Trailer Watch: The Hunger Games

Yes...its the actual trailer...I've been waiting for sooo long. Its not bad too. Still kinda wish they went for younger leads. Think I felt more for Peeta during the reaping, he looks more like a boy there. Plus we kinda know what he's thinking up there right. The choice he was making.

Posters Galore: The Hunger Games character posters

The Hunger Games character posters are out. Click here to see them all. From the side Jennifer Lawrence kinda looks like Emily Browning.

Anyway....when can we get the actual movie trailer? Soon?

Trailer Watch: Chronicle

I knew nothing of this movie. Simply saw this on IMDB trailers page...and was blown away. Looks awesome. Saw the trailer a second time and the effects look pretty weak, but the story still looks cool...the way it explores the initial novelty of superpowers to the subsequent abuse of it, from their homevideos...brings us a lot closer to the characters and those pivotal moments. I so want to watch this. Hopefully it actually is good.

Snippet: Snow White vs Snow White

Well there's been a ton of images from two Snow White movies online recently.

First is the untitled Tarsem Singh Snow White. Hmm...its certainly colourful. Almost like it popped out of some children's picture book.

Is Julia Roberts really playing the evil queen? Coz she doesn't look evil...just the sparkly eyed lady as always.

And then thers's the other Snow White movie...Snow White and the Huntsmans...you know the one with Kristen Stewart. This time she sports a dress...the first few set pictures almost made us think, she will be the girl knight throughout.

So what do you think? Which looks more interesting at this point?

Now I really love The Fall, and this Singh's Snow White movie seems to have the colourful fantastical stuff too...but it kinda reminds me a bit of the Disney Alice in Wonderland...and I did not like the look of that one. Seems like it will go all musical too? Perhaps its more of poking fun at the fairy tale?

So right now, I kinda like the look of the Kristen Stewart flick more.

Snippet: New Wuthering Heights Images.

The poster for the Wuthering Heights movie has been released. Not much of a poster I say since there's not much of anything other that the quotes from critics.

New stills from the movie have also been released a week ago or so. You can check them out all here. Finally we get to see Kaya Scodelario as Catherine.

I recently saw Splendor in the Grass. And I have to say, Kaya looks a lot like Natalie Wood. See below.

Don't you think?

Snippet: Kristen Stewart on the set of Snow White and the Huntsman

I just saw some pictures of Kristen Stewart on the set of Snow White and the Huntsman, they all over the internet by now. Click here to see them.

I don't think Kristen has done a period movie before, so lets see how well she fare in this one. I wonder if she'll use an accent. And she really is wearing the armour we saw in the promos in July. I wonder how different they're making this Snow White, she certainly does not look like a damsel in distress. Though you kind of wonder how such a petite girl like her could wear an armour or swing a sword. This kinda of stuff always cross my mind when I watch Medieval movies...because I if I'm not mistaken armours and swords of those time just weigh a lot.

Snippet: Breaking Dawn Soundtrack

The song list of the Breaking Dawn soundtrack is out.

1.       The Joy Formidable- Endtapes
2.       Angus &Julia Stone- Love Will Take You
3.       Bruno Mars- It Will Rain
4.       Sleeping At Last- Turning Page
5.       The Features- From Now On
6.       Christina Perri- A Thousand Years
7.        Theophilus London- Neighbors
8.        The Belle Brigade- I Didn't Mean It
9.        Noisettes- Sister Rosetta (2011 Version)
10.      Cider Sky- Northern Lights
11.      Iron & Wine- Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)
12.      Imperial Mammoth- Requiem On Water
13.      Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz- Cold
14.      Mia Maestro- Llovera
15.      Carter Burwell- Love Death Birth

The soundtrack will be released on 8th November 2011. Can't wait. I've loved all theTwilight soundtracks they've released...this one should be good as well. Go here to have a listen to the Bruno Mars song.

The Scene: Wanted - She has one single iota of tenuous power. She thinks she can push everyone around

Ahh...its been a long time since I've done this feature The Scene. So I'm starting it again with a scene from Wanted.

Yep its the office keyboard scene. Meek Wesley finally had enough of the abuse and stood up to his super mean boss. And he wasn't even being particularly mean...just frankly honest with what he and everyone else in the office felt about her.

Snippet: Vampire Diaries Season 2 on Channel 5 in Singapore

Vampire Diaries Season 2 has made its way to the free to air local channel which is Channel 5. It premieres on October 1 and will be shown every Saturday at 10:30pm.

Snippet: Downton Abbey Season One on DVD and Bluray in Singapore

Here's you chance to own a copy of the best TV drama ever. I just saw the season one of Downton Abbey available in DVD and Bluray at HMV Singapore. I believe the price for the DVD was $44.90 (which is quite pricey I think). But I can't remember how much the Bluray was.

Trailer Watch: The Swell Season

I saw Once a movie about two musicians who meet and fall in love about two years or so ago. I didn't love it immediately, but I saw it a second time and the songs drew me in. They were so raw and emotive, and I came to love the movie. I actually like its simplicity.

Afterwhich I seeked for the soundtrack, and after that, for The Swell Season and The Frames albums. The music is just wonderful and still get frequent plays on my ipod...

I was pleasantly surprise to hear that there's actually a The Swell Season documentary. You can check out the trailer below.

I'm not really into music documentary or documentaries that follows people's lives for the purpose of making a documentary, simply because people tend to modify behaviour for the camera. Of course I don't know if it was the case here, or they just simply had backstage footage for other reasons that they took and piece together for a documentary. But its The Swell Season afterall, and I love their music. So I'll definitely watch it. I wish they would also release some live concert dvd. That would be great.

Trailer Watch: Wuthering Heights

The trailer for Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights is finally here.

Hmm...it looks pretty. But we hardly hear any dialogue in it other than a voiceover right at the end. So I do hope its not one of those movies that's chock full of long silent scenes, that's just pretty to look at.

Snippet: The Kennedys miniseries in Singapore

The life of the Kennedys one of the most famous political family in American history has been made into a 8 episode miniseries aptly called the Kennedys. Check out the trailer  below.

The Kennedys will be shown on Singapore starting today, 19 September to 22 September, with back to back episodes on The History Channel at 9pm.

Snippet: Downton Abbey Season One clips and extras

Downton Abbey is currently showing on Thursdays at 11pm on Diva Universal.

If you've caught the first few episodes of it, I'm pretty sure you're hooked already. It's such a wonderfully produced drama. From the sets, to the costumes, to the acting and the screeplay. And its just soo addictive. You just can't wait for the next episode. Downton Abbey has also been nominated for a bunch of Emmy's. I hope they win tons so that quality stuff like this, especially period dramas like these gets made, rather than thought to be simply stiff and boring. Because this certainly is not.

And I know that the second season is almost starting over in the UK and the US. But since over here we are still on the first season, so lets immerse ourselves in everything season one of Downton Abbey. Enjoy the clips I found on youtube below. They include promos, interviews, behind the scenes and features.

Preview: Downton Abbey on Diva Universal

Trailer

ITV Meridian Downton Abbey Feature

The writer and stars of Downton Abbey interview

Julian Fellowes Downton Abbey interview 

Hugh Bonneville Downton Abbey interview

Downton Abbey Cast React to 11 Emmy Nods 

Deconstructing Downton Abbey A Masterclass 

Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle)

Priest (2011)

Here's the gist of the story. In a post-apocalyptic alternate world, a priest disobeys the church to rescue his niece who was kidnapped by a pack of vampires.

Now the priest here isn't the typical priest. He's a super human ninja like warrior trained by the churh to kill vampires during the man-vampire wars. And the vampires, they're aren't the vampires we've accustomed with in most books and movies. Here, they're these viscious creatures that look like Pan in Pan's Labyrinth and you can hardly call them a coven of vampires since they live in hives...and have a queen...so they're like antz or bees.

Now I am puzzled by one thing. I know the movie is based on a graphic novel...but these vampires in Priest do not make interesting monsters. I think they totally missed the marked.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think, the reason we've been fascinated by vampires and like reading about them in books and watching them in movies and tv is because they were human, still look human and yet are not and are monstrous. And even in most stories we've seen, they are superior physically in looks and strength and have the ability to attract their prey with their beauty and charm before drinking their blood.

Basically with Priest...what you get is these hideous creatures...that do not look human, had never been human (save for one), doesn't actually drink human blood, they pretty much just devour and tear humans too pieces. So my question is...what makes these creatures in Priest vampires rather than just random mindless monsters, when it doesn't even try to satisfy any of the the stuff in the vampire myths...well other than being fatally adverse to sunlight and religious stuff. And with the vampires in Priest being scary looking like that...its so obvious that humans will run the other direction right?

Trailer Watch: The Awakening

Ghosts. A sceptic. Boarding school. I think that sounds like a good set up for a ghost story movie.

I'm not quite won over by the trailer. Not quite spooky enough in my opinion. And it does seem the trailer is showing too much. Let me guess a tragedy happened at the school. And the staff is covering it up?

But it is a period ghost story...so of course I'll watch it.What fun...there's this and The Woman in Black to look forward to.

Trailer Watch: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Hmmm...interesting...Why does Sam wants to kill Bella now? I don't get it? Because she's carrying some alien hybrid? Of a human and vampire...I don't think that makes the baby any more stronger than the typical vampire. I mean if its a werewold vampire hybrid...thats more a threat right? Oh well...I have yet to read the book.

Snippet: Survivor South Pacific premiere in Singapore on September 15th

The 23rd seaseon Survivor which is Survivor: South Pacific will premiere in Singapore on 15th September Thursday 5pm on Channel 5. The same-week encore telecasts are subsequently shown on Fridays at 12 midnight and Sundays 12 noon.

Survivor is one of the few reality tv game shows that I still continue to watch. The games organised for the contestants still remains challenging, coupled with the constant mind games and strategising the contestants have to partake in, I find still makes Survivor a very entertaining watch.

Go to CBS site here to take a look at the new cast of contestants.

Coach and Ozzy are making their third appearance in the Survivor show. I can't remember Ozzy but I do remember Coach...who I found annoying. I don't remember him as being a particularly physically strong player physically or more importantly strategically...so I have no idea why they're bringing him back for the third time.

Random Rants/Thoughts: Drive Poster

Did anyone else think that Ryan Gosling in the Drive movie poster look a lot like Daniel Craig. Especially Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens...see picture below.

Snippet: Vampire Diaries Season 3 Promo Pictures and Video

 Hmm...I thought the whole characters holding the forbidden fruit thing has been done? Wasn't it Desperate Housewives.

I love the Vampire Diaries. Even though it is a teen drama...with all of its teen relationship drama and the overused love triangle plot, it still has a very engaging storyline. And I thought the vampire aspect of the story is done pretty well. Plus the vampires here are actually pretty vicious, more so than Twilight, as they should be.

That said, I disliked the promo video. They are over sexing the whole thing to the point of it being cheesy. Holding bloody fruits. Eating cherry. Pulling hairs? Stabbing cakes...that oozes blood? Seduction, Desire, Obsession...yes we all get it. I kinda wished they kept it simple, just show us clips of the story that would entice us to watch the new season...that would have been enough. If I wasn't already following the Vampire Diaries, I would have been turned off by this new promo.

Posters Galore: Breaking Dawn Part 1

These are the new posters for the Breaking Dawn movies. I'm sure the fangirls are going crazy with the first one. What with Bella and Edward in such an embrace and that sparkly engagement ring. OMG.

There's also the new 15 second teaser. Very short and focusing more on Bella's sudden pregnancy.

Snippet: BBC drama Ripper Street

The BBC seems to be comissioning a lot of dramas with 2 Great Epectation and the Edwin Drood one too . Of course their drama series are a lot shorter than the American ones with only single digit number of episodes.

The latest drama to be made is Ripper Street which is set in 1889 London after the aftermath of the Ripper murders. The drama revolves around characters at the police precinct as they recover from the crimes. You can read their press release here.

I think it looks like it could be an interesting period drama. A very dark one too. I'd love if they delve more into the public fear and paranoia the crimes most likely have caused.

No idea who are the actors yet and according to the press release shooting only begins in Spring 2012. A long way before we ever get to see the drama.

Posters Galore: Vamps

Just saw the poster for the Amy Heckerling movie Vamps. Kinda looks like a movie poster from the 80's. Issit set in the 80's? Or issit just referencing those bad vampire movies of the 80's?

We've already had a good funny zombie movie with Zombieland...could this be the funny Vampire movie? Have we had a funny vampire thats not completely dumb?

Snippet: Downton Abbey will be shown in Singapore

Oh my, this series have been raved about endlessly and have been nominated numerous Emmys. I'm so glad Diva Universal has finally brought this series to Singapore. Here's a brief desription of the story from the dvd of the series:

Downton Abbey-a sprawling, lavish Edwardian mansion nestled in the Yorkshire landscape-needs an heir. Dame Maggie Smith stars as Violet, the stubborn Dowager Countess of Grantham, matriarch of Downton. Hugh Bonneville stars as her son, the stoic, unflappable Lord Crawley; Elizabeth McGovern is his far-sighted American wife, Cora. From Academy Award - winner Julian Fellowes

Julian Fellows is of course the guy who wrote Gosford Park. And I loved Gosford Park.

Now check out the trailer for Downton Abbey below.

The series will be aired every Thursday at 11pm starting September 8th on Diva Universal. It looks soo good, I'm loving it already.

Snippet: The Mystery of Edwin Drood is being made into a two part drama by BBC

Another one of Charles Dickens novel will get a TV adapatation, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. I've never heard of this novel before. I guess the reason could be that it is his last an unfinish novel. Here's a little description of the novel taken from wikipedia:

Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, the story focuses on Drood's uncle, choirmaster John Jasper, who is in love with his pupil, Rosa Bud. Miss Bud is Drood's fiancée who has also caught the eye of the high-spirited and hot-tempered Neville Landless, who comes from Ceylon with his twin sister, Helena. Landless and Drood take an instant dislike to one another. Drood later disappears under mysterious circumstances.

According to the BBC press release this adaptation will be aired on BBC Two next year and will attempt to complete the story. Here's a round up of some of the cast.

Matthew Rhys who played Kevin Walker in ABCs Brothers and Sisters stars as John Jasper

Tamzin Merchant who you may remember as Georgiana Darcy in Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice will play Rosa Bud

Freddie Fox plays Jasper's nephew Edwin Drood

Sascha Dewan who had roles in Outsourced and The History Boys will play Neville Landless

Amber Rose revah will play Neville twin sister Helena