Nearly one year after Ray Liotta’s unexpected death in the Dominican Republic, his cause of death has been released.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, the 67-year-old actor died from heart and respiratory issues. Specific causes of death list pulmonary edema — fluid in the lungs, respiratory insufficiency and acute heart failure. The report also noted atherosclerosis, a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls, as an underlying issue.
Liotta, best known for “Goodfellas,” “Cop Land” and “Narc,” died in his sleep last May in the Dominican Republic while shooting “Dangerous Waters”. The actor had recently starred as twin brothers in the “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” while appearing in Steven Soderbergh’s “No Sudden Move.” He had recently appeared in Elizabeth Banks’ “Cocaine Bear,” which debuted this past February and earned decent reviews and $89.2 million worldwide.
From his breakout turn in...
According to documents obtained by TMZ, the 67-year-old actor died from heart and respiratory issues. Specific causes of death list pulmonary edema — fluid in the lungs, respiratory insufficiency and acute heart failure. The report also noted atherosclerosis, a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls, as an underlying issue.
Liotta, best known for “Goodfellas,” “Cop Land” and “Narc,” died in his sleep last May in the Dominican Republic while shooting “Dangerous Waters”. The actor had recently starred as twin brothers in the “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” while appearing in Steven Soderbergh’s “No Sudden Move.” He had recently appeared in Elizabeth Banks’ “Cocaine Bear,” which debuted this past February and earned decent reviews and $89.2 million worldwide.
From his breakout turn in...
- 5/8/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Film and television producers are, at the core, accomplished problem-solvers on myriad levels. For Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line, who currently share the presidency of the Producers Guild of America, the prevailing problems for its membership are downright existential.
“The biggest refrain is ‘How can we get health insurance?’” says Allain, whose producing projects have included everything from “Boyz N the Hood” and “Muppets in Space” to “Dear White People” and the Academy Awards telecast.
“And ‘How do you make a living as a producer?’” adds De Line, the former Touchstone Films exec responsible for mega-hits such as “Pretty Woman” and “Armageddon,” and whose prodigious producorial output includes “The Italian Job,” “Ready Player One” and a forthcoming Billy the Kid limited series.
De Line points out that the Producers Guild is not a union, like many of its professional counterparts for directors and screenwriters, but a trade organization, which...
“The biggest refrain is ‘How can we get health insurance?’” says Allain, whose producing projects have included everything from “Boyz N the Hood” and “Muppets in Space” to “Dear White People” and the Academy Awards telecast.
“And ‘How do you make a living as a producer?’” adds De Line, the former Touchstone Films exec responsible for mega-hits such as “Pretty Woman” and “Armageddon,” and whose prodigious producorial output includes “The Italian Job,” “Ready Player One” and a forthcoming Billy the Kid limited series.
De Line points out that the Producers Guild is not a union, like many of its professional counterparts for directors and screenwriters, but a trade organization, which...
- 2/23/2023
- by Scott Huver
- Variety Film + TV
Summer is about to finally, blessedly be in full swing. And to honor the occasion, Hulu is showing up big with its list of new releases for June 2022.
Hulu is bringing two major TV titles to its stream this month. The first is The Orville: New Horizons on June 2. Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi/comedy started as a simple Star Trek parody on Fox before blossoming into its own entirely sincere space adventuring beast. Now “New Horizons” promises to be a fresh start for the series on Hulu. Next up is Only Murders in the Building season 2 on June 28. Season 1 of this Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez-starring series was a big hit. Let’s see if our favorite podcasters can pull it off once again.
Read more TV The Orville: Update on “More Ambitious” Season 3 Progress By Kirsten Howard
Aside from the big ticket Hulu originals, there are...
Hulu is bringing two major TV titles to its stream this month. The first is The Orville: New Horizons on June 2. Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi/comedy started as a simple Star Trek parody on Fox before blossoming into its own entirely sincere space adventuring beast. Now “New Horizons” promises to be a fresh start for the series on Hulu. Next up is Only Murders in the Building season 2 on June 28. Season 1 of this Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez-starring series was a big hit. Let’s see if our favorite podcasters can pull it off once again.
Read more TV The Orville: Update on “More Ambitious” Season 3 Progress By Kirsten Howard
Aside from the big ticket Hulu originals, there are...
- 6/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Rob Schneider has joined the cast of writer-director Rick Bieber’s indie, Dead Wrong.
He’ll star alongside Cress Williams (Black Lightning), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Derek Smith (What/If), Chelsea Debo (Separation), Rosalie Ward (Saints & Sinners), Chet Hanks (Your Honor) and Joshua Bitton (Red Riding Hoods).
The crime drama based on K.E. Clark’s novel Deadly Instinct follows Billy Evans (Smith), a narcissist of psychotic proportions who, blinded with jealousy over the wealth accumulated by his best friend and local mob boss (Hanks), schemes to steal his infant son to obtain a multi-million dollar settlement from the hospital’s insurance company. In so doing, he ignites a chain reaction that overwhelms the lives of his now suicidal wife (Bowden), her nymphomaniacal younger sister (Debo) with whom he’s having an affair, a deeply indebted gambling and alcoholic lawyer (Schneider), a Brooklyn born bookmaker/pimp...
He’ll star alongside Cress Williams (Black Lightning), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Derek Smith (What/If), Chelsea Debo (Separation), Rosalie Ward (Saints & Sinners), Chet Hanks (Your Honor) and Joshua Bitton (Red Riding Hoods).
The crime drama based on K.E. Clark’s novel Deadly Instinct follows Billy Evans (Smith), a narcissist of psychotic proportions who, blinded with jealousy over the wealth accumulated by his best friend and local mob boss (Hanks), schemes to steal his infant son to obtain a multi-million dollar settlement from the hospital’s insurance company. In so doing, he ignites a chain reaction that overwhelms the lives of his now suicidal wife (Bowden), her nymphomaniacal younger sister (Debo) with whom he’s having an affair, a deeply indebted gambling and alcoholic lawyer (Schneider), a Brooklyn born bookmaker/pimp...
- 12/3/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Despite competition from the likes of Prime and Hulu, Netflix met arguably its biggest match yet last November when Disney Plus launched. The Mouse House has been coming for the streaming giant’s crown ever since, amassing more and more content over time. This September 1st, though, Netflix managed to get one up on D+ by snatching away two popular movies that were previously available on the rival service.
The two films are 2011’s The Muppets and 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted, the last two theatrical outings for Jim Henson’s beloved puppet troupe. The duology have been up to stream on Disney Plus for months, but as of this Tuesday, they’re now to be found on Netflix. It’s not unusual for movies to flit between the different streaming services, of course, but so far, D+’s methodology has been to collate as many of Disney’s productions as...
The two films are 2011’s The Muppets and 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted, the last two theatrical outings for Jim Henson’s beloved puppet troupe. The duology have been up to stream on Disney Plus for months, but as of this Tuesday, they’re now to be found on Netflix. It’s not unusual for movies to flit between the different streaming services, of course, but so far, D+’s methodology has been to collate as many of Disney’s productions as...
- 9/1/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Actor/Producer David Arquette joins Joe & Josh to discuss the movies that made him.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Scream (1996)
Never Been Kissed (1999)
3,000 Miles To Graceland (2001)
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Spree (2020)
Gremlins (1984)
Muppets From Space (1999)
It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
Unforgiven (1992)
The World According To Garp (1982)
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
Slap Shot (1977)
The World of Henry Orient (1964)
Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)
Insomnia (2002)
One Hour Photo (2002)
The Long Goodbye (1973)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Last House On the Left (1972)
The Tripper (2006)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
The Wizard of Oz (1925)
Funny Bones (1995)
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
The Gold Rush (1925)
The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
Wild Style (1982)
The Shining (1980)
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Dreamscape (1984)
Brainstorm (1983)
The Dead Zone (1983)
The Warriors (1979)
Commando (1985)
Somewhere In Time (1980)
Escape From New York (1981)
Being There (1979)
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)
Targets (1968)
Pleasantville (1998)
Hidden Agenda...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Scream (1996)
Never Been Kissed (1999)
3,000 Miles To Graceland (2001)
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Spree (2020)
Gremlins (1984)
Muppets From Space (1999)
It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
Unforgiven (1992)
The World According To Garp (1982)
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
Slap Shot (1977)
The World of Henry Orient (1964)
Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)
Insomnia (2002)
One Hour Photo (2002)
The Long Goodbye (1973)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Last House On the Left (1972)
The Tripper (2006)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
The Wizard of Oz (1925)
Funny Bones (1995)
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
The Gold Rush (1925)
The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
Wild Style (1982)
The Shining (1980)
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Dreamscape (1984)
Brainstorm (1983)
The Dead Zone (1983)
The Warriors (1979)
Commando (1985)
Somewhere In Time (1980)
Escape From New York (1981)
Being There (1979)
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)
Targets (1968)
Pleasantville (1998)
Hidden Agenda...
- 8/18/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Hello, readers! Right now, we’re dealing with a lot and I know for so many of you those concerns are compounded because you have little ones to keep safe and healthy (and even entertained) during this incredibly tense and scary time. Last week, I put together a list of light-hearted horror and sci-fi films that you can stream right now as you stay safely within the confines of your homes (you can read that list Here), and today, I’ve put together this massive streaming resource that I’ve cultivated with the younger genre fans out there in mind (especially if they’re not quite ready to make the leap to more “grown-up horror or sci-fi” just yet).
I tried to make sure to pull a sampling of shows and movies that would work for those of you who may have access to pay services like Netflix, Amazon Prime,...
I tried to make sure to pull a sampling of shows and movies that would work for those of you who may have access to pay services like Netflix, Amazon Prime,...
- 3/20/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Annecy, France — Paramount Animation’s presentation of “Wonder Park” at the Annecy Festival packed a large interest. It was the first Annecy for DreamWorks Animation veteran Mireille Soria since she was appointed president of Paramount Animation by Jim Gianapaolos in July 2017. People were keen to know what she’d say about where she wanted to take the division.
Also, after several years absent from most international events, Spain animation made an impressive splash at March’s Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux. The big film missing there was Paramount Animation’s “Wonder Park,” whose animation vendor and co-producer – along with Nickelodeon Movies – was Madrid’s Ilion Animation Studios. Clips of “Wonder Park” and a song featured at cinema.con. But Annecy’s sneak peek promised a far deeper drill down.
Production on “Wonder Park” was initiated in September 2014, nearly three years before Mireille Soria took over at Paramount Animation. As it turned out,...
Also, after several years absent from most international events, Spain animation made an impressive splash at March’s Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux. The big film missing there was Paramount Animation’s “Wonder Park,” whose animation vendor and co-producer – along with Nickelodeon Movies – was Madrid’s Ilion Animation Studios. Clips of “Wonder Park” and a song featured at cinema.con. But Annecy’s sneak peek promised a far deeper drill down.
Production on “Wonder Park” was initiated in September 2014, nearly three years before Mireille Soria took over at Paramount Animation. As it turned out,...
- 6/13/2018
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“All my friends have worked with the Muppets. Everybody I know has done a thing with the Muppets and I always felt a little bit left out,” Michael Caine told Et in 1992 on the set of The Muppet Christmas Carol, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. “But they only did half-hour television shows and I got to do a two-hour movie, so it's great.”
While Caine donned the trademark robes and night cap to portray Ebenezer Scrooge, the reimagining of the Charles Dickens classic also featured Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Fozzie as Mr. Fozziewig (modified from Fezziwig), Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit and Gonzo as Dickens, who hilariously narrates the story with Rizzo the Rat. Despite the recognizable names and faces, some voices of the characters would sound a little different to Muppet fans.
Two years prior, at the happiest place on Earth, no less, there was excitement for a new partnership and the creative...
While Caine donned the trademark robes and night cap to portray Ebenezer Scrooge, the reimagining of the Charles Dickens classic also featured Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Fozzie as Mr. Fozziewig (modified from Fezziwig), Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit and Gonzo as Dickens, who hilariously narrates the story with Rizzo the Rat. Despite the recognizable names and faces, some voices of the characters would sound a little different to Muppet fans.
Two years prior, at the happiest place on Earth, no less, there was excitement for a new partnership and the creative...
- 12/11/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Nick Aldwinckle Jun 5, 2017
We round up the latest horror-tinged Blu-ray and DVD releases....
So, after a brief hiatus, it turns out a lot’s happened in the few months between these round ups. A snap general election has been called, terror has struck at the heart of Manchester and a scandal approaching Watergate levels has hit the U.S presidency. More importantly, Troll 2 has finally come to UK Netflix and is the cherry on the cake made entirely of a series of kind of wonderful, kind of… not films on DVD and Bluray.
So, 1990’s Troll 2, you may or may not be aware of, is generally regarded as one of the very greatest 'so bad it’s good' movies. There are many worse (The Rollerblade Seven or Gary Oldman little person rom-com Tiptoes come to mind), though it’s difficult to think of many other truly awful movies...
We round up the latest horror-tinged Blu-ray and DVD releases....
So, after a brief hiatus, it turns out a lot’s happened in the few months between these round ups. A snap general election has been called, terror has struck at the heart of Manchester and a scandal approaching Watergate levels has hit the U.S presidency. More importantly, Troll 2 has finally come to UK Netflix and is the cherry on the cake made entirely of a series of kind of wonderful, kind of… not films on DVD and Bluray.
So, 1990’s Troll 2, you may or may not be aware of, is generally regarded as one of the very greatest 'so bad it’s good' movies. There are many worse (The Rollerblade Seven or Gary Oldman little person rom-com Tiptoes come to mind), though it’s difficult to think of many other truly awful movies...
- 6/1/2017
- Den of Geek
16 years ago today was (arguably) the beginning of the modern superhero movie era. Even if you give that distinction to Spider-Man or Iron Man, it’s undeniable that the first X-Men movie paved the way for the proliferation of caped heroes in Hollywood today. In 2000, the only other superhero movies released were negatively received comedies The Specials and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV, and M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable — a superhero movie in a time before they could be baldfaced superhero movies. Now, everyone wants in on the superhero genre, which is now producing the buzziest and most lucrative blockbusters of 2016. The ninth and most recent X-Men movie, Apocalypse, ultimately delivered disappointing numbers in the ever-more-crowded superhero line-up, but that didn’t stop Fox from ordering a pilot for what looks to be a series based in the X-Men world. Other notable July 14 happenings in pop culture history: • 1966:...
- 7/14/2016
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
The opening credits to The Muppets is just a title card — black text on a white background, underscored by a xylophone rendition of the “it’s time to get things started” from The Muppet Show theme song. It’s totally fine, but remember the Muppets Show theme song? How about Muppet Babies? Oh man, remember the music from the movies? Two episodes in, and that kind of disappointed nostalgia is where I stand on The Muppets in general. It’s fun. It’s watchable. But why watch anything else when you could rewatch The Muppet Movie for the gazillionth time instead?To be fair, it’s not The Muppets’ creators’ fault that, two episodes into a mockumentary-style network sitcom, they’ve been unable to capture the magic of “The Rainbow Connection.” And the Muppets haven’t been an unmitigated success on every outing. (Okay, I am just talking about Muppets From Space here.
- 9/30/2015
- by Jenny Jaffe
- Vulture
The 1980s were a magical time, a time when you could make a movie about a private investigator reincarnated as a dog to avoid going to hell. And now it turns out that one of Chevy Chase.s most bizarre movies, Oh! Heavenly Dog, is getting remade. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox 2000 is ramping up development on a new version of Oh! Heavenly Dog. Tim Hill, who re-launched the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise back in 2007, and helped develop SpongeBob Squarepants, is in line to direct the remake. Dave Johnson will handle the scripting duties, and Temple Hill, the production company behind The Maze Runner franchise, will handle that side of things. As Hill is also responsible for the likes of Muppets from Space, Garfield 2, and the Easter Bunny comedy Hop, so it feels like we.re in for a live-action/animation hybrid when the revamped Oh! Heavenly Dog...
- 8/31/2015
- cinemablend.com
From The Craft and The Birds to The Fugitive and She's All That, the many film reboots and remakes currently in the works...
Over the years that Den Of Geek has been going, we've regularly been charting the assortment of reboots and remakes that are making their way through the Hollywood system. This, then, is the current state of play. We've removed a bunch of projects that seem utterly dead - the once mooted remakes of Videodrome and Timecrimes, for instance - but we'll keep this list up to date as and when we hear of more.
Without further ado, here's what's coming up...
Akira
One of Hollywood's most on and off projects, the current state of the live action Akira remake is that it's back in the works. Marco J Ramirez, the showrunner for season 2 of Netflix's Daredevil show, has been hired to pen a screenplay. Warner Bros is still backing the film,...
Over the years that Den Of Geek has been going, we've regularly been charting the assortment of reboots and remakes that are making their way through the Hollywood system. This, then, is the current state of play. We've removed a bunch of projects that seem utterly dead - the once mooted remakes of Videodrome and Timecrimes, for instance - but we'll keep this list up to date as and when we hear of more.
Without further ado, here's what's coming up...
Akira
One of Hollywood's most on and off projects, the current state of the live action Akira remake is that it's back in the works. Marco J Ramirez, the showrunner for season 2 of Netflix's Daredevil show, has been hired to pen a screenplay. Warner Bros is still backing the film,...
- 8/19/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Though Lionsgate hasn't officially begun moving on a fourth "The Expendables" movie yet, franchise star Sylvester Stallone revealed back in March that he's already made initial plans with one of them being a return to the R rating of the first two films.
We know Stallone will be back as Barney Ross, but today comes word of a potential new cast member - pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. During a Q&A session at the Body Power Expo in Birmingham, Hogan dropped a tease that he and Stallone have been in touch about him potentially playing a villain in the film:
"We're trying to figure out a way to maybe turn me into the most evil man in the world. Y'know, Stallone gave me my first break and he's been a great friend. We had a great conversation, talking about the possibilities. Can I still run, can I still jump?...
We know Stallone will be back as Barney Ross, but today comes word of a potential new cast member - pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. During a Q&A session at the Body Power Expo in Birmingham, Hogan dropped a tease that he and Stallone have been in touch about him potentially playing a villain in the film:
"We're trying to figure out a way to maybe turn me into the most evil man in the world. Y'know, Stallone gave me my first break and he's been a great friend. We had a great conversation, talking about the possibilities. Can I still run, can I still jump?...
- 5/26/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
We’ve reviewed every summer movie season since 1980 to find out which are the best, and which are the worst. Last week we posted our picks for the worst, and here we post our picks for the best.
2015 and 2016 may just be the most overthetop summer movie seasons yet. It seems like nearly every movie slated for a summer 2015 or 2016 release is heavily anticipated. Because of these impending summers of movie awesomeness, we’ve decided to take a look back at summer movie seasons of years past. The idea of the summer movie season is currently in full swing, but it didn’t catch on immediately. Hollywood had to do its fair share of experimenting to determine what types of films would be most successful. As a result, some summer movie seasons have been better than others. We’ve reviewed them all for you and ranked them from worst to best.
2015 and 2016 may just be the most overthetop summer movie seasons yet. It seems like nearly every movie slated for a summer 2015 or 2016 release is heavily anticipated. Because of these impending summers of movie awesomeness, we’ve decided to take a look back at summer movie seasons of years past. The idea of the summer movie season is currently in full swing, but it didn’t catch on immediately. Hollywood had to do its fair share of experimenting to determine what types of films would be most successful. As a result, some summer movie seasons have been better than others. We’ve reviewed them all for you and ranked them from worst to best.
- 9/15/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (G.S. Perno)
- Cinelinx
Our continuing look back at some of the biggest summers we've lived through takes us back 15 years to one of the best recent movie seasons overall. In honor of the 2014 summer movie season, Team HitFix will be delivering a mini-series of articles flashing back to key summers from years past. There will be one each month, diving into the marquee events of the era, their impact on the writer and their implications on today's multiplex culture. We continue today with a look back at the summer of 1999. It was the summer I became Moriarty. To be fair, I had been contributing to Ain't It Cool for a little while already by that point, and I had been slowly but surely embracing the potential of the website and the audience that I was reaching. I had already taken a few trips to Austin, including a memorable stay at the third Quentin Tarantino Film Festival,...
- 8/7/2014
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
This past Friday saw the UK cinema release of Muppets Most Wanted, directed by James Bobin and starring Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and, of course, those lovable Muppets. This movie marks the 8th theatrical released Muppet movie in the last 35 years, and their creation dates back over half a century. Despite this, The Muppets seem to be as popular as ever, with 2011’s The Muppets drawing $165M at the worldwide box office.
How, after so many years, and numerous ups and downs, are the Muppets still seeing such success? What is it about The Muppets that has made them the most enduring ensemble cast in cinematic history?
The first, and maybe most important, element of The Muppets’ continuing success has to be their creator, Jim Henson. When Henson created these lovable characters, he imbued them with perhaps his most valuable trait. Positivity. In a world where negative emotions and opinions...
How, after so many years, and numerous ups and downs, are the Muppets still seeing such success? What is it about The Muppets that has made them the most enduring ensemble cast in cinematic history?
The first, and maybe most important, element of The Muppets’ continuing success has to be their creator, Jim Henson. When Henson created these lovable characters, he imbued them with perhaps his most valuable trait. Positivity. In a world where negative emotions and opinions...
- 4/2/2014
- by Barry Steele
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Muppets make their triumphant big screen return this week in Muppets Most Wanted, a continental caper that sees Ricky Gervais's villainous Dominic Badguy (it's pronounced Bad-gee!) and Kermit's evil doppelgänger Constantine use the gang as cover for a series of elaborate heists.
With that in mind, Digital Spy staff reminisce about their favourite Muppets below. Scroll down further to cast your vote in our poll and have a say in the comments thread.
Statler and Waldorf - Catriona Wightman, Entertainment Editor
Inside, we're all grumpy old men - which is why Statler and Waldorf are the best thing about the Muppets. Their balcony-based banter never fails to amuse, even when their jokes are pretty much terrible ("They aren't half bad", "Nope, they're all bad").
Statler and Waldorf - and Waldorf's wife Astoria, who's basically Statler in a dress - say what we're all thinking, never fail to be terribly rude,...
With that in mind, Digital Spy staff reminisce about their favourite Muppets below. Scroll down further to cast your vote in our poll and have a say in the comments thread.
Statler and Waldorf - Catriona Wightman, Entertainment Editor
Inside, we're all grumpy old men - which is why Statler and Waldorf are the best thing about the Muppets. Their balcony-based banter never fails to amuse, even when their jokes are pretty much terrible ("They aren't half bad", "Nope, they're all bad").
Statler and Waldorf - and Waldorf's wife Astoria, who's basically Statler in a dress - say what we're all thinking, never fail to be terribly rude,...
- 3/28/2014
- Digital Spy
Divergent was dauntless at the box office this weekend, easily winning the top spot with an estimated $56 million. Meanwhile, the Muppets failed to take multiplexes in Muppets Most Wanted, earning $16.5 million, and the faith-based indie God’s Not Dead inspired an awesome $8.6 million from just 780 theaters.
Starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James as rebels in a dystopian future, the PG-13 action film Divergent aimed for the same moviegoers who gave The Hunger Games a surprise $152.5 million opening weekend in March, 2012. With a $56 million debut, Divergent didn’t reach those heights — and even fell slightly below the predictions of some analysts,...
Starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James as rebels in a dystopian future, the PG-13 action film Divergent aimed for the same moviegoers who gave The Hunger Games a surprise $152.5 million opening weekend in March, 2012. With a $56 million debut, Divergent didn’t reach those heights — and even fell slightly below the predictions of some analysts,...
- 3/23/2014
- by Adam Markovitz
- EW - Inside Movies
It's been decades since visionary Jim Henson first created the Muppets, yet today his lovable creations are as popular as ever.
But for as much time as the Muppets have spent in the spotlight, there's still a lot you don't know about Henson's clever creations. From the first national Muppet "star" to the materials that created the Kermit prototype, here are 19 things you probably don't know about The Muppets.
1. Jim Henson created The Muppets in 1955, making them nearly 60 years old!
2. Henson coined the term "Muppet," but it is not a combination of the words "marionette" and "puppet" -- a belief that was once supported by Henson himself. Rather, it has been reported that Henson just liked the sound of the word.
3. A key factor for the Muppets success is that Henson's realization that TV would allow him to put the puppets front and center, while still hiding the puppeteers. With...
But for as much time as the Muppets have spent in the spotlight, there's still a lot you don't know about Henson's clever creations. From the first national Muppet "star" to the materials that created the Kermit prototype, here are 19 things you probably don't know about The Muppets.
1. Jim Henson created The Muppets in 1955, making them nearly 60 years old!
2. Henson coined the term "Muppet," but it is not a combination of the words "marionette" and "puppet" -- a belief that was once supported by Henson himself. Rather, it has been reported that Henson just liked the sound of the word.
3. A key factor for the Muppets success is that Henson's realization that TV would allow him to put the puppets front and center, while still hiding the puppeteers. With...
- 3/21/2014
- by Jonny Black
- Moviefone
If you want to make a grown man cry, all you have to do is bring up "Rainbow Connection." Few characters carry the cultural cache of the Muppets, who have been delighting children and moving adults for nearly 40 years. Jim Henson's genius creations made it okay to love talking animals made out of cloth and, more importantly, they starred in countless hours of entertainment that bridges the entertainment gap between kids and their parents. With the gang returning in Muppets Most Wanted, it's time to do what any Muppet fan worth his salt is probably doing already: obsessively rank all of their theatrical adventures from worst to best. (Note: Muppets Most Wanted will be added to the ranking on Friday.) 7. Muppets from Space (1999) Although not nearly...
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- 3/21/2014
- by Jacob S. Hall
- Movies.com
The Muppets are back, and if early reviews are any indication "Muppets Most Wanted" ranks up there with the best from those lovable, Jim Henson created fuzzy puppets. But just where will "Most Wanted" fall when all is said and done? Here's the definitive ranking of every Muppet movie, ever: 7. "Muppets From Space" The first entirely original Muppet movie after the unfortunate death of Henson, "Muppets From Space" isn't bad — it's just forgettable. ...
By Alex Zalben...
By Alex Zalben...
- 3/20/2014
- MTV Movie News
As a professional film critic -- whatever that may be -- I have a handful of concrete rules by which I ply my ostensible trade, and not reviewing films by or heavily involving close friends is one of them. Which presents a bit of a problem when tasked with writing about any given Muppet movie. No, I can't claim I've ever knocked back a beer with Kermit the Frog, gone shopping with Miss Piggy or got close to any of the cloth-skinned crowd without the dividing wall of a television screen between us, but damn it if I don't feel closer to them than I do to any number of human names in my address book. Growing up, I knew their vaudeville numbers inside out. I'd record the umpteenth rerun of even the Crystal Gayle episode with completist's excitement. And I treasured my Kermit toothbrush until the bristles began falling out,...
- 3/19/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
John Henson, the son of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson, died of a sudden massive heart attack on Friday while at home with his daughter. He was only 48 years old. Henson, like his parents, was a puppeteer. He served as a board member of The Jim Henson Company and was behind the ogre character Sweetums. His credits include "Muppets From Space," "Muppet Treasure Island" and "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie." The Muppets have recently returned to the spotlight, thanks to the "The Muppets" and "Muppets Most Wanted" films and a series of Super Bowl commercials. Henson's father, Jim, also died at a young age. He was only 53 when he passed away from pneumonia in 1990.
- 2/16/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
John Henson, the 48-year-old son of late Muppets genius Jim Henson, died of a "sudden massive heart attack" on Friday.
Henson's death was confirmed by The Jim Henson Company on Saturday, which posted the news of his passing to the company's official Facebook page.
Henson, like his father, Jim, and mother, Jane, was a puppeteer. His credits include work on "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie," "Muppets From Space," and "Muppet Treasure Island." He was best known for being puppeteer behind the larger-than-life character "Sweetums."
Henson is survived by daughters Katrina and Sydney, and wife Gyongyi, as well as siblings Lisa, Cheryl, Brian, and Heather. A private service is currently being planned.
Henson's death was confirmed by The Jim Henson Company on Saturday, which posted the news of his passing to the company's official Facebook page.
Henson, like his father, Jim, and mother, Jane, was a puppeteer. His credits include work on "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie," "Muppets From Space," and "Muppet Treasure Island." He was best known for being puppeteer behind the larger-than-life character "Sweetums."
Henson is survived by daughters Katrina and Sydney, and wife Gyongyi, as well as siblings Lisa, Cheryl, Brian, and Heather. A private service is currently being planned.
- 2/15/2014
- by Tim Hayne
- Moviefone
And to think, at one time there were skeptics who claimed that a Muppet film couldn’t be done! That only humans could star in successful films! Boy, did Jim Henson and co. prove them wrong! The Muppet Movie was a huge hit in 1979 and spawned decades of sequels. Now it is available in a Blu-ray/Digital combo pack that is loaded with terrific extras.
The Muppet Movie is essentially a road movie. After meeting a Hollywood agent and learning that a big film studio is holding auditions, Kermit the Frog hits the highway, picking up various friends on the way. First he meets Fozzie Bear, telling jokes in a nasty cafe. Then they meet Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and then Gonzo and his chicken friend Camilla, and then the incomparable Miss Piggy, and finally Rowlf the Dog. All of these guys decide to head for Tinseltown to hit the big time.
The Muppet Movie is essentially a road movie. After meeting a Hollywood agent and learning that a big film studio is holding auditions, Kermit the Frog hits the highway, picking up various friends on the way. First he meets Fozzie Bear, telling jokes in a nasty cafe. Then they meet Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and then Gonzo and his chicken friend Camilla, and then the incomparable Miss Piggy, and finally Rowlf the Dog. All of these guys decide to head for Tinseltown to hit the big time.
- 8/19/2013
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The actor talks about his hitman role in his new film The Iceman, the Brad Pitt 'joke' that misfired – and his happy reunion with The Muppets
Hey Ray, thanks for talking so early. Why 7:30am?
I get up at six to work out. I've done it since school, it's always been part of my life. It's a good way to take the edge off. I like getting up early; I've got a daughter, I'm a single dad.
Ok. So, The Iceman. Your guy Roy (1) had enough on to fill his own film.
Yeah, he lived a colourful life himself, there are books about him. He was just as intense as Kuklinksi (2) was.
Roy was out chopping up bodies and stashing them all over town.
Yeah, they say he was on the ground floor of that, whether he was the first, I don't know, but that was something he was doing.
Hey Ray, thanks for talking so early. Why 7:30am?
I get up at six to work out. I've done it since school, it's always been part of my life. It's a good way to take the edge off. I like getting up early; I've got a daughter, I'm a single dad.
Ok. So, The Iceman. Your guy Roy (1) had enough on to fill his own film.
Yeah, he lived a colourful life himself, there are books about him. He was just as intense as Kuklinksi (2) was.
Roy was out chopping up bodies and stashing them all over town.
Yeah, they say he was on the ground floor of that, whether he was the first, I don't know, but that was something he was doing.
- 6/6/2013
- by Alex Godfrey
- The Guardian - Film News
All of the week's hot casting news in one fell swoop ...
• Great news for Ya fans! Kate Winslet is in talks to join Shailene Woodley in "Divergent," the screen adaptation of Veronica Roth's dystopian novel set to hit theaters on March 21, 2014. Winslet's is also set for Alan Rickman's period drama "A Little Chaos," which follows rival landscape gardeners both commissioned to create a fountain at Versailles by Louis Xiv [Variety / The Playlist
• Joaquin Phoenix will reunite with his "The Master" director Paul Thomas Anderson for "Inherent Vice," the screen adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's crime novel set in 1969 Los Angeles that chronicles the attempts of private detective and marijuana enthusiast 'Doc' Sportello to get to the bottom of a convoluted mystery. [Yahoo! Movies]
• Rosario Dawson is, indeed, the "Queen of the Night." The "Sin City" beauty is joining Ryan Reynolds in the Atom Egoyan-directed crime thriller about a father who discovers his...
• Great news for Ya fans! Kate Winslet is in talks to join Shailene Woodley in "Divergent," the screen adaptation of Veronica Roth's dystopian novel set to hit theaters on March 21, 2014. Winslet's is also set for Alan Rickman's period drama "A Little Chaos," which follows rival landscape gardeners both commissioned to create a fountain at Versailles by Louis Xiv [Variety / The Playlist
• Joaquin Phoenix will reunite with his "The Master" director Paul Thomas Anderson for "Inherent Vice," the screen adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's crime novel set in 1969 Los Angeles that chronicles the attempts of private detective and marijuana enthusiast 'Doc' Sportello to get to the bottom of a convoluted mystery. [Yahoo! Movies]
• Rosario Dawson is, indeed, the "Queen of the Night." The "Sin City" beauty is joining Ryan Reynolds in the Atom Egoyan-directed crime thriller about a father who discovers his...
- 1/25/2013
- by NextMovie Staff
- NextMovie
With Ricky Gervais replacing Jason Segel and a storyline that calls to mind Eurotrip, the portents don't look promising
The last Muppets film wasn't just a great Muppets film, it was a great film full stop. It was funny, charming, quietly subversive and, unusually for a musical, full of songs that didn't make you want to fling yourself down a flight of concrete steps as a misguided act of protest. During the screening I attended, I saw grown men crying with happiness. Cynical film critics, weeping like children at puppets on a screen. It takes something pretty special for that to happen. Which is why I don't much care for the uneasy feeling I'm already starting to get about its sequel.
It's been common knowledge for a while that Jason Segel – the star and co-writer of The Muppets, as well as the engineer of their return – wouldn't be involved in another Muppets film.
The last Muppets film wasn't just a great Muppets film, it was a great film full stop. It was funny, charming, quietly subversive and, unusually for a musical, full of songs that didn't make you want to fling yourself down a flight of concrete steps as a misguided act of protest. During the screening I attended, I saw grown men crying with happiness. Cynical film critics, weeping like children at puppets on a screen. It takes something pretty special for that to happen. Which is why I don't much care for the uneasy feeling I'm already starting to get about its sequel.
It's been common knowledge for a while that Jason Segel – the star and co-writer of The Muppets, as well as the engineer of their return – wouldn't be involved in another Muppets film.
- 1/24/2013
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
What is Casting Couch? Today it’s the casting roundup with news about a talking raccoon, a frog puppet, a famous dog, a beautiful woman, and David Hasselhoff’s shorts. So far Marvel’s next big thing, The Guardians of the Galaxy, has been a great source of casting rumors, but not yet a generator of any casting confirmations. We’ve heard about a bevy of actors who might play Star-Lord, a handful who might be Drax the Destroyer, and now the Latino Review is reporting that director James Gunn and company are reaching out to both Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler to inquire about their availability for the film. What roles might they play? Perhaps they could provide the voices for either the big tree guy, Groot, or the little raccoon guy, Rocket Raccoon. I mean, it would just be too weird if either of them actually showed up playing a live action role, wouldn...
- 1/24/2013
- by Nathan Adams
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Looks like Ray Liotta is returning to Muppetland. The veteran actor is the latest addition to the Muppets sequel rumored to be titled The Muppets… Again. Liotta joins Tina Fey, Ty Burrell and Ricky Gervais among the human cast for the film which is set to begin production later this year. Liotta was among the ensemble cast in Muppets From Space. Additionally, Christoph Waltz, who had been up for one of the lead roles teased that he could possibly cameo in a song-and-dance number with Miss Piggy. The Muppets… Again, or whatever they end up calling it, arrives in theaters March 21, 2014. Speaking of Waltz, the two-time Oscar nominee (and Supporting Actor winner for Inglorious Basterds) is currently starring in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Now...
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- 1/23/2013
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
1.) Even though The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo came out just a little over a year ago, it seems like we've been waiting forever for confirmation on David Fincher's next film. Well, that project may have arrived as Fincher is in talks to direct Fox's adaptation of "amazon asin="030758836X" text="Gone Girl"", the Gillian Flynn novel that has sold 2 million copies to date. The dark, mysterious story tells of a woman who goes missing on the day of her fifth wedding anniversary. So yeah, it sounds like a Fincher movie already. Fincher is also still attached to direct Disney's long-gestating 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea remake, so it's anyone's guess which film he makes first. Fincher has recently been looking for other projects in the case 20,000 Leagues falls through or suffers further delays from the studio's end, and it seems Gone Girl is the first to gain serious attention.
- 1/23/2013
- by Kevin Blumeyer
- Rope of Silicon
Ray Liotta who made a cameo appearance in 1999s Muppets From Space, playing the security guard at C.O.V.N.E.T. who refuses to let Miss Piggy through, is the latest actor to join the human cast of The Muppets 2.
Liotta has signed on for an unspecified role.
We already know that Ricky Gervais has the lead role in the follow-up to The Muppets, with James Bobin back directing, and he’s being joined by Tina Fey and Ty Burrell.
Bobin also co-wrote it with Nicholas Stoller who wrote the 2011 revival of Jim Henson’s creations with Jason Segel.
Production starts in London this month in order to be ready for its March 21, 2014 release date.
Liotta, who just joined the cast of Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, got beat up in Killing Them Softly last year, alongside Brad Pitt. The actor will soon...
Liotta has signed on for an unspecified role.
We already know that Ricky Gervais has the lead role in the follow-up to The Muppets, with James Bobin back directing, and he’s being joined by Tina Fey and Ty Burrell.
Bobin also co-wrote it with Nicholas Stoller who wrote the 2011 revival of Jim Henson’s creations with Jason Segel.
Production starts in London this month in order to be ready for its March 21, 2014 release date.
Liotta, who just joined the cast of Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, got beat up in Killing Them Softly last year, alongside Brad Pitt. The actor will soon...
- 1/23/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
News Simon Brew Jan 23, 2013
After a brief appearance in Muppets From Space, Ray Liotta has now signed up for The Muppets 2...
Production has now begun on the follow-up to the quite terrific The Muppets, with James Bobin back directing. We already know that Ricky Gervais has the lead role in the movie, and he's being joined by Tina Fey and Ty Burrell. But a new piece of casting news has also just landed.
And it's this: Ray Liotta is the latest to sign up to the new Muppets movie, although exactly what his role is going to be is, as yet, unclear. Liotta does have form with the Muppets though, having appeared briefly in the best-forgotten Muppets From Space.
The new Muppets film is due in cinemas in March 2014. We're rather looking forward to it.
Variety.
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
After a brief appearance in Muppets From Space, Ray Liotta has now signed up for The Muppets 2...
Production has now begun on the follow-up to the quite terrific The Muppets, with James Bobin back directing. We already know that Ricky Gervais has the lead role in the movie, and he's being joined by Tina Fey and Ty Burrell. But a new piece of casting news has also just landed.
And it's this: Ray Liotta is the latest to sign up to the new Muppets movie, although exactly what his role is going to be is, as yet, unclear. Liotta does have form with the Muppets though, having appeared briefly in the best-forgotten Muppets From Space.
The new Muppets film is due in cinemas in March 2014. We're rather looking forward to it.
Variety.
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
- 1/23/2013
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Ray Liotta will reunite with his Muppet buddies in Disney’s sequel. He’s the latest actor to join the film.
The actor previously made an appearance in 1999′s Muppets From Space, but his character in this coming sequel is a mystery.
The Muppets 2 already includes Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell and maybe, if we’re lucky, Christoph Waltz. James Bobin is returning as director, and he also wrote the script for the film with Nick Stoller. These cuties and comedians will arrive in theaters March 21, 2014.
Last year, Liotta got beat up in Killing Them Softly, which also starred Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini. This year you’ll see him threaten to kill Michael Shannon in The Iceman, and also in Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond The Pines, with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper yo! He also recently signed on for a role in Frank Miller and...
The actor previously made an appearance in 1999′s Muppets From Space, but his character in this coming sequel is a mystery.
The Muppets 2 already includes Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell and maybe, if we’re lucky, Christoph Waltz. James Bobin is returning as director, and he also wrote the script for the film with Nick Stoller. These cuties and comedians will arrive in theaters March 21, 2014.
Last year, Liotta got beat up in Killing Them Softly, which also starred Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini. This year you’ll see him threaten to kill Michael Shannon in The Iceman, and also in Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond The Pines, with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper yo! He also recently signed on for a role in Frank Miller and...
- 1/23/2013
- by Laura Frances
- LRMonline.com
Ray Liotta has joined James Bobin's Muppets sequel, definitely making this Liotta's most gleeful moment since the time he got cast in 1999's Muppets from Space. No details on the role yet, but Liotta will join Ty Burrell, Ricky Gervais, and probably Tina Fey. It sounds like a pretty amazing time. Do you guys think Brett McKenzie just hangs out on set and works on hilarious songs? Don't you think Gonzo must be awesome in real life?...
- 1/23/2013
- by Zach Dionne
- Vulture
For those who don't remember, Ray Liotta had a role as a gate guard in Muppets from Space. It was quite the lighthearted role compared to what we're used to seeing from the GoodFellas and Killing Them Softly star, but now Variety has word he'll reunite with Kermit and the gang in The Muppets sequel from director James Bobin co-wrote it with Nicholas Stoller (who wrote the 2011 revival of Jim Henson's creations with Jason Segel). Liotta's role is being kept under wraps (we're doubting it's the same character from before), as is the plot, but we know it's set in Europe, involves a caper, and shoots later this month. Liotta (who also just joined the cast of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) joins an interesting assembly of comedic talent with Ricky Gervais in the male lead, Tina Fey playing a Russian gulag prison guard (said to be...
- 1/23/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Variety reports that Ray Liotta, who actually made a brief appearance as a guard in 1999's Muppets From Space, has joined the cast of James Bobin's The Muppets sequel. His role in the sequel (which was penned by Bobin and Nicholas Stoller) is being kept under wraps at the moment. Not a lot is known about the film right now, although it has been revealed that it will take place in Europe. Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Ty Burrell have also recently signed up to star. Below are a couple of Tweets from the former about his early experiences on the set of the highly anticipated sequel. Omgi'm The Lead In The Next Muppet Movie!!!!!Hurray for Hollywood..& Frogs. & Pigs. & other things I'm not sure about. Best Year Ever!— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 16, 2013 Best day ever recording big song & dance number for The Muppet Movie. Boy, that frog can...
- 1/22/2013
- ComicBookMovie.com
Ray Liotta will reunite with the Muppets for the sequel after appearing in 1999's Muppets from Space, reports Variety. James Bobin, helmer of the first film, will return to direct The Muppets 2 from a script he co-wrote with Nicholas Stoller. The sequel's set in Europe and also includes Tina Fey as a guard in a Russian prison (a gulag), Ricky Gervais and also Ty Burrell who's in as a lazy Interpol inspector. Who Liotta will play is yet to be revealed. Madneville's David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing The Muppets 2 with filming scheduled to begin this month in London, England. Liotta recently boarded Robert Rodriguez' eagerly-anticipated Sin City sequel called Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. He was last seen in the poorly received Brad Pitt starrer Killing Them Softly. He can be seen on March 29th in My Blue Valentine helmer Derek Cianfrance The Place Beyond the Pines...
- 1/22/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Ray Liotta will reunite with the Muppets for the sequel after appearing in 1999's Muppets from Space, reports Variety. James Bobin, helmer of the first film, will return to direct The Muppets 2 from a script he co-wrote with Nicholas Stoller. The sequel's set in Europe and also includes Tina Fey as a guard in a Russian prison (a gulag), Ricky Gervais and also Ty Burrell who's in as a lazy Interpol inspector. Who Liotta will play is yet to be revealed. Madneville's David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing The Muppets 2 with filming scheduled to begin this month in London, England. Liotta recently boarded Robert Rodriguez' eagerly-anticipated Sin City sequel called Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. He was last seen in the poorly received Brad Pitt starrer Killing Them Softly. He can be seen on March 29th in My Blue Valentine helmer Derek Cianfrance The Place Beyond the Pines...
- 1/22/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Ray Liotta is the latest name to join the cast of Walt Disney Pictures' soon-to-shoot sequel to 2011's The Muppets . Variety has the details, although Liotta's specific character remains a mystery. Liotta will join Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Ty Burrell in the March 21, 2014 release. The Muppets ' director James Bobin is returning for the sequel, writing alongside the also-returning Nick Stoller. Liotta, who previously made an appearance in 1999's Muppets From Space , appeared late last year in Killing Them Softly and recently signed on for a role in Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For . (Photo Credit: Brian To / WENN.com)...
- 1/22/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Feature Simon Brew Dec 27, 2012
Our countdown of our favourite films of 2012 arrives at the cinematic revival of The Muppets...
Soaring back onto the big screen for the first time since Muppets From Space, The Muppets finally made it to the UK in 2012. It was worth the wait. It's made it up this high in our top ten films of the year poll amongst our writers not necessarily by earning lots of first place placements, but instead by appearing on so many people's top five lists somewhere. Ladies and gentlemen, The Muppets...
6th place: The Muppets
The decision by Disney to keep the UK waiting an extra three months for the British release of The Muppets has had, you might have noticed, an unexpected side effect. Whilst the film is ostensibly a 2011 release, it didn't make it to the UK until February 2012. And given that our criteria for film of 2012 is...
Our countdown of our favourite films of 2012 arrives at the cinematic revival of The Muppets...
Soaring back onto the big screen for the first time since Muppets From Space, The Muppets finally made it to the UK in 2012. It was worth the wait. It's made it up this high in our top ten films of the year poll amongst our writers not necessarily by earning lots of first place placements, but instead by appearing on so many people's top five lists somewhere. Ladies and gentlemen, The Muppets...
6th place: The Muppets
The decision by Disney to keep the UK waiting an extra three months for the British release of The Muppets has had, you might have noticed, an unexpected side effect. Whilst the film is ostensibly a 2011 release, it didn't make it to the UK until February 2012. And given that our criteria for film of 2012 is...
- 12/22/2012
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Kermit and co's 1996 adventure beats Christmas Carol and 2011's lauded return as my official favourite Muppet film ever
It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights … it's time to watch back-to-back Muppets until the inside of my brain turns into blue felt.
I've always been a Muppet at heart so when I heard the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square was holding an all-day Muppet marathon, I got there quicker than the Great Gonzo shot from a cannon. Seven films were in the lineup (the TV movies were omitted) and the atmosphere in the room was buzzing. I have to admit I was jealous of the couple in Gonzo and Kermit hoodies (complete with a blue hooked nose on the hood, and green neck ruffle respectively). There were Fozzies in every cup holder, and Muppet-themed straws in every drink.
Watching so many Muppet films in quick...
It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights … it's time to watch back-to-back Muppets until the inside of my brain turns into blue felt.
I've always been a Muppet at heart so when I heard the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square was holding an all-day Muppet marathon, I got there quicker than the Great Gonzo shot from a cannon. Seven films were in the lineup (the TV movies were omitted) and the atmosphere in the room was buzzing. I have to admit I was jealous of the couple in Gonzo and Kermit hoodies (complete with a blue hooked nose on the hood, and green neck ruffle respectively). There were Fozzies in every cup holder, and Muppet-themed straws in every drink.
Watching so many Muppet films in quick...
- 8/24/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Scala Beyond, Nationwide
Fill the land with cinemas! Independent exhibitors get organised and sweep the nation in this refreshing initiative, uniting all corners of fringe film, from cult institutions (like the Scala itself, in its glory days) to pop-up cinemas and marginal movie clubs. More than 100 of them are involved in this six-week initiative, resulting in a bill of staggering, multiplex-averse variety: Manchester has a Turkish rip-off of Star Wars while Edinburgh has a screening of Eyes Without A Face in an anatomy theatre. Sheffield has Butch Cassidy in a bike shop while London's Roxy, the epicentre of the event, has a live score of John Carpenter's sci-fi classic Dark Star among others.
Various venues, Sat to 29 Aug
Frightfest, London
Like ravenous zombies to an all-you-can-eat brain barbecue, horror aficionados are irresistibly drawn to this annual film feast, where the great and the bad turn up in person to present their latest unsavoury offerings.
Fill the land with cinemas! Independent exhibitors get organised and sweep the nation in this refreshing initiative, uniting all corners of fringe film, from cult institutions (like the Scala itself, in its glory days) to pop-up cinemas and marginal movie clubs. More than 100 of them are involved in this six-week initiative, resulting in a bill of staggering, multiplex-averse variety: Manchester has a Turkish rip-off of Star Wars while Edinburgh has a screening of Eyes Without A Face in an anatomy theatre. Sheffield has Butch Cassidy in a bike shop while London's Roxy, the epicentre of the event, has a live score of John Carpenter's sci-fi classic Dark Star among others.
Various venues, Sat to 29 Aug
Frightfest, London
Like ravenous zombies to an all-you-can-eat brain barbecue, horror aficionados are irresistibly drawn to this annual film feast, where the great and the bad turn up in person to present their latest unsavoury offerings.
- 8/17/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
If you got up on the wrong side of the trash can this morning, this news might cheer you up.
According to "The Hollywood Reporter," 20th Century Fox has snagged the movie rights to "Sesame Street" and is lining up behind-the-scenes talent for a film.
The good news is that they've hired Joey Mazzarino to write the script. Mazzarino is a longtime denizen of "Sesame Street." He wrote 24 episodes from 1998 to 2007, directed 13, and is also one of the puppeteers. He's won two Emmys, one for writing and one for directing.
And he co-wrote "Muppets from Space," which had Ray Liotta, Jeffrey Tambor, and Hulk Hogan in it, as well as Frank Oz manning the Muppets.
While it doesn't seem like they've picked out a director, Shawn Levy is on board as one of the producers.
We're sorta hoping that his packed schedule will mean he will be too busy to...
According to "The Hollywood Reporter," 20th Century Fox has snagged the movie rights to "Sesame Street" and is lining up behind-the-scenes talent for a film.
The good news is that they've hired Joey Mazzarino to write the script. Mazzarino is a longtime denizen of "Sesame Street." He wrote 24 episodes from 1998 to 2007, directed 13, and is also one of the puppeteers. He's won two Emmys, one for writing and one for directing.
And he co-wrote "Muppets from Space," which had Ray Liotta, Jeffrey Tambor, and Hulk Hogan in it, as well as Frank Oz manning the Muppets.
While it doesn't seem like they've picked out a director, Shawn Levy is on board as one of the producers.
We're sorta hoping that his packed schedule will mean he will be too busy to...
- 6/20/2012
- by Jenni Miller
- NextMovie
Tim Hill has come to represent a name studios can trust when it comes to family entertainment. His directorial credits include Muppets from Space, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, the first Alvin and the Chipmunks and Hop. So when the writer-director . whose credits also include the massively successful SpongeBob SquarePants franchise . announces plans for a family comedy titled Playdate, you can understand why studios would be willing to take a chance on the project. Hill will write and direct this new effort for 20th Century Fox, according to Deadline. Plot details are being held close to the vest, though it is being revealed that Hill will co-write his treatment with Dave Johnson. The title suggests something that happens during a playdate, though that easily could be a bait-and-switch for any type of story, really. It.s too soon to guess. There.s very little guesswork when it comes to...
- 5/19/2012
- cinemablend.com
As if The Muppets needed more good news, what with the awesome film releasing today and so on, they got a star on the walk of fame. I know. They didn’t already have one?
Star Ceremony Held at Historic El Capital Theatre Coincides With the In-Home Release of “The Muppets” Available Today
The world-renowed Muppets received a star on the Hollywood Walk (“Wocka Wocka”) of Fame today from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in celebration of the release of Disney’s “The Muppets” on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD. The celebration was emceed by Chamber President and CEO Leron Gubler, with special guest speakers Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios and Lisa Henson, CEO, The Jim Henson Company. Several Muppets were on hand to receive the star including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal, Pepe, Sweetums, and Walter, the newest Muppet, who made his debut in Disney’s 2011 film.
Star Ceremony Held at Historic El Capital Theatre Coincides With the In-Home Release of “The Muppets” Available Today
The world-renowed Muppets received a star on the Hollywood Walk (“Wocka Wocka”) of Fame today from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in celebration of the release of Disney’s “The Muppets” on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD. The celebration was emceed by Chamber President and CEO Leron Gubler, with special guest speakers Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios and Lisa Henson, CEO, The Jim Henson Company. Several Muppets were on hand to receive the star including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal, Pepe, Sweetums, and Walter, the newest Muppet, who made his debut in Disney’s 2011 film.
- 3/20/2012
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
When it was announced that there would indeed be a new Muppet movie, I had equal feelings of elation and dread. I grew up on The Muppets, be it reruns of The Muppet Show, their first three feature films – The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan – or any number of television projects, like A Muppet Family Christmas, or even Muppet Babies, which still seemed to keep much of the magic that made the group so darned lovable. After the death of creator Jim Henson, there were ups (A Muppet Christmas Carol) and downs (Muppets from Space, The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz ). So it’s not hard to understand why many of us fans were more than a little skeptical about a new feature film. That being said, I was glad to find that The Muppets not only met, but also exceeded any expectations I had.
- 2/23/2012
- Shadowlocked
Has family cinema been utterly overtaken by CG animation, or do films such as The Muppets hold out hope for broader choice?
Some statistics for you.
Last year, The Smurfs movie, a hybrid of live action and CG animation, overcame generally not overly kind reviews to grab over half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. As did fully-cg fare such as Cars 2 and Puss In Boots, too. The Muppets, meanwhile, tucked up $87m in its Us run. Not a bad sum at all, but some way off the levels of a DreamWorks animated movie.
I can’t be the first to wonder it, and it’s a horrifying thought, but had Disney opted to make The Muppets as a CG film, would it have made more hard cash at the end of it all?
Thankfully, Disney held its nerve, and chose not to. And for the second time in a year,...
Some statistics for you.
Last year, The Smurfs movie, a hybrid of live action and CG animation, overcame generally not overly kind reviews to grab over half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. As did fully-cg fare such as Cars 2 and Puss In Boots, too. The Muppets, meanwhile, tucked up $87m in its Us run. Not a bad sum at all, but some way off the levels of a DreamWorks animated movie.
I can’t be the first to wonder it, and it’s a horrifying thought, but had Disney opted to make The Muppets as a CG film, would it have made more hard cash at the end of it all?
Thankfully, Disney held its nerve, and chose not to. And for the second time in a year,...
- 2/9/2012
- Den of Geek
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