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'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' movie review- A highly satisfying entertainer

Film: Godzilla x Kong : The New EmpireCast: Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, Rachel House, Mercy CornwallDirector: Adam WingardRating: 3/5Runtime: 115 min Gareth Edwards’ 2014 release, a highly appreciated and well recieved ‘Godzilla’ was followed by a rather erratic ‘Kong: Skull Island’ in 2017, further followed up by the low-quality ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ in 2019. Then came the dumb but fun ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ in 2021 which did rather well at the India and World-wide Box-office. GxK manages to do what the previous iteration GvK couldn’t. This time Wingard gets the mix right and manages to right the wrongs of the earlier, rather messy sequel. This film balances spectacle of the monster battles with a fairly decent plot - just enough to keep the audience invested. The scaling is appropriate. Godzilla may not have a home run here but Kong definitely does and it’s a worthy one. Godzilla, Mothra and Shimo are just added Kaiju attractions here. The plot provides enough motive and stakes to draw out interest into the primed for battle between the two gigantic monsters of this monsterverse. Three narratives work up some steam as the short and sweet runtime plays along. The team at Monarch detect unusual electromagnetic pulses coming from Hollow Earth. Monarch is also worried about the erratic behaviour of Godzilla, who is travelling around the earth consuming as much radioactive energy as he can. Kong researcher Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), is worried about it effect on her adopted daughter, Jia (Kaylee Hottle). So monster vet, Trapper (Dan Stevens) podcaster Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry),Ilene and Jia set off down to Hollow Earth. Each of these story arcs begin to converge, setting off a chain of reactions. There may be  nothing particularly fresh or new here but the plot and characters are sharply delineated and there’s enough action and drama to lure the audience in. The narrative even tries to stretch the battlelines across countries and dig deeper into the core of mother Earth. The scenario for an impending global crisis is well set with fear mongering about Godzilla’s eventual waking up and connecting with signals coming from the ancient tribes surviving in Hollow Earth. Kong is the true leader who is ready to go to any lengths to save everyone he cares about. And it’s this compassion that connects him with humans and monsters alike. The fearsome Skar King, is the main villain of this particular story and he has other apes to make up the numbers. Godzilla is used more sparingly. After the opening rampage, he is shown resting in the colloisseum in Rome. The confrontation between monsters is well earned and impactful. There’s talk of Godzilla guzzling up atomic energy and using its force to quell enemies. Thankfully we don’t see much of that here. This one is mainly about Kong. His character arc is broader and more satisfying. Also, the audience is more comfortable relating to Kong than Godzilla. Rebecca Hall looks brainy and is suitably all-sacrificing, Dan Stevens and Brian Tyree Henry provide solid comic relief and the ancient natives lend the narrative a spiritual vibe. The visual palette is vintage and the tempo and vibrancy is strong here. Highly effective visual effects and CGI shore up the experience. The massive creatures blend well into their environments and the action sequences are beautifully setup. The VFX must be commended for its jaw-dropping depiction of  destruction of cityscapes while showcasing distinctive intricate details of the monsters themselves. This is definitely a highly satisfying entertainer.

29 March,2024 04:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson Thomas
Still from Knox Goes Away

'Knox Goes Away' movie review: Intriguing but not compelling

Film: Knox Goes AwayCast: Michael Keaton, James Marsden, Suzy Nakamura, Joanna Kulig, Ray McKinnon, John Hoogenakker, Lela Loren, Marcia Gay Harden, Al PacinoDirector: Michael KeatonRating: 3/5Runtime: 114 min Michael Keaton’s second directorial effort, “Knox Goes Away,” tackles a challenging and fascinating ‘Memento like premise. The script by Gregory Poirier is methodically and steadily built with an incrementing degree of difficulty. John Henry Knox (Michael Keaton), with PhDs in English and History, a Gulf War veteran, and currently a contract killer, suddenly finds himself at sea. He has just been diagnosed with a fast deteriorating dementia condition.  Knox is an enigma and we don’t know much about his life other than that he has a standing appointment every Thursday with a call girl (Joanna Kulig). Then one day, while in the midst of sorting out his affairs and righting a contract killing gone wrong, his estranged son Miles (James Marsden), knocks on his front door bloody, battered, and panting. That opening for a subplot leaves a window open for a brief trip into the past. Thereafter we get to know bits and pieces of his life gone astray. He now is left with the unenviable and difficult task of not only sorting out his personal affairs but also subverting a murder investigation that might implicate his son. All this while his mind is going away on a fast trot. Knox spends most of the film putting together a convoluted plan with ‘reminders’ from an old friend (Al Pacino). His brief meetings with son Miles and ex-wife ( Marcia Gay Harden) leave a lot to be desired. The narrative is basically entrenched in showboating the subterfuge rather than giving us a evolving character study and is the poorer for it. The twist is expected even if not exactly predictable. We never get involved with Knox’s predicament because the film fails to put forward a cogent enough picture of it. In fact we get to learn more about the lead detective played by Suzy Nakamura. Her sharp, observant and smart as a whip immigrant persona comes through quite effectively and overshadows the knowledge we have of the central character.   The cinematography is not great either. It’s stark and flat and the editing is rather abrupt. The visual compositions even with mise en scene form fail to evoke the required effect. The near neo-noir stakes and grim tone only accentuate the absurdities in the narrative. The jazz score is underwhelming enough to be quickly forgotten. Your eyes may be glued to the screen because of the interesting way in which this premise plays out but the tempo and intensity keeps flagging along the way. While the film is intriguing enough as a whole (Keaton weighing in with a workmanlike performance, Pacino and Harden lending A list support) it’s entertainment value is questionable.

29 March,2024 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson Thomas
Kirsten Dunst. Pic/AFP

‘Civil War’ to open Red Lorry Film Festival in Mumbai

Hollywood movie ‘Civil War’ will be the opening film at the upcoming inaugural edition of the Red Lorry Film Festival. The festival, which will feature over 100 titles from across the globe, offers attendees a chance to be a part of the exclusive premiere of ‘Civil War’ before its global release. ‘Civil War’ follows the story of a small team of military-embedded journalists who travel to the United States as the country is embroiled in its first Civil War since the 1800s, where the states of California and Texas have seceded from the nation to form the Western Forces. Ashish Saksena, COO – Cinemas, BookMyShow, said, "We are thrilled to present 'Civil War' as the opening film of Red Lorry Film Festival. From its visually stunning poster to its high production value, this film is a testament to the excellence of cinema. "With impeccable sound design, cinematography of A+ quality, and critics debating if it's Alex Garland's finest work, 'Civil War' promises an unforgettable cinematic experience. Its gripping narrative and sheer brilliance across every cinematic sphere ensure that watching this film on the big screen will be an experience you won't want to miss." The film, being released by PVR INOX Pictures in India, boasts of a star-studded cast including Cannes Award-winning actress Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura of ‘Narcos’ fame, Nick Offerman, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. BookMyShow’s Red Lorry Film Festival will be held from April 5 to 7 at Maison INOX in Jio World Plaza and Maison PVR at Jio World Drive in Mumbai. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

29 March,2024 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | IANS
Johnny Depp. Pic/AFP

It's confirmed! 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise getting a 'reboot'

If you loved watching 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films, here's an update for you. The franchise is getting a reboot. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced each of the five Pirates movies that starred Johnny Depp as his iconic pirate character Captain Jack Sparrow, in a recent interview with ComicBook.com said the next instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean will be a reboot instead of being a straight sequel, People reported. "It's hard to tell. You don't know, you really don't know," Bruckheimer said when asked when audiences can expect a new Pirates movie or another Top Gun movie; he also produces the Tom Cruise action films. "You don't know how they come together. You just don't know." "With Top Gun, you have an actor who is iconic and brilliant. And how many movies he does before he does Top Gun, I can't tell you," the producer added, referencing Cruise, 61. "But we're gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don't have to wait for certain actors," he added. The Pirates franchise famously starred Depp, 60, as well as Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in its first three entries, beginning with 2003's smash hit The Curse of the Black Pearl. With this update of Pirates of the Caribbean returning, fans wonder if Johnny Depp will return to the franchise as his relationship with Disney soured after his involvement in a defamation trial with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Each of the five 'Pirates' films reportedly grossed more than USD 650 million worldwide, with 2006's 'Dead Man's Chest' and 2011's 'On Stranger Tides' both topping the USD 1 billion mark. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

28 March,2024 06:47 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANI
Julia Roberts. Pic/AFP

Julia Roberts to headline Luca Guadagnino's thriller 'After The Hunt'

Actor Julia Roberts will be seen in the lead role of director Luca Guadagnino's thriller 'After The Hunt', Variety reported. As per the official logline, the movie follows Roberts as a college professor who "finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues." As she navigates the difficult situation, "a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light," the Los Angeles-based publication reported.  Details regarding the other actors in the film have not been disclosed yet. Nora Garrett has penned the script of the project, which has landed at Amazon MGM Studios The project's announcement comes after Roberts delivered one of the biggest hits in recent years with the Netflix thriller 'Leave the World Behind', which dominated the streamer's most-watched chart during the holiday season. The film was directed by Sam Esmail and also starred Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke. It was a post-apocalyptic thriller. Meanwhile, Luca Guadagnino, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of 'Call Me by Your Name', has a lot of other projects lined up in his kitty as well. According to Variety, he is also directing 'Separate Rooms', which is an adaptation of the novel by the late Italian writer Pier Vittorio Tondelli. Josh O'Connor, who stars in 'Challengers' is in talks to lead the cast of 'Separate Rooms', a wistful drama about an Italian writer who mourns the loss of his boyfriend. 'Challengers' also features Zendaya and Mike Faist and it will be released on April 26. His Mexico-set romantic drama 'Queer' starring Daniel Craig as an American expat who becomes infatuated with a younger man, is expected to premiere at Venice Film Festival later this year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

28 March,2024 06:41 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANI
Picture Courtesy/Vin Diesel's Instagram account

Vin Diesel shares unseen pic with xXx co-star Deepika Padukone from India trip

Hollywood actor Vin Diesel surprised his Indian fans by sharing a throwback picture with his xXx: Return of Xander Cage co-star Deepika Padukone. The unseen photo was taken during their visit to India to promote their 2017 action movie, which marked Deepika’s debut in Hollywood. In the picture, Vin is seen assisting Deepika with her coat, while xXx: Return of Xander Cage director DJ Caruso is seated in an auto-rickshaw.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Vin Diesel (@vindiesel) Reflecting on his trip to India, Vin penned a heartfelt message, recalling how he had promised Deepika to visit India with their director. He also revealed that the director had sent him a new script that deeply moved his eldest daughter Hania. Sharing the picture Vin Diesel wrote, “When I think about the amount of directors that have wanted to work with me more than once I am always just humbled. This is a pic of when I went to India as I promised Deepika I would, with the director at the time, DJ Caruso… While we are currently juggling the order of the productions, my oldest daughter read the script that DJ sent to me, thinking that it would fall into the Pacifier bracket. She cried… I asked her why she cried, and she said because the story of a brother and sister rang true for her and it was emotional. Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em, Mattel’s Follow up to Barbie… Universal’s Kojak, Witch Hunter, Riddick4 and of course, the finale to Fast are all fighting for position. Blessed. If I could make the film work that my daughter cried reading, my question for you would be, who would play my sister… She suggested Jennifer Lawrence. What do you think?” Meanwhile on the work front, Deepika was recently seen in the aerial action thriller film ‘Fighter’ opposite Hrithik Roshan. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film also starred Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in pivotal roles and received good responses from the audience. The actress who is expecting her first child will be next seen in the sci-fi action thriller film ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ alongside south actor Prabhas. Helmed by Nag Ashwin, the film also stars Amitabh Bachchan and will hit the theatres on May 9, 2024. Ranveer, on the other hand, will be seen reprising his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty’s cop drama ‘Singham Again’, which also stars Deepika Padukone, actors Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Ranveer will also headline Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don 3. ‘Don 3’ will arrive in 2025.  This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

28 March,2024 06:36 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Shakira Pic/shakirastuff's X

Shakira draws a crowd of 40,000 people at her surprise concert in NYC

Latin sensation and pop queen Shakira, who made a grand comeback after a long hiatus of seven years with her new album titled 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran' (Women Don't Cry Anymore), celebrated it with scores of fans with a surprise concert at Times Square in New York City.  Shakira looked stunning in black pants and a top with silver embellishments. The pop-up drew a crowd of around 40,000 fans. The songstress took to the stage and opened with her iconic number ‘Hips Don’t Lie’.  Shakira Shakira 💃🏻 A spectacular pop-up concert by @shakira on the TSX Entertainment billboard in #TimesSquare ❤️#Shakira #NYC #TSX #LivePerformance #Punteria #HipsDontLie pic.twitter.com/naOPfA1LOd — Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) March 27, 2024 Delighted to see her fans, she said in Spanglish, “Hola New York! Oh my God, this is amazing, absolutely insane.  It’s so awesome to see you again, to sing for you…Nothing compares to this. Thank you so much for all the love that you’ve been giving me this week during the release of my new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. And thank you, thank you, thank you for showing up.”   Also Read: Discover premium Pakistani suits in Mumbai with this guide Billboard reports Shakira drew around 40,000 people at her surprise concert at Times Square in New York City. 🗽 — https://t.co/S4BpZWVFcK pic.twitter.com/DNYYy6UBod — shakirastuff | fan account (@shakirastuff_) March 27, 2024 The singing sensation delighted her fans by performing on 'Te Felicito', ‘Punteria’, and ‘Como Donde y Cuando’, among others.  Meanwhile, the new album consists of 16 tracks, eight new songs, and a remix, including seven previously released singles: 'Music Sessions Vol. 53' with Bizarrap; 'TQG' with Karol G; 'Te Felicito' with Rauw Alejandro; 'Copa Vacia' with Manuel Turizo, and more. In December 2023, Shakira was honoured with a statue in her country Colombia. The 21-foot-tall bronze statue has been place in her hometown of Barranquilla. It shows the singer's notorious 'Hips Don't Lie' dance move from her 2005 music video. On the personal front, Shakira made headlines for her split from partner Gerard Pique in 2022. The three-time Grammy Award winner and the 35-year-old retired soccer player announced their separation. "We regret to confirm that we are separating. We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children, who are our maximum priority. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect," the couple said in a statement. The former couple recently reached a custody agreement regarding the care of their two sons, Milan and Sasha, in the wake of their split. (With inputs from ANI)

27 March,2024 09:29 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Scarlett Johansson. Pic/AFP

Scarlett Johansson in talks to lead new 'Jurassic World' movie

Hollywood actor Scarlett Johansson is in talks to headline the next installment in the "Jurassic World" franchise. Hollywood studio Universal Pictures has set the new film for theatrical release on July 2, 2025, reported entertainment news outlet. Gareth Edwards of "The Creator" fame is attached as a director with the project, after David Leitch's exited the project. David Koepp, the screenwriter of 1993 original "Jurassic Park" and its 1997 sequel "Jurassic Park: The Lost World", will pen the script for the new movie. The project will mark the beginning of a fresh storyline in the juggernaut series, which has spanned three decades. The franchise started with Steven Speilberg's "Jurassic Park" trilogy, which also included Jurassic Park III (2001). A new trilogy, set 22 years after the events of "Jurassic Park", began with 2015's "Jurassic World", followed by sequels - "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" (2018) and "Jurassic World Dominion" (2022). The films were led by Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Johansson, 39, has been a part of several franchises, especially the multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies in which she played the role of superhero Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow. Her most recent project was Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City".  This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

27 March,2024 06:55 AM IST | Los Angeles | PTI
Cillian Murphy. Pic/AFP

Cillian Murphy to star in mining drama 'Blood Runs Coal'

Irish star Cillian Murphy is set to headline a new feature film for Hollywood studio Universal Pictures. Murphy, who recently bagged his maiden best actor Oscar trophy for Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer", will star in a period mining drama, titled "Blood Runs Coal", according to entertainment news outlet The Hollywood Reporter. The project is based on author Mark A Bradley's non-fiction book "Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America". The story is about the 1969 murder of mining union organiser Joseph ¿Jock¿ Yablonski, who was killed at home with his wife and daughter. The killings followed Yablonski campaigning against a corrupt union leader, and sparked a lengthy investigation that unveiled shady dealings within the coal industry. Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, who earlier worked on Tom Cruise's "Edge of Tomorrow", will adapt the screenplay. "Blood Runs Coal" will be produced by John Davis and Jordan Davis through Davis Entertainment. Murphy and Alan Moloney will also produce under their banner Big Things Films. Murphy's upcoming projects also include a sequel to his 2002 zombie hit "28 Days Later", and a "Peaky Blinders" movie that will follow his long-running period gangster TV series.  This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

27 March,2024 06:52 AM IST | Los Angeles | PTI
Catherine O'Hara and Kathryn Hahn. Pics/AFP

Catherine O'Hara, Kathryn Hahn to star in Seth Rogen's comedy drama 'The Studio'

The cast for Seth Rogen's comedy-drama 'The Studio' has been revealed. Joining co-creator and lead Rogen in the sendup of the film industry are series regulars Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek), Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision), Ike Barinholtz (Neighbors) and Chase Sui Wonders (Apple's City on Fire), The Hollywood Reporter reported. Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Abbott Elementary) and Dewayne Perkins (The Upshaws) will also guest star in the comedy, which is about a "legacy Hollywood movie studio that is trying to survive in a world where it is increasingly difficult for art and commerce to live together." The details of the characters have not been revealed yet. The upcoming Apple comedy series is created by Peter Huyck and Alex Gregory (Veep) alongside Rogen and his Point Grey banner collaborator Goldberg and Frida Perez. Lionsgate Television is the studio on the series. Executive producers include Point Grey Pictures' James Weaver, Alex McAtee and Josh Fagen alongside Rogen, Goldberg, Huyck, Gregory and Perez. The project, which is now in production, was ordered to series in November of 2022. Catherine O'Hara is best known for her role as Moira Rose on the sitcom. 'Schitt's Creek'. She bagged Emmy Award for her performance in Schitt's Creek in 2020. On the other hand, Kathryn Hahn has featured in several memorable projects such as WandaVision, The Family Fang, Flower, Bad Moms and Private Life among others. Besides WandaVision, her recent credits include Apple's animated series Central Park and the HBO dramatic limited series I Know This Much Is True. She also starred in Knives Out sequel, which came in 2022. She starred alongside Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. It is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman.  This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

27 March,2024 06:46 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANI
Anne Hathaway and Christopher Nolan. Pics/AFP

Anne Hathaway shares, Nolan helped her overcome online toxicity post Oscar win

Actor Anne Hathaway considers filmmaker Christopher Nolan an "angel" in her life. Gracing her first solo Vanity Fair cover, she addressed the 2013 viral phenomenon 'Hathahate' that portrayed her identity as "toxic" after she won Oscars for the musical Les Miserables, and also opened up about how Nolan made her sign his projects irrespective of the hate she has received post the Academy Award win, Variety reported. "A lot of people wouldn't give me roles because they were so concerned about how toxic my identity had become online. I had an angel in Christopher Nolan, who did not care about that and gave me one of the most beautiful roles I've had in one of the best films that I've been a part of," she recalled, Hathaway referred to the role of NASA scientist D. Amelia Brand in Nolan's 2014 space epic 'Interstellar'. She had already worked with Nolan before as Selina Kyle in 2012's 'The Dark Knight Rises', which earned her acclaim several months before her Oscar campaign for 'Les Miserables' in the back end of 2012 generated internet scorn. "I don't know if he knew that he was backing me at the time, but it had that effect. And my career did not lose momentum the way it could have if he hadn't backed me," Hathaway added. "Humiliation is such a rough thing to go through. The key is to not let it close you down. You have to stay bold, and it can be hard because you're like, 'If I stay safe, if I hug the middle, if I don't draw too much attention to myself, it won't hurt.' But if you want to do that, don't be an actor. You're a tightrope walker. You're a daredevil. You're asking people to invest their time and their money and their attention and their care into you. So you have to give them something worth all of those things. And if it's not costing you anything, what are you really offering?" she continued. In the coming months, Hathaway will be seen in 'The Idea of You'. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

27 March,2024 06:42 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANI
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