Categories
Movies

Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 does one thing wrong, but it’s otherwise an amazing Summer Blockbuster. I really enjoyed it!!

Box office report: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 blasts straight to Number 1

Summer movie season is blasting off, with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 beating out The Fate of the Furious for the top spot at this weekend’s box office.

The Marvel sequel — which follows 2014 surprise hit Guardians of the Galaxy — proved to be a crowd-pleaser both at the domestic box office, where it pulled in an estimated $145 million, and the international one, where it’s earned an estimated $282.6 million so far. This carries the film past the estimated $400 million mark worldwide.

But while GoTGV2 has already out-earned its predecessor by an estimated $50 million, it hasn’t performed as well as similar Marvel sequels 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, which earned $191 million and $179 million respectively in their first weekends out.

Finishing in second place this weekend is Fate of the Furious with an estimated $8.5 million, bringing it past the $200 million mark at the domestic box office. The film has already crossed $1.2 billion worldwide in its fourth week out, but it still sees a more than 55 percent drop in earnings, bringing in less than Fast & Furious 6, which managed to earn $9.5 million by its fourth outing — though GoTGV2‘s opening this weekend might explain that difference.

Coming in third is animated feature The Boss Baby, which slid down to the No. 4 spot last week. But with an estimated $6.2 million haul this weekend, this family favorite’s long legs have carried it past $150 million at the domestic box office and past the $430 million mark worldwide. Now in its sixth week out, the Alec Baldwin-starring film’s performance is proving to be a steady one, as it’s only seen a 30 percent drop in ticket sales so far.

How to Be a Latin Lover takes fourth place this weekend with an estimated $5.3 million, followed by Beauty and the Beast with $4.9 million. Disney’s live-action remake of the 1991 classic is now nearing $500 million domestically and has grossed an estimated $1.2 billion worldwide to date.

Elsewhere in the top 10, The Circle — starring Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, and John Boyega — is not doing well with critics or audiences, as it pulled in an estimated $4 million, nearly a 50 percent drop from last week’s $9 million opening. Similarly, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which opened strong last weekend, saw an estimated 68 percent drop in its second week, with the Telugu-language film earning an estimated $3.2 million this time around. The Chris Evans film Gifted continues to be a steady performer, rising to eighth place with an estimated $2 million in its sixth week. This brings the film’s earnings to an estimated $20 million worldwide.

Outside the top 10, Oren Moverman’s The Dinner opened this weekend in 505 locations, earning an estimated $755,348, while A24’s The Lovers, featuring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts, brought in an estimated $70,410 from only four locations for an estimated haul of $17,602 at each location. Additionally, 3 Generations — a drama about a transgender teen looking to begin hormone treatments starring Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, and Naomi Watts — earned an estimated $20,118 from six locations, with an estimated $3,353 per theater.

Per ComScore, overall box office is up 3.8 percent the same frame last year. Check out the May 5-7 box office figures below:

1 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – $145 million
2 – The Fate of the Furious – $8.5 million
3 – The Boss Baby – $6.2 million
4 – How to Be a Latin Lover – $5.3 million
5 – Beauty and the Beast – $4.9 million
6 – The Circle – $4 million
7 – Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – $3.2 million
8 – Gifted – $2 million
9 – Going In Style – $1.9 million
10 – Smurfs: The Lost Village – $1.8 million

Categories
Movies

Love the film. Never had a problem with the title.

‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ Sequel Gets A Familiar Title, Emily Blunt Returns

It seemed at one point that the Warner Bros. didn’t really love the title of the Doug Liman-directed, Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt-starring sci-fi actioner “Edge Of Tomorrow,” a film that did OK business at the box office, but not amazingly so (just $100 million at the domestic box office; better abroad with $270 million). When the film hit DVD, VOD and streaming channels, the words “Live Die Repeat” were splashed all over the marketing and “Edge Of Tomorrow” was in much tinier letters. Had they changed the title for the home video release? The studio insisted they hadn’t.

Well, maybe they actually did subtly, as the newly announced title of the film is an exact riff of that VOD moniker.

“We have an amazing story! It’s incredible! Way better than the first film, and I obviously loved the first film,” Doug Liman told Collider while promoting his new film “The Wall.” “It will be called ‘Live Die Repeat And Repeat.’ Tom [Cruise] is excited about it, and Emily Blunt is excited about it. The big question is just when we’ll do it. But it’s not an if, it’s a when.”

It’s been presumed that Blunt would return, but this sounds like real confirmation.

Liman even has some strong thoughts of how to subvert sequel-itis. ““I’ve had some radical ideas about how to make a sequel that would interest me, in the same way that I had ideas of how you make an independent film and then ‘Swingers’ came along and it was like ‘Aha, that’s the perfect movie for me to test these ideas out on.’ I had these intellectual ideas on how you should make a sequel that are unlike how anybody else makes a sequel, and this script and this idea fit perfectly into that idea. So it’s gonna revolutionize how people make sequels. And again that’s why I try to do things like [a new VR film] ‘Invisible’ that are just, the revolution’s sort of built into the idea. It’s more heresy in the film world for me to pitch things that are sort of unheard of.”

And speaking of titles, Blunt always loved the original, original title: the one that came from the book. “That’s a bummer isn’t it? I gotta say, I love ‘All You Need Is Kill,’” she said in 2015. “I loved it… I thought it was more ironic and totally more than a movie, you know?”

Sorry Em, “Live Die Repeat And Repeat” is the title. Director Doug Liman is obviously returning and it’s actually a prequel that Cruise pitched himself so presumably he’ll be back too. No signs of a start date or release date so the film could be a few years off.

Categories
Music

It is an amazing song!

‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’ claims this song is ‘Earth’s finest composition’

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is going to keep movie fans talking all summer, but it’s also likely to inspire plenty of chatter from ’70s music nerds.

The soundtrack is jammed with classics from groups like Electric Light Orchestra and Fleetwood Mac, but the most prominently featured is the 1972 Billboard chart-topper “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Jersey one-hit-wonders Looking Glass. Ego, Kurt Russell’s character, even goes so far as to describe it as “possibly Earth’s finest composition.”

“Far from it,” laughs songwriter and Looking Glass singer Elliot Lurie. “I would say that is probably ‘Desperado’ by the Eagles!”

Lurie, 68, explains that it was “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” director James Gunn who pushed for the song, which is featured almost in its entirety during the opening scene. “When he explained how he planned to use it, I was thrilled,” says Lurie. “I loved the first movie so much — I was actually a little disappointed about “Brandy” not being on that soundtrack.”

It’s not the first time the song has cropped up on the big screen. It was featured in 2000’s “Charlie’s Angels” movie and was also used in an episode of “The Simpsons.” Lurie (who worked as a music supervisor for many years, and now is semi-retired from the business) admits the sporadic injections of cash have been helpful. “The income isn’t something you can live on completely, but it makes the good times better, and the hard times a little easier.”

It also makes up a little for the band’s decision to turn down an offer for $25,000 from Pepsi at the height of their fame to use “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” in a commercial. “When we signed our record deal to Epic, our advance was $10,000 to be split between all of us,” says Lurie. “But we thought doing a commercial was selling out!”

Formed at Rutgers University in New Jersey in 1969, Looking Glass (whose classic line up was completed by drummer Jeff Grob, piano player Larry Gonsky, and now-deceased bassist Pieter Sweval) never enjoyed a repeat of the song’s success. Even at the peak of their careers, they were reminded of the realities of the music business when they played at Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ, with the Pier’s famous diving horse as an opening act.

“We asked the promoter when should start playing,” says Lurie. “He was right out of ‘The Sopranos,’ and he said, ‘You see that horse over there — when you hear that splash, that’s when you start playing.’ That put it all in perspective for us!”

Categories
Television

They will be milking the Game Of Thrones cash cow for years.

Four ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoffs in the works

Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin has signed a new TV production deal to develop four offshoot series from the hit fantasy franchise.

Show creators and executive producers D. B. Weiss and David Benioff are currently preparing to premiere the seventh season of the show in June, and work on the final eighth season will begin later this year, ahead of a planned 2018 release.

However, fans have now been given more to look forward to as officials at U.S. network HBO have reached a deal with Martin to “explore different time periods” in the “vast and rich universe” created in his book series A Song of Ice and Fire in four related shows.

Specific details about the projects, as well as production timelines, have yet to be revealed, but Martin will pen the series with Godzilla’s Max Borenstein, Kick-Ass screenwriter Jane Goldman, Mystic River’s Brian Helgeland, and Carly Wray, who worked on Mad Men.

Weiss and Benioff will not be involved in the writing process, but will oversee the series as executive producers, alongside Martin, reports Deadline.com.

It’s good news for fans, who have been patiently waiting for Martin to finish writing the sixth instalment of his A Song of Ice and Fire saga, following the 2011 release of the last book in the franchise, A Dance with Dragons.

He had been hoping to have the sequel, The Winds of Winter, complete in time for 2016, to coincide with the broadcast of the sixth season of the Game of Thrones TV adaptation, but he failed to hit his deadline.

Instead, Weiss and Benioff had to base their plotlines for the TV series on the book ideas Martin outlined for them in order to move forward with the project.

Categories
Rumours

I don’t NEED them to reunite, but I’d probably go and see them if they did.

Robert Plant hints at Led Zeppelin reunion

Robert Plant has spiked fans’ interest in a Led Zeppelin reunion with a cryptic note on his website.

Devotees have been crying out for a band get together ever since Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones regrouped in London for a tribute to music mogul Ahmet Ertegun in 2007, and, as the rock act’s 50th anniversary looms in 2018, the singer’s latest three-word post has got fans foaming at the mouth.

Plant’s message reads: “Any time now…”

Some experts are predicting the existing members of Led Zeppelin will reunite for this year’s Desert Trip festival in Indio, Calif. The inaugural event in 2016 was headlined by Sir Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Roger Waters.

The bosses of last year’s festival confessed a Led Zeppelin reunion was high on their wish list for the 2017 event.

Page and Plant have been at odds for years over reunion rumours – Page would dearly like to tour with his old bandmates, while Plant has said on multiple occasions his Zeppelin days are behind him.

However, he recently impressed fans at a gig in London when he belted out the rock band’s classic Kashmir without Jimmy Page for the first time.

The singer made an appearance during violinist Nigel Kennedy’s Royal Albert Hall concert in March and hit all the right notes on the song, which was first released four decades ago and re-recorded for Plant & Page’s No Quarter album.

Plant’s 18-minute performance marked the first time he had attempted the song live since Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion at London’s O2 Arena.

Categories
Beastie Boys

There’s some great MCA lyrics here. May he be resting in peace.

Ten Awesome Adam Yauch Rhymes: Beastie Boy MCA’s Best Lyrics

Each of the Beastie Boys brandished a style of rapping that set him apart from the pack. But for many fans, it was the distinctive growl of MCA that consistently rose above the beats. From the trio’s rough and rowdy early tracks to their refined and respected final cuts, Adam Yauch delivered his rhymes with a depth, grit and lyrical precision that was renowned and respected in rap and rock circles alike.

Throughout his life, Yauch evolved from a street-wise Brooklyn brawler into a peace-practicing Buddhist activist, and his enlightenment was reflected in the lyrics he committed to wax over the years. Check out 10 of MCA’s most famous verses and pay homage to one of hip-hop’s most cherished voices.

 

No Sleep Til Brooklyn (1986)

“Born and bred in Brooklyn the U.S.A./ They call me Adam Yauch but I’m M.C.A./ Like a lemon to a lime a lime to a lemon/ I sip the def ale with all the fly women”

 

Paul Revere (1986)

“Now my name is M.C.A. I’ve got a license to kill/ I think you know what time it is it’s time to get ill/ Now what do we have here an outlaw and his beer/ I run this land, you understand I make myself clear.”

 

Shake Your Rump (1989)

“A puppet on a string I’m paid to sing or rhyme/ Or do my thing I’m in a lava lamp inside my brain hotel/ I might be freakin’ or peakin’ but I rock well”

 

Pass The Mic (1992)

“If you can feel what I’m feeling then it’s a musical masterpiece/ If you can hear what I’m dealing with then that’s cool at least/ What’s running through my mind comes through in my walk/ True feelings are shown from the way that I talk”

 

So What’cha Want (1992)

“Well I’m as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce/ You’ve got the rhyme and reason but no cause/ Well if you’re hot to trot you think you’re slicker than grease/ I’ve got news for you crews you’ll be sucking like a leech”

 

Sure Shot (1994)

“I want to say a little something that’s long overdue/ The disrespect to women has got to be through/ To all the mothers and sisters and the wives and friends/ I want to offer my love and respect to the end”

 

Root Down (1994)

“Bob Marley was a prophet for the freedom fight/ ‘If dancin’ prays to the Lord then I shall feel alright’/ I’m feeling good to play a little music/ Tears running down my face ’cause I love to do it’

 

Intergalactic (1998)

“Well I got to keep it going keep it going full steam/ Too sweet to be sour too nice to be mean/ On the tough guy style I’m not too keen/ To try to change the world I will plot and scheme”

 

An Open Letter To NYC (2004)

“Dear New York I hope you’re doing well / I know a lot’s happen and you’ve been through hell / So, we give thanks for providing a home / Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves”

 

Make Some Noise (2011)

“Pass me the scalpel, I’ll make an incision/ I’ll cut off the part of your brain that does the bitching/ Put it in formaldehyde and put it on the shelf/ And you can show it to your friends and say that’s my old self”

Categories
People

RIP MCA. I still find it hard to believe that you’re gone.

Five Years Ago Today: Beastie Boys’ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch Dies

On May 4, 2012, the music world was dealt a crushing blow with the news that Adam Yauch, better known as “MCA” to Beastie Boys fans, had passed away at the age of 47. As a member of the pioneering trio, Yauch helped the Beasties meld the worlds of rock and rap together, first as breakout rappers utilizing hard rock samples on the Licensed to Ill album and later revisiting their punk and hardcore roots as a blistering live act that rocked their own instruments. That inventive career led to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction just a few weeks prior to Yauch’s death.

The musician had been diagnosed with cancer of his parotid gland and a lymph node three years earlier and had undergone surgery and radiation treatment to battle his ailment, and while it appeared as though he had been doing better at certain points in the years since 2009, he ultimately succumbed to the cancer in 2012.

At first, there was a statement from the band’s publicist that read, “It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch … passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.”

Soon after, both Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D.” Diamond would reach out to fans via social networking. Diamond shared a photo of the New York Knicks paying tribute via the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden, stating, “I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother. I miss Adam so much. He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish. The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam. BTW this photo sent to me by a friend, (thanks Saslow) is just one awesome example of how NYC is such a unique place that amidst it’s huge size and frenetic pace it really opens up it’s heart in so many ways and on on so many levels in times like these. And though it makes me cry sometimes, it has been really amazing and moving to see.”

Horovitz stated, “As you can imagine, s— is just fkd up right now. but I wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. I’m glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him.”

Horovitz hit it on the nose as the outpouring of love and support was overwhelming. Saturday Night Live inserted a clip of the Beastie Boys appearing on the show as a tribute. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, which premiered on HBO weeks after the ceremony and featured the Beasties induction, was dedicated to Yauch. And rockers like Slash, Linkin Park, Anthrax, Fred Durst, David Draiman, P.O.D., Randy Blythe, Papa Roach, Tommy Lee, Nonpoint and Godsmack all shared their condolences online.

A few other rockers also offered larger tributes to Yauch. Kid Rock penned a lengthy missive recalling seeing Beastie Boys open for Run-DMC at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena in his youth and how it changed everything for him. “The metal heads liked ‘em, the punk kids, everyone! I dressed like them, pegged and rolled my pants, begged my mom for a pair of Ewings, and so on and so on. I rapped about not giving a f— and crazy s–t like they did in my early years. I also followed their lead in later years, after I became my own person, in believing I could really help a lot of people out. MCA I know was at the forefront of this in the group, and for that I am forever indebted,” said Rock.

Jane’s Addiction‘s Perry Farrell also offered a touching eulogy, recalling to Rolling Stone, “I kind of felt like they were family, but once removed.” Farrell had invited Beastie Boys to play Lollapalooza and also returned the favor by appearing at the Beastie Boys’ Tibetan Freedom Concert. Farrell offered, “He was a good guy — that’s the thing that kind of strikes a really bad chord. He was a really good guy trying to help people, and all about being innocent and wild, and even immature if you want to be. He was really such a part of our party vernacular — our musical vernacular. That’s where it gets me. It’s a very gray day.”

As stated by Rock and Farrell, there was much more to Yauch than just the Beasties’ music. His humanitarian efforts were well documented. He was a practicing Buddhist and did his part for the Tibetan independence movement by staging the Tibetan Freedom Concert and launching the Milarepa Fund.

Diamond recalled to Rolling Stone, “He would disappear for two months of teaching by his Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. He gradually incorporated that into the music. He was the first to realize we had this soapbox and we needed to do something with it.”

Yauch also was a key player in the success of the Beastie Boys, taking on the moniker Nathaniel Hornblower while directing a number of the band’s videos. He also constructed the Oscilloscope Laboratories studio in New York for the band’s recording and later would found an indie film company called Oscilloscope Pictures that would issue the Awesome; I F–in’ Shot That! concert film.

Horovitz would state shortly after Yauch’s death, “[He] was in charge. He was smarter, more organized. In a group of friends, you all come up with stupid s–t to do. But you never do it. With Yauch, it got done. He had that extra drive to see things through. We each had our roles. One of his was the make-it-happen person.”

As for his death, Horovitz would tell Rolling Stone, “I don’t believe Adam was afraid. Bummed out, yeah. But I can’t think when I ever saw him afraid. We got jumped in Brooklyn one time, so we’ve been afraid in that sense. But, man, he hadn’t been afraid in a long time. That gives me peace.”

After Yauch’s passing, his fans gathered together to stage the annual MCA Day in New York, not only sharing memories of the musician but also offering art, music and breakdancing exhibitions. And on Friday, May 3, 2013, a day before the one-year anniversary of Yauch’s death, a public ceremony was held to rename Palmetto Playground in Brooklyn Heights as Adam Yauch Park. The playground was where Yauch spent much of his youth. Horovitz, who was on hand for the dedication with Yauch’s parents, stated, “Me and Adam, we were hanging out in high school late one night and we were walking around Brooklyn and we ended up in this park and he told me how he used to play in this part. I think he’d think it was pretty f—ing cool!”

One other thing that came from MCA’s death was that his will stated that the Beastie Boys music would be laid to rest along with him and that the group would not license music for commercial use. In the time since 2012, the band has spent time in court with several different companies who attempted to use the Beasties music and they’ve emerged victorious.

As of 2017, Horovitz and Diamond were in the process of penning the band’s memoir.

RIP MCA.

Categories
Television

Love this!!

Daily Show reunion coming to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

A Daily Show reunion will take place on the stage of one of its most famous alumni.

The May 9 episode of The Late Show will bring together Colbert and former Daily Show anchor Jon Stewart (an occasional guest who is also an executive producer on The Late Show) with former correspondents Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms, and Rob Corddry. The booking is tied to the 20th anniversary of Colbert joining Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, something Colbert noted on Tuesday night’s The Late Show when he announced the gathering. That installment is being billed “as a special evening of comedy and conversation,” and the whole episode will revolve around the reunion.

Like Colbert, Bee, and Oliver went on to host their own late-night series, TBS’ Full Frontal and HBO’s Last Week Tonight, respectively.

The Late Show airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Categories
People

May they both be resting in peace.

Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds memorialized with shared tombstone

They were neighbors in life, and they’ll continue to be side-by-side in death, as Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher’s shared mother-daughter tombstone has been revealed.

The large marble memorial features a sculpture of a mother and daughter holding hands and was unveiled over the weekend at Hollywood’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The only text displayed on the headstone below the sculpture are the women’s names and the dates denoting their respective lifespans.

Reynolds died on Dec. 28 at age 84 from an apparent stroke, the day after Fisher passed away at age 60 following a massive heart attack on an 11-hour flight from London to L.A.

Both women were remembered at a public tribute on March 25 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Per her wishes, Fisher was cremated after her death, but some of her ashes were placed in an urn shaped like a giant Prozac pill and laid next to her mother.

The duo leave behind Todd Fisher, Debbie’s only son and Carrie’s brother, and Carrie’s daughter Billie Lourd. Todd is currently working on establishing a museum to house Reynold’s incredible movie collection, while Lourd is currently starring in Scream Queens on Fox.