He’s at it again. Michael Bay has been slated to direct the upcoming Transformers 5: The Last Knight. Due in June of 2017, it promises to be as exciting as the rest of the franchise. For the truly dedicated fans, we’ve rounded up seven interesting things you should know about the film:

1. The screenwriter is not Ehren Kruger as initially announced. Instead, it is Matt Holloway (the writer of Ironman). Additionally, Akiva Goldman, who is an Academy Award winning screenwriter is also said to be participating in the creation of the film’s script and story.

2. Optimus Prime remains. At least, the voice for Optimus Prime has been locked down and it will be the same voice actor as the rest of the franchise. Actor Peter Cullen has already committed to the film, while the rest of the characters are still being cast.

3. Mark Wahlberg returns too. Though Wahlberg had initially pooh-poohed the option to return as Cade Yeager when he learned Bay might not direct, he did sign on once Bay had also made it official. Isabela Moner has already been signed. Jerrod Carmichael (of Neighbors fame) is also being considered as one of the lead actors in the upcoming film, as is Stephen Merchant.

4. Steven Spielberg is participating. Signing on as an executive producer, alongside Bay, he will take a very active part in the film.

5. The trailer has caused a billion theories. Just a close up of Optimus Prime’s eyes, many worry that fans are about to see their favorite hero come up against the ultimate enemy – Nemesis Prime, or that Optimus is going to be somehow altered and corrupted. So many questions!

6. Megatron is back. Bay confirmed via Instagram that there will be a return of the Decepticon’s infamous leader Megatron in this upcoming film.

7. Combaticons are going to appear in this film, as well as new Autobots. Bay used his Twitter feed to let the world get a look at “Onslaught” one of the Combaticons slated to appear in the film. If you are unfamiliar with them, they typically take on the form of military vehicles and tend to be among the “bad guys”, working with Decepticons. Together, the Combaticons can unite to create the ultimate baddie – Bruticus.

8. BONUS: Something else to know about Transformers 5: The Last Knight is that June 2017 just seems to be getting farther away!

In addition to all of these interesting tidbits and teasers about the film, we also know that there are new video games and toys due to be released along with the film. One report said that “Paramount Pictures is about to sign an exclusive contract with a prominent video game producers based in Montreal to develop and launch the Transformers 5 video game simultaneously with a line of Transformer 5 toys”. The same report indicated that new Transformers will appear and have matching toys available.

Perhaps one of the most amazing bits of information relating to the film comes from Stephen Davis, the president of Hasbro Studios: “We decided we wanted to plot out the next ten years of the ‘Transformers’ franchise, and so we got together in a room over a three-month period of time, nine of some of the most creative writers I have ever worked with. So stay tuned: ‘Transformers 5’ is on its way, and 6 and 7 and 8.”
Well, that’s something we’re all happy to hear!

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The Justice League

Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager
Laura Haddock
Anthony Hopkins
Stanley Tucci as Joshua Joyce
John Goodman as Hound (voice)
Josh Duhamel as Lt. Colonel William Lennox
Ken Watanabe as Drift (voice)
Santiago Cabrera as Santos
Gil Birmingham as Chief Sherman
Isabela Moner as Izabella
Jean Dujardin (rumored)
Liam Garrigan as King Arthur

DC Films is set to release their answer to the Avengers with the upcoming film, the Justice League and we cannot wait for it to get here. If you’re hesitant to jump on the bandwagon after the lackluster Batman vs. Superman, just trust us, the producers have taken notes and this film is promising to be everything we had hoped its predecessor would be.

The Justice League is scheduled to release on November 17, 2017, in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D and will follow other DC Films such as Batman vs. Superman, Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman. This film will pick up a few months after Batman vs. Superman with Batman feeling remorse over Superman’s death and a newfound responsibility for his hero-status. After having a nightmare of impending doom, he gets his hands on Lex Luthor’s superhero files and assembles fellow heroes, Wonder Woman, Flash, AquaMan and Cyborg to defeat a yet-to-be-confirmed villain.

Also seen in Batman’s nightmare are hordes of parademons which will play a major antagonistic role in Justice League. Our heroes and villains are all trying to be the first to get their hands on the three Mother Boxes which were left in the care of the Amazonians, the Atlanteans and Mankind. Moviegoers will be introduced to the technology and parademons in a prologue as the movie begins. Producer, Deborah Snyder said, “Obviously with the Mother Boxes and then the hints from the other movie, you know, we are dealing with Apokoliptian technology and villains and we have kind of some visions, we’re always tweaking things.”

DC Films and director, Zack Snyder, recently released the official movie synopsis:
“Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes-Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash – it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.”

Returning Cast favorites and new members include:

Jeremy Irons as Alred Pennyworth: Bruce Wayne’s butler and chief of security.

Did you see Superman’s name and wonder why he’s included since he was killed by Doomsday in Batman vs. Superman? We did, too. However, he’s listed in all cast listings that we’ve seen so we know that he makes a return somehow. Fan theories suggest that Superman has been recovering in some kind of Kryptonian hibernation and will emerge ready for a fight. DC Films is staying mum on the subject so we can’t wait to see how this plot-twist takes shape.

Rumor has it that Steppenwolf will be the movie’s villain, however, that’s yet to be confirmed by DC Films. Supposedly, they’re still working out the details of an actor’s contract and, once that’s been nailed down, they’ll release the details. The character was introduced in a deleted scene from Batman vs. Superman, however, they’re re-casting the role so no major spoilers there.

Early reports of the film suggest that it has a much lighter feel to it than Batman vs. Superman. The introduction of younger characters, Flash and Cyborg, bring an entertaining aspect to scenes and Batman is said to be less moody this time around. We’re definitely looking forward to less dark rooms and brooding characters and more humor and brevity.

We can also expect to see new toys in the forms of vehicles and new-and-improved costumes. Batman will be cruising in an upgraded Batmobile and two new creations: The Flying Fox and the Nightcrawler. Wonder Woman’s suit has been tweaked for agility and color. Cyborg’s suit reacts when provoked by getting large. Batman has two suits that he rotates throughout the movie. But Flash takes the cake with a 148-piece costume! When he’s not wearing his extensive get-up, he has a cool pair of sneakers with the iconic flash symbol prominently displayed.

Filming is taking place in London through September and will then move to Los Angeles before wrapping up in October at an undisclosed location. Producers Debbie Snyder and Chuck Roven will then take over to polish scenes before the release in November 2017. At first, this was scheduled to be part one of a two-part installment with the sequel coming out in June of 2019. However, we’re now hearing reports that those plans have been scrapped and Justice League will be one full release. We’ll just have to wait and see as we get closer to opening day.

Overall, we have high hopes for Justice League. With an outstanding cast and a newly energized director, we think they’ll finally give Marvel a run for their money and movie-goers a new fan-favorite. Let the countdown to opening day begin!

With the country becoming more and more obsessed about true crime series, HBO is doing its part with “The Night Of.” Though it’s not based on actual events, the series is being commended for how real it feels. Here are 10 facts you should know about it.

Watch Now:

1. It’s based on a British series

Like a lot of successful American TV shows over the past decade, “The Night Of” is actually based on a series from Britain called Criminal Justice.

2. John Turturro wasn’t the first choice to star

Though Turturro has earned rave reviews for playing the part of attorney John Stone, the role was originally meant to go to the late James Gandolfini. He is still listed in the show’s credits as an executive producer. This is because the series was a passion project of Gandolfini who had filmed the pilot back in 2012.

3. The series co-creator has an unrivaled track record

If Gandolfini’s support for the show wasn’t enough, it definitely helped that its co-creator is Steve Zaillian, the writer behind acclaimed films like Shindler’s List, Moneyball and Gangs of New York. This is the first time he’s ever written for television.

4. So does Richard Price

The other co-creator is no slouch either. Richard Price has written novels like Clockers, Samaritan and Freedomland. He has written even more films including The Color of Money, Ransom and Shaft. Price even wrote for the critical darling, The Wire.

5. HBO has a lot riding on “The Night Of”

While “Game of Thrones” continues to be the undisputed champion of television, HBO needs another series to round out their offerings. The second season of “True Detective” was universally panned and “Vinyl” was canceled after just its first foray, so there’s a lot of pressure on “The Night Of” to win fans.

6. The show went through a few changes

The idea for adapting the British series has been around since 2009. Originally, it was supposed to be a show with multiple seasons, but HBO only granted it a limited mini-season.

7. Turturro compared it to “The Staircase”

Long before “Making a Murderer” captured the attention of an entire nation, a 2005 documentary called “The Staircase” followed another man accused of killing a woman who refused to admit any guilt. Turturro has drawn comparisons between this documentary and “The Night Of,” citing how both show the ramifications of a criminal accusation.

8. Zaillian is a stickler for details

Zaillian directed seven of the series’ eight episodes and apparently was fanatical about making sure each detail of each show was as accurate as possible. To this end, the series is shot all over New York City. Zaillian also amassed mountains of research, interviewed detainees at Rikers and did everything else in his power to make sure the show comes off as real.

9. So did Riz Ahmed

Playing opposite Turturro is Riz Ahmed, a 33-year old British actor. To make sure he understood his character, he showed up to Queens prior to shooting and spent weeks there trying to understand the culture he would have grown up in.

10. Rave reviews are already coming in

Though the show is just getting started, critics – some of whom received advanced screenings – are already proclaiming it a hit. If you want to decide for yourself, it’s on Tuesday nights at 10:30 pm CST.

You might have guessed it, but if not I’m going to be talking about that new movie, “Lights Out”. And if you’re anything like me you love horror movies. Well, love might even be an understatement. It’s more of an obsession? Regardless lets get into this movie!

So obviously if you’ve seen the trailer you know how it starts off. If not, why haven’t you seen it yet? But just the start got me into this movie. I love anything, and I mean anything, that is scary but not too over the top.

Did I say it wasn’t too over the top? I might have lied. As you go farther into the trailer you get a little backstory on who Diana was. Sorry, sorry let me back track. Diana is this strange woman. Is she a woman? Or is she a little girl? Who knows. Anyway she is seen in a fetal position rocking back in forth. Making some kind of weird moan? But as you might have figured she disappeared when the lights turn on. Real creep, right? Honestly not that bad, but then as you might have guessed from every other horror movie she just had to fly at the camera.

Now back to Diana. You later find out that she’s actually the mom’s childhood friend. Apparently she was normal until something terrible happened to her. Their words not mine. This “something terrible” seems to be some sort of psychiatric ward and their strange “treatments”. I think it was shock therapy. I don’t really know but lets go with that. I’m assuming she ends up dying from said shock therapy. Or at least that’s what they make us to believe.

This is where it gets strange. Or at least to me it gets strange. She tells her son. Who can’t be older than 10. That Diana is her friend and that she will stay. And that she wants her to stay. As long as the lights don’t go out.

So let me get this straight. She’s telling her son, who can’t be older than 10 that she wants this dead girl to stay in their house. I have to say, mother of the year award goes to her. Honestly though who in their right mind would want a dead person in their house. Regardless of it being someone I love or not it would just feel wrong. But lets get back to the movie.

From there it just goes down hill. The police start to come into the house and it looks as if Diana is killing people. Who would have thought? A ghost who kills people and she thought it was a good idea to keep her. You see a man getting dragged passed a wall. And it becomes a fight for life or death with her and her son. Yet they stay. They are staying in their house this whole time as Diana is trying to kill them. So let me get this straight. You have a ghost after you. Said ghost goes away in the light. And you’re staying in your house? Brilliant!

Honestly though, I was really looking forward to seeing this movie until that happened. How exactly are you going to build a movie around people staying in a house? Granted I could be completely wrong. They could leave and she follows them. Actually that’s probably what’s going to happen. I’m obviously still going to see the movie because, horror movie.

What are your guys’ thoughts on the trailer? Do you think it’ll be a good movie or just another stupid, try hard horror movie? I want to know!

Director: David F. Sandberg
Writers: Eric Heisserer (screenplay), David F. Sandberg (based on the short film by)
Stars: Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello, Alexander DiPersia and Billy Burke.
Movie Coming July 22, 2016.

Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

It’s everyone’s favorite wizard, Harry Potter. He may not have been the first one to pull off the ‘scarface’ look but he sure as hell made a lot of money doing it.

Daniel Radcliffe brought J.K. Rowling’s story to life as the boy who lived but to make those massive and magical films required no shortage of hard work and ingenuity.

This behind the scenes look at some of the more intricate parts of bringing the magic to life looks at some facts about the Harry Potter franchise that are so astonishing they could in fact be the product of magic.

12. Diagon Alley was superbly detailed

The set designers for Diagon Alley spent countless hours assembling every window display just so. The set was so detailed that there were over 20,000 props displayed in the various shop fronts in a massive set build.

11. And once it was built and filled…

Crew members and set builders used powerful ropes and pully systems to wrench and pull the storefront portions of the set to give the entire alley a whimsical and slightly off-kilter look.

10. But there was some help from CGI

Once inside Hogwarts, there was only one staircase set built. For the M.C. Escher-esqe staircase effect that set was multiplied and manipulated digitally.

9. By the power of Hagrid’s beard…

Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played Rubeus Hagrid, had to wear a six piece hair kit to simulate Hagrid’s bushy beard.

The beard in question seemed to have a life of its own; things always seemed to be getting stuck in it. In one instance a live bat (intended to be a prop) became entangled in the complicated hair kit!

8. But he’s not really a giant

In order to ‘sell’ the idea that Hagrid was a giant, two sets were built for Hagrid’s Hut. One was sized so that Coltrane would appear large next to the contents of his home and the other was size much larger so that others would appear small by comparison.

Add that to the complicated hair and makeup and Hagrid just might be the most labor intensive character in the movies.

7. No shortage of work for set builders

The case of Hagrid’s duel huts is small potatoes compared to the grand total of 588 sets that were built for the eight movies.

6. Things are not as they appear

Potions are commonplace in the movies. Every instance where an actor drinks a magical potion they are actually just taking a sip of some lukewarm soup.

Speaking of potions, in the potions classroom there are over 1,000 prop bottles that line the walls.

And to top it off, the majority of the dusty volumes that line the walls of Dumbledore’s office are phonebooks that have been rebound then ‘dusted’.

5. Kitten Love

For the kitten-crazed Professor Umbridge, the crew held a kitten photo shoot which starred over 40 young cats. The photos were then screen printed onto plates to form her wall-mounted collection.

Don’t worry, the kittens were all adopted or came from volunteer homes.

4. Heavyweights

When filming the full-sized wizard’s chess the crew had to contend with pieces that weighed over 500 pounds each.

In the same vein, the Knight’s Bus was so top heavy that it had to have an additional balancing weight of four tons added to the lower portion to stop it from falling over.

3. A model school

All of the exterior shots of Hogwarts were made through the use of a highly detailed model. It took 40 people seven months to produce the scale replica of the famous wizarding school. Each and every shingle on the many roofs and spires was laid by hand.The detailed bridge with its latticework of delicate supports took three months alone.

To simulate a snowfall the crew used salt in lieu of other options for fake snow. Any accumulation had to be cleared right away however as the salt would disintegrate the delicate model.

2. No re-entry

While the early movies featured a real 4 Privet Drive the crew couldn’t gain the necessary release to reshoot at that location so instead they reconstructed the house as a set (one of the 588)

1. Owl play

To give an authentic effect the graphics team hand wrote and sealed thousands of letters and envelopes for the owl post to carry. Then had to double up on their efforts after learning that the first run was too heavy for the birds to carry. A second batch produced on lighter stationery was in order.

To further complicate things, it was no easy feat to train the owls to carry the letters either. It took over six months to train the owls to carry letters in their beaks and talons.

Source: Buzzfeed.com

What’s New at Netflix August 2015

“Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein” (1999)
“Asylum” (2005)
“Bride and Prejudice” (2004)
“Dear Frankie” (2004)
“Enemy at the Gates” (2001)
“The Hurt Locker” (2008)
“For a Good Time, Call” (2012)
“Girl Meets World” Season 1″ (2014 series)
“Jerk Theory” (2009)
“Wing Commander” (1999)
“Utopia” Season 1 (2013 series)

Visit Netflix To See More Movies and TV Shows
FOX5 also has a complete list of what arriving and leaving in the month of August

What’s New at Amazon Prime August 2015

“Unforgiven”
“Erased”
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” Seasons 1-8
“A Most Violent Year”
“Gett: Trial of Viviane Amsalen”
“If I Stay”
“Misery Loves Comedy”
“The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl”
“Timbuktu”
“Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter”
“Tarzan” (2013)
“The Legend of Longwood”
“The Descendants”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”

Visit Amazon To See More Movies For The Month Of August
You can also see a complete list of movies at IGN.com.

What’s Streaming on Hulu August 2015

“Freedom” (2011)
“Mr. Robinson” Series Premiere
“Gallagher: Totally New” (1982)
“Hot Package” Season 2
“Angel, Alien, and UFO Encounters from Another Dimension” (2012)
“Bachelor in Paradise” Season 2 Premiere
“My Amityville Horror” (2012)
“Sharpshooter” (2007)
“Walking Man” (2014)
“Ten Nights of Dreams” (2006)
“Two Guys” (2004)
“Xtra Credit” (2009)
“Once More with Feeling” (2009)
“Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies” (2012)

Visit Hulu to see more movies in August

Streaming on HBO in August

“Back on Board” Greg Louganis
“Hard Knocks” Training Camp with the Houston Texans
“Show Me a Hero” Part 1 & Part 2
“Tig Notaro” Boyish Girl, Interrupted
“Show Me a Hero” Part 3 & Part 4
“True Detective” Season 2
“The Hobbit” The Battle of the Five Armies
“Kill the Messenger”
“Charlie’s Angels”
“Dances with Wolves”
“A Fish Called Wanda”
“Four Weddings and a Funeral”
“John Tucker Must Die”
“Meet the Parents”
“An Officer and a Gentleman”
“Serenity”
“Veronica Mars”

Visit BHO Now for more movies August 2015

iTunes New Movies For August

“The Knick” season 1
“Shameless” season 5
“Homeland” season 4
“House of Cards” season 3
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“Two Days One Night”
“Aloha”
“Lego DC Superheroes: Justice League”

Click here for more movies on ITunes August 2015

This summer at the San Diego Comic-Con, producer Bruce Timm revealed that an animated version of Batman: The Killing Joke is in development. The movie is slated for release in 2016. Fans had been campaigning for years to see this dark origin story reach the big screen;  in case your appetite isn’t as yet completely whetted, here’s seven more reasons Batman: The Killing Joke will make for a truly epic animated movie…

#1 it rocked the old DC Universe… and the new.

On its publication in 1988, The Killing Joke was hailed by many critics as the definitive Joker story and one of the best Batman stories ever published. The comic became famous for changing how the Modern Age of Comics viewed the Batman series, bringing the comics back to their darker roots. After the reboot of the Marvel Universe in 2011, many of the Batman stories were erased or altered, but The Killing Joke remained intact, such was its extraordinary impact and legacy.

#2 it is the hereto untold origin story of one of DC’s most infamous characters…

In Batman: The Killing Joke, we learn, through a series of flashbacks, how an unnamed engineer and aspiring stand-up comedian became Gotham’s arch-villain The Joker. The story, which reveals that pre-accident, the man who would become the Joker was an ordinary guy struggling to support his pregnant wife, makes the Joker’s character much more three-dimensional and gives us a new perspective on the Joker’s psychotic crimes: it’s a whole lot scarier thinking the Joker was once just an average Joe driven to insanity by events beyond his control. The story also reflects writer Alan Moore’s assertion that ultimately, Batman and the Joker are ‘mirror images of each other’- both characters driven by the consequences of ‘one bad day’ in their history. The Killing Joke raises the question of whether Batman is just as insane as the Joker, with his insanity manifesting in a different way. Hmmm. Batman just got a whole lot more interesting…

#3 …and reveals how one character would transform into another.

One of the darkest elements of The Killing Joke involves the shooting and paralysis of Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl. In the original Marvel universe, Batgirl never recovered; after the 2011 reboot, her paralysis lasted for three years only, but left her with crippling post traumatic stress disorder and terrible mental scars. The disturbing story line would ultimately lay the groundwork for Barbara’s evolving into the Oracle. The paralysis story line was controversial; even writer Alan Moore has questioned whether it was the right decision to include it, and a 2015 cover illustration by artist Rafael Albuquerque depicting the Joker draping a gun-toting arm around a tearful Batgirl, released as part of the character’s 75th Anniversary celebrations, was withdrawn after complaints. There’s no doubt, however, that such a powerful, if controversial, plot will make the animated movie a must-see.

#4 it will feature the voice talents of Luke Skywalker. No, really.

Some of you may recall that in the 90s, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill voiced the Joker in Batman: the animated series, which, like The Killing Joke, was praised by critics for taking Batman back to its dark roots, in a departure from the lighter tone which had been adopted by the live-action television series.

In 2011, during Comic-Con, Hamill stated that he would be keen to voice the Joker for an adaptation of The Killing Joke and encouraged fans to campaign on his behalf; a facebook page was duly created by Hamill’s followers. After it was announced that an animated film was in development in July 2015, Hamill tweeted that he hoped to reprise his role as the Joker, and, just days later, his involvement in the project was confirmed.

#5 it reveals a dark, twisted world perfect for animated artistry

The artwork for the original comic was created by artist Brian Bolland, who envisioned a dark, Watchmen-esque world of muted, ‘November’ hues- the perfect backdrop for the dramatic storyline of The Killing Joke. Initially disappointed by the original color work in the 1988 release of the comic, which he described as ‘garish’, Bolland was able to bring his artistic dream to life in the 2008 anniversary reissue of the comic. With settings including a nightmarish fun fair, freak show and deserted industrial buildings, The Killing Joke is a gift for today’s animators, and fans are excited to see how this dark corner of the D.C. universe will be brought to life on the big screen.

#6 it’s influenced almost everybody involved in the Batman movies to date

Director Tim Burton is well known for the Gothic, other-worldly perspective he brings to his movies, and he has revealed that The Killing Joke helped him to feel his ideas ‘were acceptable.’ He also states that despite not being a huge comic book fan, he loves the Batman-Joker relationship, and goes as far as to say that The Killing Joke was the ‘first comic he ever loved.’ 2008’s Batman movie ‘The Dark Knight’ revealed a truly nightmarish version of the Joker in a stellar performance by the late, great Heath Ledger. Director Christopher Nolan has revealed that The Killing Joke provided inspiration for the film’s portrayal of the iconic villain, and Ledger himself was given a copy of the comic in reference for the role. If it’s good enough for Heath…

#7 we just can’t get enough of Gotham!

There’s no doubt about it: Batman is big business, and, since the release of The Dark Knight, the Joker ranks as one of this century’s most terrifying villains. One thing’s for sure: an animated movie that brings one of the darkest chapters of this pair’s history to the big screen is a must-see for 2016!

Author – written by: Rebecca Green

1) Disney Movies Provide Heroes.

From Dumbo to the Lion King to Aladdin, Disney movies have clear elements of good versus evil. They portray unlikely heroes who must rise to the occasion. They battle adversity and improbable odds, brave perilous fates most people never meet, and face both their enemies and themselves to succeed. But, in that form, we can all relate to the hero figure.

Aladdin on the Magic Carpet
Source: Association Royale des Ecrivains et Artistes de Wallonie

In fact, most of Disney’s stories are adaptions of historical stories and mythologies. The character of Aladdin finds himself in the story 1001 Arabian Night. The Disney Hercules derives himself from the Greek hero, Heracles (who became Hercules to the Romans). Hercules, in actuality, had to undergo his Twelve Labors, which ranged from killing the Nemean Lion to cleaning the Augean Stables. But therein lies the potential for a great story! Even the greatest of heroes, one who kills hydras and ferocious lions, must also do the mundane and grossly unpleasant (although Hercules had to clean the stables in a day). But, because of this, the character is able to pass seamlessly between the world of myth and daily experience.

In all, the heroes of Disney movies are largely characters embodying characteristics we ourselves want to have. In wanting to emulate the brave and heroic, we ourselves wear the masks of these heroes. Though fictional, the stories provide the concept of the hero in the sense of the archetype: a bold hero with character flaws who ultimately comes to transcend his or her own experience to achieve profound victory in life.

Hercules defeating the Nemean Lion, as portrayed by Peter Paul Rubens.
Source: “Pieter paul rubens, ercole e i leone nemeo, 02” by Sailko.1

2) Disney Provides Romantic Tales Often Unmatched by Reality

The West has long had an infatuation with romance. That fact can be heavily seen in Western literature, art, history, and folklore. Disney largely adopts variants of preexisting stories that once existed to a collective awareness. Beauty and the Beast is simply a direct English translation of an existing French fairy tale title written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont: La Belle et la Bête. However, various variations on the story exist throughout Europe.

The Little Mermaid is entirely about overcoming adversity for the concept of “true love.” Though, in Hans Christian Andersen’s original story, the prince marries someone else. The Little Mermaid has to kill him both to become a mermaid again and to end her sorrow, but she cannot bring herself to do it as she loves the prince. The prevailing theme remains romantic love (and arguably a love beyond that) for another.

Disney offers a fanciful depiction of romance and of love, usually as it involves mystical and supernatural phenomena; but ultimately many of the stories propagate the themes of romantic love and love conquering all. The rationale for why this fascinates is simple enough: love in humanity is an intimate, intrinsic, and universal experience.

An illustration of the Little Mermaid and the Prince. By Edmund Dulac.
Source: “Edmund Dulac – The Mermaid – The Prince” by Edmund Dulac2

3) They are Filled with Magic

This is not a clever play on words with Disney being associated with magic and dreams. Quite literally, numerous Disney movies involve elements of the supernatural. Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, etc., all incorporate magic. Magic is an inherently fanciful idea. Flying carpets, puppets coming to life, forced lycanthropy, pumpkins becoming carriages, all of these are magical elements. Why, then, do we flock to these ideas? Because they offer us an alternate reality. They offer the dream of any old rug being a vehicle of flight. They offer that any typical puppet may become a living thing. These themes hearken back to a world when the countryside was filled with brownies (land spirits of the British Isles), when alchemy was practiced as a legitimate study, and when the sum of the world was an imagination. The modern world is notably void of cultural magic, so it thrives in a fictional form.

An illustration of the original Pinocchio. By the author, Enrico Mazzanti.
Source: http://www.linguaggioglobale.com/

4) They Become Entwined with Childhood

I shall term this phenomenon as the “Winnie-the-Pooh Effect.” In youth, the listeners of such stories effectively become their own Christopher Robins to their Hundred Acre Wood. Because the characters of the Disney movies are relatable and recognizable, they merge themselves with the childhood psyche. The characters become an integral part of childhood, so when looking back on the days of youth the association remains. Disney and youth become frighteningly near synonymous.

Beyond any marketing genius, the same would hold true of any myth thoroughly ingrained in childhood. The fascination with Santa Claus, the perseverance of the Easter Bunny, and one can even argue the larger than life personae of historical figures like Julius Caesar all lend themselves to pass beyond youth. These ideas and characters bear much similarity to Proust’s madeleine; they call to mind a sweetness, a remembrance of things past. And, in due course, children who have become adults enthralled by this experience wish to pass the same experiences onto their children. In that sense, Disney movies become a piece of heritage and an heirloom to pass forward.

“And don’t you know that God is Pooh Bear?” wrote Jack Kerouac in the final lines to his On the Road. These stories become, in essence, a sort of religious experience, a rite of passage, and return to youth. They become the Paradiso and the Elysian Fields of childhood. As such, these stories permeate livelihood. And, at the end of the day, we all wish to wander back through the endless trees of our own Hundred Acre Wood.

Hundred Acre Wood. By Gyula Aggházy
Source: Gyula Aggházy3

Article Written By: Eric Leohner

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Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pieter_paul_rubens,_ercole_e_i_leone_nemeo,_02.JPG#/media/File
:Pieter_paul_rubens,_ercole_e_i_leone_nemeo,_02.JPG

2 Gutenberg.org: Stories from Hans Andersen, with illustrations by Edmund Dulac, London, Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd., 1911.. Via Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_Dulac_-_The_Mermaid_-_The_Prince.jpg#/media/File:Edmund_Dulac_-_The_Mermaid_-_The_Prince.jpg

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“Agghazy Gyula-Hundred Acre Wood” by Gyula Aggházy – terminartors.com Info Pic. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agghazy_GyulaHundred_Acre_Wood.jpg#/media/File:Agghazy_Gyula-Hundred_Acre_Wood.jpg

Into The Woods made a gallant effort to take the number one spot at the box office on Christmas day, but Unbroken could not be outdone. Angelina Jolie’s film stood tall amongs the rest with a World War 11 drama story line. This can be conform at Rentrak a tracking company.

I love Angelina Jolie’s films and now as a director she has gained more of my respect because this must have been one of the most challenging thing she has ever done.

“I didn’t anticipate when I signed on to do it what an impact this man would have on my life and how much this story and the messages would hit home with me and my family and change me,” says Jolie. “He did change me. He had a huge impact on me. I didn’t grow up with a dad in the house and my grandparents passed away when I was young. I didn’t realize how much I needed that older, wiser compassionate friend to help give me that guidance and support.”

Unbroken is Jolie’s second shot at directing, her first  was “In the Land of Blood and Honey,”  and she is also working on a her third where both she and her husband, Brad Pitt, will play roles.

There were other films that did well at the box office also, namely Into The woods, The Hobbit, The Gambler, Annie, The Imitation Game, Exodus, The hunger games, Wild, Big Eyes, Top Five and The Interview.

North Koreans were not pleased and expressed their unhappiness about a film made by Americans making fun or their ‘admired’ leader. Sony’s computers were hacked and the details presented on the internet so the whole world could read it. The USA government did not take this lightly and even President Obama thought it was important enough to weigh in on the matter. Sony on the other hand is taking the opportunity to look at their security practices to ensure a more secure network. A controversial film of this nature was bound to draw interest from hackers.  Walt Disney Pictures, Universal Studios and others should also take this a signal to tighten up their security while using digital rights management software.

Social security numbers, chit chat/ gossip by celebrities and more personal data like home addresses where thrown up on the internet for all to see. Many of these celebrities were embarrassed over the whole incident and truly gave us an insight into the way they think about each other. It is interesting to note know that some of these famous people find time to gossip about others.

Sony had a larger problem from this hack into their computers because they faced a threat that maybe some large movie theaters would face terrorist act. Out of concern these theaters decided not to show the movie and this was turning out to be a major lost to Sony. The film was due out on December 25th and Sony decided to pull the film entirely.

At the last minute 315 smaller movie theater decided to show the film and so Sony did not have to loose all. It was done through direct digital distribution and therefore The Interview was back in action.