are doing. It's not X-Men - though I admire what they've done with that franchise. It’s not Captain America's and all that stuff. Those films have a certain formula and you can't get away from it, and they work. But Fantastic Four isn't playing to those rules, so I'm really excited to be part of something that isn't doing that. I do know that when people come out of the movie, because of Josh's dedication to it, they'll go, “I haven't seen anything like that.” It’s a real experience.

The all-new FANTASTIC FOUR comes to Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD just in time for Christmas.

Set in contemporary New York, this retelling stars Miles Teller (Whiplash) as Reed Richards, Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle) as Johnny Storm, Kate Mara (The Martian) as Sue Storm and Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) as Ben Grimm.

The FANTASTIC FOUR make a triumphant return with MARVEL’s next generation of heroes—four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate universe, their physical forms altered in shocking ways. Their lives changed forever, Reed Richards (“MR. FANTASTIC”), Sue Storm (“INVISIBLE WOMAN”), Johnny Storm (“THE HUMAN TORCH”) and Ben Grimm (“THE THING”) must harness their incredible new powers and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy, the infamous DR. DOOM.

The strong supporting cast includes Toby Kebell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as Victor Von Doom; Reg E. Cathey (House of Cards) as Dr. Franklin Storm (Johnny and Sue’s father); and Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) as an unscrupulous Baxter Institute board member.

TV TIE IN: Vikings 3 DVD Out and we Interviewed Ragnar's Descendant - 20th Century Fox

Life as they often say, is stranger than fiction, and having heard about the release of Vikings, Season 3 on DVD (2nd of November 2015) from 20th Century Fox, some of our friends tracked down Ragnar's (played in the TV series by Travis Fimmel) descendant.

We were lucky enough to be able to ask James Crowley some questions and here are his answers:
FT:  How did you discover you were related to Ragnar?

JC:  I was approached over Facebook by Zero Degrees West.

FT:  Upon discovering your bloodline, what did you think and who was the first person you told?

JC:   I thought it was quite funny because I really look nothing like a Viking. I told my flat mates who were with me at the time.


FT:  How do you feel that you are similar to Ragnar?



JC:  I suppose in terms of personality traits we both value leadership, but it's hard to say otherwise.

FT:  With a famed name in the bloodline, how much time have you spent researching your ancestor and what have you discovered?


JC:  I spent about an hour or so researching him after I was told. One thing I found was an interesting story about him getting shipwrecked off the coast of Northumberland, only to then fall into battle with the local King - out of the frying pan and into the fire!

FT:  If you could chat to Ragnar over a pint, what would you say to him and how do you think he'd respond?


JC:  I'd want to tell him about what life is like today and see what he thinks about that. I really don't think he'd be able to get his head around a lot of modern day stuff.

 
FT:  When you have children, what do you think you'll say about your famous ancestor to them?

JC:  I'll tell them about Norse mythology and use Ragnar as a reference point - I'd have loved that when I was a kid.

If you still haven't had chance to catch up with Ragnar and his crew join them from series one, out on DVD already and as an added bonus, here's an action sequence for you:

We can't wait to see what life has in store for Lothbrook and his crew and hope you'll join us on a voyage or two on his Longship. 

All the best,


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

BLU RAY DVD NEWS: X-Files to appear on Blu Ray for the First Time - 20th Century Fox

Hail Mighty Readers,
Our friends at 20th Century Fox have let us know that not only is the truth out there but that on 8th December 2015 that fans will be able to own the whole 9 seasons on Blu Ray for the first time with over 23 hours of conspiracy and cover ups.  If you have an X-phile in your life make their Christmas especially when they're preparing for a brand new series next year.

Here's what they had to say:
THE  X-FILES  -  THE  COLLECTOR’S  SET  -  featuring  a  slot  for  the  six  episode  event  series  –  releases  on  8 December 2015, giving fans the chance to own a piece of television history and one of the year’s  must-have giftset collections.

Since  its  inception  in  1993,  ‘The  X-Files’  has  remained  a  worldwide  phenomenon,  garnering  a  loyal  cult following,  16  Emmys ® and  five  Golden  Globe ® Awards,  including  “Best  Dramatic  TV  Series”  during  its  nineseason run.

Now  for  the  first  time,  all  nine  exhilarating,  groundbreaking  seasons  of  ‘THE  X-FILES’,  along  with  special  features, can be yours to own on Blu-ray! Although they began as reluctant partners, FBI special agents Fox  Mulder  and  Dana  Scully  (Golden  Globe ® winners  David  Duchovny  and  Gillian  Anderson)  ultimately  form  a  powerful bond as they struggle to unravel deadly conspiracies and solve paranormal mysteries.

THE X-FILES  -  THE  COLLECTOR’S SET  features  more than 23  hours of content  across all nine seasons  –  perfect for catching up  on the series  before  the new event series  airs. Relive all the mythology, conspiracy theories with special features, including  behind-the-scenes featurettes, and  commentaries by executive producer  Chris Carter (Millennium, Harsh, Realm), R.W Goodwin, Rob Bowman, Kim Manners, Frank Spotniz, Robert Patrick and Rod Hardy.

THE X-FILES – THE COLLECTOR’S SET SPECIAL FEATURES
Season One
o  Series Intro by Frank Spotnitz
o  Chris Carter Talks About Season 1
o  Deleted Scenes
o  International Clips
o  Deep Throat: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
*
o  Erlenmeyer Flask: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin
*
o  Special Effects Clip From Fallen Angel
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season 1”

Season Two
o  Deleted Scenes
o  Chris Carter Talks About Season 2
o  Humbug International Clips
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season Two”
o  Duane Barry: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
*
o  End Games: Audio Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
*
o  Anasazi: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin

Season Three
o  Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
o  Chris Carter Talks About Season 3
o  International Clips
o  Special Effects with Commentary by Mat Beck
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season Three”
o  Threads of Mythology: Abduction
o  Talitha Cuma: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin

Season Four
o  Deleted Scenes
o  Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
o  Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
o  Tunguska – Interview With Chris Carter
o  Paper Hearts – Interview with Vince Gilligan
o  Memento Mori: Audio Commentary by Rob Bowman

o  Introduction to Memento Mori by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
o  Max: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners*
o  Documentary: The Truth About Season Four

Season Five
o  International Clips
o  Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
o  Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season Five”
o  Threads of Mythology: Black Oil 
o  FX Featurette
o  Introduction to The Post-Modern Prometheus by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
o  Patient X: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners

o  The Red and the Black: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter*
o  The Post Modern Prometheus: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter*
o  The Pine Bluff Variant: Audio Commentary by John Shiban*
Season Six
o  Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
o  Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz)
o  International Clips
o  Two Fathers: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
*
o  One Son: Audio Commentary by Frank Spotnitz*
o  Triangle: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter*
o  Introduction to Milagro by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
o  X-Files Profiles: Cigarette-Smoking Man*
o  Featurette on Season Six
o  Documentary: The Truth About Season Six

Season Seven
o  Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
o  Special effects sequences with commentary by Paul Rabwin
o  International Clips
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season Seven” Behind-the-Scenes featurette
o  X-Files Profiles: A.D. Skinner and Samantha Mulder
o  Closure: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
*
o  The Truth About Season Seven

Season Eight
o  Special Effects by Mat Beck with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
o  International Clips
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season Eight”
o  Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Chris Carter
o  Threads of Mythology: Colonization 
o  X-Files Profiles
o  Within: Commentary by Kim Manners and Robert Patrick
*
o  Deadalive: Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
*
o  Vienen: Commentary by Rod Hardy

Season Nine
o  Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz)
o  Special Effects by Mat Beck with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
o  International Clips
o  Audio Commentary by Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, Frank Spotnitz, Kim Manners
o  Documentary: “The Truth About Season Nine”
o   “The Making of ‘The Truth’”
o  “Secrets of The X-Files”
o  “Tribute to The X-Files”
o  More Secrets of The X-Files
o  Threads of Mythology: Super Soldiers
o  X-Files Profiles
o  Reflections on the Truth Featurette
o  Wonder Con Panel

DVD NEWS: 20th Century Fox Pranks Trafalgar Square Visitors - 20th Century Fox

Hail Mighty Readers,
Our friends at 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have let us know about how they pranked visitors to Trafalgar Squares lions this week as part of the release for Night at the Museum 3: Secrets of the Tomb.

Here's what they had to say:
"Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings back to life your favorite museum heroes in NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD on 13 April. Families around the globe have come out to see the hysterical third and final installment in the franchise which has grossed more than a billion dollars1.

If it’s laughter you’re after, get ready for the most hilarious night ever! Ben Stiller leads an all-star comedy cast, including British favourites Dan Stevens, Steve Coogan, Ben Kingsley and Ricky Gervais, alongside Robin Williams, Owen Wilson and Rebel Wilson, for one final, fun-filled Night at the Museum. This time, Larry Daley (Stiller) and his heroic friends embark on their greatest adventure yet as they travel to London in order to save the magic that brings the museum exhibits to life! 

The Blu-ray™ comes with lots of special features that will have the entire family laughing! You can check out how Stiller got into character for his alter ego Laaa, and learn how the film’s iconic flight scene inside an M.C. Escher painting came to life. 


Families can experience NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB anytime, anywhere on Digital HD 


NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB BLU-RAY™ SPECIAL FEATURES
* Improv, Absurdity and Cracking Up - The Comedy of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
* The Theory of Relativity
* Becoming Laaa
* A Day in the Afterlife
* Fight at the Museum
* Creating Visual Effects
* Seven Deleted and Extended Scenes
* Audio Commentary by Shawn Levy
* Gallery
* Theatrical Trailers 

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
* Improv, Absurdity and Cracking Up - The Comedy of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
* Two Deleted and Extended Scenes
* Gallery
* Theatrical Trailers"

DVD REVIEW: Witches of the East End - 20th Century Fox

Release Date: 27/10/14
Publisher:  20th Century Fox

SYNOPSIS:

Witches of East End stars Julia Ormond as Joanna Beauchamp, an ageless mother trying to keep a supernatural secret from her daughters, Freya (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) and Ingrid (Rachel Boston), so they can lead a normal life. But when Joanna's estranged sister (Mädchen Amick) arrives to warn her of an evil entity out to destroy them all, Joanna is forced to reveal the truth about her family's magical legacy. Co-starring Virginia Madsen, Eric Winter and Daniel DiTomasso, this powerful and enchanting drama series will cast its spell on you!

Special features:
Falling Under Their Spell
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
Cat Blooper


Episode List:
Pilot
Marilyn Fenwick, R.I.P.
Today I Am a Witch
Few Good Talismen, A
Electric Avenue
Potentia Noctis
Unburied
Snake Eyes
Parching Imbued, A
Falling Under Their Spell


REVIEW:

OK, I am aware of the books that this series is based on and whilst I haven’t read them, I jumped into this having seen the adverts for series two being advertised (Ed note: the TV series has been cancelled after the conclusion of the second season with multiple threads lest open.)

Whilst I wasn’t sure what to expect the first episode took me back to watching the original series of Charmed and whilst it was only the witchcraft that was the same theme throughout the two the supernatural characters in this one felt more than a little out of sink with the others sharing their screen time.

Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely something that after a few more episodes that I got into however if I’d just watched the first and left it at that I may well have thought not much to it. It does get more interesting and gripping the further into it that you get. All round something a little different and whilst it has a familiarity that supernatural fans can get into.

DVD REVIEW: Sleepy Hollow Season One - 20th Century Fox

Release Date: 27/10/14
Publisher:  20th Century Fox

SYNOPSIS:

In this modern-day twist on Washington Irving’s classic, Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Revived alongside Ichabod is the infamous Headless Horseman who is on a murderous rampage in present-day Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod quickly realizes that stopping Headless is just the beginning, as the resurrected rider is but the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and only one of the many formidable foes that Ichabod must face to protect not only Sleepy Hollow, but the world. As Ichabod finds himself in 2013’s Sleepy Hollow, he discovers a town he no longer recognises and grapples to understand. Teaming up with Lieutenant Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie, 42, The Good Wife, Shame), a young cop who has her own supernatural experiences, the two embark on a mission to stop the evil that has awoken along with Ichabod and that now is seeping into this once-sleepy town.


REVIEW:

Ah a title that conjures up the image of a backwater village in Westchester County, where an educated man comes face to face with superstition and whilst this series is set in the same town, the whole concept has a new twists as Icabod Crane awakens in modern times facing his old nemesis The Headless Horseman.

It’s a quirky series and for me, I love the principle actor, Tom Mison, brings this literary character not only to life but as a man out of his time with old fashioned values trying to find his way in a modern world whilst facing an ancient evil that no one believes in any more.

Its wonderfully written, with witchcraft fantastic plot lines and of course and overall arc that keeps readers watching from episode to episode as they try to fathom some of the darker mysteries to be revealed. All round a cracking series and one that I am more than happy to watch a few more times. A great idea for a Christmas present for those who like something darkly delicious over the holiday period.

DVD REVIEW: Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines - Roxanne McKee, Doug Bradley, Camilla Arfwedson, Oliver Hoare, Amy Lennox - 20th Century Fox

Release Date: 28/01/13

SYNOPSIS:

In the fifth installment of the Wrong Turn franchise, a small West Virginia town is hosting the legendary Mountain Man Festival on Halloween, where throngs of costumed party goers gather for a wild night of music and mischief. But an inbred family of hillbilly cannibals kill the fun when they trick and treat themselves to a group of visiting college students.


REVIEW:

The fifth outing in the series and whilst you don’t expect it to anything Oscar worthy you know damn well what you’re going to get, a story of gore, murder, mayhem and of course cannibals. Whilst the plotline is quite simple for this title it is one that for me was perhaps the goriest to date, that’s not to detract from the storyline but when you add the amount of victims into the mix really left the story only one real way to go. Yes its not complex, yes its simply gore horror but these titles offer something I like, an unhappy ending.

With the addition of a new cast member to the hill billies side this film works well which when added to a few unbelievable moments (such as the forward thinking of the deformed murderers which the principle guy on their side denies that they have early on,) makes this a film to enjoy with a friend and pizza.

DVD News: The Watch DVD, Blu Ray Release Date - 20th Century Fox

Hail Mighty Readers and Film Fans,
Our friends at 20th Century Fox, have let us know about the forthcoming release of RUDER, CRUDER; LEWDER - The Watch ON BLU-RAY; DVD FROM 26TH DECEMBER) starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Richard Ayoade, Rosemarie DeWitt.


Its set for some belly laughs and lets face it after having had the family all round for Christmas Lunch, you probably could do with a rest and the chance to recharge your laughter batteries.

DVD Blurb:
The kings of comedy unite in this hilarious tale of middle suburban America where all is not as it seems. Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade are the unlikely leaders of the “The Watch” in this hilarious and outrageous comedy about a group of guys who must finally take control and find their inner heroes when their quiet suburban lives are threatened.

Special Features:

• Deleted scenes x 12
• Gag reel
• Alien Invasions and You
• Casting the Alien
• Theatrical trailer

DVD REVIEW: Terra Nova - Jason O'Mara, Steven Lang - 20th Century Fox

Release Date: 24/09/12

SYNOPSIS:

Terra Nova follows an ordinary family on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149, the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped and overcrowded, with the majority of plant and animal life extinct. The future of mankind is in doubt, and its only hope for survival is in the distant past.

When scientists at the FERMI Particle Accelerator unexpectedly discovered a fracture in time that made it possible to construct a portal into primeval history, the bold notion was born to resettle humanity in the past--a second chance to rebuild civilisation and get it right this time. The series centres on the Shannon family as they join the Tenth Pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova, the first colony established in this beautiful yet forbidding land. Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara), a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new world of limitless beauty, mystery and terror.

Episode List:

Genesis (Part 1)
Genesis (Part 2)
Instinct
What Remains
The Runaway
Bylaw
Nightfall
Proof
Vs.
Now You See Me
Within
Occupation
Resistance (extended finale--never before seen on TV)


REVIEW:

I always love a TV series that gives the viewer not only a set of characters that they can get behind but gives them a journey into a Science Fiction world that not only keeps you glued but also gives an overall arc that is not only fascinating but also gives a darker edge to the individual episodes.

That and more was achieved with Terra Nova and whilst its unfortunately one of the casualties of One Series Culling, it was a series that gave the viewer dinosaurs, survival as well as human interest. It had some great talent, Jason O’Mara (Life on Mars US), Steven Lang (Avatar) and with the might of Spielberg behind it was a series that had so much going for it.

All in, whilst only thirteen episodes, it was a series that had a solid grounding for the future with enough threads to not only expand for quite some time but also to keep it going for multiple outings. A great shame that its been cancelled but overall, definitely something that I really enjoyed.

DVD REVIEW: Wrong Turn 4 - 20th Century Fox

Release Date: 27/08/12

SYNOPSIS:

This chapter of Wrong Turn takes you to the most terrifying place of all--the bloody beginnings. An isolated sanatorium deep in the West Virginia wilderness is deserted after an inbred family of hillbilly cannibals escape and take revenge on their captors. Decades later, a group of college students seek refuge in the now-abandoned hospital after a blizzard derails their plans for a weekend winter break. But when the students encounter the medical ward’s most frightening former patients, their only choice is to fight back... or die trying.


REVIEW:

In our house, we’re massive horror fans, so when I heard about Wrong Turn 4 coming out I wanted to watch something that I didn’t need to think about, would give me the right amount of gore and when added to a flimsy storyline that just allowed the blood to splatter really hit the Friday Night with a Pizza and a few beers spot.

Whilst this isn’t a masterpiece the film does give you what you want, with some thoroughly dislikeable college kids, some dodgy cannibalistic hillbilly’s and topped it all off with lashing of snow with Strawberry Slushie spilt all over it. That said, some of the scenes are quite graphic and whilst I did have a lot of fun with it, it was a little too predictable.

All in if you want to watch something that is easy to get into, doesn’t require any real brain power and backs it all up based on a successful franchise then this could well be the film for you. If you want something that’s perhaps scarier then you might want to watch the original “The Hills Have Eyes.”

DVD REVIEW: The Darkest Hour - Emile Hirsch, Rachael Taylor, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Joel Kinnaman

Release Date: 21/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

The Darkest Hour follows five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, following an unexplained global disaster and fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack… This sci-fi thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects from the genius of legendary film-maker Timur Bekmanbetov (Wanted and Night Watch).


REVIEW:

Like a great many people I tend to make a note of films that interest me but ones that I’m not 100% sure are worth the price of admission to the cinema to see, as such I have a whiteboard with films that I like the look of and wait for the DVD or if I’m really not sure, wait for the DVD to go down to a fiver before spending my money on it.

What attracted me to “The Darkest Hour” was the concept of invisible aliens that kill through disintegrating and can only be tracked through the activation of electrical items that power up when they’re near. It was interesting, it was set in Russia and for me, a film that relies on a relatively small cast to draw the reader in is usually something that works very well for me as a viewer. Alas this is the crutch of the film as for me, I didn’t find the cast believable. The acting was dire they didn’t bring the fear over and sadly with the acting being very wooden, it left me feeling short changed. Don’t get me wrong, the film had solid effects, a decent premise and of course a familiar road to travel for the viewer, but with dire acting, it left the viewer wondering why they should readily care about them.

Sadly this was the films downfall for me and whilst I did find it entertaining for an evening, I wouldn’t pay full price for it.

DVD REVIEW: Operation Endgame - Zach Galifianakis, Joe Anderson, Fouad Mikati

Release Date: 21/02/11

SYNOPSIS:

Somewhere beneath Washington, D.C., an intense rivalry is heating up between two opposing teams of government assassins. The hired killers in the organisations take their names from Tarot cards. The Fool (Joe Anderson) is the latest recruit. Reporting for his first day on the job, The Fool is shocked to find that his boss is dead, and the office is on lockdown. To make matters worse, the building has been rigged with explosives, and it's going to blow soon. Now, in order to get out alive, The Fool will have to root out the killer in his midst, and make a quick escape before his co-workers catch him in their crosshairs.


REVIEW:

There are times when you want to watch a film that doesn’t rely on intricate plot twists, where the budget isn’t huge and it entertains without any real brain power required.

That’s exactly what you get with this title and whilst the DVD cover is misleading the title does pretty much what the viewer wants: Trained Assassin’s murdering each other with everyday office items.

It did what I wanted, it kept me amused and whilst the characters were acceptable (although to be honest I wanted more Ving Rhames) for the budget it wasn’t that bad especially when it chose to rely on traditional Effects over the all too common computer generated ones. Whilst it won’t set the world alight it will keep a certain percentage of the audience happy. If you want a thriller with more twists which keeps you going longer, then you might want to try Salt.

DVD REVIEW: Vampires Suck - Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Jason Friedberg

Release Date: 14/02/11

SYNOPSIS:

As Becca struggles to contend with her overbearing father, two fierce rivals compete to win her heart. But Becca isn't the only high-school student having a hard time with boys; her friends are all desperate to find a date for the prom, and as the big night draws near, the rampant tension draws out the animals in everyone.


REVIEW:

With Vampires being all the rage, it was only a matter of time before a parody would hit the movie screens. What you get with this title is a film that checks into the Twilight saga whilst also adding a couple of pieces from other popular vampire series that felt like it was a bit flat as the snappy one liners really lacked bite alongside cast members who did their damnedest with an inferior script that should have been shoved in the grave long ago.

It did have the odd moment of possibilities however when you take a pop at a genre make sure you go the whole hog, and stake as many vampire franchises as possible rather than just the odd one. All in pretty shoddy and to be honest there were plenty of other parody titles that really should get your attention before embarking onto this title which sadly lived up to its name.