REEL DEAL: Taken 2 - Maggie Grace SPOTLIGHT

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER IN “TAKEN 2”

Hit action director Olivier Megaton heats up the action arena with twice the thrill, action and carnage in the upcoming sequel “Taken 2” where the first movie cemented Liam Nelson as this era ’s most relatable action hero being a family man keen on saving his daughter at all cost from human trafficking.

From the first movie where his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) had been abducted by a cartel of human traffickers, “Taken 2” now follows Bryan Mills and his family at Istanbul where the father of the cartel’s leader is out to avenge his son killed by Mills during his daughter’s rescue.  With Mills and his wife abducted this time, Kim tries to save them at breakneck speed taking cues from his father’s infallible timely instructions to track them down. 

REEL DEAL: Taken 2 - Liam Nelson SPOTLIGHT

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

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

REEL DEAL: Battleship REVIEW

There is a great interest in war and weapons nowadays. With the tension on our seas maybe the hottest news today and with the failed North Korean Missle Launch also threatened the nation it is also the perfect time for this war inspired kick ass movie, Battleship

BATTLESHIP brings together the Navy, Army, Air Force and the Marines in an all out war for Earth against an unexpected alien invasion that the advantage of the invading team .  From War Games the exercises  becomes a critical game of the fate of Earth. The movie stars Taylor Kitsch, Rihanna, Liam Nelson , Brooklyn Decker and Alexander Skarsgard . Situated in the Pacific Ocean, the vast body of water serves a perfect battleground with all that firepower from destroyers and battleships and alien warcrafts.

REEL DEAL: Battleship SPOTLIGHT

‘BATTLESHIP’ from game-to-film

On April 12  2012, the battle for Earth begins at sea. Peter  Berg directs and produces Battleship, an epic-scale action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.

After the blockbuster success of the toys-to-films Transformers and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Hasbro reviewed the catalogue and focused on “Battleship” as its first game-to-film.  Still, the company knew it wouldn’t move forward until a crucial dilemma was resolved: how to logically transfigure a beloved property into a cohesive and entertaining motion picture.

It was crucial to the producers that when audiences see this epic, they witness an incredible spectacle. Bennet  Schneir,  the leader in leisure time entertainment services and products in Hasbro Inc. says: “They’re going to see airplanes and ships and aliens and shredders and thugs.  They’re going to see the game of ‘Battleship’ that they all grew up on come to life in front of them.  And at the core of it, they’re going to see a story about a group of human beings who are up against impossible odds.”

REEL DEAL: Battleship SPOTLIGHT

From the producer of Hasbro the Transformers franchise.  Summer 2012 begins with the biggest battle of all: Battleship.

Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom) produces and directs Battleship, an epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.  Based on Hasbro’s classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam, a physical therapist and Hopper’s fiancée; Alexander Skarsgård as Hopper’s older brother, Commanding Officer Stone of the USS Samson; Rihanna as Lt. Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones, and international superstar Liam Nelson as Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane.

“Battleship” distributed and released by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation.

REEL DEAL: Star Wars Episode 1 3D - NEWS

STARGAZING AT “STAR WARS EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE” IN 3D

20th Century Fox recently held a special invitational screening of “Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace” at SM Megamall where groups of fans of the epic franchise gamely came in wearing costumes of their favorite characters from the movie.

Seen at the well-attended screening posing with cosplayers and fans are from Star Magic talents Maliksi and Marikit Morales, Ann Sy, Janine Berdine, Kyline Alcantara, Queenie, Louise Bernardo, Veyda Inoval, Joshen Bernardo  and newcomer Lerrick Serrano.

REEL DEAL: Star Wars Episode 1 - 3D SPOTLIGHT

CONVERTING AN EPIC FRANCHISE INTO 3D: “STAR WARS EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE”

The epic adventure “Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace,” from visionary filmmaker George Lucas, captivated global audiences when it first came out in 1999.  The Force is back. But this time in 3D giving the film an immersive dimension and turning it into an altogether richer cinematic experience.        

It’s an experience that will inevitably be thrilling: watching “Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace” 3D on the big screen. The first Star Wars movie to be presented in spectacular 3D, all the exciting elements of the original remain, with  added dimension and nuance.

REEL DEAL: The Force is Back in 3D

THE FORCE IS BACK IN 3D “STAR WARS EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE”

From visionary filmmaker George Lucas, “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace” is back with an immersive 3D dimension for a richer cinematic experience.

Following the first acclaimed and hugely successful Star Wars films, ”Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace was released in 1999.  The movie starred Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as his apprentice Obi-Wan-Kenobi, a determined young Jedi Knight. Natalie Portman played Queen Amidala. Jake Lloyd starred as Anakin Skywalker. It is a fantastically exciting adventure set 32 years before the events of the original.  Writer, director and producer George Lucas is the creator of the phenomenally successful Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones   series. Lucas directed his first feature film, THX 1138, in 1970. In 1971, Lucas formed his own film company, Lucasfilm Ltd. In 1973, he co-wrote and directed AMERICAN GRAFFITI. Four years later, Lucas wrote and directed STAR WARS, which broke all box office records and earned seven Oscars.

The Star Wars saga is a modern-day fairy tale reflecting the vision of George Lucas.  Lucas imbued this new myth with pieces of American pop culture, including movie westerns, swashbucklers and – for seasoning – Japanese samurai epics.  Star Wars was also a reaction against Watergate, Vietnam and other periods of domestic turmoil that seemed to undermine the concept of the hero for disillusioned Americans.