Interview

Interview: Actress Yvonne Strahovski Talks ‘Batman: Bad Blood’

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The world of animated superhero films is a vast and interesting machine. Batman, especially, has seen a lot of action in recent years and the new film Batman: Bad Blood is certainly no exception. It is a high octane and intense crime actioner, animated and presented in a way that will probably attract more adults than kids. I caught actress Yvonne Strahovski (Batwoman) on the red carpet at the premiere of the film and she dished on working on the project. Here’s how that conversation went:

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Review

Kung Fu Panda 3

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When a film franchise comes out with a third installment, one gets a sense that that franchise knows what they’re doing and that they are definitely in the business of making money, not high art. Since 2008, the Kung Fu Panda films have repackaged Shrek in a tasty Chinese coating and passed it off as original animated entertainment and DreamWorks Animation actually did get it right. Jack Black serves as voice actor superstar, accompanied by a who’s who of modern day supportive acting talent. Kung Fu Panda 3 continues to follow the adventures of spiritually-misguided Po, a panda who, through the power of kung fu, teamwork, and friendship sees deeper and realizes his true potential. This is the third film, so expect strong similarities between this installment and the previous two however that’s not saying this is a mediocre film because it really is rather fun and lively, not to mention funny and brimming with strong technical achievements.

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Movie Music, Review

Soundtrack Review: Kung Fu Panda 3

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In 1995, eclectic film composer Hans Zimmer won an Academy Award for his sensational score to The Lion King. This accolade then saw a new generation of film music and pushed the German maestro into not only fame and fortune in the movie business but made him a household name and saw the birth of new talents which served as proteges of Zimmer and his production company Media Ventures, now known as Remote Control Productions. Zimmer co-composed the first two Kung Fu Panda scores with student and flourishing composer John Powell, albums which contain not just powerful Chinese musical cues but pieces of music that evoke moments of adrenaline-induced action and gorgeous choir. Kung Fu Panda 3 continues to stir deep feelings of inspiration, power, and togetherness and the album is one of Zimmer’s best animated efforts yet, of which there are quite a few (The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, the Madagascar franchise, Megamind, Rango, The Road to El Dorado, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, The Simpsons Movie, etc.) One can even say Zimmer has become the “new” John Williams.

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Review

Batman: Bad Blood

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The DC Comics animated universe is something that has thrived for quite some time now. You can trace it back to its true beginnings in 1992 when Batman: The Animated Series made waves on television and established the style and tone of DC’s most interesting and enduring superheroes: Batman. Since then, numerous series and animated films have come, all paying tribute to the Caped Crusader, his legacy, and the 70-year history he has delighted fans and cemented the Dark Knight’s name in pop culture. Batman: Bad Blood is another of the character’s great stories and it has just been released digitally on January 20th, 2016 and will grace Blu-ray and DVD shelves on February 2nd.

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Conventions, News

Young Innovators Fair 2016 – Recap

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The future of our world is in the hands of the children of today. What they do and what they conjure up will hopefully benefit mankind. Science and technology are what move society forward and with the right encouragement, we can see a world that is bright and full of home. The Young Innovators Fair, which recently took place on January 2-3, 2016 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania played host to a bevy of young minds, children who with the proper tools and mentors will lead the way and help create a great future for mankind. The event is a springboard for children to share their ideas and use the resources available to them to make life better, not just for themselves but for everyone around them.

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Movie Music, Review

Soundtrack Review: The Wiz Live!

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The Wiz is one of entertainment’s greatest and most beloved treasures. Not often does a musical come along that takes a classic story and gives it a spin that is both energetic and incredibly fun but this one does. 1974 saw the first performance of The Wiz and over the years, it has developed a strong cult following, including a popular film in 1978. With an all black cast which included music legends Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, it is an extremely fun adventure and the soundtrack is something to marvel at as well. In 2015, NBC brought The Wiz back over three decades later, and audiences have recently been treated to a live performance that will linger in your memory for quite some time afterward. The source material and most of the music remains the same and once again, we are taken on one heck of a journey.

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Review

The Revenant

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Survival is a theme that almost always makes for riveting and quality cinema. Man and nature and the journey to ensure one’s longevity is something we can all find interesting and in the new western thriller The Revenant, audiences are presented with just that. Following up with his critically acclaimed Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu goes much deeper with a story that is not only told in a visually stunning way but will resonate with you long after you leave the movie theater.

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Conventions, News

NYCC 2015: ‘Angie Tribeca’ Panel

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Rashida Jones is really quite special. Over the past decade, not only has she made a name for herself on television but she has appeared in quite a few popular films. She maintains a fine balance by being funny and beautiful simultaneously. From a supporting role on the American The Office to a seamless transition to another popular NBC sitcom, Parks and Recreation, Jones has proven time and time again that she has the chops to tickle many an audience member’s funny bone. Her upcoming series Angie Tribeca is premiering on TBS in January of next year and the first episode was screened at New York Comic Con this fall.

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Conventions, Interview

NYCC 2015 Interview: Stars Madison Davenport and Brandon Soo Hoo Talk ‘From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series’

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In 1996, director Robert Rodriguez took audiences on a vampiric adventure unlike any other. The tongue in cheek horror/action spectacle ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ was a film that garnered a cult following and basically put Rodriguez on the genre map. Now in season 2 of the ‘Dawn’ series, we see a new side to the film’s characters and Rodriguez’s unique filmmaking style. Young stars Madison Davenport and Brandon Soo Hoo were kind enough to sit down with me at New York Comic Con to discuss the El Rey series and the direction in which it is headed. Here’s how that interview went:

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Conventions, Interview

NYCC 2015 Interview: Stars D.J. Cotrona and Jesse Garcia Talk ‘From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series’

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In 1996, director Robert Rodriguez took audiences on a vampiric adventure unlike any other. The tongue in cheek horror/action spectacle ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ was a film that garnered a cult following and basically put Rodriguez on the genre map. Now in season 2 of the ‘Dawn’ series, we see a new side to the film’s characters and Rodriguez’s unique filmmaking style. Stars D.J. Cotrona and Jesse Garcia were kind enough to sit down with me at New York Comic Con to discuss the El Rey series and the direction in which it is headed. Here’s how that interview went:

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Film reviews and interviews with critic (and Ghostbuster) Randy Unger!! New Episodes Air Mondays at 11 AM EST on Manhattan Neighborhood Network! MNN.org Lifestyle Channel